Dont' die...with Verizon
This incident happened just as stated, just for any Verizon reps who may want to discredit my story. I think other people should know how Verizon treats survivors of a deceased account holder:
I've just been through more-than-hell with Verizon. I had been a satisfied, on-time-paying customer with them for over 4 years!
My spouse died unexpectedly and the billing was not in my name; I HAD signed the original sales agreement and equipment agreement with an agent for Verizon. I live in a community property state and am the sole heir to everything my spouse had.
I foolishly called to change the name on the account and report the death and was told I'd have to sign a NEW contract, even though technically I didn't have a contract (...
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I've just been through more-than-hell with Verizon. I had been a satisfied, on-time-paying customer with them for over 4 years!
My spouse died unexpectedly and the billing was not in my name; I HAD signed the original sales agreement and equipment agreement with an agent for Verizon. I live in a community property state and am the sole heir to everything my spouse had.
I foolishly called to change the name on the account and report the death and was told I'd have to sign a NEW contract, even though technically I didn't have a contract (...
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I don't mean to be rude, but there are two sides to every story. I agree that you probably shouldn't have tried to mess with it. I would have thought you could have just canceled if you wanted to... since it was out of contract. I do see what they are saying about changes or whatever. I mean anytime you make changes like a calling plan it is going to extend your contract. As for the $400 bill. Obviously those were made or received or whatever. I don't understand how customers think they get those bill and didn't make the calls. I'm sure they would have worked with you.. but there are probably guidelines on when it gets sent over to collections. People think a company will just sit around and wait on them forever.
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I think you misread my message--I know the charges were mine, was just surprised by it, and not having any income, all I could do was pay current charges. I continued to pay, but technically, a dead person can't pay bills; and with Verizon's attitude towards me just for being honest, I felt I was going more than meeting them halfway. I could have just stopped paying the bill and let Verizon try to collect from a dead person, you know?
And I did not "expect Verizon to wait on me forever", I called them every month to keep in touch and kept inquiring on the contract name change...to no avail. Of course, all the while, paying.
Yes, Verizon agreed that I could pay current charges and they would work with me. I talked to many reps, and...
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And I did not "expect Verizon to wait on me forever", I called them every month to keep in touch and kept inquiring on the contract name change...to no avail. Of course, all the while, paying.
Yes, Verizon agreed that I could pay current charges and they would work with me. I talked to many reps, and...
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I understand what you're saying. You always run in to problems when dealing with a large company with so many employees. They all learn things in a different way and it's hard to keep up with policies that are constantly changing. Chances are the reps you talked to didn't really know when and how an account would be suspended or turned over to collections. That could be some automated process that had no idea you had made an agreement with the reps on paying. It may have somehow met a certain criteria and been done.
I'm with you on the name change.. not sure why it was so hard. I would think there should be some kind of policy on getting financial repsonsibility changed in situations like that. A contract extension or renew however...
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I'm with you on the name change.. not sure why it was so hard. I would think there should be some kind of policy on getting financial repsonsibility changed in situations like that. A contract extension or renew however...
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It is very easy to get the financial responsibility changed. In this situation it would have just required a copy of the death certificate and a renewal of the contract for one year. The new contract is required for any change of liability, it is part of the deal of VZW allowing you to change the name on the acct. Otherwise you would have to get a new number. If you indeed were a 4 year customer, one more year should not have been a big deal. Sorry you do not like the policy, but that is the policy.
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As for the death certificate, I didn't get them for 2 mos., and I even offered one (as I had to other companies), and was told by Verizon that it wasn't necessary. All other creditors didn't require one either when I offered.
I was sent a new contract, and was told at that time, it was only a formality--and that I could still keep my terms, including not technically having a contract (no early term. fee, etc.). Over the months as I kept in touch, the story changed about the terms of the contract and that I'd really be signing a new one with early term. fees, etc.--so maybe some reps were uninformed?
Problem was, by the time it arrived, I had received my bill with over $400 in charges. The terms of the new contract stated that the na...
