- Report: #348237
Complaint Review: Verizon FIOS - Temple Terrace Florida
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Verizon FIOS
10402 N. 56th Street Temple Terrace, Florida, U.S.A.
Phone:
813-545-9903
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Verizon FIOS - Florida - Bunch of Blundering Idiots - Corporate Executives Worthless - Ripping Florida Residents Off Everywhere!! Temple Terrace Florida
July 7, 2008
RE: Verizon FIOS Customer Experience Nightmare
To Whom It May Concern:
On March 29, 2008, I had a Verizon FIOS installation consisting of both Internet and cable television. My mother had previously had a horrible experience with her own Verizon FIOS installation, but in the process of numerous phone calls to a Verizon manager by the name of George Gerodimos, we finally were able to resolve the issue with my mother's account. Therefore, when I moved into my new residence I called George personally to have Verizon FIOS set up in my new residence and was assured by Mr. Gerodimos that I would receive "VIP" treatment. I was told that since I did not sign up for Verizon telephone service that I would be penalized by having funds automatically deducted from my checking account each month. I reluctantly agreed to this, although in my opinion, this is discrimination. I gave Jeremiah, the representative, my checking account information, was told there was no installation fee, and was quoted a monthly price for Verizon FIOS cable television and Internet service. I was also supposed to be receiving a $100 refer-a-friend credit on my account as well.
The installation, as mentioned, occurred on March 29, 2008, and it took several hours, even though the residence had already been pre-wired for Verizon FIOS. This was on a Saturday. On Sunday evening, after being physically exhausted from my move, I sat down to view my new Verizon FIOS television service. I had sat down for no more than 10 minutes and my entire Verizon FIOS service went completely out. I called customer service immediately. It took the representative approximately 30 minutes to locate my account, as both my first and last name had been spelled incorrectly and since the install was so new, it was difficult to find my account information, not to mention that unless one has Verizon telephone service as well, which I did not, it is extremely difficult, for some reason, for Verizon to locate a customer's account.
I had a technician at my home the next morning to find that a "block" on the exterior of my residence was cracked, thus the reason for the service going out. This was fixed. I had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Gerodimos about this, and he agreed to issue a credit for the horrible inconvenience I had endured, as I had to miss work on a new job in order to sit around and wait for Verizon to come back out and fix the problem, after just having service installed 24 hours prior.
Then the billing issue came up. Verizon deducted monies from my checking account, although I was supposed to have a credit on my account. In addition, when I viewed my online Verizon account my name was still spelled incorrectly and the charges were inaccurate. When I investigated further, I was then told that since I did not have Verizon telephone service that they were charging me an extra $5 per month, which I was never informed of. Furthermore, they billed me for an installation which I was promised was free. The online bill does not match the paper bill, and one would need to hire a certified public accountant to try and figure out what Verizon has done with my billing. I have spent hours and hours on the phone with managers and people at the corporate level at Verizon, Lisa Barrow, Richey Clark, Ryan Mull, just to name a few, exhausting myself beyond belief trying to get my bill straightened out and the spelling of my name corrected.
Finally, I got fed up and threatened to disconnect Verizon and go with Brighthouse, which I subsequently did on June 23, 2008. Two corporate representatives, Lisa Barrow and Richey Clark, came to my home on the evening of June 23, 2008, at approximately 6:00 p.m., in a Cooper vehicle with Verizon FIOS inscribed all over it and retrieved all of my Verizon equipment. They were very unprofessional. Lisa was popping her gum and Richey had big hooped earrings in both of his ears and was very arrogant and cocky. They came unprepared with paper or pen to issue me a receipt proving that my equipment was picked up. I provided them with one of my own pens and demanded they give me a receipt, which Richey Clark scrawled on the back of a business card. They left with my equipment, assuring me they would deliver it to a Verizon store, a receipt would be mailed to me, and that I would receive a check for the $121.75 that was left on my account.
