I AM A VICTIM OF BAIT AND SWITCH BY VERIZON FIOS!!! I have been a loyal (and, until now, happy) customer of Verizon Fios since it was made available about 6 years ago in my neighborhood in Silver Spring, MD. My most recent 2 year contract expired on December 13th.
I was contacted by VF about a month before that to see if I wanted to continue my service with another 2 year deal. I told the rep that I would if I could get the same package at the same rate I was paying. That package would include: the fastest Internet speed, HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime. The rep said that it would be very "difficult" to give me the promotional rate that I was getting on my current deal, but she would try. After being on hold for 15 to 20 minutes, she told me that she got her supervisor to approve the rate. She then read the services that I would get back to me, along with the rate, and I agreed to a new 2 years deal.
Yesterday, Dec 14th, I discovered that I no longer have Showtime or Cinemax. When I called customer service to inform them of the problem, I was told that I do not have those channels on my plan. When I recounted my sales conversation of the previous month, I was told condescendingly told that I must not have understood what I purchased, and that there was nothing I could do at this point but purchase the two missing pay channels.
Of course, I was insulted and outraged. The is nothing (NOTHING) that is unclear about "give me the package that I had at the same price and I will sign up". And, there is no way (NO WAY) that I would have agreed to anything less, especially since I was the one who suggested the terms. I have called Customer Service 3 times now to talk to a supervisor and/or get someone to listen to the recorded phone call of the conversation of my new contractual terms. There is no doubt (NO DOUBT) that such an investigation will show that I am being cheated, and that I was deceived by Verizon.
I am a Realtor {edited for privacy}, and I sell A LOT of houses in the DC area. And, I will never again recommend that my clients get Verizon Fios, Internet, or any other product that they can get from another provider, if they are in the practice of disrespecting, deceiving, and extorting their customers in this fashion. I have not put this issue to rest. But, I wanted to warn anyone out there who is looking at this page investigate whether Verizon Fios is a good value.
If you value integrity, it is not.