Follow up to the Great Verizon Rip Off War...

[boomer]

What I did not say...when I contacted Customer Service to complain of the overcharge, I was told to 'go to the Verizon website'.
me-"Will that allow me to correct the charge?"
them-"No, you can see who sent them."
me-"How do I get those charges removed -- no messages were rec'vd nor sent."
them-"Prove fraud."

A couple of days ago, I walked into a Verizon store, spoke to a live person.
Explained the problem. The live human person spent more than 30 min. on the phone with Verizon. I wasn't being charged for txt msg--I was being charged for video clips! Took the live person a long time to convince their persons that I do not have a camera phone, my phone can ONLY rec'v calls...all else is blocked & restricted as shown in the account. Big Verizon did not want to believe live human. FINALLY credit was issued for false charges for this month and last.

My suggestion...talk face to face. I WILL write a letter to regional offices commending the tenacity of the local rep who helped resolve this problem.
Oh, and I still have to drive down the road to use my cell phone.
-----sheeeeezzzz----

 

[chernmax]

Good on you for not taking their crap...

 

[bohman]

Which Verizon store did you go to that had helpful people in it? That has not been my experience.

 

[remaxrealtor]

Which Verizon store did you go to that had helpful people in it? That has not been my experience.

The California branch is terrible!

 

[bohman]

The California branch is terrible!

That's the one I was talking about! The combination of non-motivated employees, lack of knowledge, and corporate policy ham-stringing any employee who might be willing and able to help means that I hope I NEVER have to go back in there.

 

[MikeH]

If anyone read my reply to your last post, you'll know where to go for help. I manage the kiosk in the Waldorf Circuit City and I know how to take care of customers and so does my staff. The California store used to be good when I managed it, but wait time was an issue at that time due to what I was approved for in head count. Much has changed with additional head count, but the manager at that one and the Waldorf store don't know how to hire and manage!

Boomer,
What phone do you have? My guess is an older LG. They are notorious for weak signal. The most recent LGs have finally come around to being decent, but still not tops.

My name is Mike Hoffman, if anyone needs any help or expert advice.

 

[girliegirl]

If anyone read my reply to your last post, you'll know where to go for help. I manage the kiosk in the Waldorf Circuit City and I know how to take care of customers and so does my staff. The California store used to be good when I managed it, but wait time was an issue at that time due to what I was approved for in head count. Much has changed with additional head count, but the manager at that one and the Waldorf store don't know how to hire and manage!

Boomer,
What phone do you have? My guess is an older LG. They are notorious for weak signal. The most recent LGs have finally come around to being decent, but still not tops.

My name is Mike Hoffman, if anyone needs any help or expert advice.

Please tell me which phone has the best signal for the leonardtown area?

 

[Chasey_Lane]

If anyone read my reply to your last post, you'll know where to go for help. I manage the kiosk in the Waldorf Circuit City and I know how to take care of customers and so does my staff.

I was in there Christmas shopping in December and made a purchase. I can't remember the two individual's names that helped me, but they were super!

 

[somdebay]

The California branch is terrible!

You ain't lyin...I went in there after I broke my phone (it wouldn't send a text for me). I go in there to get one of the new LG chocolate phones and they are trying to sell it to me for $400...rather than the new 2 year contract price, since I had my phone for over a year, that is possible, I had to go outside the store, call verizon customer service, explain the situation, they put a note on my account, I walked back in the store and got the phone for the 2 year contract price. The people at the store are unbelievable, mostly the floor manager, he was the one who really didn't want to sell me the phone for 2 year price. After I got the phone I just smiled at him as I left the store .

 

[chernmax]

Please tell me which phone has the best signal for the leonardtown area?

Unfortunitely, I think Verizon has the best signal in SOMD compared to all other cell carriers. Anything south of gate 3 is mostly a low to NO bar area for all carriers...

 

[kwillia]

I was in there Christmas shopping in December and made a purchase. I can't remember the two individual's names that helped me, but they were super!

How hard is it to select and purchase self-sticking rhinestone decorating accessories?

 

[Nickel]

How hard is it to select and purchase self-sticking rhinestone decorating accessories?

You don't expect her to be able to stick them to her ass all by herself do you?

 

[TeacherMom]

Originally Posted by MikeH
If anyone read my reply to your last post, you'll know where to go for help. I manage the kiosk in the Waldorf Circuit City and I know how to take care of customers and so does my staff.

