

Under federal law, you have a right to insist on communications with a collection agency be handled in writing. On that phone call, give as little information as possible, get as much information as you can, and promise nothing. Your first phone conversation with a Verizon collection agent or an appointed third-party agency should be your last. Put another way, dealing with the collection agent by phone is almost never a fair fight.

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Worst of all, they know how to get you to make promises you can’t keep-and that’s how things can get really ugly.Ĭollection agencies record phone conversations, knowing they can be used as evidence in court in the same manner as a written document.Ĭonsumers aren’t always aware of that reality and may provide more information than is necessary.Įven worse, may commit to making promises to pay that they’re unable to fulfill. They are skilled at getting you to provide additional information that can be used to more easily connect you to the debt. They can call you at random times, both at home and at work. Phone contact gives all the advantage to the collection agency. It’s always best to avoid ongoing phone contact with any collection agency, including Verizon or one of their third-party collectors. If it’s been turned over to a third-party collection agency, follow these general rules that apply to dealing with any collection agency. You should work out an account settlement as quickly as possible. If it’s Verizon, it’s most likely because you’re a current customer. If you are an active customer and you have a past due balance, the best approach is to pay the account and dispute it later.īut, if it has gone into collection, exactly who is attempting to collect on the debt will be critical information. Before You Deal with Verizon CollectionsĮxactly how you deal with a collection account with Verizon will depend on what status the account is in. Some of them do relate to billing complaints and collections. However, in spite of the A+ rating, the company does have well over 22,000 complaints filed against it. This will, of course, be of little value to you if you are dealing with a collections claim from the company.įor what it’s worth, Verizon Wireless has a Better Business Bureau rating of “A+”, the highest rating on a scale running from A+ to F.

It is one of the largest providers of cell phone services, and generally well regarded by consumers.
Officially known as Verizon Wireless, the company is based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and began operations in 1984. No information is available about Verizon’s collection arm, so you should treat them like any other collection agency. Instead, it’s likely a division inside the Verizon organization dedicated to collecting on past due accounts. Verizon Collections doesn’t show up anywhere as an independent company. That will keep the account from going into collection, where things can get ugly. Unfortunately, phone companies-or their collection agencies-can be particularly aggressive and unaccommodating.Īs a rule, we strongly recommend making a payment if Verizon says you’re past due. Whether it’s a case of inability to pay, misunderstanding, or misapplied payments, payment disputes with phone companies are surprisingly common.Īs one of the largest providers of cell phone services, Verizon is frequently on the other end of that collection effort. One of the most common types of collection accounts-and one experienced by many Americans-is cell phone providers.
