Has Verizon Wireless Violated Its Own Terms Of Service In Its Own TV Commercial?
from the ooops dept
Over the last year, Verizon Wireless has been repeatedly slammed online for their misleading tactic of selling their wireless EVDO service as "unlimited" but then cutting off users who use too much. For a while this was a "fuzzy cap" where they wouldn't even tell you how much. It was estimated at 10gigs per month, though more recent comments from the company suggest that it's actually 5 gigs. As for why this isn't false advertising, Verizon Wireless execs have been doing some fancy footwork to explain how they mean "unlimited amounts of data for certain types of data." Then, they claim that if you use more than 5 gigs a month, the only way you could possibly be doing so is if you've been using that data that isn't unlimited -- and, in fact, isn't allowed. That would include things like videos. Understood? They claim it's "very clear." Apparently, however, it's not so clear to whoever Verizon Wireless had create their TV advertisements. PCS Intel is noting that a new TV commercial for the Motorola Q phone on Verizon Wireless shows it streaming video -- which, if you recall, is a big no-no, and the type of thing that will get you kicked off the network. There are some cases where you can stream video: if you are watching it through Verizon Wireless' walled garden "V-CAST" service -- but PCS Intel points out that V-CAST isn't actually available on the Motorola Q. So, at what point does it become false advertising? They talked their way out of the phrase "unlimited" by using corporate doublespeak. How do they explain away their own commercial showing people streaming video against their terms of service?Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Who cares?
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Re: Who cares?
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Re: Who cares?
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Re: Re: Who cares?
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Re: Who cares?
If they get enough people doing that they will change thier ways or go bankrupt, either way, we win.
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Re: Who cares?
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Lame
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They Lie
It's the same with Cablevision broadband service.... they tell you it's unlimited use, uploading or downloading, but then when you crest the mysterious threshold, you get cut off.
In both cases, they will not tell the end user what the limits are, but leave you high and dry with no explanation. Then force you to beg to be let back on.
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evdo
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Simple...they lie
They pump hogwash into their commercials, it's that simple.
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The "unlimited" isn't just for phones
So if I'm at a client using my $80 per month "unlimited" data to stream a company training video for the client I would hope that's a legitimate use.
Dave
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Switch
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See kiddies...
And I also agree with comment #1. The sound and picture quality on cell phones isn't all that great (yet). As much as I enjoy technology somethings just haven't been intergrated that well yet. Now when someone develops a cell phone with a internal harddrive, mp3 player with at least the sound qaulity of an mp3 player, a video player of good quality, no DRM, and a reasonable price then I'll look into it. I do realize that the perfect solution won't just fall from the sky, so I guess these vain attempts are almost necessary...
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Verizon Wireless
Example: I recently was taken off my parent's plan and decided to get my own. The guy went over all the charges with me, and added that he was giving me Unlimited IN messaging + 2500 outside messages, the unlimited messaging included Mobile IM, as it was a service provided by Verizon and built into the phone, unable to be uninstalled.
The bill comes in! He lied about the charges straight off. Apparently since I was coming off of my parent's contract and getting my own, they decided to do something called a "partial month" which, for only 2 weeks I had to pay an extra 100.00. Why you ask? Because for those 2 weeks they only provided me with 50 minutes without telling me.
Then since I stayed logged on Mobile IM for MSN and AIM, Mobile IM constantly reloads your buddy list. Next thing I know, I have sent maybe 30 messages or so, and I am reading 4000 text messages per month. I call them up and say "4000 text messages is humanly impossible when I have 2 jobs!". She states:
"Oh, that's not included in your contract. I know the guy at the store said it was but it isn't. And although its not written that its not included, but it is a service, it's not in your contract because if we were to write everything that wasn't included, we would have a contact 10 pages."
Well no shit, maybe they should start either telling the truth up front, or writing EVERYTHING in black and white.
Can you say lawsuit?
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Only if you recorded the conversation.
Not long ago a salesman was pushing a cut-price DSL package. I smelled a rat, so I pulled out my PDA and said "This conversation will be recorded. Please state your name for the record."
He refused to say another word, and I asked him to leave.
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Re: Only if you recorded the conversation.
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Re: Re: Only if you recorded the conversation.
And don't forget to have a competent contract lawyer look it over and explain all the implications to you first.
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Re: Re: Re: Only if you recorded the conversation.
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Only the guilty have something to hide.
If holding a salesman to his word is enough to get me labeled as a freak then I will wear the label with price - though I prefer the term "Geek".
"The reason sales people lie is because they know that nobody will read the contract."
So now you are defending salesmen lying to get the deal? You have my sympathy.
