Verizon Wireless verizon is charging you for checking your own voicemail Internet, Internet
I was setting up my friends and family on Verizonwireless. I discovered that one of my most used numbers that count towards your minute plans is your own voicemail number. I called and talked with a Verizon assistant and she confirmed that this company charges you everytime you check your voice messages that is not on the free time. This being nights and weekends. I asked if I could put my voice mail on my family and friends and she informed me that you would still be charged. Then she told me that the voicemail number is a verzon number. Well, my plan states that any call to another Verizon number is free. Now you explain to me how this is a fair policy? Anyone?
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Spaceduckie
Vancouver,Washington,
U.S.A.
*86 uses minutes
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, February 29, 2012
Vou*86 absolutely used your minutes. You need to look closer at your call log. Dialing *86 or your own # still point back to the same place. *86 is just a shortcut to your own phone number.
If it isn't charging you minutes them you may be on an ancient calling plan if you have been with us as long as you claim, but any calling plan within atleast the last 6-8 years charges minutes for voicemail using ANY access number. Your only exception is to call it from a landline and press "#" at the voicemail prompt.
If you would like to verify the *86 thing, I implore you to call customer service to verify. Ask the Rep to read the policy to you in verbatim.
Also, the default voicemail number on our phones is already set to *86.
I am the person who posted above(first response to OP), as the EX-employee. Just wasn't sure how my name was going to show up on here, but I am an active employee that has been here for several years.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
USA
Use *86
#4Consumer Suggestion
Wed, February 29, 2012
There are 2 ways to connect to your voice mail. One way is to call your cellphone number. This method will count towards your plan minutes.
The OTHER method is to call *86. This method DOES NOT count towards your plan minutes. You should change the voice mail settings in your cell phone to call *86 as your voice mail call number. You can also program it to send the access tones and 1 so that when you do call, it will automatically tell you if you have any new messages without a lot of button pushing. The user manual for your cellphone will tell you how to change the voice mail calling number in your cellphone.
I've had Verizon cellphone service since one month after the company was formed and calling *86 to check voice mail has NEVER counted towards plan minutes. The *86 calls to check voice mail will be listed on your itemized bill as outgoing VOICE MAIL calls, but they will show 0 chargeable minutes. I've been checking voice mail this way for YEARS without any charges whatsoever.
Hope this helps.
Spaceduckie
Vancouver,Washington,
U.S.A.
Voicemail
#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Wed, February 29, 2012
I work in VZW customer service. me make no attempt to hide the fact that you are charged for calls to your voice mail. In 9 out of 10 cases, every other cell carrier also charges for calls to voice mail as well. Also, your voice mail access number may lead to a Verizon operated voice mail server platform, but your free mobile to mobile(Verizon cellphones) is just that: MOBILE to MOBILE.
to avoid charges for checking your voice mail, their are options available. for example, you can check your voice mail during off-peak hours(9pm-6am, or Saturday & Sunday), or you can subscribe to Visual Voice mail, which would run you 2.99 per month.
another option that works, and also gives you more options is to use google voice for your voicemail. go to google.com/voice and subscribe there. follow the instructions to setup an account, and then take the access # they tell you to dial to start the service and add the last 10 digits to your friends and family list. this will give you free voice mail, that you can check at any time, without using minutes, from your phone or from your computer. (this works great, just can't suggest it while on the job)