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    Verizon

    Everything You Wanted To Know About Canceling Verizon But Were Afraid To Ask

    By Meg Marco, 11:40 AM on Fri Jan 19 2007, 20,200 views

    Hey there. It's us, your friendly Consumer blog. We know you'd like to cancel your Verizon contract, but it can be a little intimidating... particularly because Verizon doesn't want to honor the terms of your contract, and you may be afraid of them. That's sad, but it doesn't have to be this way. Come with us now as we take a journey to month-to-month bliss. Remember, a contract goes two-ways, regardless of what some companies may think.

    Step 1) Understand your rights. Verizon has changed their rates, and were obligated to issue a "Legal Notice." In their contract it says "IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE." This is what you will be doing.

    Step 2) If you have a text messaging plan, click here. If you do not, click here. Verizon customers with messaging plans will need to cite the "International Receiving Rate" as their reason for canceling. Other customers can refer to the entire rate hike.

    Step 3)     Research other cell phone companies. Make sure you want to do this.

    Step 4) Call Verizon at 800) 922-0204. Calmly, but firmly, state that you wish to cancel due to the text messaging increase. Tell them you received a legal notice about the rate change that instructed you to consult your Customer Agreement. Then, read them this section of the Customer Agreement:

    Our Rights To Make Changes
    Your service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.
    You may need to escalate to a supervisor. Do not give up. Verizon is letting people cancel.

    Step 5) Port your number. Tell the CSR that you want a ported number, then follow the instructions in this post.

    Good luck! Let us know how it goes. Stay strong, my Consumerists.—MEGHANN MARCO

    UPDATE: John writes:

    Make that one less Verizon customer. Talked to them 5 minutes. I was nothing but pleasant but to the point. I even went as far as to say that I did in fact enjoy Verizon's service, but was being offered a better deal, and merely wished to exercise my legal right under their contract. She was a little condescending ("but you don't even receive text messages from puerto rico!"), but all-in-all, all I can say is "Sa-weet!" Now I'll be going to my sister's cell phone store to get hooked up on a good package with a sweet phone (Word to the wise, Treo 700w? Not all it's cracked up to be.)

    PREVIOUSLY: Break Your Verizon Contract Without Fee, Thanks to TXT Msg Raise
    Cancel Verizon Without A Fee Even If You Have A Txt Msg Plan
    Verizon Makes Canceling Over Their Txt Msg Hike Impossible
    Verizon: 34 Txt Msgs= Material Adverse Effect

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