Sure hope the stalker wannabees don't read this. Seems like an open and shut case of enabling fraud of some sort.

But there can't be any others like this, nah,...??????

It's like "Strangers on a train".

@mercurypdx: Excellent movie. Probably my favorite Hitchcock production. :)

I say sue in small claims court for the exact maximum your state allows. And if you so choose, even file criminal charges for fraud against Verizon. I bet that will make them "take it seriously." I think the lawsuit method will almost guarantee you an easy 4 to $11,000 depending on your state.

If he read Consumerist, he would know that nothing gets solved until you EECB.

@darkened: What would be the exact cause of action for recovery on such a suit?

I am NOT a sue-happy person, but knowingly sharing my personal information with a complete stranger for 8 months, and not doing a damn thing about it, would land me and Verizon in front of a judge.

@darkened:

In some states, like where I live in DC, you cannot get declaratory judgements in Small Claims Court. In other words, small claims can only be used for judgements of money-not judgements ordering the defendant to take an action.

I think EECB should be tried first!

Why would you stay with them for so long? 8 months is a long time to put up with a compromised SS number. Is it that good of a service?

@Joafu: No kidding! I would have closed the account and left after the first week.

This is VERIZON. Why are people continuing to patronize them? This is more proof that they are just screwups.

Sue them in small claims court but don't ask for them to fix the problem. Instead sue for the maximum allowed by your state and ask for a monetary amount in damages. Verizon will settle, give you the cash, and most likely fix the problem now that they've been called on the carpet.

@Buran:
There is evidence to the contrary in a recent Consumerist post regarding a Consumer Reports study.

Shit happens. Though it should take 8 minutes to fix this screwup, not 8 months.

@loganmo: I would say it's monetary damages for having your personal info "out there", but realized you actually have to "suffer" from it first before you can collect. The info being available is not enough. The info being available AND someone trashing your credit report with it would be.

@AmericaTheBrave: Was exactly what I was going for, verizon will settle and when they settle you can have the terms require them fix the problem.

i had to an eecb on verizon to get them to correct my billing issues. i fought them for 4 months and once the eecb was launched... fixed within 48 hours.

@Joafu: Did you RTA? He clearly states that his Fios service is fast and reliable.

Call your state's Attorney General's office immediately. And the Public Utility Commission. Might even warrant a call to your DA -- perhaps Verizon is aiding and abetting identity theft.

My understanding of the small-claims court process is that you have to prove that you were damaged by the other party, and that the damage cost you actual money.

Furthermore, you need to prove that the actual loss was caused by your abuser.

Example: if you wreck my stuff, and I can prove it, I can pay to have it fixed, and then sue you in small claims for the cost of fixing it.

I'm not sure where the money damages are here. And even if our victim's personal information were stolen, and expensive identity theft occurred, I think you'd have to prove that the identity thief stole your identity from Verizon, and not from your trash or someplace.

Not to say that Verizon shouldn't be punished harshly. But I don't think that small claims court is how it'll get done.

long time reader, i have used this email address Mark.D.Reddick@verizon.com provided by this blog with great success, may be Andru should look into it.