I never received an official letter or receipt for my equipment as promised, so I then called the corporate office and registered an official complaint with a Ms. Delgado, as not only was I upset about this, but unbelievably my Verizon FIOS service was yet to be disconnected. When I later spoke to Lisa Barrow about this, she unbelievably indicated to me that she was unaware that I wanted my service disconnected! I told her that I was astounded at this comment, that after all the phone calls we had had and the obvious fact that she personally came to my home to retrieve equipment that she would be a complete idiot to believe anything other than this was an obvious indication of disconnecting Verizon FIOS service. I finally then did receive a letter and a receipt for equipment return, but yet to receive my check in the amount of $121.75.
On July 4, 2008, at approximately 6:00 p.m., I received a telephone call from Verizon FIOS indicating that my equipment had not been returned and demanding that I do so. After spending almost an hour on the phone on a holiday evening, I was infuriated as I spoke to several Verizon representatives who told me that my equipment had not been returned. I reiterated to them that two corporate representatives had come to my residence and retrieved the equipment on June 23, 2008, but this did not seem to satisfy them.
The very next day, Saturday, July 5, 2008, I received two envelopes in the mail from Verizon FIOS, again indicating I needed to return equipment. They even sent me packing slips to return the equipment with.
I then filed another complaint with the corporate office on July 7, 2008. Ms. Barrow then called me and informed me that one of the boxes I returned did not match the serial number of which came with the original install, stating to me that this was because I had exchanged boxes several times in the course of my short 2-1/2 months of service with Verizon. I indicated to Ms. Barrow that she had better check Verizon's records, because at no time had I ever had any boxes or equipment exchanged and that I indeed had returned to her the original equipment provided to me at the time of my original installation on March 29, 2008. I further indicated to her that if she were to check service call requests there would be no record of this, as this never occurred. She continuously reiterates to me in all her conversations that I am right and that she is stupid and wrong but still does not seem to have the ability to rectify anything regarding my Verizon account. Lisa now indicates to me that her colleague, Richey Clark, will have to visit the Verizon store on Fowler Avenue to find out what the problem is with my equipment return to prove that I did indeed return it, again after having corporate representatives personally come to my home and retrieve equipment. Again, I still have yet to receive my check for $121.75. Instead, I now fear they will try and charge me for equipment that I returned and refuse to issue me the check for $121.75.
In summary, I have had a truly horrible experience with Verizon FIOS that has seriously not only infuriated me but has seriously affected my physical and emotional health. I have spent hundreds of hours on the phone with managers and corporate executives at Verizon and still cannot rectify this situation. It seems to be a lost cause.
I was hoping you could somehow utilize this information to warn other consumers about contemplating a Verizon FIOS installation, before they go through all the headaches and torment I have been through. If corporate executives and managers cannot professionally deal with customer accounts, what are other consumers, who do not take the time to contact these types of individuals, going to do? I know there are thousands of complaints out there with Verizon, but I just wanted to let you know that I am unfortunately yet another Verizon customer who has, in my opinion, been totally scammed by Verizon.
Thank you for taking the time to read this complaint and get the word out to others.
Verizon Representatives Contacted:
Lisa Barrow 813-545-9903
Richey Clark 813-989-7612
Ryan Mull 813-663-0194
Wendy Hodge 813-663-0327
Ms. Delgado and Rita 1-800-483-7988 x 3
George Gerodimos 813-483-1286 Cell Phone 727-239-6700
Anonymous
Seffner, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Verizon
RE: Verizon FIOS Customer Experience Nightmare
To Whom It May Concern:
On March 29, 2008, I had a Verizon FIOS installation consisting of both Internet and cable television. My mother had previously had a horrible experience with her own Verizon FIOS installation, but in the process of numerous phone calls to a Verizon manager by the name of George Gerodimos, we finally were able to resolve the issue with my mother's account. Therefore, when I moved into my new residence I called George personally to have Verizon FIOS set up in my new residence and was assured by Mr. Gerodimos that I would receive "VIP" treatment. I was told that since I did not sign up for Verizon telephone service that I would be penalized by having funds automatically deducted from my checking account each month. I reluctantly agreed to this, although in my opinion, this is discrimination. I gave Jeremiah, the representative, my checking account information, was told there was no installation fee, and was quoted a monthly price for Verizon FIOS cable television and Internet service. I was also supposed to be receiving a $100 refer-a-friend credit on my account as well.
