Verizon Wireless
Billing
Your bill is our notice to you of your fees, charges and other important information.
You should read everything in your bill. We bill usage charges after calls are
made or received. We bill access fees and some other charges in advance. You
can view your detailed bill online. We'll also send you a streamlined bill without
call detail (or a detailed bill if you request one, subject to any applicable
fee). We may charge a fee for bill reprints. If you choose Internet billing
(where available), you waive any right to paper bills or notices.
Your bill reflects the fees and charges in effect under your calling
plan at the time they're incurred. You can dispute your bill, but only
within 180 days of receiving it. Unless otherwise provided by state
law, you must still pay any disputed charges until the dispute is
resolved. You must still pay any disputed charges until the dispute is
resolved. Charges may vary depending on where your wireless phone is
when a call starts. If a charge depends on an amount of time used,
we'll round up any fraction of a minute to the next full minute. Time
starts when you first press SEND or the call connects to a network on outgoing calls, and when the
call connects to a network (which may be before it rings) on incoming calls.
Time may end several seconds after you press END
or the call otherwise disconnects. We only bill for calls that are
answered (which includes calls answered by machines). Most calls you
make or receive during a billing cycle are included in your bill for
that cycle. Billing for airtime (including roaming) and related charges
may, however, sometimes be delayed. Delayed airtime will be applied
against the included airtime for the month when you actually made or
received the call, even though such charges may show up on a later
bill. This may result in charges higher than you'd expect in the later
month.
Changes to Contract and Contract Extension
If at any time you
change your service (by accepting a promotion, for example), you'll be subject
to any requirements, such as a new minimum term, we set for that change.
Your service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.
Company Imposed Charges and Fees
You agree to pay all access, usage, and other charges and fees we bill you
or that the user of your wireless phone accepted, even if you weren't the user
of your wireless phone and didn't authorize its use. These include Federal Universal
Service, Regulatory and Administrative Charges, and may also include other charges related
to our governmental costs. We set these charges. They aren't taxes, aren't required
by law, are kept by us in whole or in part, and the amounts and what's included are subject to change. You may
have to pay fees to begin service or reconnect suspended service. Usage charges
may vary depending on where, when, and how you call. You have a home rate and coverage area
and a local calling area (which may be different). When you call from inside
a local calling area to somewhere outside of it, or call from anywhere outside
a local calling area, there may be toll, regional calling, or long distance
charges in addition to airtime. (We provide or select the long distance service
for calls on our network.) When you make a call inside your local calling area
that uses a local phone company's lines (for example, a call to a typical home
phone number), we may charge landline or connection fees. We charge airtime
for most calls, including toll-free and operator-assisted calls. Additional
features and services such as operator or directory assistance, call dialing,
calling card use, Call Forwarding, data calls, automatic call delivery, voice
mail, text messaging, and wireless Internet access, may have additional charges.
Features such as call waiting, call forwarding, or 3-way calling involve multiple
calls and multiple charges.
Company May Terminate Service
Coverage and Service Interruption
If you get disconnected by our network from a call in your home rate
and coverage area, redial. If the same number answers within 5 minutes,
call us within 90 days and we'll give you a 1-minute airtime credit. If
service is interrupted in your home rate and coverage area for more
than 24 hours in a row due to our fault, call us within 180 days and
we'll give you a credit for the period of interruption. These are your
only rights for dropped calls or interrupted service.
Early Termination Fees
Except as explicitly permitted by this agreement, you're agreeing to maintain
service with us for your minimum term. (Periods of suspension of service don't
count towards your minimum term.) After that, you'll become a month-to-month
customer under this agreement. YOU MUST PAY US UP TO $175 PER WIRELESS PHONE
NUMBER AS AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE IF YOU CHOOSE TO END YOUR SERVICE BEFORE
BECOMING A MONTH-TO-MONTH CUSTOMER, OR IF WE TERMINATE IT EARLY FOR GOOD CAUSE.
(This fee applies only to the extent permitted by law. If you buy your wireless
phone from an agent or third-party vendor, you should check to see if they charge
a separate termination fee.) If you terminate your service as of the end of
your minimum term, you won't be responsible for any remaining part of your monthly
billing cycle. Otherwise, all terminations by you during a monthly billing
cycle become effective on the last day of that billing cycle. You'll remain
responsible for all fees and charges incurred until then and won't be entitled
to any partial month credits or refunds.
