It appears as if Verizon will do anything to sign you up. The Division of Consumer Affairs—an offshoot of the Attorney General's office in New Jersey—has in fact launched a lawsuit against Verizon New Jersey Inc. alleging deceptive and misleading practices in its marketing, telephone and Internet services.
The allegations represent quite the shopping list.
The company is alleged to have quoted one price for FiOS Service in door-to-door solicitations, direct mail advertising and otherwise, then billed consumers at a higher rate. Consumers were allegedly charged an activation fee after the salesperson in the door-to-door solicitation waived the fee. What's more, unwitting consumers found themselves charged for services, such as movie packages that were never ordered—together with a similar practice of representing that movie packages were free, then billing consumers for the services.
The advertising of a promotional gift is a time-honored way of getting attention and the proverbial foot in the door. But it is always assumed, in good faith by the consumer, that the free gift will be forthcoming. This appeared not to be the case with Verizon. Promotional gifts were advertised, but in many cases Verizon failed to provide consumers with the opportunity to contract for the types of FiOS service necessary to obtain the promotional gifts. To that end, Verizon stands accused of failing to provide consumers with the rewards letter or other instructions necessary to receive their promotional gifts. In some cases the promised freebies were secured only after significant delay, and only after repeated calls to Verizon.
There's more. Verizon has been cited by the New Jersey Attorney General for not providing customers with a written contract, and then billing customers at a price other that quoted. Some customers found that that billing amounts were different month to month even though the services did not change. Other consumers complain that requests to cancel the service were ignored.
"Verizon conducted a very aggressive marketing campaign to introduce its FiOS service, which included promotional gifts that were never to be provided," said David Szuchman, Consumer Affairs Director. "We will seek to ensure that Verizon complies with all relevant laws when advertising and selling services and products."
One of the promotional gifts allegedly advertised were flat-screen TVs. Many consumers jumped at the chance to acquire a flat screen TV and signed up for the service, only to be disappointed not only in the failure to obtain the promised gift, but also with a litany of other consumer fraud complaints as outlined above.
It has been reported that there have been 266 consumer complaints so far related to the marketing practices of Verizon.
"Deception and misrepresentations have no place in the marketplace," said Attorney General Anne Milgram, "and we will hold businesses accountable when they violate the public's trust." In its four-count complaint filed in State Superior Court in Essex County, the state alleges that Verizon violated the Consumer Fraud Act through unconscionable commercial practices, misrepresentations and knowing omissions of material facts, as well as the advertising regulations.
This alleged case of consumer fraud against Verizon could be costly for the company. In New Jersey each violation of the state's Consumer Fraud Act Carries a penalty of up to $10,000 and up to $20,000 for each subsequent violation.
However, beyond that is the breach of a consumer's trust—a consumer willing to spend hard-earned dollars in a time of economic instability. They say an elephant never forgets: well neither does the consumer who spends in the face of economic uncertainty, only to be burned by a vendor taking full advantage of a consumer's good intentions.
READ MORE CONSUMER FRAUD LEGAL NEWS
Consumer fraud is bad enough at any time, but worse in times of fiscal crisis. Sadly, tough economic times bring out the worst in people—and it seems, in companies too. Consumer protection is of keen interest for Attorneys General, and the Consumer Protection Act guarantees those rights and protections. However, it is unclear if the action by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General will result in fines for Verizon, or an attempt to compensate consumers. If the latter doesn't happen, it may be in the consumer's best interest to initiate a consumer fraud case with the help of a qualified attorney. After all, you're willing to spend your money at a time when many refuse to do so. The least a corporation can do after benefitting from your business, is to treat you fairly…
READER COMMENTS
Robert Palmer
on
Does it matter WHAT Verizon did or didn't (for) or to you -
- to develop the best approach or action and how do I go about it against Verizon wireless?
Hiram Reinhart
on
The employees therefore are reluctant to bite the hand that feeds them. There are very few who would blame the company for anything because the majority would come down upon them and where else could they get a job for upwards of $85,000 to answer telephones and drive around in new trucks? Sure - when the weather is bad you hear how they were out restoring service, but what about the other fifty weeks of an average year?
The government is afraid of them. Ask them for their list of contributions to various politicians or political theme backings. Oh, don't forget the read the "conditions worthy of note" from Zendesk the sponsor of this service. Who knows who's side they are on.
Jeff
on
Bob Allen
on
Tigress
on
Lo and behold, 18 months into my 2 year contract, they started ripping me off again. The first time the amount was $14.95 a month for four months~this time it was $25.00 a month for six months. I flat refused to pay them that extra money which totaled $150.00 in a six month time frame.
When my contract expired in February 2014, I closed out the account. They kept running my services until May. I called them every month to let them know I am no longer their customer. These vile thieves have reported me to all 3 credit bureaus for non-payment on my phone bill.
I wrote a letter to my Congressman regarding Verizon Fios. Verizon refuses to allow other providers in my area. It is our right to pick and choose whoever we want for our phone, internet and cable provider. Someone needs to close that company down for good.
Matthew J Penney
on
This is exactly as described on the Verizon web site if searching for "Adding or Removing someone from your account".
The description on the Verizon site, to this day, reads: " to change the person financially responsible for a particular account (for example, a new roommate). Verizon must talk with all involved parties, preferably at the same time. Verizon will discuss the transfer of services in detail with those customers." which is what I did with my mother.
I confirmed to Verizon that I gave up my financial responsibility. My mother confirmed to Verizon that she accepted my financial responsibility (so I could be transferred to her account)
After this was done, I later found out that Verizon reported me to the credit bureau as a credit risk. This was AFTER I had agreed to give up financial responsibility to the account and AFTER someone else (my mother in this case) agreed to absorb financial responsibility.