The point is not whether the contract supersedes the sales pitch - it is that sales scum lie and don't like to be held to account.
I have seem too many friends suckered by door-too-door DSL salesmen suckered by "$19.95/month DSL" deals that mysteriously switched to $35/month after the first couple of months.
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And one other thing.
Just thought I would clear that up.
Scum.
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Re: Verizon Wireless
Can you contact me? My number is 202-383-7821 or email me at klewis(at)newhouse(dot)com.
Thanks!
Katherine
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Data Limits are 5GB
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Re: Data Limits are 5GB
Second of all, if you are going to say lawsuit, you should follow it up. Don't make idle threats you certainly won't pursue, especially lawsuits against companies with pockets deeper than yours.
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"Spunt's Unlimted" net
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Re:
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grow up
you are all fools to think that "unlimted" means "without limits" just like you think "absolutely free" means completely without cost. i suppose next you will be demanding that "lifetime" means "until you die" and that "mail in rebate" means that you will get your money back in the mail.
instead of arguing over semantics, just hand the money over and do it quietly.
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idiots
So do yourselves a favor and don't be ignorant customers. It's your own fault if you get screwed over and there's nothing you can do about it.
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Rambling
This is why gas prices in the US soared to almost $3.00 for the entire summer but now have dropped to under $2.00. How could this price drop occur if refineries are still not at 100% manufacturing capacity. That is simple Prices did not need to increase the amount they did the oil companies just found an opportunity to make more money and we went along with it.
Verizon and other corporations are not going to stop deceiving people to make extra money as long as we role over and let them do it. The only way we as a people are going to stop their shady business practices is if we take a stand as a group against what they are doing.
Some where along the line people forgot that we have the power to control these companies not the other way around. These companies rely on it customers to make money if it has no customers it makes no money and ceases to exist so they are going to do what we want to make us happy. We just need to speak up and let them know we are unhappy.
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Re: Rambling
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Sprint did naughty tricks similar
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Whooptie friggin Doo
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Idiots again
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Re: Idiots again
it seems that everytime i goto into bestbuy i cant get any of you highschooler to help me, let alone be knowlageable about what you are selling me.
hell even your managers are generally ass holes that dont care. i have walked across the street to circuit city over a dozen times when the customer service at bestbuy was inadiquite.
one of my recent walk across the street cuz best buy sales staff knows nothing about anything in the store was for a $3400.00 TV
so when bestbuy steps up to the plate and actually does know more than the carrier stores then you can call us all idiots
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A little more about my sprint story
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Re: A little more about my sprint story
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two cents worth
HANG UP America. Hang up and throw the cell phone away. You want to save $300.00? Put the money into something that has intrinsic value.
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Keep Selling...
That said, unless your livelihood hinges on using these bloated, overpriced services.... DON'T BUY THEM! The definition of cost is the amount someone is willing to pay for a given something. This means that as long as everyone keeps eating up the newest tech fed to them at whatever price it's being offered, the prices will go up, while carrier responsibility for it will continue to diminish.
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Read the Contract
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People working in the store are for the customer
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Verizon Wireless---legalized highway bank robbers
I work for a major corporation...verizon signed up with them to give an 8 percent discount.
My Company rep. had to sign me up...they would not do it. after 2 years I have still to receive my discount.
At first they told me I did not sign up. My company rep. verified that I indeed signed up for it.
They told me they could only go back (1) mo.
I told them to go XXXXXX.
I would not recommend them to anyone. They have to be constantly monitored for incorrect billing..
YOU TELL ME 768.00 IS A LITTLE ERROR.
I DON'T THINK SO.... I DO NOT NEED VERIZON WIRELESS. AND IF THEY CONTINUE TO TREAT CUSTOMERS LIKE THIS THEY WILL NOT BE AROUND LONG.
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Re: Verizon Wireless---legalized highway bank robbers
Here is the real story. I was overcharged due to Verizon charging me for calls after 930pm. Keep in mind this was when cell phone calls were not free ALL of the time.
Holidays and weekends were free and all calls after 930pm were free as well.
Checking my phone bills I found they were charging me .50 cents a minute for calls that were supposed to be free.
When I caught Verizon cheating me I phoned them and they finally called me 2 months later with their resolvement.
They admitted they made a mistake of 768.00 dollars by over charging me on my bill. IT WAS NO BECAUSE MY EMPLOYER PROVIDED A DISCOUNT IF I HAD A VERIZON PHONE.
They robbed me of 768.00 dollars.
I filed a small claims with the Town of Dewitt N.Y.
As soon as I had filed their attorney contacted me and wanted to settle with me over the phone. She said my money would be refunded to me via FED EX and it would be overnited to me and it would arrive first thing in the morning.