How to Dispute Charges
Number Portability
You may be able to take, or "port,"
your current wireless phone number to another service provider. If you request
your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request
from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate
our service for that number upon successful completion of porting. After the
porting is completed, you won't be able to use our service for that number.
You'll remain responsible for any early termination fee, and for all fees and
charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other termination.
If you're porting a phone number to us from another company, we may not be able
to provide you some services, such as 911 location services, immediately.
Payment
Payment is due in full as stated on your bill. IF WE DON'T RECEIVE
PAYMENT IN FULL WHEN DUE, WE MAY, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF
THE STATE OF THE BILLING ADDRESS WE HAVE ON FILE FOR YOU AT THE TIME,
CHARGE YOU A LATE FEE OF UP TO 1.5 PERCENT A MONTH (18 PERCENT
ANNUALLY), OR A FLAT $5 A MONTH, WHICHEVER IS GREATER, ON UNPAID
BALANCES. (IF YOU
CHOOSE ANOTHER COMPANY TO BILL YOU FOR OUR SERVICE [SUCH AS VERIZON
COMMUNICATIONS], LATE FEES WILL BE SET BY THAT PARTY OR BY ITS TARIFFS,
WHICH MAY BE HIGHER THAN OUR LATE-FEE RATE.) WE MAY ALSO CHARGE YOU FOR
ANY COLLECTION AGENCY WE USE TO COLLECT FROM YOU IF IT IS PERMITTED BY
THE LAW OF THE STATE WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR BILLING ADDRESS WHEN WE FIRST
SEND YOUR ACCOUNT TO A COLLECTION AGENCY. We may require an advance
deposit (or an increased deposit) from you. We'll pay simple interest
on any deposit at the rate the law requires. Please retain your
evidence of deposit. You agree that we can apply deposits, payments, or
prepayments in any order to any amounts you owe us on any account. You
can't use a deposit to pay any bill unless we agree. We refund final
credit balances of less than $1 only upon request. We won't honor
limiting notations you make on or with your checks. We may charge you
up to $25 for any returned check, depending on applicable law.
Privacy
We have a duty under federal law to protect the confidentiality of information
about the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, and amount of
your use of our service, together with similar information on your bills. (This
doesn't include your name, address, and wireless phone number.) Except as provided
in this agreement, we won't intentionally share personal information about you
without your permission. We may use and share information about you: (a) so
we can provide our goods or services; (b) so others can provide goods or services
to us, or to you on our behalf; (c) so we or our affiliates can communicate
with you about goods or services related to the ones you already receive (although
you can call us any time if you don't want us to do this); (d) to protect ourselves;
or (e) as required by law, legal process, or exigent circumstances. In addition,
you've authorized us to investigate your credit history at any time and to share
credit information about you with credit reporting agencies. If you ask, we'll
tell you the name and address of any credit agency that gives us a credit report
about you. It's illegal for unauthorized people to intercept your calls, but
such interceptions can occur. For training or quality assurance, we may also
monitor or record our calls with you.
Return Period
The following applies to our calling plans except Prepay plans, which are governed by our Verizon Wireless INpulse Return Policy.
We will gladly accept returns or make exchanges on all wireless merchandise purchased from Verizon Wireless.
Satisfaction Guarantee
You may terminate service for any reason within 15 days of activation.
If you purchased equipment from us at a promotional price at the time
of activation, you must return that equipment to avoid being assessed a
$175 early termination fee. You will be responsible for all applicable
usage fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges or other charges
that accrued to your account through the termination date. If you paid
a security deposit, it may take between 30 and 60 days to process the
return of your security deposit. The charges for any service used on
the account before the service termination date may be applied against
your security deposit.
Return and Service Termination
You may return any or all of your merchandise for any reason within 15 days of purchase. *
The original customer receipt must accompany all returns.
If you cancel your service after the 15-day period, but prior
to the expiration of your minimum term, you will be responsible for all
applicable usage fees, access charges, taxes, surcharges or other
charges that accrued to your account through the termination date,
including a $175 early termination fee.
If you return your merchandise, even by mistake, more than 15 days
after your purchase, you will not receive a refund and the merchandise
you returned will not be returned to you.
At our discretion, we may decline your return or charge you a
fee for a missing item, or for items that we determine are damaged or
require service. If you return and we accept your merchandise within
the 15-day return period, we will refund your merchandise purchase
price. Purchases made by cash or check, credit card, or gift card will
be refunded by check, credit card, or gift card respectively.
If you received your merchandise through a "Buy One, Get One Free" or
similar offer, both items must be returned in order to receive a
refund. For exchanges for the same merchandise make and model, only the
item to be exchanged needs to be included.
