my last post

It's January 21st, 2008 at 7:30ish am... I am up, as usual, online checking my bills.

Only one thing can ruin a perfectly good day off in such a perfect way... A cell phone bill.

The following is my conversation with the 'online helper' Dastassia.

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Dastassia'
Dastassia: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. How may I help you today?
adam: i am curious as to why my bill is always so high.
Dastassia: I understand your concerns. I'll be more than happy to assist you. May I have your mobile number?
adam: 816-260-1754
adam: since 7/07 i've paid over $900.
adam: that's like 150/month..?? what's up?
adam: I feel like I'm being taken advantage of for being a good customer? what's the deal?
Dastassia: Thanks for that information. May I please have you to verify the last 4 of your Social Security Number?
adam: not to mention the thousands per year I spend on phones because you always charge full price.
adam: ****(edited out later by me)
Dastassia: Thank you for that information. One moment while I access your account.
Dastassia: It's because you have a lot of voice and data overages. Mainly data overages. Would you like me to see where these data charges are coming from?
adam: yeah, if they don't automatically remove monthly charges from data programs when i get a new phone then you can count me out as a verizon customer from today on. I'm just sick of everyone having better phones and me paying outrageous monthly fees.
adam: the early termination fee obviously doesn't mean much to me, I just want fair service.
Dastassia: What phone did you have, and then switch to ?
adam: I don't even know, I have a razor, a q, and a razor 2.
adam: right now I have a razor 2
Dastassia: For August and September's bill you have a VZ navigator download for 9.99 and a Get It Now game download( Ringer DJ) for 7.49. For October and November's bill you have 2 Get It Now downloads games. ( Surviving High school and The Sims 2) both for 7.49 each. For November's bill you have two Get It Now download games for (Smarter than a 5th Grader and Tiger Woods PGA Tour.) Both for 7.99. You also had Mobile Web added for 5.00. For December's bill you had Get It Now ring tone downloads for(Feliz Navidad and My little Jewish friend) both for 1.99. AAA Mobile for 9.99 and mobile web for 5.00. For January's bill you had a Get It Now ring tone credit pack for 9.99, mobile web 5.00, VZ navigator 9.99 and Get It Now- Sleek Chick download for 1.99.
adam: so they aren't charging me right now for both vz navigator and AAA mobile?
adam: or are they?
Dastassia: Let me check.
adam: the only monthly charges should be for vz navigator, because that is the only program I have on my phone.
adam: I know this because I am looking at it right now.
Dastassia: I don't see VZ Navigator in your calling plan anymore. I would know about AAA until your next bill came out.
adam: well all I actually do have is vz navigator.
adam: so anyway, what are we going to do about my problem, do you suggest a plan with more data and call time?
Dastassia: Please hold while I check that information.
adam: for what I'm paying verizon wireless now, I could have 4000 anytime minutes, and unlimited data.
adam: so you tell me.
adam: that's with att
Dastassia: There really isn't because most of your charges are coming from Get It Now Game Downloads.
Dastassia: It isn't browsing the Internet that is the problem.
adam: so you are telling me that my phone bill went from 73 dollars one month, then the next it is 270?
adam: from me downloading games?
adam: considering that I don't have any on my phone right now, none that required a fee anyway.
adam: I have my phone right here, now if I have to go into the local store and speak with somebody I will.. but it will only be to cancel my accounts. this is absurd.
adam: so the company just leaves recurring charges on phones even when they know that the program was not reloaded onto a new phone, even after I discussed this in the store when I purchased the new phone?
Dastassia: You a lot of 411 calls and before you purchased mobile web, you were being charged 1.99 for each time you access it.
adam: now if I actually had access to my bill I would be able to see this.
Dastassia: Do you have an online My Account?
adam: but you consolidate everything and force people to download a pdf file and scourge it for minute details.
adam: yes, I'm logged onto it right now, and I can't access any of the other information.
Dastassia: Do you see your current balance?
adam: yes, is it 0.00?
adam: that would be because I just payed it.
Dastassia: Select VIEW AND PAY BILL for me please.
adam: i'm there
Dastassia: Look to the right of the page at the top and select VIEW PAPER BILL.
adam: right, and there is the two-hundred page pdf file that you expect everyone to read.
adam: and I don't have adobe acrobat on this computer anyway.
adam: so I can't read it.
adam: but that's not my point.
adam: my point is that right now, at this moment, I only have ONE PROGRAM on my phone.
adam: and I look at my previous balance, 79.34, right?
adam: and now the current amount due of 273.37.
adam: now in that time period I had spent over 500 dollars on a new phone, NOT TO MENTION MY OTHER ACCOUNT WITH VERIZON WIRELESS!
adam: Moving on, I just want to know if it would be better for me to upgrade to an account that allows more usage or to just go with another company.
adam: I understand that I only pay my bill every few months, but it still averages to 150/month- and I also understand that part of that time I had a data package for the motorola q, and I also understand that my bill may have been pro-rated. but I don't understand why I can't get an insight as to what I should do in terms of getting my monthly bill even remotely close to the dollar amount I signed up for when I signed my contract.
