Greedy Corporate America

[Shirlv]

I spent 6 hours yesterday trying to set up a new landline system.I’m venting here and then will spend the rest of today getting over myself. It took about 20 minutes for Straight Talk to activate my new home phone device. It went well. Hung up, used home phone to call my cell, it worked so I was satisfied. I called Verizon and canceled my service with them. Could no longer use the landline. The problem is I ask Straight Talk to transfer/port my existing telephone number. Instead they issued me a new number. I called and insisted on the old number. I spent the next 5 1/2 hours on hold and being sifted from one department to another. Verizon makes it so difficult if you want to leave their service. Verizon was canceling service to a long time customer but offer a similar service for over $150, Straight Talk offered same for $50. The pitiful part is Verizon bought Straight Talk last year. Neither company told me how difficult this porting a number would be. I was told last night that it could take 1-3 days to port the number. I guess I was suppose to hive up and accept the new number which I didn’t and I still do not have a operating landline.

P.s. do not cancel Verizon service until your landline can accept incoming calls on your chosen telephone number.

[OregonLuvr]

I guess I am lucky as I have never had any trouble porting my number BUT I have only changed providers a couple of times ever. Usually I am just changing phones and that sure isnt very often. I dont have a landline. I only get telemarketers on it so the cell phone is bad enough for that.

[Shirlv]

Karen, things have changed. I have hard my phone number for over 50 years and would like to keep it. It’s all over the internet that Verizon makes it difficult to port your existing number. I guess Verizon thinking is if they make difficult you will stay with and accept their high prices. I don’t like being blackmailed.

[Cudedog]

Corporate America. . . well, I need to leave out the bad words.

Profit is king, and those in charge are asleep at the switch.

Anne

[retiredhappy]

I haven't had (or need) a land line for years. Why do you need to mess with having a land line? Just curious.

[Shirlv]

Karen, I don’t want to worry with keeping my cell charged and I do not like physically holding a cell. I posted as a warning about the problem of transferring your existing phone number. If you have Verizon and wanted to change service providers you could be without a phone even with a cell. I only have experience with Verizon and straight talk so maybe Verizon is more cooperative with other carriers. I lived in a two story house and didn’t want to carry a cell everywhercI walked. Lol I unplug the phone system and carried it in the rv so had home phone while I traveled.

[MandysMom]

Shirl, did you specifically request a Verizon Customer Retention Specialist. You would be surprised the deals that can make. When I was ready to shut down Mel's phone, someone said ask for Customoer Retention Specialist. Way different than the usual people you get on phone. She was wonderful. Went through the whole process step by step, asked me repeatedly if I was ok and told me over and over we will do this only when you are ready and you can get his phone reactivated within 30 days just by calling me back if you change your mind. Then , when I took a deep breath, blotted my tears and said, let's go ahead and shut it off, she did that, then said, let's reevaluate your entire account and see if we can save you money. Instead of my bill staying same or even going up because I was losing the 3 or more phone family discount, she switched Chris and I to a new plan, which cut my bill just about in half. Even though, I had not planned to leave, it was well worth talking to the right department.
Velda

[Shirlv]

Velda, thanks for the info. Our situations are totally different. Phone companies have Port department that only take care of transferring (porting ) phone numbers in or out. Have read most it seems can take 5 - 10 days to accomplish porting. Daughter #2 wants to leave Verizon but she only has a cell so she will be without a phone if she was to port her number which she does. Companies advertise you can keep your number but do not tell you at what cost. And some companies charge for this service. How are we suppose to know all of these situations. No one told me yesterday during the hours I spent on hold. I searched the problem last night and found out why there is a problem. THEN I was told by Straight Talk they would call me when my number was ported. Has been a stressful experience.

[Bethers]

Shirl, I've ported my cell phone several times. It's usually all computer generated and happens almost immediately. That said, Verizon caused me trouble once and they do claim it can take longer. I now have 2 cell phones on different services. So should one cause trouble at least I know I'll still have a phone even if only a couple people have the 2nd #.

[Shirlv]

Read that Verizon bought Straight Talk in 2021. Do not understand why things are so difficult.