My friend just got 947.00 cell phone-WTC related (1 Viewer)

[James Edward]

A friend just got a 947.00 bill from Verizon Wireless.
The facts:
She lives 3 blocks from the WTC, and has not had regular land-line service since Sept.11. Her land-line is also Verizon. Her son-in-law was an EMT killed at the WTC site. She has received many, many calls relating to his welfare, whereabouts, etc.
Verizon is so far refusing to credit the account. Am I right in thinking that this is a no-brainer? They know where she lives, they administer both phone services, and if/when something like this gets out, it'll be bad press.
Should the account be credited?
Thanks for your thoughts, suggestions...

 

[MickeS]

I heard something about this on NPR the other day. I don't remember which operator it was, but they said that any cellphone calls made in the disaster area between a certain time period would not be charged.
I'd investigate it if I was her.
/Mike

 

[Brian Mansure]

James,
I don't want to promise a thing but my wife works as a collections rep for Verizon and I'll have her take a look at your message.
I'm positive she wouldn't be able to access your friend's account but maybe she can make a general inquiry.
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BAM
[Edited last by Brian Mansure on October 16, 2001 at 11:18 AM]

 

[James Edward]

Thank you Brian. Any suggestions from her would be helpful.

 

[Michael*K]

I know someone who got a $400 bill from Verizon and called to complain about it. They credited her for all calls made on 9/11 and 9/12. That knocked about a third off the bill.
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--Mike
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[brentl]

If this sticks it doesn't say much about the company or the people taking avantage of the situation.
Brrennt L
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[Brian Mansure]

James,
I told my wife about your friends situation last night and she said the best thing to do is to call up Verizon and have as much detailed information about the calls made to and from the phone on Sept. 11th and 12th. Meaning that if the calls were about family and friends making sure everyone was alright and so-forth.
Verizon may very well not credit or discount the bill for any calls made outside of those two days.
She told me that every bill is being looked at case by case.
I apologize for the info being so general but without more details my wife couldn't assess wether or not your friend's account would be accredited.
Good luck.
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BAM
[Edited last by Brian Mansure on October 17, 2001 at 09:20 AM]

 

[Bill Catherall]

Personally, I think that in this case, since the land lines were out, Verizon should apply land line rates to the cell phone bill for all the days the land lines weren't available. That means all incoming calls are free and outgoing calls at regular land line rates. That shouldn't be too hard for them to figure out.
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Bill

 

[Ryan Wright]

Personally, I think that in this case, since the land lines were out, Verizon should apply land line rates to the cell phone bill for all the days the land lines weren't available.

As do I. If they are unable to provide land-line service, they should charge the cellphone land-line rates. Quite frankly, I'd refuse to pay it.
One question: Did the majority of the bill come from calls made within a couple days of the attacks, or was it stretched out over the month? If most of it was from the 11th-13th or so, then none of the rest of my message applies, but otherwise:
A question that has to be asked is: How does someone rack up such a huge bill? I'm with AT&T Wireless and can get 5000 minutes for $200 a month. For 30 days, that's an average of 2.7 hours on the phone per day. I don't want to appear insensitive, but I have to wonder why this person did not call Verizon up and expand her coverage when she began spending so much time on the phone. Granted, I would not expect anyone to think of this the first couple of days after the attacks, but within a week, it would have occured to me that I needed to call Verizon and arrange for more minutes.
However, there is a lot to be said for the lack of land-line service as well as her close proximity to the attacks, not to mention her loss. Given the circumstances, I believe Verizon should dismiss the vast majority of her bill. It certainly would have been in her best interests to make arrangements with them before racking up the bill, though.
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-Ryan (http://www.ryanwright.com )
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you do criticize them, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes.