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Verizon Dispute
updated: Sep 19, 2012, 11:30 AM

By Edhat Subscriber

I have had ongoing billing problems with Verizon? Now my dsl is shut off over a billing dispute. Verizon isn't getting it right. How can I leave Verizon but still keep my business phone number?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 321800	2012-09-19 11:35 AM
I may be wrong, but I believe the number is yours whether it's cell or landline. The difficulty is you're only other options for the number will be cellular or an internet phone since the landline is owned by Verizon. Choose a provider you're considering, give them a call and ask about transferring your current number.
REXOFSB	2012-09-19 11:39 AM
I was able to switch my Verizon number to Cox just by moving my landline to Cox. No extra charge or nothin'. And for what it's worth, I'm FAR happier away from Verizon. Verizon "customer service" is a joke.
COMMENT 321806	2012-09-19 11:52 AM
Transfer the number to google voice, you can forward calls to any phone and it works really well.
ROGER DODGER	2012-09-19 11:53 AM
I also moved my landline to Cox from Verizon and kept the same phone number, Yeasterday.
COMMENT 321809	2012-09-19 11:55 AM
I work for Cox Business and help local business owners move their current Verizon business phone numbers over into the Cox Business system all day long. Customers save money and get significantly better customer service. Please give me a call, Natalie Maisel 681-3776.
COMMENT 321819	2012-09-19 12:12 PM
Verizon is just incredibly bad. Huge profits every quarter and yet they have downsized the maintenance dept. Everyone on our block went to Cox or cell. You can take your phone number and business elsewhere.
COMMENT 321824	2012-09-19 12:19 PM
Cox? better customer service? Don't believe it. It takes 20 minutes to navigate the auto call system and when you do get a real person it's a 1:5 chance you'll get someone competent the help with the other 4 reading canned responses. Sorry to hijack the topic but Cox sux at customer service. But if you want to bring your business number over from Verizon the greedy folks at Cox would gladly sign you up and you can watch your rates increase significantly year after year after year.
COMMENT 321826P	2012-09-19 12:23 PM
Hey COX guy- worst decision I've made in re a utility is going to COX several years ago.....trying to get out, or reduce cost is a nightmare, and I feel like I'm stuck in quicksand that just keeps getting deeper.......when I have several hours to spare on the phone, I will extricate myself....
COMMENT 321831	2012-09-19 12:33 PM
Never had a problem with Cox. Both business accounts and personal account.
COMMENT 321848	2012-09-19 12:47 PM
We had huge problems with Cox business phone. Our calls would cut out all the time. To their credit, they sent people out multiple times to try to fix the problem, "try" being the key word. We ended up dropping them and going to Verizon. IMO Cox internet is better (faster) but we haven't had any problems with the Verizon lines.
COMMENT 321852	2012-09-19 12:54 PM
I don't have Cox for phone, but agree with 321824 & 26 regarding overall customer service provided by Cox. Over the last 6 years I've had multiple problems with their customer service, and even canceled TV service for 5 years because of how pissed off I got. That being said, I worked in a customer service call center for 2 years and fully know what it is like to be on the other end of the phone. Cox does not live up to the standards that I know are possible to give by a CS/sales rep. Certainly it's possible that some employees at Cox are better than others, but of the 7 CSRs I've talked to I've never hung up fully satisfied.
COMMENT 321867	2012-09-19 01:31 PM
This is just my personal experience. If you have yellow page advertising then the number is reserved by them so you cannot transfer it anywhere else. I sold my business and the guy who bought it never paid any of the bills. I struggled to regain the number that was abandoned after 6 months and called Verizon for months and months. Finally, 18 months later the women who answered that time found it and released the number to me! Now this was just before the split off of Superpages, now Supermedia but I expect the same. The Federal portability law only covers wireless numbers in local areas. Since I am a PC tech I have also tried to help some residents to transfer their numbers to Magicjack. I have NEVER seen them able to transfer the local number and there is no explanation but it is a major part of their advertising and an outright lie if you ask me. It might be Verizon not allowing any transfers, I would like to know myself if anyone has been successful.
COMMENT 321868	2012-09-19 01:31 PM
Among cable providers, Cox is generally the best. You guys would really enjoy Time Warner or Comcast if you think Cox is bad. I've lived here my whole life and have literally never had a customer service issue with Cox...I even call them every 6 months to complain about the price and they put me on whatever promotional price they are offering at the time...
COMMENT 321871	2012-09-19 01:43 PM
And I have never had a problem with Verizon and always get prompt friendly service on those few occasions I have had to call.
BECKY	2012-09-19 01:48 PM
Your problem is the combination of business phone _&_ DSL from Verizon (which is the point of DSL -- sharing a line). If you bail from Verizon for internet and go with Impulse http://www.impulse.net/ (for internet via DSL), but stick with Verizon for the phone only, you can keep the business phone number. The person who explained about Verizon not releasing business land line numbers I think is correct. They apparently "own" those numbers, and may or may not be cooperative about letting you move it to another address, keep the number if you change providers, etc. [Impulse would know.] Another idea is to consider Cox business services (which is WAY better than Cox residential) for internet access, and keeping just the phone service (with known business phone number) with Verizon for now.
COMMENT 321873P	2012-09-19 01:49 PM
I recently changed over from Verizon to Cox Business for my main line. The switchover was painless and they were able to port over my same Santa Barbara number as well as my National 800 number that was through another company. Bellinda Camarillo at 805-681-3627 was my main point of contact. If you decide to switch tell her Lighthouse Travel recommended you.
D8VANILLA	2012-09-19 04:45 PM
WOW - You are in luck, because I just heard today from Clark Howard, that there is a new service that sounds great and you can keep your old number. www.straighttalk.com http://www.shopstraighttalk.com/bpdirect/straighttalk/PhoneDetails.do?action=view&productVariantExtensionId=16563657
COMMENT 322100	2012-09-20 09:34 AM
i recommend you get out of verizon as quickly as possible and Bundle with cox. that's what i did about a year ago. you can keep the same number. service was fine and good tech support. But betware of Verizon - Verizon tried to bill me automatically through my bank. even after their final bill was paid. my bank refunded me the money, but said good luck getting this settled. many people they knew were dealing with the same thing. I called verizon at least 4 times - always told the balance is 0. however, the billings just kept arriving. Fiinally i was turned over to a collection agency, and i told them the whole story. said they would never get a penny out of me. was turned over to 3 collection agencies in all, and finally all billing has stopped. however, i don't know what my credit report shows. Watch out! they should be sued for their illegal practices.

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