This is their typical corporate behavior....they rob everyone until someone brings them to court ...then and only then will they make restitution.
Pitiful Company. I would never do business with them. They are robbing everyone not just me. I also know of at least 3 other people that they've done this to.
SO lets get the story straight. Verizon overbilled me. It had nothing to do with my company's discount.
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this filter is most idiotic
Make email required then. Don't half ass it.
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Verizon is the most ignorant phone service ever ..
Get a motorola, seem edit your phones, change your proxy for WAP, and make sure you dont use their overpriced shit services. I've had my text messaging blocked and hacked the §h1t out of my phone, they are the only phone service in my area that has any type of signal.
Just thought i'd put in a bad comment on the bastards too!
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How about...
And reading the contract helps a lot. If you don't like it, move on to the next carrier. One thing to watch out for is if I'm not mistaken don't most of those contracts have a "We reserve the right to change this agreement without notice." -like clauses in them?
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Expose Verizon
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Fuck this
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More idiots
For the record, I am not one of those idiot teenagers. I'm a 27 year old man with a wife and child to support. I give good service at my Best Buy and I have many repeat customers because I actually know what I'm talking about.
So to refresh...DO SOME RESEARCH and you'll know exactly what you're gonna pay for your service.
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Time to look for a move.
The fact is Verizon sucks along with every other RBOC baby. It’s not an acceptable excuse to say, *You’re the idiot customer who didn’t do your research*; good salesmen are good research tools. The dishonesty of a company should not necessitate the onus of all levels of understanding to be on the customer.
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verizon wireless
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RE: 2
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Another Idiot
Oh, and I only work Tuesday and Thursday nights. It's actually not a bad gig. I get a little bit of money on the side and a great discount.
And I quote, you should "get a new job(you forgot that part) that pays more." Notice, I used quotes instead of asteriks.
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protected
READ THE CONTRACT you asshats! Dirty salespeople will say anything to separate you from your money.
Yes... Verizon has sucked ass even when it was Bell Atlantic.
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Re: protected
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An actual ad where verizon contradicts themselves
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Re: An actual ad where verizon contradicts themsel
As I have learned from experience, people really have to read the fine print.
OTOH, i really don't like this kind of advertising, where the banner line is different from the details, but I guess it is what it is with advertising everywhere.
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I
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Let me tell you a story
Moral of the story: do your research and read the contract and Verizon will still find a way to screw you, even if it goes against the fine print in the contract.
And yes I knew they would screw me but I figured it was when they charged me $65 per month instead of the advertised $29.99 (Also like in the contract)
So quit yelling at the people who didn't read because they may have.
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Re: Let me tell you a story
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Oh yeah
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How foolish
If you want to watch videos on your phone but are worried about data transfers, get a phone that has a memory card slot, get a memory card, and download the videos with a computer and put them on the card.
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Re: How foolish
Most of us have jobs.
We simply don't have the time to perform in-depth analysis every time we make a purchase.
I understand that "Buyer, beware" has it's place, but at some point the majority of businesses need to quit screwing people over and clearly define what will be covered when someone agrees to one of these bait-and-switch contracts.
As far as alternatives, the only other option is to go pre-paid, which IMHO is more of a pain in the ass (and costly) than its worth.
I guess the next time I'm thinking about buying something I'll trust you to make the judgement call for me.
Freaking ignoramus...
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Re: Re: How foolish
We all have jobs. I'm a tutor, Network Professional, and I also attend college, so don't speak to me of busy scheduling. You don't have to do it all at once. Take a week. Research while you eat lunch. If you take public transportation, print things out and read it on your commute. There are ways of being able to do it. It's the same as in High School and College and having to study for exams while also having what seems like a million things that need to get done.
There is a wonderful thing known as Google. Use it. You can find in-depth analysis on just about anything as well as user feedback.
I agree businesses need to clearly state everything up front, but unfortunately that is unlikely to happen- at least anytime soon.
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And as for the service...
The speed is equivalent to a low-end DSL connection.
If you're moving, expect pages to fail to load, or just take forever to do so.
The cap is 5 gigs/month. The Washington Post did an expose on it.
I'm still airhacking to get faster, more reliable, UNLIMITED internet access and keep the aircard as a backup in case of an emergency where I may need to get data from clients or our corporate office while I'm on the road and there are no nearby WiFi access points.
SUX to Verizon!
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Do Corporations care about us?
Obviously, we can count on corporations to look out for our interests, as well as the interests of our country. They must! How else could deregulation be the consumer dream that politicians tell us it is. All that competition in the market place is going to save us so much money!**
** Please remove from your mind any references to Enron, the foisting of unwanted services a la the cell companies, cable television/internet providers, oil and gas producers. They are just weird oddities.