The installation, as mentioned, occurred on March 29, 2008, and it took several hours, even though the residence had already been pre-wired for Verizon FIOS. This was on a Saturday. On Sunday evening, after being physically exhausted from my move, I sat down to view my new Verizon FIOS television service. I had sat down for no more than 10 minutes and my entire Verizon FIOS service went completely out. I called customer service immediately. It took the representative approximately 30 minutes to locate my account, as both my first and last name had been spelled incorrectly and since the install was so new, it was difficult to find my account information, not to mention that unless one has Verizon telephone service as well, which I did not, it is extremely difficult, for some reason, for Verizon to locate a customer's account.
I had a technician at my home the next morning to find that a "block" on the exterior of my residence was cracked, thus the reason for the service going out. This was fixed. I had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Gerodimos about this, and he agreed to issue a credit for the horrible inconvenience I had endured, as I had to miss work on a new job in order to sit around and wait for Verizon to come back out and fix the problem, after just having service installed 24 hours prior.
Then the billing issue came up. Verizon deducted monies from my checking account, although I was supposed to have a credit on my account. In addition, when I viewed my online Verizon account my name was still spelled incorrectly and the charges were inaccurate. When I investigated further, I was then told that since I did not have Verizon telephone service that they were charging me an extra $5 per month, which I was never informed of. Furthermore, they billed me for an installation which I was promised was free. The online bill does not match the paper bill, and one would need to hire a certified public accountant to try and figure out what Verizon has done with my billing. I have spent hours and hours on the phone with managers and people at the corporate level at Verizon, Lisa Barrow, Richey Clark, Ryan Mull, just to name a few, exhausting myself beyond belief trying to get my bill straightened out and the spelling of my name corrected.
Finally, I got fed up and threatened to disconnect Verizon and go with Brighthouse, which I subsequently did on June 23, 2008. Two corporate representatives, Lisa Barrow and Richey Clark, came to my home on the evening of June 23, 2008, at approximately 6:00 p.m., in a Cooper vehicle with Verizon FIOS inscribed all over it and retrieved all of my Verizon equipment. They were very unprofessional. Lisa was popping her gum and Richey had big hooped earrings in both of his ears and was very arrogant and cocky. They came unprepared with paper or pen to issue me a receipt proving that my equipment was picked up. I provided them with one of my own pens and demanded they give me a receipt, which Richey Clark scrawled on the back of a business card. They left with my equipment, assuring me they would deliver it to a Verizon store, a receipt would be mailed to me, and that I would receive a check for the $121.75 that was left on my account.
I never received an official letter or receipt for my equipment as promised, so I then called the corporate office and registered an official complaint with a Ms. Delgado, as not only was I upset about this, but unbelievably my Verizon FIOS service was yet to be disconnected. When I later spoke to Lisa Barrow about this, she unbelievably indicated to me that she was unaware that I wanted my service disconnected! I told her that I was astounded at this comment, that after all the phone calls we had had and the obvious fact that she personally came to my home to retrieve equipment that she would be a complete idiot to believe anything other than this was an obvious indication of disconnecting Verizon FIOS service. I finally then did receive a letter and a receipt for equipment return, but yet to receive my check in the amount of $121.75.
On July 4, 2008, at approximately 6:00 p.m., I received a telephone call from Verizon FIOS indicating that my equipment had not been returned and demanding that I do so. After spending almost an hour on the phone on a holiday evening, I was infuriated as I spoke to several Verizon representatives who told me that my equipment had not been returned. I reiterated to them that two corporate representatives had come to my residence and retrieved the equipment on June 23, 2008, but this did not seem to satisfy them.
The very next day, Saturday, July 5, 2008, I received two envelopes in the mail from Verizon FIOS, again indicating I needed to return equipment. They even sent me packing slips to return the equipment with.
