Hi all,

I am new here and don't know where I should plant this discussion thread so please forgive me. I'll happily move it if someone will help me out. Thanks!

Here is why I ask my question. I am still an AT&T customer but wanted to augment my cell phone coverage so after asking a neighbor, I decided to give Verizon a try. I picked up a prepaid device at the local Wallyworld, put $20 on it, got a phone number and when I started figuring out how to use it, and because the box doesn't list what it does and does not do, only later do I see it has no videocam. Shoot. I return it a few days later. So now I have a Verizon phone number but no device.

I order a Verizon branded LG phone from Amazon for about $50. It has all the features I need but it proves defective. Sigh. I order a different device, and when I consulted with Verizon tech support about the problems it was demonstrating they suggested I send it back. SIGH!

BTW, I'm sure I'm not alone in this experience: Verizon Eva. The automated female answer voice at their 800-922-0204. I call her Eva because she reminds me of Eva Braun. She is programmed to say "I see we're having a problem. Goodbye." So Verizon wants nothing to do with fixing the problem, rather than sending me to a human, Verizon hangs up on me. I did get a few human agents, in America no less (whew), a few calls back who were actually rather nice. But not any since, and I still have money sitting on the account.

Because I have to use my AT&T phone to call Verizon for help, it costs me money to talk to them for help with their service. Verizon has no shame, apparently. (I simply don't use the phone day in/day out enough to justify having an unlimited plan, so neener.)

So I am still without a device.

In the meantime, I buy a new device for my AT&T phone number, and now my old Samsung Strive is sitting here still good but it is locked to AT&T, and I have a spare Verizon phone number but Verizon is uninterested in helping me get it onto their system. I did check the MEID on their system but because it is locked to AT&T, the last agent, Apathetic Jeff, acted like he was bored with the problem and tried to just sell me another phone.

I'm going to wait a few days for any replies I get here that might help me unlock the phone* so I can try to use up the funds still sitting unused on the phone number. Considering how little interest Verizon has shown in my business, and how terrible the 800 Eva is (won't hear requested number entries, won't just give me a human, etc), I will not keep the phone number.

*If you have used an unlock code supplier, please tell me who you used. I've seen rates from $6 for a code all the way up to $50 . Since Apathetic Jeff tried to suggest the unlocked Strive won't work on Verizon just to get a sale, I think he fibbed.

If I don't hear from anyone, I'm going to consider the unused money a loss and that will explain my user name:

RobbedByVerizon

And I'll just buy an AT&T SIM card for the Strive and spend my money with them.

AND, AT&T charges only 10c/min, 20c/text, while Verizon charges 25c/min, 20c/text. I was going to upgrade to an unlimited plan with Verizon, but even if I am able to get the Samsung unlocked and put a Verizon SIM in it, I'll only use it to text.