Verizon Wireless billing trick, scam $40 "mistake"

Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....


"Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
>
> "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
> news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
> | Proconsul wrote:
> | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll reaffirm
> that
> | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
> experience
> | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read what
> they
> | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high heavens
> when
> | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they had
> been
> | > told....
> |
> | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it this
> | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
> | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
> | or make an error on.
>
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
>
> Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system is
> fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
> their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are so
> enraged about nothing.....
>
> PC
>
>

 

"Richard Ness" <richardno@damnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xr-dnez7C_hHeHvdRVn-tA@comcast.com...
| Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....

Indeed - but, I for one, who reads this forum looking for useful
information, find the continual carping annoying.....

PC


|
|
| "Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
| >
| > "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
| > news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| > | Proconsul wrote:
| > | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll
reaffirm
| > that
| > | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
| > experience
| > | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read
what
| > they
| > | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high
heavens
| > when
| > | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they
had
| > been
| > | > told....
| > |
| > | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it
this
| > | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
| > | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
| > | or make an error on.
| >
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
| >
| > Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system
is
| > fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
| > their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are
so
| > enraged about nothing.....
| >
| > PC
| >
| >
|
|

 

"Richard Ness" <richardno@damnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xr-dnez7C_hHeHvdRVn-tA@comcast.com...
| Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....

Indeed - but, I for one, who reads this forum looking for useful
information, find the continual carping annoying.....

PC


|
|
| "Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
| >
| > "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
| > news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| > | Proconsul wrote:
| > | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll
reaffirm
| > that
| > | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
| > experience
| > | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read
what
| > they
| > | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high
heavens
| > when
| > | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they
had
| > been
| > | > told....
| > |
| > | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it
this
| > | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
| > | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
| > | or make an error on.
| >
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
| >
| > Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system
is
| > fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
| > their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are
so
| > enraged about nothing.....
| >
| > PC
| >
| >
|
|

 

"Richard Ness" <richardno@damnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xr-dnez7C_hHeHvdRVn-tA@comcast.com...
| Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....

Indeed - but, I for one, who reads this forum looking for useful
information, find the continual carping annoying.....

PC


|
|
| "Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
| >
| > "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
| > news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| > | Proconsul wrote:
| > | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll
reaffirm
| > that
| > | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
| > experience
| > | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read
what
| > they
| > | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high
heavens
| > when
| > | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they
had
| > been
| > | > told....
| > |
| > | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it
this
| > | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
| > | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
| > | or make an error on.
| >
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
| >
| > Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system
is
| > fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
| > their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are
so
| > enraged about nothing.....
| >
| > PC
| >
| >
|
|

 

"Richard Ness" <richardno@damnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xr-dnez7C_hHeHvdRVn-tA@comcast.com...
| Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....

Indeed - but, I for one, who reads this forum looking for useful
information, find the continual carping annoying.....

PC


|
|
| "Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
| >
| > "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
| > news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| > | Proconsul wrote:
| > | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll
reaffirm
| > that
| > | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
| > experience
| > | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read
what
| > they
| > | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high
heavens
| > when
| > | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they
had
| > been
| > | > told....
| > |
| > | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it
this
| > | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
| > | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
| > | or make an error on.
| >
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
| >
| > Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system
is
| > fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
| > their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are
so
| > enraged about nothing.....
| >
| > PC
| >
| >
|
|

 

"Richard Ness" <richardno@damnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in message
news:Xr-dnez7C_hHeHvdRVn-tA@comcast.com...
| Some people gotta bitch just for the sake of bitching....

Indeed - but, I for one, who reads this forum looking for useful
information, find the continual carping annoying.....

PC


|
|
| "Proconsul" <nospam@nospam.org> wrote in message
news:_UAFc.8765$151.1221@fed1read02...
| >
| > "Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
| > news:h51ir1-l8k.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| > | Proconsul wrote:
| > | > However, since you choose to address your comments to me, I'll
reaffirm
| > that
| > | > I don't buy the usual complaint that the CSR screwed up. It's my
| > experience
| > | > that most people don't listen to what they're told and don't read
what
| > they
| > | > sign. THEN, they feel self-righteous and complain to the high
heavens
| > when
| > | > they find out they didn't understand what they signed or what they
had
| > been
| > | > told....
| > |
| > | While what you say is true, I can't understand why Verizon does it
this
| > | way. Surely if the billing date was the same as the day the contract
| > | started then there wouldn't be anything to explain, omit, understand
| > | or make an error on.
| >
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
| >
| > Verizon is not managed by thieves, crooks or stupid people. Their system
is
| > fine. Their people, except for rare exceptions, do an excellent job and
| > their SERVICE is the best available.....I just don't see why so many are
so
| > enraged about nothing.....
| >
| > PC
| >
| >
|
|

 

Proconsul wrote:
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....

Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking about
billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
date you want it to be?

For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
some credit cards let you pick the date).

For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
for reading the meters.

VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
simpler like based on the day you join.

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....

Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking about
billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
date you want it to be?

For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
some credit cards let you pick the date).

For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
for reading the meters.

VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
simpler like based on the day you join.

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....

Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking about
billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
date you want it to be?

For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
some credit cards let you pick the date).

For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
for reading the meters.

VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
simpler like based on the day you join.

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....

Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking about
billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
date you want it to be?

For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
some credit cards let you pick the date).

For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
for reading the meters.

VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
simpler like based on the day you join.

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re billing
> and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
> complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
> plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....

Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking about
billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
date you want it to be?

For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
some credit cards let you pick the date).

For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
for reading the meters.

VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
simpler like based on the day you join.

Roger

 

"Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
news:95djr1-h8a.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| Proconsul wrote:
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
|
| Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking
about
| billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
| instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
| date you want it to be?
|
| For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
| ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
| some credit cards let you pick the date).
|
| For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
| for reading the meters.
|
| VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
| understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
| simpler like based on the day you join.

Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
billing dates.....

Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
equipment, etc., etc. Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
calculating and generating that many bills....

Other business use other systems. Verizon uses it's system. I just can't see
what all the "carping" is about other than the all too common need to rail
against somebody or something.....! Sour grapes is what I see - and that's
about it...

PC





|
| Roger
|
|

 

"Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
news:95djr1-h8a.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| Proconsul wrote:
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
|
| Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking
about
| billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
| instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
| date you want it to be?
|
| For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
| ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
| some credit cards let you pick the date).
|
| For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
| for reading the meters.
|
| VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
| understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
| simpler like based on the day you join.

Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
billing dates.....

Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
equipment, etc., etc. Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
calculating and generating that many bills....

Other business use other systems. Verizon uses it's system. I just can't see
what all the "carping" is about other than the all too common need to rail
against somebody or something.....! Sour grapes is what I see - and that's
about it...

PC





|
| Roger
|
|

 

"Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
news:95djr1-h8a.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| Proconsul wrote:
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
|
| Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking
about
| billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
| instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
| date you want it to be?
|
| For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
| ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
| some credit cards let you pick the date).
|
| For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
| for reading the meters.
|
| VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
| understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
| simpler like based on the day you join.

Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
billing dates.....

Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
equipment, etc., etc. Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
calculating and generating that many bills....

Other business use other systems. Verizon uses it's system. I just can't see
what all the "carping" is about other than the all too common need to rail
against somebody or something.....! Sour grapes is what I see - and that's
about it...

PC





|
| Roger
|
|

 

"Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
news:95djr1-h8a.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| Proconsul wrote:
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
|
| Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking
about
| billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
| instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
| date you want it to be?
|
| For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
| ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
| some credit cards let you pick the date).
|
| For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
| for reading the meters.
|
| VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
| understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
| simpler like based on the day you join.

Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
billing dates.....

Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
equipment, etc., etc. Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
calculating and generating that many bills....

Other business use other systems. Verizon uses it's system. I just can't see
what all the "carping" is about other than the all too common need to rail
against somebody or something.....! Sour grapes is what I see - and that's
about it...

PC





|
| Roger
|
|

 

"Roger Binns" <rogerb@rogerbinns.com> wrote in message
news:95djr1-h8a.ln1@home.rogerbinns.com...
| Proconsul wrote:
| > I also cannot see what's so "unusual" about what Verizon does in re
billing
| > and proration - the method they use is as common as dirt, not all that
| > complicated and necessary when you consider how often many people change
| > plans, equipment, features, etc., to their service....
|
| Note that I am not talking about how they do proration - I am talking
about
| billing dates. Why doesn't the billing cycle start the day you sign up
| instead of some random time period in the future, or even offer you the
| date you want it to be?
|
| For other services you sign up for such as credit cards, land line phone,
| ISP etc your billing date is monthly from the day you signed up (although
| some credit cards let you pick the date).
|
| For other services (eg water, electricity) it is based on their schedule
| for reading the meters.
|
| VZW is neither of those and appears almost completely random. I don't
| understand why they feel the need to do that instead of something
| simpler like based on the day you join.

Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
billing dates.....

Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
equipment, etc., etc. Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
calculating and generating that many bills....

Other business use other systems. Verizon uses it's system. I just can't see
what all the "carping" is about other than the all too common need to rail
against somebody or something.....! Sour grapes is what I see - and that's
about it...

PC





|
| Roger
|
|

 

Proconsul wrote:
> Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
> billing dates.....