I then filed another complaint with the corporate office on July 7, 2008. Ms. Barrow then called me and informed me that one of the boxes I returned did not match the serial number of which came with the original install, stating to me that this was because I had exchanged boxes several times in the course of my short 2-1/2 months of service with Verizon. I indicated to Ms. Barrow that she had better check Verizon's records, because at no time had I ever had any boxes or equipment exchanged and that I indeed had returned to her the original equipment provided to me at the time of my original installation on March 29, 2008. I further indicated to her that if she were to check service call requests there would be no record of this, as this never occurred. She continuously reiterates to me in all her conversations that I am right and that she is stupid and wrong but still does not seem to have the ability to rectify anything regarding my Verizon account. Lisa now indicates to me that her colleague, Richey Clark, will have to visit the Verizon store on Fowler Avenue to find out what the problem is with my equipment return to prove that I did indeed return it, again after having corporate representatives personally come to my home and retrieve equipment. Again, I still have yet to receive my check for $121.75. Instead, I now fear they will try and charge me for equipment that I returned and refuse to issue me the check for $121.75.
In summary, I have had a truly horrible experience with Verizon FIOS that has seriously not only infuriated me but has seriously affected my physical and emotional health. I have spent hundreds of hours on the phone with managers and corporate executives at Verizon and still cannot rectify this situation. It seems to be a lost cause.
I was hoping you could somehow utilize this information to warn other consumers about contemplating a Verizon FIOS installation, before they go through all the headaches and torment I have been through. If corporate executives and managers cannot professionally deal with customer accounts, what are other consumers, who do not take the time to contact these types of individuals, going to do? I know there are thousands of complaints out there with Verizon, but I just wanted to let you know that I am unfortunately yet another Verizon customer who has, in my opinion, been totally scammed by Verizon.
Thank you for taking the time to read this complaint and get the word out to others.
Verizon Representatives Contacted:
Lisa Barrow 813-545-9903
Richey Clark 813-989-7612
Ryan Mull 813-663-0194
Wendy Hodge 813-663-0327
Ms. Delgado and Rita 1-800-483-7988 x 3
George Gerodimos 813-483-1286 Cell Phone 727-239-6700
Anonymous
Seffner, Florida
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Verizon
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous
Seffner,Florida,
U.S.A.
Verizon - Festering Sores and Thugs - I'M HEARING YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AGAIN!!!
#2Author of original report
Tue, September 16, 2008
My apologies, but there is a CORRECTION to the telephone number for Robin!! Verizon - Florida Robin McVicker Executive Assistant to Alicia Trigo SE Customer Experience (Although I would rephrase to Customer Nightmare) CORRECT CELLULAR TELEPHONE NUMBER: 813-989-1003!! MORE INFORMATION: Verizon Legal Department - Terry Scobie at 813-483-2610 Continuing on: After updating the above report, thinking the Verizon nightmare was finally over, I checked my mail later in the day. To my absolute horror, I received a FINAL BILL from Verizon in the amount of $199.70! I called Robin McVicker and left her several messages on her cell phone, noted above!! My blood pressure was boiling, I could not sleep all night, I suffered all night long with extreme anxiety and then suffered a major panic attack!! At 6:30 a.m. I started calling Verizon once again. In the process of making my phone calls, Ms. McVicker called, but unfortunately could not locate my account, even after spending 20 minutes on the phone, so I told her to call me back, as she was burning up my precious cell phone minutes. I have literally spent THOUSANDS of hours on the phone with Verizon!! You see, Ms. McVicker had promised me that she had corrected my account to reflect a zero balance and had PROMISED me that my next bill would reflect this zero balance! Obviously, another lie pushed over on me from Verizon. When Ms. McVicker finally called me back, she indicated some political mumbo jumbo about data side of accounts and that the credit did not get pushed through in time, etc. Again, another case of stalling for time, as nobody at Verizon is capable of doing anything correct, apparently. I informed her that she had PROMISED me this nightmare would be over and that I would receive a bill for ZERO!! She even sent me a letter stating my account had been corrected to reflect a ZERO balance, but yet I receive this outlandish bill. Somebody please tell me why these people have jobs and are even employed. They don't deserve to make more than 10 cents an hour!!! I also let