$.002 and .002 cents..., is there a difference? Options

[elvasoshexai]

ok... actually.. i do know the difference... but it seems like the people @ verizon dont:

http://media.putfile.com/Verizon-Bad-Math

Here's the background:

I have a Verizon unlimited data plan in the U.S. and recently crossed the border to Canada. Pior to crossing the border I called customer service to find out what rates I'd be paying for voice and data. The data rate I was quoted was ".002 cents per kilobyte."

I was surprised at the rate so I confirmed it with the representative I spoke to, and she confirmed it "point zero zero two cents per kilobyte." I asked her to note that in my account.

I received my bill and was charged $.002/KB - which is dollars - "point zero zero 2 dollars per kilobyte". As it is translated to cents would be .2 cents or 2 tenths of a cent - which is a 100 times greater rate than I was quoted.

My bill for my data usage in Canada was therefore much greater than I had expected - using the quote I was provided before my usage.

I have tried to resolve this issue with customer service reps on the phone, but noone seems to see the difference between ".002 cents" and ".002 dollars".

Here is the audio of my most recent call with them on the matter. I started recording when they put on the supervisor - I was a bit ticked at that point.

Who knew what confusion "$1 = 100 cents" could cause?

I'm still currently on the hook for the $71 and change. Hopefully someone at Verizon will figure this out and make amends.

btw... it's actually NOT 1hr 43min long... it's an error in the file or sumthin

This post has been edited by elvasoshexai: Dec 8, 2006 - 11:02 PM

[Hanyo]

so confusing..

he should say: .0002 dollars instead of calling it cents and dollars.

[phonex98]

I can honestly say the people who work at that call centre..... are very, very bad at math.

Edit: Im still listening... im at about 10 minutes now.. its almost so painful i need to stop listening.

This post has been edited by phonex98: Dec 8, 2006 - 11:12 PM

[n1ckz0r]

LOL, OMFG i laughed so hard while listening to this. The guy is a moron. "there isnt a difference" WHAT! LOL. once you talk to somebody intelligent you'll get it straightend out...

[JoKeRkId613]

im a supervisor for a call center in florida. we have many fortune 500 clients and verizon is actually a program im supervising. we dont have account access, it's more of a courtesy call campaign. ive been supervising for 2.5 years. i thought this was hilarious! lmao. poor guy doesnt know his math. so far ive listened to about 14 minutes of the audio. not sure how the convo ends but if ure planning on using this to back you up, youre supposed to ask for permission to record. lol.

This post has been edited by JoKeRkId613: Dec 9, 2006 - 12:43 AM

[phonex98]

He did say to one woman I will be posting this one my blog and she said thats fine.

[elvasoshexai]

i was kinda surprised the guy was still so calm after so long... not sure i could keep my cool for so long... hah

altho i think this is one of those common mistakes ppl make... cause i wrote down $.002 on a piece of paper and told my bro n mom 2 read it and they both read it wrong... mom said "point zero zero two cents" and my bro said "two cents".....

[C3L1CA]

that is awesome

[JoKeRkId613]

He did say to one woman I will be posting this one my blog and she said thats fine.

true, i caught that. but you should ask for permission to record prior to the conversation.

[kash1355]

Oh man that was the funniest thing ever. I can't beleive they still couldn't understand the difference even with your thorough examples. I hate dealing with call-centres, whenever they do not understand anythin they just pass you to the next person or they say thats all they can do. It's ridiculous. lol you could always file a law suit over over the $71 vs 71 cent charge. They would have to rescind the charge because there was a mistake as to terms in the contract .. but of course that would be a waste of time haha. Good luck man, hope verizon head honchos see your blog and realize how stupid those people were.

[Culpable04]

wow ! no words and man you tried all, if they didn't understand with your examples, they will never get it. just be carefull they don't try to backfire to you because you started recording before you asked for permission.

[kash1355]

Hey!!! You're famous lol. I found your convo on glumbert .. http://www.glumbert.com/media/verizon ... then I found it was attached to another site http://www.consumerist.com/

Oh yea and youtube. Now hopefully verizon will get the messege!

This post has been edited by kash1355: Dec 9, 2006 - 7:20 PM

[elvasoshexai]

oh whoops... i 4got to put that it's not me.. but it's off of some guy's blog that my friend sent me...

in canada... they hire hs students for call centers...

[playr158]

basically that kid just didn't understand wat that person said...

[phonex98]

hey guys... anyone who followed this story might wanna see this comic... im a major geek and found this comic hilarious

http://xkcd.com/verizon/

[Culpable04]

they would probably hire a consultant company to process the check

[BlackCelicaGT94]

Ok ill own up to my blondeness - i didnt see the difference till the last parts of ur 1st post.