Verizon Commits Fraud?

So the definition of Fraud from Wikipedia is: “In the broadest sense, a fraud is a deception made for personal gain.”  Lets review how much Verizon is doing this to its customers (at least me).

Back in February as I’m sure most of you know by my previous “Comcast Blows” posting I decided to move away from Comcast due to poor service and go over to Verizon.  At that time FIOS had just come into the neighborhood so I decided to sign up for their bundle package of TV, Internet, and Phone for the next year to try it out.  Here is the kicker, Verizon did not have FIOS TV available in my area yet (due to a license agreement from what they told me) so they offered DirecTv.  Now explicitly asked for only a 1 year contract as Jess and I are looking to move soon and therefore did not want to be locked into anything more then 1 year.  I asked repeatedly to the representative if this was a 1 year contract and was told that without a doubt it was a 1 year contract.

Now I’m not going to get into all the other problems I have had with Verizon / DirecTV but due to some billing problems (charging us too much, which to be honest, they still haven’t been able to get the amount they quoted me on my bill yet and its been four months) we discovered we had been signed up for a 2 year contract because we have a DVR.  DirecTv told me its is not their fault to which I don’t really agree because if someone is certified by you to sell your product and they promise me something and I sign a contract and don’t get what I was told, is it not breech of promise or fraud?  They told me I would get one thing, and I got another?  To which I was told “well if you read the small print on the back of the contract you signed when we installed your service you would see their is a clause for the DVR being a 2 year contract”… Um I asked if it was everything I had discussed with the person and was told yes… So I guess we should run a business where we tell someone one thing, but write a contract for something different?  Well back to Verizon.

I called Verizon after DirecTV said I was SOL and spoke with a supervisor who informed me sucks to be me (not in those terms).  Not only did I get a two year contract with DirecTV because I had a DVR but I also got a two year contract with FIOS… WTF?  I asked her to credit me the fees and she informed me that they couldn’t.  I told her this is what I was told and this is what I expect to get, and your mis-representing yourself and was informed “I don’t know what you were told so I can’t say” so I asked them to pull up their recording of the call and of course I got “We don’t record calls, we only monitor for QA”.  To those of you who don’t know that translates to: “This way we are not liable for when we promise you something and you don’t get it”.

So where is the personal gain that something must have in order to be considered fraud you might ask?  How about the $176 for me to cancel my service with Verizon (early cancellation) followed by the $350 for me to cancel my service with DirecTV (early cancellation estimate)…  That’s a gain for them which means FRAUD in my opinion.  I would love to hear other peoples thoughts.

Also before you start commenting about how it is just lack of training.  I would tend to agree except for the fact that you shouldn’t be putting people out to sell stuff if they don’t know what they are selling and are promising things that are WRONG.

US Airways Worst Airline EVER

So let me start by saying that I have had my fair share of travel in my lifetime so far and I have found that one particular airlines is the worse ever; that airline being US Airways.  In the recent two weeks I have flown 4 times with US Airways using the same two flights.  Each time I had a delay of 1 and a half hour or more because of the airlines fault.  These are simple 1 hour flights guys, if I spend more then 1 due to a delay it really messed up my schedule at the receiving end.  Let me break down the flights for you.

First flight – Delay because flight attendant called out sick.  1.5 hours to get new flight attendant
Second Flight – Delayed because plan was in maintenance, then because plan wasn’t cleared to fly, then because the existing flight crew wasn’t trained or certified on the new plane so we had to wait for an entirly new flight crew.  Total Time: 4 Hours
Third Flight – Delay on tarmat for whatever reason.  1.5 Hours
Fourth Flight – Delay for maintenance, then the flight was cancelled because the plan got redirected flying to us.  Rebooked on another flight that was surprisingly late.  Total Delay 3 Hours

I mean come on people.  Each time I wasn’t offered a sorry here are some free miles, or why not a free upgrade to first class, they simply said “yea that sucks”.  Then the people in the airport are shocked when they ask me to sign up for reward programs and I tell them they are the worst airline I ever flew.  Again no offer to make anything right, just a “ohhh”.  Almost like “we get that alot, but there isn’t anything we care to do about it”

In fact on the second flight I was booked in first class, and they were going to book me on another later flight that was leaving (the flight I got rebooked to the fourth trip), except I wouldn’t keep my first class and I wouldn’t get a refund of my first class upgrade either… WTF?  They have got to be the worst Airline when it comes to Customer Service and Flights arriving on time.  Not to mention the bitchy flight attendants that really seemed like they didn’t want to be doing this to begin with.

Well thats enought for now.  US Airways, I have called you out, you guys are really the worst Airlines ever, even below those new startup airlines that have no clue what they are doing.  At least they would give me a free upgrade or miles, or shit, probably even stock.

~NARF

The Serenity Prayer

Something I have been talking about to Jess recently about the changes going on in our life.  I thought I would share it.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Wikipedia has an awesome article on it in case your wondering the orgins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_prayer

Bible Quotes

Recently I have been really thinking about the plans for my life and what this path will lead to and such so I thought I would share and get thoughts on the Bible quotes I have been thinking about:

“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)”

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)”

“Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-4).”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and don’t lean on your own understanding.  In all things acknowledge him, and he shall direct your way. (Proverbs 3:5-6)”