![[FSF Associate Member]](http://www.notsosoft.net/images/getButton){kind=small}
VERIZON UPDATE: Dial 1-800-333-9956
If you are a Verizon Wireless customer, you may know that Verizon does some shady things to make their revenue streams fatter. This morning I got a letter from Verizon Wireless telling me that they will start putting ads on my phone. Lucky for me they are required to have some manner of opt-out functionality in place. When I looked inside the pamphlet, I saw the number for the opt-out. It is 1.800.333.9956. I called that number and got a very nice automated option to opt out.
I encourage all of my fellow Verizon Wireless customers to send a VERY strong message to the folks at One Verizon Way and opt out. Opt out even if you’re not a Verizon Wireless customer. Send letters to the address “One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920-1097″ and tell them how disgusted you are with this new practice.
It is not okay for Verizon Wireless to put these ads on our personal property, and if we stand silent while they do it we will be in a world of hurt. But act fast, because according to these terms, Verizon Wireless will only give you 30 days to opt out.
UPDATE:
So, I’ve got some more info for you. Verizon Wireless, in their agreement, says that you have the right to cancel your service with them without paying early termination fees for cancelling.
Popularity: 63%
This entry was posted
on Thursday, September 27th, 2007 at 10:07 and is filed under Free Software.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Stumble it!
So how do I cancel my contract w/o paying the fee?! I hate this company and want to leave them ASAP. This is the last straw.
I can’t tell you how cool GSM networks and phones are. To not be tied to the carrier to change your phone is a good thing. SIM cards are awesome!
T-Mobile or ATT use GSM as opposed to the CDMA by Verizon & Sprint.
JP: According to Verizon Wireless’ letter they sent me today, if they change the terms of the contract than you have up to 30 days (calendar I believe) to cancel your contract without any early termination fees. If you get this letter from them in the mail HOLD ON TO THE LETTER and just cancel your account.
I would still recommend that you contact your attorney (or an attorney) who is licensed to practice law in your state before doing any of this.
Derek: Sprint says they’re GSM, too–but they’re still locked. I actually switched to T-Mobile today and picked up a Blackberry Curve. Now I’ve just got to figure out how to sync it on GNU/Linux with Kontact
“It is not okay for Verizon Wireless to put these ads on our personal property”
Except it’s not your personal property, is it? You’re on Verizon!
@Alex Jones:
No, the phone is owned by you. They do not rent, lease, or license the phone to you; it is yours, since you bought it. Thus, the phone is your property, otherwise GSM providers wouldn’t have a problem blocking you from switching networks.
Alex Jones: Actually, no, the phone is owned by the subscriber. If you were to walk into a Verizon Wireless store and ask them who the owner of your phone is, they would say “well, that’s your phone sir” or something similar–though most likely more confused.
I switched to T-Mobile, and I’m really digging it. I’ve got the hotspot for your home service, too, and that’s just rocking my world.
I believe that I received the same letter as you. I do see the opt-out phone#… I see it talking about sharing my info with some other sources, but what I don’t see is it telling me that they are going to place ads on my phone?
Where does it say that?
Thanks.
Thanks so much for posting this! I would have just ignored the notice in the mail. As it is I’ve been thinking about canceling for a while now, (ever since our bill went from $70/mo to $100/mo with no explanation) and this is just the last straw; I’m through putting up with this garbage.
If anyone knows somewhere I can get a comittment-free GSM service primarily for SMS in the US, I’d be eager to hear of it. I’d rather take poor service that’s honest than what I’ve seen from Verizon.
Phil: T-Mobile has something like that. They have the pay-as-you-go bit.
Bill: Sorry it took me so long to moderate your comment. Spam filter caught it for some reason.
If you look on both the letter and the updated contract–under the CPNI heading in the contract–you’ll see that they’re collecting information in order to provide you with their own ads as well as third party ads. I’m just putting two-and-two together, and if they’re changing the contracts and such to allow for distribution of your information for ad serving purposes, it seems obvious (to me at least) that those ads are going to end up on your handset one way or another.
Oct 1- I have been waiting for a change of terms because it is the only way to terminate service without paying $175, and I have over a year to go on my “every two” plan. I think you have to be careful- the sharing of information you can opt out of without terminating your service.YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO CALL THAT NUMBER AND OPT OUT OF YOUR PRIVATE INFORMATION BEING SHARED- BUT TERMINATING SERVICE IS i BELIEVE, ANOTHER MATTER.
I CAN’T FIND YET WHAT TERMS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO OBJECT TO- BUT YOU HAVE 60 DAYS TO “IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE AFFECT 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.” page 5. - THERE ARE PARTS THAT WAIVE CLASS ARBITRATION, LIMIT DAMAGES AND OTHER ISSUES…
The part about advertising is on Page 8 bottom paragraph.
When I cancelled, Verizon Wireless did try to charge me early termination. I called them two days after cancelling to make sure that they did not charge me those fees. They told me over the phone that they wouldn’t charge me the fees, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.
I have a sneaking suspicion that they’re going to try to charge me anyway, and that I’m going to have to fight it after the fact. Wish me luck.
I think I received the same letter, but discarded it before reading your blog. Would it be possible to post a scan (redacted to remove personal info, of course)? This way, I have something to refer to if challenged by VZW regarding waiver of cancellation fees. Thanks.
If you remind them of this phone number in the subject it should help, but my scanned copy will be no help for you if you have to actually fight Verizon on this issue. They could argue that they never sent you the letter so it didn’t affect your contract.
I’d go dumpster diving or demand a copy of the updated contract if I were you.
manchicken,
What did you tell Verizon in regards to CPNI to get out of your contract?
I told them that I viewed their new CPNI provisions as adversely affecting me, therefore I had a right under my existing contract to get out without paying early termination fees. It’s been almost a month and they still haven’t charged me an early-termination fee.
Q~ i don’t recall getting the letter, but opted out after reading this blog. i REALLY want out of contract and want iphone, but have another freakin year…do u think this little opt out thing can get me out of it? i do not have contract i signed– i toss everything. just wondering if i said what you said — that it affects me adversely
run4fun: That sounds like a disingenuous reason to get out of a contract. Just wanting to switch because something else looks better is different than switching because you’re concerned that they’re changing the contract in a way that could harm or will harm you. Also, without evidence that *your* contract is involved, I don’t think that you’d have much of a case.