Dastassia: That 273 is coming from not paying the 79.34. Really, if you didn't download games and ringtones, your bill would decrease rapidly. You wouldn't even need to upgrade your plan. If you plan on access the Internet more then that is when I'd recommend upgrading to a data package, but it won't include downloads, just access the Internet.
adam: ringtones?
adam: I have ONE!
adam: Billy Jean, which is a great song.
adam: ringback tones I have a few, one for my jewish friend, and a few others.
adam: that's basically it.
adam: Fine, I'm going to print this conversation, and then next month when I get my bill for another 165 dollars I am going to bring it to the store and say, look 'Dastassia said that if I didn't download anything my bill would be less' so I didn't download anything and magically through miscalaneous charges my bill is still the same.
Dastassia: :-) From what I saw it was mainly games. I've been there before and felt just like you're feeling now. I totally understand. A few months you had Voice overages. So if you would like to upgrade your minutes you can.
adam: No, I'm just going to wait until I get home to print out my 'paper bill' and then force a store manager to sit with me patiently for hours while he goes over every single charge on my bill with me.
adam: I'm going to bring high-lighters and red and blue pens to my local store.
adam: with a calculator that prints paper.
adam: so we can discuss it further.
adam: I think its just a racket, and I haven't decided what to do.
Dastassia: I'll be more than happy to continue with you.
adam: I know I don't download that much to justify a bill that is 120 dollars more one month then another.
adam: that's four dollars/day.
adam: so what you are saying is that I spend four bucks a day on downloads.
adam: no. sorry.
adam: that combined with overages, no.
adam: and I see my 12 dollar 800 number call? what's that about?
Dastassia: If you go back to View My Bill, scroll down and select BREAK DOWN OF USAGE CHARGES. It won't show you what you downloades, but it'll show you that something was downloaded.
Dastassia: What bill is the 12.00 800 call on?
adam: on one of the later pages, like 1/02, there is a call to a 1-877 number and the charge is over 12 dollars.
Dastassia: Let me look at that for you.
adam: this is a racket, and you know it is. I know how this stuff works, I was in business for myself, I know the game that goes here.
adam: you just placate me until I vent enough to calm down. . .then say sorry for being rude earlier, well that's not the case. I'm genuinely tired of being jacked up by your company.
adam: Maybe if you say to me, well adam, you had 77.90 in overage on your voice this month- why don't you upgrade to a 600 minute plan. that would work.
Dastassia: I honestly can't explain that to you because it says toll-free beside it. So Customer Care could credit that back. If you look up above in the chat, I did offer you to upgrade your minutes.
adam: you didn't say it convincingly enough. lets move on and upgrade my minutes here, but if you put a value on it. like hey adam, you know you've spent like 300 dollars in the past few months just on overages with voice, you should really upgrade your phone plan.
adam: that would work.
adam: damn phones.
adam: anyway, so what's the next package up that would work.
adam: the 99.99 plan looks good.
adam: I just want to actually get a bill that is 99.99
Dastassia: Let me check. Would you like unlimited data and unlimited IN and OUT text messaging?
adam: not 128.99 for charges that only an alien from another planet can understand.
adam: yes.
Dastassia: One moment.
Dastassia: The Nationwide Select 900 minutes would be 79.99 and the Nationwide Select 1350 minutes would be 99.99. I think the 900 minutes would be sufficient enough for you.
adam: I think so too.
adam: so i'm not going to download any programs or anything else and my bill is going to be 99.99.
adam: I have a feeling you are going to tell me about 5 dollar fees for txt messges.
Dastassia: You would have to add in your surcharges and taxes, but if you get the 79.99 plan, it'll be close to MAYBE 85-90 dollars a month.
Dastassia: That plan includes unlimited IN and OUT text messaging.
adam: no,I don't want vcast or 3-way calling or even voice mail for all I care.
adam: I just want a phone bill that's actually what I sign up for.
adam: so you're basically admitting that no matter what package you sign up for, your bill will ultimately be 15-20% higher?
adam: which is rediculous.
adam: it's like me saying that I could sell you a car for 20,000.00 dollars and when it comes time to sign the check it's 22,250.oo or something crazy.
adam: that's what I feel like.
Dastassia: All phone companies add surcharges and taxes. That number is just a guesstimate. It could be lower.
adam: just so you understand.
adam: so just because everyone does it, that makes it okay? So the consumer is basically forced to pay these phony cushion charges.
adam: Well anyway, if you could please upgrade me to the 900 minute plan, I would appreciate that.
Dastassia: Everything in the world comes with taxes, but with cell phones, all of them come with surcharges.
adam: You are being very helpful, I just wish that there were real solutions to this problem.
adam: I know, it's just crap.
adam: can't wait until somebody snaps up the free range wireless so I can get my free phone from google.
adam: watch verizon's stock go down the tubes.
adam: that will be my day.
Dastassia: The only thing I can do is walk you through the steps of upgrading online because I'm not allowed to change plans, or I can give you the number to Customer Care and they can do it for you.
