# Bill info call to Verizon gets an ad pitch--WTF?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091 "2003-08-19T01:01:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/1 "2003-08-19T01:01:23Z")
I either mis-placed my current Verizon bill or it hasn’t come yet (it’s due on the 22nd), so today I called Verizon to ask them to mail me a duplicate bill. After enduring the myriad choices of their incoming calls system, I finally got through to a person. I explained that I’d lost/mis-placed my current bill, asked what the total due was, then asked if they could please send me a duplicate. That was when the person started on their pitch, telling me that I could save up to half if I switched to Verizon for both local and long distance. Geesh! They even pressured me to make a decision on it then. All I wanted was to get a duplicate bill. Actually, I was on the verge of paying it over the phone, but this sales pitch totally turned me off. I should have asked to speak to their supervisor and complained about getting a sales pitch, but I was so flustered that I just said, “please just send me a duplicate bill!” Anyone else experienced this when calling in to their local phone company?! ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/2 "2003-08-19T01:21:39Z")
Expect **a lot** more of this. It’s the way to get around telemarketing restrictions. You called them, not the other way around - so they can give you whatever pitch they want. Only way around this is to vote with your wallet. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/3 "2003-08-19T05:07:34Z")
Go to [Verizon’s website](http://www.verizon.com), and sign up to get, and pay, your bill online. No waiting for a paper bill, no stamp needed to send your check. Even better, let them draft your phone bill payment directly out of your checking account. Unless your phone bills are enormous and/or you are always on the verge of overdrawing your checking account, it’s a painless way to go. I’ve been doing this for a couple of years, without any problems. ---
**Author:** ![Daisy\_Mae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daisy\_Mae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daisy_Mae)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/4 "2003-08-19T05:13:23Z")
The next time you call them, ask them to mark your account as “Do not solicit” and they will leave you alone. From what I understand, the Public Utility Commission requires them to allow people to “opt out” of this type of sales pitch. Good luck ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/5 "2003-08-19T12:02:22Z")
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll try having them mark my account “do not solicit,” thanks, **Daisy Mae**. I’ve thought about signing up to pay the bill online, except that I don’t know how much it’s going to be from month to month–this past year, I’ve had some fairly large bills (during my mother’s illness I was making many long distance calls). Once the bills get back on an even keel and I’ll be able to judge how much they’re likely to be, I think I will sign up for paying them directly from my checking, so thanks for that suggestion too, **Early Out**. Right now, though, I don’t want to chance anything bouncing! thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/6 "2003-08-19T12:13:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarragon918 \* > \*\*I should have asked to speak to their supervisor and complained about getting a sales pitch, but I was so flustered that I just said, “please just send me a duplicate bill!” > > Anyone else experienced this when calling in to their local phone company?! \*\* Unfortunately, the supervisor probably would have simply informed you that it is standard procedure to “make our customers aware of opportunities for saving money” or some such crap. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Early Out \* > **Go to [Verizon’s website](http://www.verizon.com), and sign up to get, and pay, your bill online. No waiting for a paper bill, no stamp needed to send your check.** I heartily second this advice! No more paper bills at all. In fact, i pay virtually all my bills online now; about the only thing i have to send a check for is my rent. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/7 "2003-08-19T12:16:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tarragon918 \* > \*\*I’ve thought about signing up to pay the bill online, except that I don’t know how much it’s going to be from month to month–this past year, I’ve had some fairly large bills (during my mother’s illness I was making many long distance calls). Once the bills get back on an even keel and I’ll be able to judge how much they’re likely to be, I think I will sign up for paying them directly from my checking, so thanks for that suggestion too, **Early Out**. Right now, though, I don’t want to chance anything bouncing! > > thanks again. \*\* But you don’t have to use automatic deduction. I prefer to check my bill out before paying it, and i also pay on the absolute last day possible. Not only does this mean that i keep my money as long as possible, it also allows me to check my bank account to make sure that there’s enough in there to cover the bill. No different than writing a check, really. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/8 "2003-08-21T22:50:01Z")
I’ve had similar experiences when activating credit cards. Very annoying. This also happened once when my Internet service was down and I called support. Coincidentally it was when Comcast was taking over ATT’s Internet service. The support person gave me a pitch for some kind of superior service! Talk about the absolutely wrong thing at the absolutely wrong time! I was furious! ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-info-call-to-verizon-gets-an-ad-pitch-wtf/196091/9 "2003-08-21T23:50:07Z")
This is the latest thing. They realized that they already have you on the line, and they’d hate for you to go a minute without being marketed to. Sad, but true.