Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to replace
a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But you
can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.

--
Bob D.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:25:16 GMT, "Bob D." <bobmgtd@insightbb.com>
wrote:

>FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
>Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to replace
>a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But you
>can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
>to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
>past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.

I think you'll find this to be the same with most any carrier.
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On 2005-01-09, Evan Platt <evan@TheObvious.espphotography.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:25:16 GMT, "Bob D." <bobmgtd@insightbb.com>
> wrote:
>
>>FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
>>Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to replace
>>a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But you
>>can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
>>to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
>>past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.
>
> I think you'll find this to be the same with most any carrier.

With most anything these days. My wife dropped off her ring @ Zales for
repairs, but since I was the one who bought it, and it was my name the
service contract was under, she wasnt allowed to pick it up. i had to go
get it.

--
______ ______
..-----.|__ ||__ | eXistenZ32
| -__||__ || __|
|_____||______||______|

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Evan Platt wrote:
> On Sun, 09 Jan 2005 16:25:16 GMT, "Bob D." <bobmgtd@insightbb.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
>>Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to replace
>>a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But you
>>can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
>>to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
>>past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.
>
>
> I think you'll find this to be the same with most any carrier.

And it's been the same for years. The way around this is, before there is a
problem, for the spouse whose name is on the account to call the service
provider (wireless, utility, whatever) and authorize the other spouse to talk
to the provider. Wifey and I do it on all of our utility accounts, credit card
accounts, and any other accounts where we have to be authorized to talk to the
company. Makes things a LOT easier.

I am very much in favor of companies I do business with not talking to anyone
who either isn't me, or hasn't been previously authorized to make changes to my
account. They don't do it to be jerks; they do it to protect the customer, and
to protect themselves.

Bob: if your wife is able to make a quick phone call, have her call
800-922-0204, talk to a Verizon Wireless customer service rep and give her
authorization for them to deal with you for changes/questions on the account.
The process is quick and painless (I've gone through it before).

And I hope she gets better soon.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

xman@thedripper.com wrote:
> This whole "law" or "policy" contradicts itself. Basically no one else
> besides the account holders name can make changes to the account in anyway.
> Well, isn't making a payment making an account change?

No, stupid, it isn't.

Changing an address, adding or removing services, changing plans, those are
account changes.

Of course, if you'd prefer that authorization not be required, you're welcome
to your opinion, but then anyone could screw with your account, potentially
causing problems and costing you a buttload of money.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On 2005-01-10, Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:
> xman@thedripper.com wrote:
>> This whole "law" or "policy" contradicts itself. Basically no one else
>> besides the account holders name can make changes to the account in anyway.
>> Well, isn't making a payment making an account change?
>
> No, stupid, it isn't.
>
> Changing an address, adding or removing services, changing plans, those are
> account changes.
>
> Of course, if you'd prefer that authorization not be required, you're welcome
> to your opinion, but then anyone could screw with your account, potentially
> causing problems and costing you a buttload of money.
>


My parents had problems years ago where someone got a carbon of my dads VISA
and promptly went on a spending spree. Tried to have our phones disconnected
and mail rerouted via a "change of address" form, so we'd never get bills or
calls from irate people about us not paying the bills.

They've had our utilities trapped ever since. No changes at all unless they show
up in person at the utilities office and show a drivers license.

Its whats safest for you that the companies have these checks in place. My wife was
all ticked about Zales not giving her her jewelry back from repair even though
she had the claim slip. I dont have a big problem with it. its whats safest.


--
______ ______
..-----.|__ ||__ | eXistenZ32
| -__||__ || __|
|_____||______||______|

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On 2005-01-10, Scott Stephenson <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote:
> Explain this- how can a payment result in a negatively impacting change to
> the account, as ooposed to activiating or cancelling units, changing the
> address, or changing the rate plan?
>
> Just more trollish whining.

People don't like to be proven wrong

--
______ ______
..-----.|__ ||__ | eXistenZ32
| -__||__ || __|
|_____||______||______|

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Bob D." <bobmgtd@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:MVcEd.2448$fn5.181@attbi_s01...
| FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
| Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to
replace
| a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But
you
| can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
| to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
| past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.

