Legal Advice with cell phone company

[ChallengerHK]

In November 2011 I bought a new cell phone. I paid full price cash so I wouldn't be under contract. The provider is Verizon.

Flash forward to me working in Saudi, where CDMA doesn't work. I've have the account on hold, but they have a maximum of 6 months on hold, so I called them to cancel the account. Their response: "Sure, but you'll have to pay $375 to break your contract." No amount of reasoning would sway them (partially, I'm sure, because they are Satan incarnate). Finally they said "If you can gt in touch with the manager of the store where you bought the phone and have him tell us that it's not under contract, we'll let it go."

So I did that. That was about two weeks ago, and the manager assured me that he had been in touch with their customer service department to let them know that there was a mix-up somewhere, and that I had never signed a contract. Last night I called them to cancel the service again, and they said "You do realize that you'll have to pay to break your contract, right?"

Now they're telling me that, if, from Saudi Arabia, I can produce the receipt for the phone from 2 years ago, they'll consider releasing the "contract."

My best guess is that I'm going to have to sue them. Does anybody have any other good ideas?? Anybody know a good hit man? :-)

[shoooter]

 Call the manager back , get him to call again but get a confermation number that you can pass on to the provider

[torredcuda]

Ask them to produce the signed contract.

[Super Blue 72]

This stinks, sorry to hear this.

If they say that you are under contract, when does their supposed contract end?  Most are 2 years and you bought back in 2011.   

[moparmaniac59]

Maybe you could fax them the receipt for the phone you purchased showing you paid cash and was not under contract?


                                                                            Matt B.

[72cudamaan]

I just got a new phone six months and was told they (Verizon) don't do contracts anymore.

[HP_Cuda]

Ask them "what contract? I would sure like to see it if you think you have to enforce it. "

That should do it.

[spamtank]

Ask them "what contract? I would sure like to see it if you think you have to enforce it. "

That should do it.

 

[ToxicWolf]

As a retired attorney, my best advice would be to give them a fax number and kindly ask them to fax you a copy of the contract. That has worked for me in the past.

[Bullitt-]

Had a similar issue with AT&T after I canceled my internet & home phone service over the phone, they continued to bill me & after a couple of months of telephone conversations I saw I was getting no where. I filed a complaint on line with the FCC, AT&T couldn't back up fast enough, I even got a refund for unused prepaid service I had never asked for 

[Barracudadan]

Lol! I just got a collection notice from Verizon in the mail today $775 for breaking "the contract". Tore it up and filed it right in the trash can they can kiss off! They made plenty of money off me for the time I was with them.
 I say don`t sweat it they can send all the collection notices they want they wont see a red cent from me EVER! I own my home ... well at least the bank does anyway, but they are nice enough to let me stay as long as I give them money every month which I do.  When I walked onto the dealership last year to buy a truck my credit was good they didn`t care about my bill with Verizon or anyone else for that matter all they want to do is sell a truck. So I do not worry about Verizon or anyone else affecting my credit.

I don`t know if this works I have never had to actually use it, a co-worker once told me this when you sign a document/contract of any kind always add these 3 words to your signature.

example; John Doe
All Rights Reserved.

Basically means you are reserving your right to object to any part of a contract you sign. You are reserving your rights. Most people who have you sign a contract don`t know what this phrase means and never question it. I would think it is also up to Verizon to produce the original contract you signed if no contract can be produced then you are under no obligation to them. Double check with a lawyer on this if you need to, don`t take my word as gospel on this since I am just a guy on the internet and no expert on legal matters. Good luck!

[slsc98]

Sigh.  Brother, the only thing that exceeds my disgust with Verizon (I have been hearing nothing but nightmares about them for nigh on a decade now) is my regret someone else I "know" has been burned by them. It is unvbelievable to me they are still in existence; I know of at least one business that nearly went under after the moved about 2 miles down the road from their original location and Verizon completely screwed their entire communications system AND accounts up. They never have corrected what they did, 100%.  Don't even mention the name around my better half!  I really think putting resp for producing the contract is the best alternative. N
Best o' success!

[dawerks]

You're in Saudi?  Work 3 more hours and forget about it.  Not worth the aggravating man.    These little things can really suck the life out of you, let'er sliddee..

[66/72RAB]

My Mother had an awful time with Verizon just trying to do a simple name change on an account after my Dad passed away. Long story short , Mom is no longer a Verizon customer. Enough said.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

As a retired attorney, my best advice would be to give them a fax number and kindly ask them to fax you a copy of the contract. That has worked for me in the past.

I had a similar type of situation with a national alarm/security company.  ...............................................