They failed to mention that I actually was financially responsible for my last billing cycle. In effect, Verizon should actually just have let me know that I am closing my account and I am financially responsible, which is in direct opposition to what they describe.
I had been a Verizon client for over 4 years, never missing one payment, during that time. After I confirmed I with Verizon that I was no longer financially responsible, I believed that that meant that. That is what Verizon told me.
Instead, Verizon reports me as bad credit, after the fact that they also told me I was no longer financially responsible!!! WTF!!!
Because of this, my credit score is not ideal. I am a first time home buyer.... or want to be. This has had a direct effect on my quality of life. Verizon is criminal!!!!
Donna
on
Karen
on
Bev
on
Cesar Jump
on
For $13 dollars and the salesman Ken, took my cash and I called the office phone and it did rang but when I went home I tried calling my mom and the phone message was "you do not have enough money do you wish to reload" I eventually went with another provided that works for me.
However, on the following Monday l went back to the Z Wireless Verizon office, and I was told they do not refund any prepaid accounts, I told that will file a lawsuit and file a complaint with the State of Wisconsin Consumer protection and I was told "good luck with that, you will never win"
So now I did file a formal complain and will follow a legal small claims lawsuit. This company needs to be teach a lesson that consumers do have rights.
Don Palumbo
on
Anne Copeland
on
don palumbo
on
Michael Kurtyan
on
I have been in contact with this sales solicitor on a weekly basis and he continually tells me I will receive a tablet that does not require me to purchase anything or any contract. One week he even said he would deliver it personally. He never showed and the tablet or a voucher for a tablet never showed. I also never received the visa card. This has been going on since 7/25/2015.
In addition to the visa card and tablet, he also told me that Verizon remotes are are voice activated like Comcast and the boxes in the room are smaller that Comcast. Both of these statements were intentional lies to deceive me, the homeowner.
Next week I plan on going to the township of Maple Shade to be sure they know that Verizon is using deception and fraud to sell their services. I will also contact the Burlington County Prosecutor's office along with a nice letter the NJ Attorney General.
iag
on
We have been duped for the second time by Verizon & this time they will not do anything for us.
The $300 gift card is a scam. The person who set us up said the card would be there within two months. It never came and they gave us a BS story of how it is not noted in the setup notes...
Even though they send weekly offers for months in the mail for that $300 gift card if you switch, we did not switch until we got a personal letter.
Three months after a super pain in the butt two week ordeal to switch, we wonder where the card is. We call & after an hour on the phone, supervisor and all, they say we don't qualify because it wasn't written on a confirmation letter that they were supposed to send & the rep conveniently didn't note it on the sign up notes.
The supervisor, although pleasant, was schooled in the art avoidance of this issue. He was obviously taught on what to do when this issue came up. The amount of all the $300 gift cards is probably his bump in salary to field Verizon's scams.
We are at the point of cancelling, but are seeing how this plays with the Better Business Bureau.
Tamara
on
I hate their customer service!!!!! I was I the phone with them for 7 hours one day.
James doyle
on
AMY HERNANDEZ
on
I AM SINGLE MOM AND 2 KIDS AND WE LIVE OFF A TINY MERE 643.00 A MONTH I SWEAR TO YOU AND I SUPPOSEDLY OPENED A BOGUS VERIZON ACCOUNT (HERE WHERE WE LIVE DONT GET ANY RECEPTION FROM ANY ONE AT ALL AND THERE IS NOT EVEN A HOME PHONE AS NO COMPANY AS WE LIVE IN THE BOONIES!!!! WITH 643.00 TO PAY BILLS AND GET BY RAISING 2 KIDS ALONE SORRY BUT DAMN ARE YOU STUPID VERIZON? WHY OR HOW LOGICAL ARE YOU. WITH THAT LITTLE INCOME I SURE GONNA GO OUT AND BUY A DAMN 500 BUCK IPHONE AND OH YEA DONT FORGET THE 160 A MONTH SERVICE AND ALL THE APPLE IPHONE THINGS I SUPPOSED TO HAVE ADDED. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! i HAVE TOLD THEM HOW BAD OUR LIVES ARE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT A DIME AT ALL AND MY KIDS AND I ABOUT TO BE HOMELESS AND WITHOUT A DIME NO FOOD AND EVEN HUNGRY. FOR WEEKS I HAVE BEGGED THEM AND CRIED LITERALLY AND STILL THEY ACCUSE ME OF OPENING ACCOUNT. NO I DONT THINK SO AND MEANTIME I AM ANGUISHED AS I HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS AND SUPER WORRIED ABOUT OUR FUTURES MY POOR 2 KIDS DID NOT AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET NOT EVEN ONE SOLITARY PENCIL TO RETURN TO SCHOOL I HATE VERIZON!!!!!!
Ron Garofalo
on
Lasitha
on
Since then, I have been receiving numerous calls, emails, and letters from Verizon with various charges. It was over $200 and then reduced to -$24 and then raised back to $160. It was zeroed after I explain one representative and his supervisor in November. Again it has been up with $160.14. When I call verizon, they are aggressive and threatened me of reporting to credit bureaus. Ideally, they should pay me for cheating me and making me spending considerable time to deal with them with fruitlessly.
George
on
George
on
vanessa moreno
on
Gene Trupin
on
Dee
on
MIKE
on
low and behold as soon as i bought a new cell phone and contract my old phone did take a recharge and my old cell phone has recharged since.
i feel verizon tricked me into buying a new cell phone and signing a new two year contract.
I am not crazy has anyone else had similiar xperience.
mike............hate verizon.