Stiffed on the last bill

[Sergei]

Switched recently to a different carrier, ported the number and got an  unpleasant surprise as a parting gift from Verizon Wireless. My last billing cycle was 8/24 - 9/23, and I put a request to switch on Sept. 6: on Sept 7 I was already using the new company. My bill was already paid through 9/23, and I expected to get a refund for the unused days in the billing cycle.

But when I got the the last bill, it was just showing 0 balance, and no refund due. I called customer service, but just could not get any explanation from them: the first person was trying to convince me that the last bill was for 7/24-8/23; the second one acknowledged that yes, I paid the bill through 9/23, but they have to keep the lines active to port the numbers, so I was charged for the whole month.

When asked directly, she admitted that if I just terminated the service, without porting the numbers to a different carrier, I would be refunded money for  the rest of the billing cycle, so I would end up paying about $37 for the days I used, instead of $117.55 I paid. Quite a steep implicit "fee" for porting the numbers to a different carrier. Or should I say penalty?

Memo to myself: always switch or cancel  close to the end of the billing cycle; even if they stiff you at the end, it would be for a small amount. But maybe if you switch too close to the end of the cycle, they will find a reason to carry over to the next one?

ST

[#2]

If you ported out before your next cycle you owe nothing. If the port takes place after that date. You get hit with a months charges. They (Verizon) does not refund for partial months of paid service. But as you said, "You learned something"

[crelin]

The last representative was also mistaken in what they told you.  Unless you disconnect under thw worry free guarantee, marginal coverage, death or other similar reason - you are billed to the end of the current billing cycle, regardless of when you initiated the port or opted to just simply disconnect.  It's in the customer agreement you can read by looking for the "Customer Agreement" link at the bottom of the page.

[#4]

It is to your bill closing date. If my service is January 5th. to February 4 I can and have ported out a line of service BEFORE the 4th. of February. ( I would owe only if the port occurs AFTER February 4th.) but it did not since I ported out 10 days before the bill closing date. Time I already paid for through February 4th. (Using examples)

[crelin]

which is exactly what I stated - you were billed through to the end of that cycle (february 4th) I didn't say you were billed afterwards - you were already billed - but you were billed through to the end of the current bill cycle you were in.

[#6]

I understood that. however it applies not to me but the original poster.

that is why in my original reply I stated if *after* the closing date, another month is owed by him/her.

the poster was lied to by verizon in that he was told a over payment would be given. Verizon does not refund on time left or time paid for a month you will not ever use.

It was not a slight towards you. I just used an example to clarify

[crelin]

Sorry, I was confused since it was labelled as a direct reply to me.

[Sergei]

I just looked at the customer agreement here http://yourguide.vzw.com/legal/customer-agreement/

and did not find anything about being billed through the end of the billing cycle. Maybe it is somewhere in a different document that one would need to spend time and effort to look for. They definitely do not spell this out, maximizing every dime they squeeze from customers moving out: if they spell this out everybody would time disconnecting to the end of the billing cycle.

And about the difference between cancelling service and porting it out, it is not something I invented, it is what a customer service rep said to me.

[rcschnoor]

The following is in the customer agreement you linked:

"After the porting is completed, you won’t be able to use our service for that number, but you’ll remain responsible for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other cancellation."

Didn't take much effort for me to find.

[Sergei]

Yes, stupid of me not to notice. I read the customer agreement quite a few years ago when I first signed in with the Verizon, but not recently. Definitely, I've been with the same company for too long. 

I recall that long time ago when you cancel the service the last month' charges were usually prorated: cable, landline phone, internet, and I think the wireless. If I recall correctly  that was the case when I switched from ATT wireless to Verizon wireless long time ago.

But now probably everybody insists on you paying through the end of the billing cycle, or are there still some exceptions?

It is interesting that they usually prorate the first moth charges, because they want to have the new customers happy. The same is when you add services, they prorate the new charges for the incomplete billing cycle.