Fee fraud and deception pattern
CBW03
Enthusiast - Level 2

Deception and fraud seem to be woven throughout Verizon business practices. Beware! Deception 1: People respond to posts with fellow customer-type names like Ann154 or flutterfly8497, but they are working for Verizon as the first line of Verizon deflection of complaints.  Deception 2: A store labeled Verizon Wireless wireless, selling only Verizon products and using only Verizon logos, is still a 3rd party store just like Radio Shack or Costco, allowing Verizon to duck out of responsibility for errors. Deception 3: A Verizon Wireless wireless store that is a Premium Retailer, authorized to charge upgrade fees, still shields Verizon from responsibility in the event of (apparent) mistakes. The Premium Retailer I bought a phone from listed 'Upgrade fee' on my receipt, and showed $0.00 as the fee. I then had the fee sneaked onto my bill by Verizon.  Fraud: The fee was disclosed to me on my receipt as zero. Verizon then charged me for it. They claim this is the (Premium) retailers mistake. I paid, I sighed a receipt that said zero. This was not a failure to disclose. It was fraud to state zero, and then be charged.

I have written by mail to Verizon, I have gotten into cumbersome communications via private messaging with an identified Verizon rep, I find more layers of deception and bad business practice.

Labels (1)
Tags (2)
0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
rcschnoor
Legend

Simply because users try to get information out of you in order to determine whether or not you were charged correctly does not make them Verizon employees. Verizon employees are clearly labeled as such.

In your earlier thread which can be seen here, you were asked several times what the address of the store was so that it could be determined if you made your purchase at a Verizon Corporate Store. You failed to reveal the address, yet stated more than once that it was a Verizon Corporate Store, not a 3rd party. You are now saying you made the purchase at a Premium Retailer. A Premium Retailer IS NOT a Verizon Corporate Store, but simply a 3rd party retailer. They are unable to charge the upgrade fee at the point of sale and it was correctly added to your next bill. A Verizon employee even stated as much, to which you again replied that the purchase was made at a Verizon Corporate Store.

It is not a Premium Retailer's mistake, they are unable to charge the upgrade fee at the point of sale. It MUST be added to your next bill.

Good luck.

0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
CBW03
Enthusiast - Level 2

I gave the location of the store to the Customer service person directly. Turns out that though labeled Verizon Wireless wireless (not Radio Shack etc), they are indeed a third party -- hence the deception. Yes, I thought mistakenly that a place using Verizon Wireless logos, selling only Verizon products, was a corporate store -- my mistake, I was successfully deceived! They ARE authorized to charge the upgrade fee, however, especially as Premium Retailers. Regardless, they list it on their receipt as an item, and charged zero. Nowhere did it say this would be added to my bill. This is the fraud part.

I realize that the people with "customer" names responding to posts are not actual Verizon employees, but I assume they are freelancers of some sort. At least I hope so, for their sakes.

0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
rcschnoor
Legend

And anyone on these forums would have been able to let you know it was not a Corporate Store simply by entering the address into the Store Locator at the top of the page.

You would be mistaken again, then, as ONLY Corporate Verizon Wireless Stores are able to charge the upgrade fee at the point of sale. 3rd party retailers, even Premium Retailers, are unable to do so.

0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
CBW03
Enthusiast - Level 2

Yes indeed they would have, as I finally did, too, discovering, as noted by others elsewhere, that Verizon has these 3rd party retailers masquerading as Verizon stores.

Meanwhile, I sent the paperwork showing the fee line (not omitting it, as one might expect, if they were't allowed to charge it, nor noting anywhere that it would be due later) to Verizon customer service and to legal.  I'll wait for a response from them. Yes, I anticipate that their response will be "customer is wrong again," but I'll wait for that, then decide whether to take further action with others who have contacted me, or to finally switch carriers.

0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
flutterfly8497
Specialist - Level 3

Well, I do not now nor have I ever worked for Verizon....but I did work for a cell phone company at one time, and that is how I know the issues that come up with third party or authorized retailers. I never said it is a valid way for VZW to duck responsibility, because in my opinion if a "3rd party authorized retailer" makes constant mistakes then Big Red needs to pull their products, or at the very least retrain employees. The fact that I inquired about the nature of the store was only because I do know that it can be very difficult to distinguish a "corporate" store from a "3rd party" retailer. Perhaps I misinterpreted your post to suggest you were seeking input and assistance on this peer forum. So I apologize if I offended you by asking questuons relevant to your post, and I would appreciate it if you would address me privately if you feel I am being inappropriate rather than creating a new post to bash your fellow customers.

0 Likes
Re: Fee fraud and deception pattern
flutterfly8497
Specialist - Level 3

I also do not "freelance" for Verizon. Although I can see how understanding my wireless service and trying to assist another customer who doesn't might be misinterpreted that way. I was just trying to provide input, I didn't expect to have my integrity attacked.

0 Likes