You keep missing my point. This is not sour grapes or anything else.
Yes, they could charge by the moon phase, or base it on your house number.
I am not arguing about what they can legally do, what they have the right
to do etc.

My question is *why* have they chosen this completely non-standard scheme
of picking a random date as your billing date. There might be some good reason
but I haven't seen it here.

Instead by picking a random date, they have to explain to every customer
how their prorating works, and that they will be affected it on their
first bill. Then they have to deal with however many customers didn't
pay attention or didn't understand, which generates ill will, and
consumes CSR time.

> Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
> universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
> equipment, etc., etc.

Except when you change plans they don't change the billing date so that
theory isn't appropriate. (Again we are not debating about how they do
prorating, but why they pick a random day as the billing date).

> Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
> accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
> obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
> calculating and generating that many bills....

It will also be obvious that customers will sign up all over the month
so if the billing date was the same as when you signed up, then you
would still get the billing date spread over the month. Unless you
want to argue that disproportionate numbers of people sign up on
specific dates. (The only issue would be for people signing up on
the 31st, but that only occurs 7 times a year).

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
> billing dates.....

You keep missing my point. This is not sour grapes or anything else.
Yes, they could charge by the moon phase, or base it on your house number.
I am not arguing about what they can legally do, what they have the right
to do etc.

My question is *why* have they chosen this completely non-standard scheme
of picking a random date as your billing date. There might be some good reason
but I haven't seen it here.

Instead by picking a random date, they have to explain to every customer
how their prorating works, and that they will be affected it on their
first bill. Then they have to deal with however many customers didn't
pay attention or didn't understand, which generates ill will, and
consumes CSR time.

> Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
> universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
> equipment, etc., etc.

Except when you change plans they don't change the billing date so that
theory isn't appropriate. (Again we are not debating about how they do
prorating, but why they pick a random day as the billing date).

> Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
> accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
> obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
> calculating and generating that many bills....

It will also be obvious that customers will sign up all over the month
so if the billing date was the same as when you signed up, then you
would still get the billing date spread over the month. Unless you
want to argue that disproportionate numbers of people sign up on
specific dates. (The only issue would be for people signing up on
the 31st, but that only occurs 7 times a year).

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
> billing dates.....

You keep missing my point. This is not sour grapes or anything else.
Yes, they could charge by the moon phase, or base it on your house number.
I am not arguing about what they can legally do, what they have the right
to do etc.

My question is *why* have they chosen this completely non-standard scheme
of picking a random date as your billing date. There might be some good reason
but I haven't seen it here.

Instead by picking a random date, they have to explain to every customer
how their prorating works, and that they will be affected it on their
first bill. Then they have to deal with however many customers didn't
pay attention or didn't understand, which generates ill will, and
consumes CSR time.

> Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
> universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
> equipment, etc., etc.

Except when you change plans they don't change the billing date so that
theory isn't appropriate. (Again we are not debating about how they do
prorating, but why they pick a random day as the billing date).

> Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
> accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
> obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
> calculating and generating that many bills....

It will also be obvious that customers will sign up all over the month
so if the billing date was the same as when you signed up, then you
would still get the billing date spread over the month. Unless you
want to argue that disproportionate numbers of people sign up on
specific dates. (The only issue would be for people signing up on
the 31st, but that only occurs 7 times a year).

Roger

 

Proconsul wrote:
> Verizon is an independent business and has the absolute right to determine
> billing dates.....

You keep missing my point. This is not sour grapes or anything else.
Yes, they could charge by the moon phase, or base it on your house number.
I am not arguing about what they can legally do, what they have the right
to do etc.

My question is *why* have they chosen this completely non-standard scheme
of picking a random date as your billing date. There might be some good reason
but I haven't seen it here.

Instead by picking a random date, they have to explain to every customer
how their prorating works, and that they will be affected it on their
first bill. Then they have to deal with however many customers didn't
pay attention or didn't understand, which generates ill will, and
consumes CSR time.

> Verizon uses the system in place to account for, in the main, the almost
> universal practice among it's subscribers of changing plans, changing
> equipment, etc., etc.

Except when you change plans they don't change the billing date so that
theory isn't appropriate. (Again we are not debating about how they do
prorating, but why they pick a random day as the billing date).

> Any large business, in this case one with 39 million
> accounts, will spread billing dates out over the month for reasons too
> obvious to have to describe....just think of the workload involved in
> calculating and generating that many bills....

It will also be obvious that customers will sign up all over the month
so if the billing date was the same as when you signed up, then you
would still get the billing date spread over the month. Unless you
want to argue that disproportionate numbers of people sign up on
specific dates. (The only issue would be for people signing up on
the 31st, but that only occurs 7 times a year).

Roger