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bull POOP
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Verizon and Video
Over time, I'm almost certain, they will open it up because remember ultimately a ubiquitous broadband connection is what they are aiming for.
Let's not forget that these carriers are filled with people. People who go to work everyday and try their best to look after the viability and general health of a company that must exist in a society that values competition over cooperation. While at the same time trying to provide the end user with a service that has value over the other guy. I find it very hard to believe that any executive, manager, engineer, or technican wants to provide "less" when it comes to their networks.
IMHO
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Cell Phone Rate Plans
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If he should have included Verizon's position, why didn't Techdirt?
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Re:
We did not receive any communication from Verizon on this issue, so that makes it tough for us to include their position. They, of course, are more than free to post their position in the comments here, or contact us via our feedback form.
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EVDO Cards
Im a computer consultant and having internet is a must so I had to do something. I would consider myself a heavy internet user downloading patches & SDKs, watching training videos, connecting to work, managing servers watching webcasts etc etc. I bought the card and service was so so and so I invested in an external antenna to help boost performance which didn't do much. I even told the sales rep that I was a heavy user and what I intended to use the service for. He indicated that hey it was UNLIMITED I should have no worries at all.
In a nutshell Verizon cut me off after the first month and a half saying that I was an excessive user and that I must of been streaming media and that was the only explanation of my heavy usage. I like most people did not read the EULA and trusted the sales rep at the store who indicated that UNLIMITED meant UNLIMITED. That is why I was paying extra for the non metered service. When I called in to find out what was going on after being cut off they asked me what I was doing and I told them that I was connecting to my corporate environment via vpn.. using skype a bit, I played a game a couple of times and general internet usage. When I wasn't using it my wife was using my laptop to run her business as well so we were using our UNLIMITED service in what I would call heavy but normal internet usage. Every one of the items that I had done was a big NO NO in their EULA. The rep told me I was out of luck as far as the current contract was concerned. He then told me while laughing that I could resign up and get knocked off every month if I wanted to. So I was stuck with an expensive card and antenna and Zero service.
Anyway... I'm sick of the advertising and half truths that these companies provide to their customers through their reps.
UNLIMITED means unlimited and they should take the bad with the good. This crap about being able to tether your phone to the computer for service. They tell you that it is unlimited as well if you buy an unlimited plan.. but if you go over on bandwidth or use the computer during the day you pay big or get cut off leaving you with expensive peices of electronic garbage.
I really hope that some big Class Action type lawer gets wind of this and realizes that UNLIMITED means unlimited and decides to take these bastards to court for all of us. I cant wait for one of these adds on TV looking for people that got cut off and are left with equipment that no longer works. Especially after a few of these laptops that have built in cards start getting cut off.
I dont care if I ever see any money.. I just want unlimited service. I want what was advertized. If they advertize tethering to pc and unlimited service I should be able to run it 24/7 if I want to.
I probably would have paid even more for it. but this shutting people off or fucking them over after the fact is just petty
If any of you are stuck with a contract and are not happy with the service just go to YOUTube and entertain yourself for a few hours. Just plan on having a card or phone that you will have to use as a doorstop.
Hopefully you can find some other sucker that will buy it from you. Hey... here is an idea tell them that they can get UNLIMITED internet though it.. That will be a HUGE selling point. Everyone else does.
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the verizon laptop card is a scam
i called up their worthless customer service dept and got the run around. i sent them a letter in an attempt to terminate the contract. in the end, i had to pay them 400+ just to get out of a contract that they couldnt fulfill. DO NOT GET A VERIZON CARD FOR YOUR LAPTOP UNLESS YOU HAVE ALOT OF MONEY AND NO IMPORTANT BUSINESS TO DEPEND ON IT FOR.
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Deceptive ADS & Poor Service
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More recently after advertising an "unlimited data plan", you still limited your customers bandwidth for internet access without telling them. Your business operations have not changed and i highly doubt they ever will. Anyone who thinks they can convert their "iCrap" or another phone and think they are getting a "sweet deal", is in for a rude awakening. Sure, your network is somewhat reliable, but your service plans and optional features amongst other things, leave a lot to be desired.
This commentary probably wont make it on the company eWeb, so i'll be sure to post it on all the popular cellular phone review websites to alert them your advertising is still a "load" of you know what.
Sincerely,
a Disgruntled Former Customer
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Verizon Wireless LIES about Unlimited Broadband EVDO
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Verizon Rebate Stinks!
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Verizon Rebate Stinks!
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Cheated by Verizon
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Verizon Wireless Lies to Customers
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Verizon POS
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