If Verizon Wireless must remove installed equipment from a vehicle
or fixed location in order to return or exchange it, you will be
charged a service fee.
Opened software purchased separately may be exchanged only for the
exact same item at a Verizon Wireless Communications Store and may not
be returned for refund.
Before returning or exchanging any product that has data in its
memory, please transfer all files you wish to retain to another file
source. Once the product is returned, your files cannot be recovered.
Because the FCC requires that carriers convert nearly all of their
handsets to GPS capability, Verizon Wireless will no longer allow
non-GPS phones to be activated on our network. If you upgrade from a
non-GPS capable to a GPS capable phone and then return it within the
15-day period, Verizon Wireless will not allow the older non-GPS
capable phone back on our network. We will, however, allow you to
exchange your new phone for another GPS-capable device that will meet
your needs.
Returning your merchandise does not automatically terminate your
service. In order to cancel your service, you MUST contact Customer
Service at the phone number on your receipt.
* Global Phones may be returned within 30 days of purchase
Gift Card Returns
Gift Cards can be returned at a Verizon Wireless Communications Store
within 15 days of the date of purchase if accompanied by the receipt.
If the Gift Card was purchased from the Verizon Wireless online store,
please visit your nearest Verizon Wireless Communications Store to
process the return. The online store is unable to process gift card
returns.
Exchange New Merchandise
Within
15 days of purchase of new merchandise, you may exchange it one time.
In order to make the exchange, return the merchandise (including phone,
charger, battery, instructions, etc.) in its ORIGINAL box. All
merchandise must be in like-new condition. Please have your customer
receipt available as proof of purchase.
Shipping charges may apply to exchange merchandise sent to you by Verizon Wireless.
If you purchased your merchandise from the Verizon Wireless online
store or over the phone from one of our Telemarketing or Customer
Service Representatives, please contact the phone number on your
customer receipt for more details on completing your exchange.
If you purchased your merchandise from a Verizon Wireless
Communications Store, please contact the store for more information on
completing your exchange.
If you purchased your merchandise from another retailer, the retailer's exchange policy applies.
Eligible Defective Handset Exchanges
If your phone
malfunctions as a result of a manufacturing defect after the return and
exchange period but within the first year that you own the phone,
Verizon Wireless will either exchange your phone for a like unit or one
of comparable quality at no cost to you, or assist you in sending the
phone to the manufacturer's authorized repair facility.
If you choose to exchange your phone, the phone you receive may be
refurbished equipment. Once you have exchanged your phone, we will not
be able to undo the exchange and return your original phone to you. If
you have difficulty with the refurbished phone, Verizon Wireless will
replace it with another refurbished phone. Refurbished phones will
carry the remaining warranty period from the original phone, or 90
days, whichever is greater. Unless you have enrolled in the Extended
Warranty or Total Equipment Coverage programs, Verizon Wireless will
access a fee for equipment that is replaced due to electrical
malfunction or manufacturer defect after the one-year warranty period.
Phones
subjected to neglect, misuse, water damage, unreasonable wear and tear,
and the like, are not eligible for any return or exchange program. This
program does not cover lost or stolen phones. These policies do not
limit or supersede any existing manufacturer's warranties.
This
program may be considered to be a "warranty" or "service contract" in
certain states. In these states, please refer to the Verizon Wireless
warranty brochure or service contract for full details.
View Return/Exchange Procedures
Roaming
You're "roaming" whenever you make or receive a call using a transmission
site outside your home rate and coverage area, or using another company's transmission site.
Your wireless phone may sometimes connect to and roam on another company's network
even when you're within your home rate and coverage area or local calling area. There may
be extra charges (including charges for long distance, tolls, or calls that
don't connect) and higher rates for roaming calls, depending on your calling
plan.
Stolen or Lost Phones
If someone steals your wireless phone, notify us. If we haven't given you a
courtesy suspension of service and monthly fees within the prior year, we'll
give you one for 30 days, or until you replace or recover your wireless phone,
whichever comes first. Until we grant any suspension, you're still responsible
for all fees and charges. You'll need to provide us a sworn statement about
the theft if we ask for one.
Taxes and Fees not Imposed by the Company
You agree to pay all taxes, fees, and surcharges set by the government. We
may not always give advance notice of changes to these items. If you're tax-exempt
you must give us your exemption certificates and pay for any filings we make.
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2007-03-26 13:17. Our Rights To Make Changes
Your service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU'RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.