Verizon Wireless Dismisses $18K Cell Phone Bill
Verizon CEO Seidelberg.....
Hope his credit isn't ruined for the next 7 years.
I agree the 18k is a bit much. but what kind of person just assumes that tethering his phone is free (when he's not paying for data)
Here in New Zealand we don't have unlimited plans; our infrastructure couldn't sustain it so if you pay for a 4 GB cap, you are metred and then cut off because if anybody tried anything like that it would simply be uncollected because we don't have oppressive credit systems like the US.
And if the carrier took to public a bill like this, both the Government & the public would laugh at the provider and tell em go suck an egg. Things like this are perceived much differently than the US where the general public happens to be public enemy number one.
If they actually had a tethering plan, there is a cap safeguard in place (has been since 2008 when unlimited tethering went away)
But they were trying to use a service WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT in any way. Something that's clearly stated in the TOS will cause them to terminate your contract and charge you serious overages for.
This would only happen in the USA. There are strict consumer laws in place like New Zealand any Europe (my home) that would prevent this from happening and if it did happen it would likely go to mediation.
Some money is better than none which is exactly what VZW is going to get. That and a lot of bad press.
If you try and cheat the system and get caught, YOU PAY. Period.
The reason there is bad press is because people are idiots who will side against companies no matter what because it thinks it helps them.
And then those same consumers will bitch when their choices are removed and suddenly things like Data plans are REQUIRED because of idiots trying to cheat the system.
Menno said:
There should not be provisions to help out consumers trying to cheat the system.
If you try and cheat the system and get caught, YOU PAY. Period.
The reason there is bad press is because people are idiots who will side against companies no matter what because it thinks it helps them.
And then those same consumers will bitch when their choices are removed and suddenly things like Data plans are REQUIRED because of idiots trying to cheat the system.
Why are you assuming it is always the consumer trying to cheat the system? The consumer here (Europe or NZ) would have to pay. But the charges assumed would be sent to mediation because the 18,000 fee isn't a collectable debt.
That is t...
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Verizon offered to work on the debt with them, they outright refused to pay it, insisting it should be free. Verizon still cut it in half (they were NEVER asked to pay the full 18k that was sensationalism given by the media), and if they went to work with verizon, they could've had it solved. but instead they spent FOUR YEARS refusing to pay a cent, until some writer smelled a story and promised them publicity in exchange for an exclusive.
These people WERE at fault, and now they're getting off because all people see is the shock number, and not everything else, not even the other information OPENLY presented...
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On the other side I will agree that 18K is steep they could have at-least prorated the charges over to a data plan I know their are limitations to that. They did try to work with them but since we get mostly one side of the story we don't know if he tried to work out anything with Verizon.
Fault index...
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You are, after all, just a consumer who wants the government to hold your hand so you never have to claim responsibility for any of your actions, right?
That makes your ignorance a lot greater
There is a difference between helping people and encouraging bad behavior.
In this case, I hope his credit rating is shot. He waited FOUR YEARS to do anything about this bill
Menno said:
I said that he shouldn't be let off the hook.
In this case, I hope his credit rating is shot. He waited FOUR YEARS to do anything about this bill
I understand your point but keep in mind that that anti-consumer viewpoints no matter how retarded tend to come full circle.
Verizon Wireless is as responsible as the consumer. There is an effective limit as to potential charges and this is one of them.
Usuage charges are acceptable if they are reasonable. This situation they are not.
In this case, tethering it to his computer WITHOUT paying for any data plan.
This isn't an anti-consumer viewpoint. This is an anti-moron standpoint.
Idiots shouldn't be cuddled, because it hurts ALL consumers eventually.
The kid most likely knew exactly what he was doing. Kind of like the kids who torrent all their movies and music downloads and then try and cry wolf when someone calls them on it.
Kids that age assume everything is free because they're selfish, not because they're ignorant of the actual costs.
He was old enough to get BEER, and yet you're still calling him a child?
and the father admitted that he and the son used the tethering TOGETHER. meaning he was totally aware.
Aka, the father and the son were idiots, they should have some consequences
Menno said:
I hope it is.
