Verizon — Local services in North Hampton

I was offered a discounted upgrade to my cell phone by email from Verizon Wireless around the beginning of March 2022.

I'd been with them for five plus years. My phone was over four years old, so I responded and went to the local Verizon store in North Hampton. I am 71 years old and have physical and mental disabilities.

The sales person got one new phone out and began setting it up. He asked me if I owned a business, I said "yes".

Without another word, he got another new phone out and began setting it up. He disconnected my existing phone. I asked him what he was doing, saying "I only want one phone". He said "your employees deserve to have new phones too."

He was sweating profusely and his hands were shaking. He could not get the new phones activated. He presented me with several bills to sign, they were over $ 600. I objected and he said "don't worry about the money, you will get rebates".

I asked for another salesperson, and again stated I only wanted to upgrade my one phone. The first sales person kept bringing out cases, headphones and accessories and adding them to the bill. I said "Stop!, I want everything cancelled and put back the way it was!"

By then I had all the sales people in the store trying to help. They said, "you cannot back out now". I insisted, as I was extremely uncomfortable. Finally they cancelled the Orders. My existing cell phone was dead. They said it would "come back on in a while". It never did.

After a half dozen phone calls to Verizon Tech support, I was able to make calls, but my voicemail never worked again. I went with another provider, Mint. After another half dozen calls to Verizon, I final got confirmation that I was getting this Fraudulent Order cancelled and the $ 630 bill was refunded.

Then Verizon closed my account and sent it to Collections. My Credit Monitoring report said my Score dropped from Excellent (805) to Fair (660).

I called them and asked what I had to do to remove this from my Credit Report. They said they could not do that, and demanded payment. This had been incredibly upsetting, I am looking for work, Employers routinely check credit reports, I am afraid this will hurt my chances of getting another job.

Today I went back to the Verizon store to ask if I could settle my account and have the negative mark removed from my Credit. The salesperson said "It has gone to Collections, we can't do anything. I recalled Collections and they said "We don't report to Credit bureaus, you have to deal with Verizon".

I was taken advantage of by Verizon/Cellular Sales, who unilaterally closed my Account, and my phone, which never worked properly after the Store visit. My Excellent credit was ruined by them sending my Account to Collections.

I'm filing Complaints with the New Hampshire Attorney General, The Federal Trade Commission, and the Rip Off Report.

When I find an Attorney to take this matter, will file in District Court.

Update: I got an answer from Cellular Sales, stating "we strive for excellence, please contact our customer Service". After two calls, and an hour on hold, I was told to call Verizon, the representative saying "there's nothing we can do"?

Excellence for Cellular sales is loading up customers with hundreds of dollars in unwanted equipment, destroying their existing phones functionality, canceling their service, and blowing their Credit Scores out of the water..then denying, deflecting and rolling out a stream of lies.

If you walk into this Store, they will try to work you over!

Do...

Went in to buy the iPhone X and paid the crazy high price for it, that was of course my choice. When I was in picking up the phone they were unable to get everything from my old phone onto my new one. We sat for a while trying to make it work and it came to a point where I just downloaded and app and got my contacts over and about 50% of my contacts. Gave up at the store and decided to just leave. When I looked at my receipt there was a charge for $40 for new phone set up and transfer (charging for transferring my stuff over from the old phone to the new) since they couldn’t provide that service I asked that the charge be removed. They denied and after going back and forth the manager also denied to refund the $40. I offered to just get a store credit in which I would have bought a case or something but no dice. $40 isn’t the end of the world, but the refusal to give it back irritates me. I’m the type that if I’m treated right will send many people to a store restaurant or any location. But if treated wrong I will make sure my business and the business of my network of business and family friends is taken elsewhere. For $40 I will never go back into the location, poor poor business...

I didn't realize this was NOT a Verizon factory store and it IS IMPORTANT! (and I have nothing to do with the Wireless or the phone industry) I needed to upgrade at the end of my contract so I stopped in to review my options and see what it would cost to upgrade 2 iPhones and another line. Told me my 4 and 4s were worth $100 and $150 towards new phones.The guy really tried to change my plan which was working just fine for us and then was very disappointed that I would not do it right then and there after spending 20 minutes with him. OK, we'll assume they're on commission. I took his card and left a bit confused about the plans and fees. Decided to wait a month, when I came back, he was not there and spoke to Madison, she informed me that my phones were worth $20 and $80!! Are you kidding me!?!? Said one got wet. 10 minutes later, we left. I travelled to Apple store in mall - both phones are fine, just can't get loyalty discount in Apple store on my account. Next day, went to REAL Verizon store - Received $100 and $200 credit for good condition iPhones as expected. Verizon almost lost a long term customer due to this...