I am going to be switching from NEXTEL to Verizon at the end of the month. No problems with Nextel.... Verizon my dh's company offers a discount on both the plans and the phones. Are you saying that we should drive to Waldorf then to get better customer service?

 

[Bavarian]

Unfortunitely, I think Verizon has the best signal in SOMD compared to all other cell carriers. Anything south of gate 3 is mostly a low to NO bar area for all carriers...

I get better signal in Leonardtown area with Cingular, soon to be AT&T again, than my wife gets with her Verizon.

BTW Leonardtown is North of the Base, not South as you imply.

 

[alex]

I don't know about verizon as I have had AT&T which became Cingular and is now going back to AT&T for the last 10+ years and have never had a problem with them. In fact, my Razr battery was having a issue staying in place. It kept shifting and I would constantly have to take the battery out and put it back. I went to the local Cingular outlet and they were able offer me an upgrade 3 months before I was due for a new phone. I now have the Blackberry Pearl and LOVE IT!!!! It is small and sleek like a regular phone and I have even better reception then I did before.

About the only place I can't get a signal is the same place friends of mine with Verizon can't get a signal and sometimes I get one and they don't. Seldom do they get one and I don't.

 

[chernmax]

I get better signal in Leonardtown area with Cingular, soon to be AT&T again, than my wife gets with her Verizon.

BTW Leonardtown is North of the Base, not South as you imply.

Well I'm assuming the original poster has intentions of using her cell phone in places other than Leonardtown and the further south you go, Verizon gets the best reception...

And if you really want to get technical, Leornardtown is more West than it is North of the base...

 

[MikeH]

I am going to be switching from NEXTEL to Verizon at the end of the month. No problems with Nextel.... Verizon my dh's company offers a discount on both the plans and the phones. Are you saying that we should drive to Waldorf then to get better customer service?

Well, I can say that you shouldn't have to, but it seems to be hit or miss with the other locations at this time. I know you won't be disappointed! Also, I noticed your name. You wouldn't happen to be a public school teacher? State and local government get a 17% discount on each $35 plan or higher. We offer pretty employee discounts to many of the larger companies around.

As far as a phone recommendation, I have had the most consistent success with Motorola and Samsung. The best reception you can get from the current phones is the Motorola 325i. It's a basic camera phone, but it's a solid, durable phone. The Moto Razr has decent reception, but battery life is it's downfall. If you'e not allowed a camera phone, the Moto w315 works just as well as the 325i. If you wanted a phone with more features, such as playing music and the ability to store music and pics on a memory card, look at the Samsung A930 or the Moto Krazr. Nokia used to be the absolute best, but their phones for VZ are now being made by a company called Pantech. They are still good phones, but not what I recommend anymore.
I've been talking to the person who maintains the local towers and she's been turning on additional sites south of the base recently. I believe she said that she was either close to completing all or they were are up and running. She also said that she's trying to tackle the Leonardtown area's site to improve that tower's performance. Here's the other GOOD NEWS. She checked with the guy who maintains Calvert Co. and he said that the Lusby site will be turned on this year (sounded sooner than later.) This should give better coverage to the back of the Ranch Club among other places. Long time coming for that one!
Like I said, I'm here to help and I'm hoping to be openning my own store soon in Mechanicsville and maybe in Leonardtown within a year. I promise you'll find educated help in my stores!

Mike Hoffman

 

[TeacherMom]

I am a Home School Teacher. I Homeschool my children. Middle dd has finished and my 12y/o ds is still being homeschooled.
My dh gets a discount (sounds like a decent one) from the contractor that he works for. Thanks Mike.

 

[itsbob]

Unfortunitely, I think Verizon has the best signal in SOMD compared to all other cell carriers. Anything south of gate 3 is mostly a low to NO bar area for all carriers...

We've got a couple of new attenae down here.. I haven't been anywhere south of gate 3 where I don't have a signal on my Verizon phone.. It even works in the Bay, PLO.. Ridge.. Scotland etc..

 

[MikeH]

I am a Home School Teacher. I Homeschool my children. Middle dd has finished and my 12y/o ds is still being homeschooled.
My dh gets a discount (sounds like a decent one) from the contractor that he works for. Thanks Mike.

Good to know! It's as simple as setting it up in his name and faxing a form with his work ID or even easier usually if he has a work email. You're more than welcome to PM me for additional info when you're closer to possibly changing over.

Mike