Complaint Review: Verizon

To make a long story short. My brother and I had an account with Verizon when we lived together in 2003. I moved out shortly after that as I found a good deal on an apartment and living with my brother wasn't the best thing to begin with. Anyway, when I left I told my brother to make sure the bill was switched to his name. The other utilities were already in his name. And I would get my own account.

About 2 years later my brother moved out as well. He had lost his Job and moved back in with my father.

Recently I pulled my credit reports from the 3 bureaus because I am in the Market to purchase a house. I notice on one of the reports an account for Verizon currently delinquent for $140.05. I call my brother and he tells me he closed the account. Which I would assume he did as he didnt live there anymore and my father obviously has his own phone line.

I then call Verizon. They explain to me that the account is closed but I was passed due on $140.05. I then explained the situation and said that I would like to pay the bill right away, and I did. While I was on the phone I asked if Verizon would delete the account from my Bureau report at Experian once the bill is paid. She said that the account would be removed as long as the bill was paid in full.

Great, one less thing to worry about. I also asked if they can send me a letter stating that the bill was paid in full and that Verizon would have the account removed from my bureau report. She said no problem.

Now the problems start. I see my bank statement, and notice that the $140.05 was taken from my account. A few days later I receive a letter from verizon with the $140.05 balance and then under it, it says $249.62 (Pending legal action) Now why I was not told this from the get go, I have no clue. I would have sent it all out in one check. Anyway, I call Verizon back and ask why I was not told about the account. The Rep told me the account was the same phone number, but a different account number. Thanks Verizon, I see you like to make things more difficult.

Anyway, I ask where to send this bill to. They tell me it was with a collection agency. IC systems. So I call them, and they have no record of the account. So I call Verizon back and speak to another rep. I explain that IC systems knows nothing about this account, the rep transfers me. I get on the phone with another rep. and I explain that I just want to pay the bill, and for them to please delete the account from my bureau report once the bill is paid in full.

The guy says no possible way they will delete it. I explained that I was told by the last rep that the account would be deleted once paid in full. He said that it was impossible, that Verizon would never do that no matter the circumstance.

So I asked why would Verizon do this to a customer aside from trying to screw them over for a bill that they had no problem paying once they were aware of it, and a bill that they had no control over. His remark was "Yes Sir, we screw our customers into paying on time" (I know, my mistake for assuming my brother would change account names, or pay the bill on time. Live and learn)

Anyway, I explain that even if the account is marked as a paid account, the record is going to cost me valuable % points when I apply for a Mortgage. And we all know that a single % point can cost tens of thousands of dollars on a 30 year mortgage.

Now here is where the real rip off is. According to Verizon,this account was placed for collection in 2004. Verizon failed to notify me of this account. They also have this account listed on my bureau report as an installment account and not a collection account. The difference with the 2 is that a collection account that is aged 2+ years has much less impact on your credit scores than a "Current delinquent Account"

Now considering this account is in the collections department of Verizon, and the account is closed, and I am no longer receiving statements... It is in fact a collection account that should have been dated 2004. It SHOULD NOT be listed as a Installment account that is marked as delinquent EVERY SINGLE MONTH. There should be no late payments or derogatory remarks following 2004. It is not an installment, and has not been one in a little over 2 years when it went into collections.

So Verizon is purposely reporting the account they way it is reported to further damage my credit and further punish my for a bill that has been PAID IN FULL.

It is against the FCRA to knowingly report false information on a consumer credit report. It is also against the FCRA to report negative information on any consumer credit report without first notifying the customer in writing about the account.

Now Verizon says that they are not allowed to remove the account from the credit Bureau. Which is not correct, I have seen, read, and heard of people having collections removed from their accounts following payment especially when paid in full.

I have vowed to never go back to Verizon Land Line Services and My contract with Nextel is ending shortly and I was debating between Verizon and Cingular as the 2 companies seem to have the best coverage. I now know I will be going with Cingular.

I myself work for an Electric Utility company. I worked at Ground Zero around the clock causing a bill to be late. I contacted the company and explained. They were very appreciative of me being a customer and very understanding. Problem solved.

I was sent to Florida following the hurricanes to help restore power to all those that lost it. I fell behind on a payment or 2. I explained, and the late payments and fees were waived, again they were appreciative of me being a customer and understanding of the situation.

I was sent to Alabama and New Orleans following the hurricane, again to help restore power. Again, I fell behind on a bill or 2 from being away. Again the companies has no problem, very very appreciative of me being a customer, and understanding of the situation.

My point is. There are companies that look down on people who might fall behind, or owe a bill from long ago. They look at these people like deadbeats, they figure lets hurt them and hurt them hard. Forget their "Excuses" and move on.

Then there are those companies who have some heart, and some compassion. They value their customers because their company may not be as BIG as VERIZON who could care less whether a customer comes or goes.

You know the funny thing. If I am such a deadbeat, why the hell does Verizon BOMBARD me with Junk mail, and phone calls trying to get me to switch back from Time Warner to Verizon...

I will be writing a letter to my Union to boycott Verizon explaining the possibilities of having one late payment haunt them for 7 years. I will explain my situation to the people who know I am not a deadbeat (like Verizon thinks)And I will be passing it along by word of mouth exactly how I feel and why I feel that way.

I know Verizon is a Huge company and losing even 100 customers is like losing a penny for You and I. But at least I will know that I got something done. Even if it wasn't much at all.

Scott
Staten Island, New York
U.S.A.

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