We all know the problem of USPS losing devices sent via Verizon's prepaid shipping labels is rampant. There are dozens on comments on threads in this forum regarding the issue. However it seems like there are ways to twit Verizon's arm into cancelling the fee for devices sent vis USPS that never turn up at the VZN processing center.

My story is just like everyone else. My defective phone needed to be replaced, they sent the replacement, I packed up the defective phone in the designated box and affixed the Verizon provided USPS label to the box. I work in lower Manhattan and believe it or not our local post office has only just recently regained full functionality post Hurricane Sandy so like most people here I avoid those locations as much as possible. Instead the package was taken to the main post office in Manhattan. I didn't even know getting a ticket of receipt from USPS was an option, the counter clerks never offered that information, if only I'd known! Though with a tracking number you assume there won't be an issue. Of course, I was naive and wrong! Three weeks later I personally called Verizon to make sure they'd gotten the phone when I got a text reminding me to send the device. There was no information but the rep assured me that sometimes it takes time to show up in the system. I then started getting messages more frequently and turned to my tracking number and USPS. Not surprisingly there was nothing USPS could do. The branch manager at my local USPS confirmed that it's extremely common for USPS to NOT scan tracking bar codes and subsequently lose a package. I followed their procedure and filed a missing parcel report. I have followed up with USPS on this and they told me it could take as long as a year to recover my package. My father who "owns" our family plan went to his local store in NC and spoke with managers there they were entirely unhelpful. I spent five (yes, 5) hours on the phone with Verizon customer service and the best the could offer me was a mailing address to send a written complaint to. The snarky Customer Service rep also volunteered that he was fine with it if I wanted to yell and scream and curse at him, that he loved it with customers "(removed) him out". Seriously? That's what you call customer service Verizon. You provided me a mailing service for your device. The mailing service lost my item as it has for countless other customers thus you are charging me $500. Clearly if I'm willing to spend this much time on the issue I'm not a thief and I'm insulted to be treated as such by a company I have been a customer of for well over a decade. I refuse to pay this fee when I have been a loyal customer and never missed a payment. This is the first time I've ever had to use the warranty option. Clearly the flaw is Verizon's system NOT the consumer!

So here is what I HAVE done:

1. Filed a complain with The Better Business Bureau.

2. Prepared a letter to send to their mail in CS center

3. I will attempt to e-mail Nancy B. Clark (Sr. Vice Pres of Operation Excellence) and Lowell C. McAdam (CEO) per "hints" I found on an Android service forum.

4. I'm debating contacting Gawker media. The issue is well documented in customer forums so why haven't we as consumers banded together to expose Verizon's lack of customer care?

What have YOU done to remedy this situation and get the erroneous charge removed from your bill for good?

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