Do you by chance have a durable power of attorney on file with your wife's
medical providers? While intended for more critical financial matter it
would likely give you the authority to deal with VZN.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

eXistenZ32 wrote:
> On 2005-01-10, Scott Stephenson <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>>Explain this- how can a payment result in a negatively impacting change to
>>the account, as ooposed to activiating or cancelling units, changing the
>>address, or changing the rate plan?
>>
>>Just more trollish whining.
>
>
> People don't like to be proven wrong

Apparentley they're trying to discourage the people who are trying to
pay thier bills from actually doing it.

TH

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

It's not new, it's been going on for at least 2 years (probably longer). I
have two accounts - one is for my daughter at college and I went in and said
I 'wanted to change my daughter's plan' and they told me I couldn't, until
they discovered it was really my account.

She can call and put your name on the account and set levels of access you
are permitted - I did this when daughter needed a new phone and wanted to
pick it up close to her school.



"Bob D." <bobmgtd@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:MVcEd.2448$fn5.181@attbi_s01...
> FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
> Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to
> replace a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account.
> (But you can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently
> incapacitated do to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no
> problems in the past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.
>
> --
> Bob D.
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Bob D. wrote:
> FYI: If your Verizon account is in your spouse's name and you walk into a
> Verizon store, YOU ARE A COMPLETE STRANGER. You will not be able to replace
> a broken phone, buy a new one, or make any changes to the account. (But you
> can still pay the bill, evidently.) My wife is currently incapacitated do
> to illness, and I can't do a thing with Verizon. I had no problems in the
> past, Verizon is blaming it on the new privacy laws.

But the person on the account can call up CS and have another person
(say, a spouse) added to the list as one authorized to make account
changes. Obviously, there is a problem if the person on the account is
incapacitated before they authorize the other person.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Scott Stephenson wrote:
> Explain this- how can a payment result in a negatively impacting change to
> the account, as ooposed to activiating or cancelling units, changing the
> address, or changing the rate plan?

Say they write a check and it bounces and your account has a bad-check
fee, and maybe even a nasty report to a credit bureau. Such fees are not
at all uncommon.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Steve,

Unfortunately, that doesn't solve all problems. Say, for instance, you want to change what plan you're on (go from Fam-Share 400 to 800 or sign up for the 100 minute bonus), Verizon still insists on talking to the primary account holder. This is even after the other spouse has been authorized. For whatever reason, Verizon doesn't understand how to set up a joint account (or turn a single account into a joint account). Life would be much easier if they did.

My $.02,
JDB

--
Message posted via http://www.cellphonekb.com

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"JDBraun via

| | Unfortunately, that doesn't solve all problems. Say, for instance, you
want to change what plan you're on (go from Fam-Share 400 to 800 or sign up
for the 100 minute bonus), Verizon still insists on talking to the primary
account holder. This is even after the other spouse has been authorized.
For whatever reason, Verizon doesn't understand how to set up a joint
account (or turn a single account into a joint account). Life would be much
easier if they did.

Really what to mess with VZN CS mind? Mention that you live in a community
property state where all debts are considered to belong to both husband and
wife.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

O, so making a payment doesn't change anything on your account? Weird...I
make payments to mortgage company all the time and my account changes all
the time.

"Steve Sobol" <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in message
news:crshdm$fhd$1@ratbert.glorb.com...
> xman@thedripper.com wrote:
> > This whole "law" or "policy" contradicts itself. Basically no one else
> > besides the account holders name can make changes to the account in
anyway.
> > Well, isn't making a payment making an account change?
>
> No, stupid, it isn't.
>
> Changing an address, adding or removing services, changing plans, those
are
> account changes.
>
> Of course, if you'd prefer that authorization not be required, you're
welcome
> to your opinion, but then anyone could screw with your account,
potentially
> causing problems and costing you a buttload of money.
>
> --
> JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
> Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) /
sjsobol@JustThe.net
> PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
> Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

xman@thedripper.com wrote:
> O, so making a payment doesn't change anything on your account? Weird...I
> make payments to mortgage company all the time and my account changes all
> the time.

I have never dealt with any company that considers making a payment an "account
change."

"account changes" typically means changes to services provided, billing info, etc.

**SJS (not sure why I'm still wasting my time with you)

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.