Ms. McVicker know that I would be calling her every day, each hour on the hour, until I received documentation that my bill was indeed brought to a ZERO amount!! Ms. McVicker assured me she had cleared things up and offered to put something again in the mail to me to assure me my account was at ZERO. I told her I would come down to their office in person and pick this up. Apparently, Ms. McVicker did not want me driving down to the Verizon office, because she then offered to send a Verizon representative to my home with the documentation instead. Ms. McVicker and her assistant, Richey Clark, the same buffoon who picked up my Verizon equipment months ago, the same equipment that I was being pursued about not returning, actually came to my residence within an hour with documentation showing my account now reflects a ZERO balance and assuring me I should next month receive a final bill for ZERO!!! Still, I am extremely upset, because I had to waste more time and aggravation and mental grief speaking with and dealing with Verizon. No matter what they tell you, it is always lies, stalling for time, trying to put the customer on the back burner, while they try to figure out their antiquated billing system. To summarize, if you get in touch with someone up the ladder at Verizon, call them each and every day for days on end, multiple times a day and bug the living crap out of them. DO NOT STOP CALLING THESE PEOPLE!! It seemed to work in my case, but again the mental grief has had serious effects on my health as a result of Verizon's gross incompetence. Listen up Verizon!!! Why don't you fix your antiquated piece-of-crap billing system and anything else that goes along with in-house customer service before you even think about selling any of your services, advertising on television, radio or the Internet, mailing out offers to the general public via the United States Postal Service, or even think about stepping foot into a customer's home to install any one of your piece-of-crap services!! Verizon, you are doing everything backwards. Customer service comes first, and, Verizon, you don't have a clue what customer service is or how to promote it. If somebody would give me the chance, and I have actually asked for the opportunity, I would come down there and change your entire operation. It's very simple, I would fire the whole slew of you and start over, from the ground up!! AGAIN, VERIZON, I PRAY TO GOD THAT I WON'T BE HEARING YOU ANYMORE!! GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!
Anonymous
Seffner,Florida,
U.S.A.
Verizon Thugs - I Can't Hear You Anymore!!
#3Author of original report
Mon, September 15, 2008
Thank you for your compassion in California. I wish you the best of luck with your endeavor with Verizon. Hopefully, you won't have to go through the crap I have gone through! Finally, after months and months of mental anguish and grief, I think I may have actually got "rid" of Verizon and their festering sores of gross incompetence. Believe it or not, after all the dealings with "corporate executives," I was being pursued by Verizon's collection outsource company, AFNI, with telephone calls and numerous letters informing me that I STILL HAD NOT RETURNED THEIR EQUIPMENT, even after RETURNING IT PERSONALLY TO CORPORATE EXECUTIVES!!! I threatened to sue the living crap out of them and finally received documentation stating that I owed them nothing, the equipment was returned, etc., because companies like AFNI can come back to haunt you many years in the future. I have the letter in the event Verizon and/or AFNI shows up on my credit report. I am extremely happy with my Brighthouse service! I am not an advocate for Brighthouse; however, I must say in the few short months I have had service with them they have been nothing but professional and have EXCELLENT customer service, both in-house and in the field. I would not do business with Verizon if they were the last telecommunications company on the planet. I would rather live like a cave woman than to do business with these morons ever again!!! Anybody in the Tampa Bay area, please call Robin, who is the executive assistant for Alicia Tregos, at 813-989-1103. She was the only person who was finally able to help me. To anybody thinking about getting Verizon, think twice. The subtle differences one will notice in both cable and Internet aren't worth the mental grief of fighting with Verizon morons for months on end. Go with somebody else or get a dish!! Verizon, I CAN'T HEAR YOU ANYMORE!!!
Fedup
Henderson,Nevada,
U.S.A.
I feel very bad that these thugs treated you this way
#4Consumer Suggestion
Tue, July 22, 2008
Verizon is ripping people off, across the country. It's happening everywhere. They intentionally promise low costs to capture your business, then the bills start coming, with over charges, new charges, new services, etc.. I just disconnected my service in southern California. I am sick of battling these low class criminals. There must be some federal communications people we all can complain to about this rip off. It's happening everywhere.
