I know the corporate folks at Verizon have to be wincing to see this story make it’s way across the blogosphere (4800+ posts):
Background: Customer has a Verizon unlimited data plan but plans to travel to Canada. He calls to check rates in Canada and is quoted .02 cents/kilobyte on several occassions. Upon returning, he finds that Verizon has charged him .02 dollars/kilobyte. And…. scene.
{snip}
G: Just to summarize, I was quoted before I entered Canada… I was quoted .002 cents per kilobyte.
A: Okay.
G: And, just so you know, I have no context for how much you guys charge for data because I have a unlimited plan in the States so it’s uh, I don’t… Someone has… had mentioned to me I should have known that what it was because of what I pay in the states, but I pay… I get unlimited usage in the States, so I don’t have any knowledge of that. .002 cents per minute is what’s quoted for me… is what was quoted to me. My bill reflects .002 *dollars* per minute
A: What do you mean .002 dollars?
G: [big sigh] Okay, I think I have to do this again. Do you recognize that there’s a difference between one dollar and one cent?
A: Definitely.
G: Do you recognize there’s a difference between half a dollar and half a cent?
A: Definitely
G: Then, do you therefore recognize there’s a difference between .002 dollars and .002 cents
A: No.
G: No?
{/snip}
The full transcript is pure gold.
In the end, the guy speaks to four layers of customer service — all with math issues, mind you — and Verizon corporate before finally getting his refund.
The sad thing is that even I understand that math. This is just one more reason why I hate Verizon.
Is it creepy that Verizon just called me to offer me an international calling plan??
Nah. It would have been creepier if you’d accepted.
Wow. That was unbelievable. The scary thing is, I already *have* 2 Verizon cell phones.