adam: no, I have it right infront of me.
Dastassia: Select MY PLAN for me please.
adam: it keeps logging me out, hold on a second.
Dastassia: Okay. It's just because there hasn't been any activity on it in a few moments.
Dastassia: It logs you out for security matters.
adam: i removed the ring-back tones frommy plan, and I don't want assurions awful phone insurance where they send you refurbished generic phones as replacements.
Dastassia: :-) I didn't know that they did that. I thought the phones were new.
adam: yeah, they do.
adam: they don't even have the Motorola bat wings on them. they are crap.
adam: it's a joke.
adam: they should be sued for it.
adam: anyway, now I can't take those features off my plan.
Dastassia: Would you like me to take them off for you?
adam: No, I want to know why when I specifically uncheck 'Ringback Tones" for .99 cents, then I click next, it automatically rechecks it and puts it on my plan?
adam: can you explain that?
adam: no.
adam: moving on.
adam: can you please take everything off!
adam: I don't want anything on there that costs anything extra, so I mean ringback tones for 99 cents and the tec asurion for 5.99
Dastassia: It's because your phone currently has that feature now, but I can take it off. What about the mobile email for 5.00?
adam: NO!
adam: I don't want anything.
adam: wait a second.
adam: it said that mobile e-mail comes free with the package.
adam: that is included in the 9.99
adam: 99.99
adam: for free.
adam: there is a $0.00 next to the 'MOBILE EMAIL- PREMIUM PLAN
adam: '
Dastassia: It comes with the plan you're getting now, but not with the old one.
adam: so of course I want to keep it.
adam: or just include it in the 99,99 package I should say.
adam: so I just confirmed it for a future date. I want my start date for this new contract to be the first minute of the first day of february.
adam: It by default set the start date for my new contract to 2/10.
adam: I assume to screw me so they can pro-rate my bill for another cycle.
adam: I want it at 2/1
Dastassia: This plan will be on your next bill. It won't effect your contract end date.
adam: that's not what I am talking about.
adam: It said my new plan would be effective 2/10
adam: I want it effective 2/1
Dastassia: It won't be able to be effective on 2/1 because your billing cycle ends on the 9th.
adam: SO what you are basically saying, in a nutshell is that my bill next month will most likely be 150, dollars, in which case you will be losing quite a few accounts.
Dastassia: Let me see if I can change your billing cycle to the 31st. Then it will start on the 1st.
adam: This is just my phone, but in reality I pay about seventeen verizon bills monthly.
adam: I'm getting so sick of this.
Dastassia: I could only put it back to the 1st. So it will start February 2, 2008 instead. Is that okay with you?
adam: no, because the six calls I make on feb 1 will cost me dollars.
adam: they will literally pro-rate my bill for one day.
adam: whichis what, 30 minutes?
adam: and then charge me the 40 cents per minute.
Dastassia: How will it cost you?
adam: They explained it to me as a daily usage charge, anything over that will cost me the over the minute usage amount.
Dastassia: Customer Care could go in and backdate your new calling plan for you.
adam: and maybe take off that 12 dollar toll-free call?
adam: seriously?
adam: Well anyway, thankyou.
adam: You shouldn't even be working today, it's a holiday and you have to listen to me complain.
adam: I'll call customer service and talk to somebody and see if they can help me out with those few other things.
Dastassia: As long as you don't go over 450 minutes during peak hours it won't cost. They will be able to take off that 12.00 and i'll notate your account so that they will. And they can seriously back date your plan. They do it all the time to keep people from going over minutes.
adam: It's just that I know I'm a great customer and that I get treated like a piece of crap.
Dastassia: You're fine. I just understand that you're concerned about your bill and I would be too.
Dastassia: Would you like Customer Care's number?
adam: If youcould put a note on my account that says if my february bill is over 99.99 for any other reason then state and federally mandated charges I will be cancelling all of my vzw accounts, and even my awful 'Verizon Freedom' accounts for my business which should be 231.00 a month but somehow come out to over 1,000.00monthly.
adam: 611, I got it, thanks.
adam: have a good day.
Dastassia: Do you have any other questions for me?
adam: no thanks
Dastassia: Thank you for visiting Verizon Wireless, I look forward to speaking with you again. Have a great day!
adam: bye bye
adam: I am, I'm going to the beach.
adam: bye Dastassia, thanks again.




***********Thats the end. A few things I need to clear up.. Do I have more then one cell phone, yes - I do.. Do I have seventeen, well no, not quite, but it's someplace in the middle. Do I have Verizon for business, no, not any longer, but I did - and when I did my phone bills somehow magically tallied up to around 950/month. So you can understand my shortness.*****************

anyway, I'm done. Lesson being that there are really just two kinds of people in the world. I really see it as simple as this. People like me, and the other kind of people. You know what I'm talking about. You look at me and say, well I'm not like him - well you are one of them then. I look at you and say, I am not like that person. We both have our good and bads, that's about it. But in the end I don't like you and as much as you pretend, you don't like me either. Doesn't matter much anyway, all of our stories have the same ending.