I got a notification from a credit bureau today saying that a new account had been opened by: Verizon Pen, PO BOX 165018, COLUMBUS, OH 43216.
Since I haven't changed phone service since last year, it seemed odd that there would be a new account from Verizon.My mortgage company had their backup tapes lost in transit (via DHL) a while ago, and so signed us up for a free credit reporting thing.
I called Verizon Residential to see if they would have done a new account or anything, and they said no, that it must be fraud. But, a lady said she would look into it, and make sure that it wasn't some other Verizon company, Verizon DSL, FIOS, DirectTV, etc.
She called back 40 minutes later, but instead of leaving a message, put my voicemail on a conference call with another customer (who, by the way, also complained about the voice prompt system that Verizon has - it is the worst speech recognition accuracy I have ever seen -- three choices per menu, and it is wrong about 80% of the time).
I tried to call her back, but everyone insisted that she didn't exist, and transferred me from department to department trying to get rid of me.
Finally found a supervisor who knew how to click on the "view previous tickets" button, so was able to see that yes, a Tasha in a Verizon DSL billing department did exist somewhere, but he couldn't contact her. He decided it was a Verizon Residential problem, and transferred me there, and then back to the Residential fraud person.
Finally - someone who has a clue - she said that Verizon recently started doing credit checks every month, and because of the way they do the check, the credit bureau would report it as a new account. She also verified the Columbus, OH address, which every other Verizon employee said there was no way that was a valid Verizon address, unless it was a mall kiosk or something.
While I was on the phone with the fraud department, the non-existent lady called back, who had still been working on it, and had gotten a supervisor working on it too. They hadn't figured anything out, and were quite relieved to find that I had found someone with the answer.
Yay for speaker phones, so I could continue working while on hold. I don't think it is a record with Verizon, but this phone call was an hour and twelve minutes long.
I tried to get the fraud lady to tell other people that this exists, but she didn't think that would be really possible. So, since Verizon can't do it, I am providing this page to do their billing support for them.
Posted by
Jon Daley on
March 31, 2006, 2:33 pm
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I don't know if they have different policies in different parts of the country -- on their website, Pennsylvania is always treated as different from all of the rest of their customers, so there must be something different about us.
It does seem odd that it would have been opened after you closed the account. When I got my first credit report in my life, I had to go close a bunch of accounts, and had pretty good success talking to the credit bureaus to get contact phone numbers, and got them to close an account where the credit card company had gone out of business, so that is where I would start if I were you.
Greetings!
I recently recieved a credit report witha bill $900.00 for a verizon Account that I did not have, and the account was in the chageoff stage.
Verizon refuse to help. I came across this Page, it was more helpful than Verizon.
hello verizon claims ive had 5 phones on under my name for 4 years now ive been fighting with them a roomate i used to have stole my social security number they claim since i knew her im responsible for what she did
Came across the same situation. Contacted Verizon and was instructed to send copies of my utility bill, drivers lic., and ssn card. The items need to be faxed to 1-866-605-5559.
I suppose people should verify that Verizon actually wants them to fax the stuff before sending their info to a random fax number...
Verizon stinks. I got a first collections notice from a number they claimed I had in college over 15 years ago and strangely enough can't provide an address. Afni credit systems is even worse. All the rep does is ask for payment and won't give you any verifying reason.
All,
I think verizon has never helped any one resolving Fraud, they get paid or not but one thing is observed that they make life hell to resolve frauds. They are just not helping at all.
I have provided all the proofs they asked of address but they cant provide me a single proof that the account belong to me.
I have been hunting them down since last 1.5 years but to no avail.
Bullish
I am just beginning a "battle" with Verizon. Two years ago, there was a mysterious account saying I owed $79. Now $79 isn't that much, but it was mysterious because I was only 19 at the time, and had never had a Verizon account. I am now 22 and checked my Credit Report a few months ago, and it said that there were two more Verizon accounts on there!!! One for about $250 and another one for about $180 plus the original one for $79. I still to this day have never had a home phone or cell phone or any other service with Verizon ever!!!
I see many different 800 numbers on here, so if anyone has advice on which number is the best to call, PLEASE e-mail me: starsweredancing@aim.com
Thank you in advance! ~Judy
Oh, I forgot to mention, I was informed today that if you dispute a charge with the Credit Agency, the company claiming the charge only has 30 days to provide an original bill or proof that it is your account. After that 30 day period, it HAS to be removed from your credit report for good! Interesting to know, because most places don't respond within 30 days!
If you really haven't ever had any accounts with them, I would just call the credit reporting agencies directly, rather than trying to talk to Verizon.
my niece stole my idenity over 3 years ago and ran up a phone bill of $3000.00. what kind of fool company whould let some one run up a phone bill that high? my cell phone company won't even let me go a month with out paying and that's only about $50.00. now all of a sudden i'm getting collection notices from some jerk off agency stating i owe all this money. i haven't had a home phone in over 10 years, and never lived in the same town as my niece. i've sent verizon paper work to prove all of this and they keep bothering me.
I see everyone is having problems with verizon. Recently, I moved to the Maryland area. I tried to set up a verizon account and they told me I owed $496.00 from a previous bill back in 2004. I investigated further to find out the account was set up in my name at a different location while I was living in New York. I hope to resolve this situation soon.
It is horrible to think anyone can get your info. I've been a victim of identity theft in the past. I now have an account with www.truecredit.com. I closely track my credit file.
Thanks for the info on the 30 day dispute. This is helpful as I am in the processing of cleaning up my credit file.