Stupid Verizon

[tractor]

No, I don't have any issues with them. However I went in tonight to pay my bill and ask a couple of questions, only two customers were there, me and one very pissed off lady.

It seems she was given a phone by her sister a year or so ago, and it was hers as long as she paid the bill. Seemed simple enough, she claims she paid her bill every month. She wanted a new phone, and Verizon informed her that the previous owner (her sister) had a past due balance of $500 on the phone so they wouldn't give her a new one until that was paid off. She was getting louder and louder, it wasn't her debt, she paid her portion of the phone bill every month. She demanded they give her a new phone then go after her sister for the outstanding balance. They kept trying to explain that when she took over the contract from her sister, she was liable for any debt that came with the phone.

I felt sorry for the Verizon guy, no mater how many different ways he tried to explain it, she just didn't understand and it was his fault, not hers. Lesson learned, don't assume anybody's phone contract without making sure they paid their bill.

[toomuchreality]

Ugh.  This kind of thing happens way too often.  People assume the person they are 'taking over from'  is in good standing (paid in full) and that they will keep their part paid in full.  In most cases, one of the parties does not keep up their end of the deal.

Having worked in customer service, credit and collections, I understand this all too well. I cannot think of anyone I would go into such an arrangement with. There's a reason they don't just get service in their own name.

I feel bad for the Verizon employee also. You can bet the lady did understand what he said. She just wanted him to agree with her, so she could get her way. My guess is, it's not the first time her sister has done this sort of thing and she didn't want to have to deal with her again.

I'm glad it's not me!

[tskeeter]

Yup.  Sis couldn't pay the cell phone bill each month, so she passed the phone and the payment obligation along to a sibling.  How much do you want to bet that in addition to having a past due balance, the account is still in the original customer's name?

[dannylion]

People are stupid.

[whoami]

My guess is sister had a line added to the account and paid her line either directly to sister or Verizon, neither of which has anything to do with who owns the account.

I dont understand why she didnt just get her own account in her own name.  You can keep your number these days and they have leasing programs so you can pay $10 a month for the rest of your life if you want the latest and greatest phones. 

I have been added as an agent (think that was the terminology) to our Sprint account which allows me to take care of things in store (which is a rare occurance). Prior to that only DH could sign for anyones new phones/contract as he was the owner of the account.  I added my 24 yo son as an agent as well so he could go in and take care of his new phones etc. He remains on our account as its a bit cheaper and pays me once a year for his share. Any phones etc is taken care of by him at the time of purchase. 

[TheOtherMe]

I could not work in customer service.

[toomuchreality]

HA!  I loved working in customer service, most of the time.  Most people are not that stupid, rude, hard to work with, esp once they understand you are trying to help them. It's those rare few, that push things over the top and when they do, they usually do it in a BIG way. Those are tough to deal with.

I always try to be extra nice to the person helping me. You never know what they have access to, that could have a major impact (positive, or negative) on your life, or your business. And you never really know how you have impacted them.
I don't want to be someone's final straw (so to speak).

When I was a secretary, with little, to no customer service, I was bored out of my mind. It was way to quiet and predictable.

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2016 23:41:49 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

HA!  I loved working in customer service, most of the time.  Most people are not that stupid, rude, hard to work with, esp once they understand you are trying to help them. It's those rare few, that push things over the top and when they do, they usually do it in a BIG way. Those are tough to deal with.

I always try to be extra nice to the person helping me. You never know what they have access to, that could have a major impact (positive, or negative) on your life, or your business. And you never really know how you have impacted them.
I don't want to be someone's final straw (so to speak).

When I was a secretary, with little, to no customer service, I was bored out of my mind. It was way to quiet and predictable.

I was buying groceries a few months ago, I'd already stood in line and then lady in line in front of me got to the register and was being difficult, she had the cashier and the bagger running around like chickens, checking this, going to get more of that. It took a while to get her taken care of. The other cashiers had lines, so there was no point in moving. I was really irritated, because I hate waiting, but moreso with the customer than the employees. This store is usually pretty good about not having their customers stand in lines waiting to check out.

When the cashier finally started ringing up my items, she said she appreciated my patience and she was going to give me 10% off my order. I had over $100 worth of stuff and I told her, well I also have some coupons (one of them was for $10 off $100 worth of groceries). I'd never had a cashier do that and I didn't want her to get in trouble over the discount. She said the coupons were fine too. Being pleasant instead of letting my irritation show save me a few extra bucks that day.

[toomuchreality]

That's  AWESOME! 

Bonus to you!