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I was sent a new contract, and was told at that time, it was only a formality--and that I could still keep my terms, including not technically having a contract (no early term. fee, etc.). Over the months as I kept in touch, the story changed about the terms of the contract and that I'd really be signing a new one with early term. fees, etc.--so maybe some reps were uninformed?
Problem was, by the time it arrived, I had received my bill with over $400 in charges. The terms of the new contract stated that the na...
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It is true that you can't make any changes to an account... add a line, upgrade sometimes, do a fru... when you have a past due balance. That's just policy.
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I agree. I even tried going into my local store, but they said I would have to talk to the Financial Dept. (which I had already been doing), and their hands were tied.
It's unfortunate that it turned out the way it did. ☹️
It's unfortunate that it turned out the way it did. ☹️
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First off let me say that I'm sorry for your loss. I'm writing to let you know that if you wanted to cancel the account due to your spouse dying, Verizon Wireless would've been able to complete that transaction for you with the copy of the death certificate. If you are looking to keep the same number you have had for 4 years, it would take a AOL (assumption of liability) which for the most part in your situation is farely easy. I'm sorry that you felt mistreated that isn't the way Verizon Wireless wants our customers to feel. Someone said that this is the way larger companies treat you, incase you aren't aware of all the good things this "Big Company" does, maybe you should look into it. Walk into a local store and see a drop box for yo...
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Thanks for your condolences.
Verizon canceled and closed my account without my approval--they didn't give me a choice. As stated earlier, even though I paid every month (as we agreed upon), I was turned over to a collection agency; and at that time, they terminated my service. Guess I just talked to the wrong people. They refused to reopen or give me a new contract so I could keep my old numbers (said I'd have new numbers with a new contract).
Verizon canceled and closed my account without my approval--they didn't give me a choice. As stated earlier, even though I paid every month (as we agreed upon), I was turned over to a collection agency; and at that time, they terminated my service. Guess I just talked to the wrong people. They refused to reopen or give me a new contract so I could keep my old numbers (said I'd have new numbers with a new contract).
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Question? If the account was not in your name, how could they send you to collections. They would not have you social or anything? Or do they hold the spouse liable for the account?
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They don't hold the spouse liable for anything with Verizon Wireless. Regardless of community property states. I think that ladies story is unfortunate but does not add up.
Yes it could have stayed in her husbands name if she never called in..they would not know any better. But once she did state that her spouse is deceased payment is no longer necessary. What they will do his put the account on a suspend for death, send a letter, she will sign it stating he is deceased not needing a death certificate. Then she would have two choices...one disconnect line of service or two do a billing responsibility change. Where they would run credit and transfer into her name the line of service. All other bills up to that point would just be written ...
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Yes it could have stayed in her husbands name if she never called in..they would not know any better. But once she did state that her spouse is deceased payment is no longer necessary. What they will do his put the account on a suspend for death, send a letter, she will sign it stating he is deceased not needing a death certificate. Then she would have two choices...one disconnect line of service or two do a billing responsibility change. Where they would run credit and transfer into her name the line of service. All other bills up to that point would just be written ...
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That is why i asked, i kinda of thought it would be hard to hold someone liable when they die? Legally i don't think you could hold the spouse responsible
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I live in California, which is a community-property state. In case of divorce, if one spouse runs up $100,000 in credit card debt before the divorce is final and runs off to Africa when the divorce finalizes, the remaining spouse is legally liable for the account. It has happened to some friends.
It may be the same for a death.
Any CA lawyers out there?
It may be the same for a death.
Any CA lawyers out there?
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Knowing what I know now, I could have probably just not paid it since a dead person's credit record is moot.
But this is a community property state and I was declared sole heir, and responsible for paying off any debts.
That's what upset me when I was paying in good-faith and trying to do the right thing to keep the account active.
But this is a community property state and I was declared sole heir, and responsible for paying off any debts.
That's what upset me when I was paying in good-faith and trying to do the right thing to keep the account active.
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