I agree the 18k is a bit much. but what kind of person just assumes that tethering his phone is free (when he's not paying for data)
It was his 22 yr old kid.
Menno said:
he was with his son when they were tethering
But $18k? That's vulgar. I'd tell Verizon to blow a goat and then I'd hire a lawyer.
FYI, verizon NEVER asked them to pay the 18k. the most they asked was for 9k (still high, I know, but the 18k is a fallacy)
And the key thing is, he DIDN'T hire a lawyer, he DIDN'T contact anyone (I'm willing to be the journalist offered to pay for the story) he just said NO and refused to pay anything, refused (as far as we know) to work out anything, or try to work out anything, with verizon.
He just sat on the charges expecting them to go away if he ignored them
Menno said:
and again, I didn't say the 18k was proper.
FYI, verizon NEVER asked them to pay the 18k. the most they asked was for 9k (still high, I know, but the 18k is a fallacy)
And the key thing is, he DIDN'T hire a lawyer, he DIDN'T contact anyone (I'm willing to be the journalist offered to pay for the story) he just said NO and refused to pay anything, refused (as far as we know) to work out anything, or try to work out anything, with verizon.
He just sat on the charges expecting them to go away if he ignored them
Good for him. Sometimes I guess you've just gotta do nothing and hope for the best. And in this case it won out.
Menno said:
It's not right that he can use his device like that and then not pay a cent of it. Do I think he should have to pay the 9k? no. But he shouldn't get off because of mob mentality.
Letting people get away with this kind of behavior which was and is illegal anyway just encourages the next would be criminal to go ahead and try, after all no one is held responsible in the end so what is to discourage the next one from trying a similar stunt? No one need take responsibility any more for their own actions since our culture apparently condones irresponsible behavior but where will it all end?
Menno said:
It's not right that he can use his device like that and then not pay a cent of it. Do I think he should have to pay the 9k? no. But he shouldn't get off because of mob mentality.
He got off because even Verizon recognized the ridiculousness of $18k in data charges.
Menno said:
so what? so 18k was too high. why was it wiped clean?
1) Because Verizon knew it would never collect.
and
2) It was just bad publicity for Verizon.
2) because the customer refused to go into mediation/arbitration for 4 YEARS until he could find someone to publish his selfish tale.
again, 9k was too high. Doesn't mean they should get off with no repercussions. all that is telling people is that as long as your mistake is LARGE enough, you'll never have to pay for it
Menno said:
1) Then go into mediate, as per the ToS
2) because the customer refused to go into mediation/arbitration for 4 YEARS until he could find someone to publish his selfish tale.
again, 9k was too high. Doesn't mean they should get off with no repercussions. all that is telling people is that as long as your mistake is LARGE enough, you'll never have to pay for it
Listen, the guy didn't want to pay and shouldn't have to pay. Screw Verizon for thinking it was going to squeeze $18k out of the guy.
and again, they NEVER, let me repeat that, NEVER asked him for 18k. They offered to cut the rate in half to 9, he refused, but they cut it anyway and sent the 9 to collections.
They wanted him to go into arbitration to work something out. the end result would be a lot lower than the 9k they DID initially ask him for.
It's not an all or nothing thing. Just because he shouldn't have to pay the full amount doesn't mean ...
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Menno said:
So I can go into a store, burn the mens department, and then get out of assuming responsibility because I don't feel like paying, and I didn't know cloths burned that fast?
Burning down the men's department at JCPenney is a little different (loss of life).
Verizon charged this guy $18k for data. Ridiculous.
and how much they charged doesn't matter. again, all this is saying is that if you're going to get overages, make sure you go for the gold, cause you'll never be held responsible.
Not to mention that it's going to seriously backlash against people with smaller overages (tougher arbitration, mandatory data fees, etc)
Menno said:
there doesn't need to be anyone in the store when it burns. It's not different. I destroyed (used) product without paying for it.
and how much they charged doesn't matter. again, all this is saying is that if you're going to get overages, make sure you go for the gold, cause you'll never be held responsible.
Not to mention that it's going to seriously backlash against people with smaller overages (tougher arbitration, mandatory data fees, etc)
Buddy, we obviously don't agree. So let's just leave it at that, okay? Okay.
This forum is closed.