I'd like to know what Verizon considers to be "materially adverse."

Thanks for getting the word out... if there's anything worse than Verizon screwing people over it's the fact that people keep flocking to Verizon. This is one reason why I will NEVER, EVER get into contracts with a megacorp unless it's for something like a mortgage.

If this is the case, why do so many moving companies get away with holding people's stuff hostage and jacking up the prices before they'll deliver (despite signed contracts)? There seems to be no regulation on this.

How about cc'ing the BBB in one of those e-mails? That'd be sure to get the attention of these guys. Quite frankly, I find it ridiculous that Verizon thinks that it can continue to get away with this. They won't stop until they finally get smacked down by the government for their misleading business practices.

I had to piss off enough people to be elevated before they finally refunded our cancellation fees. It took somewhere around three months, but it was worth it as I am paying just slightly over half of what I was before because I was able to consolidate two accounts into one.

Question: Can you cancel a cell phone account but still retain the cellphone number and move it to another cell phone service?

I am in love with what I have read about the Sprint SERO plan, but I still have a year left on my Cingular contract. I know that with the adverse changes to my contract (which there have been a few, you will notice them at the bottom of monthly statements), but I've been worried about canceling my service and being able to keep my phone number to move it over to Sprint. I have more faith that I would be able to keep my phone number when my contract comes up, and I can move over to Sprint (though I am sure they will try to swindle me into another two years and tell me there is a disconnect fee). The last time I moved my number, I had a prepaid phone and I moved my number over to Cingular, so I temporarily had two services (though I had already paid for the prepaid). But now, I don't want to pay for Cingular and Sprint at the same time, so I don't want to activate Sprint then port my Cingular number because I would have to be paying for two cell plans. What can I do (assuming I can get out of my contract)?

you put .10 cents. that's a tenth of a cent. no no no, that's one tenth of one cent.

@eldergias: yes. the entire purpose of number porting legislation was to thwart the concept of telecoms holding your phone # hostage so you don't cancel service. the key is timing. you either need to port your number before your account is officially closed, or make sure the csr knows you plan on porting your number & make sure they take the proper steps to facilitate the transaction.

@eldergias: also, make sure your number is eligible for porting. after rereading your post, i noticed that it was at one time a prepaid #. sometimes these numbers fail the port eligibility requirements. & when porting, make sure you have handy your account # with cingular, your name & address as it appears on your bill, & any passcode/password attached to the account.

We really need to outlaw these cancellation fees. They're totally erroneous and absurd, anyway.

OMG, did you just say ".15 cents"? That cracks me up.

I think it's time to file a lawsuit. The contract is null and void yet they try to hold you to it no matter how many times they say they will release you as required by law.

Have the papers filed on one of their corporate stores.

The BBB is pretty worthless -- I wouldn't bother getting in touch with them. Its an opt-in system -- a complete joke.

What I would do is file a complaint with state + city authorities, as well as the state attorney general's office, and CC the cable company.

Most city/states have Telco and Cable agencies that do routinely fine and regulate the companies. Their employees are usually cheery/responsive, because few people know about them -- and they very commonly say "So what BS did **** say to you?" (At least when I filed a complaint they did).

The neat thing about filing through an agency, is that Verizon will have to file a formal response -- that means you'll end up with their legal department, not their CSRs. CSRs try to get money from you and keep it -- Legal departments try to avoid spending money.

If you're in NYS, there's: www.dps.state.ny.us . There's also a NYC cable/telco regulating office -- but I can't recall the name.

The AG office won't do anything until enough people complain and they can file a class action that will help make the AG governor, but its a start.

I was eating Peanut Butter M & Ms, and when I looked at that cellphone bill, I almost inhaled an M & M.

I'm about to call Cingular and see how much time I have until I can cancel my contract. Wish me luck!

@mac-phisto: Thanks for your help. I'm not sure I would trust CSR to "take the steps necessary" to ensure I kept my number, which means that it is best if I do actually have some overlapping service from the providers to ensure that I port my number over while I still have both plans active. Sucks, but I guess ensuring the my number is lost to the void is worth it.

Why cant you just Pay then request a chargeback? That will get their attention. At least send this whole thing to another department

@eldergias: what i would do is contact cingular & tell them that you plan on cancelling your service but want to make sure that you will not be charged an etf. you may want to put this in writing (or at least get their response in writing--at least document everything like the subject of this story). then, port your number to sprint (which effectively closes your cingular account at the same time). if they charge you an etf, refer them to the email/letter/voice recording that confirms that you will not be charged.

Verizon's Equation

Phone company won't let customers get out of ETF
+ Millions upon millions of dollars in profit

Cost of class-action lawsuit:
- Some millions go to lawyers
- Consumers get worthless coupons
- Good lawyers get refunds for consumers who bother to ever fill out forms

TOTAL
+Millions upon millions of dollars in profit
-Jaded consumers, but they only have 3 other cellphone companies to choose from anyway. They'll be back.