Well, Pilgrims, this tale now has a happy ending!

Up until 10:30 am this morning, the Title was - Verizon Sucks - Part 2 - but in all fairness, I had to change it because of THREE CONSCIENTIOUS EMPLOYEES of a huge corporation!

Read on - MacDuff ...

VERIZON VINDICATED!

© - Tom Hyland - 05-27-09

As we ended the first part, my phone miraculously just started working again, on Thursday, May 14th, at 9:23 am. - right? After 12 days of No Service!

I did try to call and tell their stupid computer voice that it was working again, but I gave up in total exasperation. So, I was able to go online, went through my 179 emails, posted all my poems I had written, and enjoyed a ‘normal’ online experience for nine days.

Then, the appointed day arrived - Friday, May 22nd, and I knew that a Verizon repairman might show up - anytime between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.
So, I took the last page of my first complaint report, attached a separate note, written with a thick permanent magic marker, about the NEED to FIX the leaking SEAL on the grey box door - and TAPED them both to my front door - Also stating that I had to take my daughter to the doctor’s.

This was a precaution - just in case he actually bothered to come to the door, and could, in fact, READ!

When I arrived back home around 3:30 pm, I saw that he had indeed been there, and added his own note, in black magic marker also, on the bottom of page 11 of my complaint story. I still have it, to use as EVIDENCE!

IT READS AS FOLLOWS:

Right next to the printed words - VERIZON SUCKS - he drew a right arrow symbol -> then these words - SORRY ABOUT YOUR PHONE TROBLE (no u) BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER VERIZON LOVES YOU ----

Above these words, he drew a cutesy SMILEY FACE - with a TONGUE STICKING OUT - no less!

About fifteen minutes later, I heard a vehicle pull up in front of my trailer. After peeking through the blinds and seeing VERIZON on the truck, I immediately opened my front door, and saw him getting out of the truck.

I motioned to him and asked him to come to the door, whereupon he smiled and told me that my phone was working fine. I said, “I KNOW THAT! It has been working fine for nine days!”

I asked if he had read my notes, and he said he had. I then asked if he had FIXED THE SEAL OR REPLACED THE DOOR ON THE GREY BOX -
NO! Why not? Because the line TESTED fine, a dial tone was there. DUH!

When he finally sheepishly approached my steps, I introduced myself, asked his name (a long foreign-sounding name that I could never repeat) - and shook his hand. I thanked him for the visit, and asked hime to wait one moment. I went back into the kitchen, got a complete set of the 11 page document - VERIZON SUCKS! - handed it to him, and asked if he would please give it to his Supervisor.

As he rather anxiously skulked away I said:
“Have a Good Holiday weekend!”

My weekend went fine, and in fact, last night I was ONLINE with no problem until about 11:30 pm or so. It had rained a bit on Monday, Memorial Day, and it was raining pretty good last night, Tuesday.

This morning, Wednesday, May 27th, around 7:30 am I tried to get online - NO DIAL TONE _ CHECK YOUR CONNECTION!

After many attempts, with the same results, and checking the landline unit itself, and unplugging it and retesting - NADA! So, I got my trusty cell phone and dialed VERIZON, went through the stupid computer voice system yet again, and actually LEARNED a new word - in order to talk to a HUMAN BEING, now they changed the secret password from Representative to - AGENT! AHA! An easy two-syllable word - maybe someone there is capable of learning also?

At 8:32 am I spoke with a woman named EARNESTINE - almost to no avail (as per usual) - who scheduled me for Repair on Friday, June 5th! GREAT! Only EIGHT DAYS HENCE! As that just happens to be my Daughter’s Birthday, I shall be out again! That 11 minute waste of time only cost me another $1.10 on my pay phone!

Not satisfied, I immediately called again, went through the rigmarole again, screamed AGENT several times, and finally got to speak to a young man named AL - not getting anywhere AGAIN - I asked to speak to the highest ranking official who was on duty at this time - was put on hold - listened to static for several minutes - then music came on - then the sweet voice of the frigging computer started asking questions AGAIN - SQUARE ONE!

I hung up, re-dialled, ‘played their game’ AGAIN - but finally got to BRIAN -an intelligent young male repair employee who actually LISTENED - WROTE A NOTE FOR HIS SUPERVISOR - APOLOGIZED - UNDERSTOOD - SEEMED TO CARE - AND EVEN ADMITTED HE WOULD BE ‘LIVID’ TOO!

He made special notes about both the leaking door seal AND my being DUE A CREDIT FOR NON-SERVICE FOR 12 DAYS!

I paid this young gentleman several compliments in this regard - thanked him - and bid him a good day! This call cost me another $2.70 for 27 minutes!

I AM NOW LATE FOR WORK!

More to come!

11:46 am - Supervisor - Lawrence Tomcho called me - assured me he was following up, and would get back to me as a plan was developed. Said my phone tested as SHORTED OUT. I complemented his man Brian again, and thanked Larry for his help and caring. 3 mins. 12 sec. = 40 cents additional cost to me.

01:27 pm - he called again, several men in field, will advise soon. Assured me they would resolve this problem today. 37 secs. = 10 cents.

3:26 pm - he called back - stated that a specific repairman was in my area, and as soon as finished current job, would go to mine. Told him I probably would not get home until after 6:00 pm. 57 secs. = 10 cents.

Got home at 6:30 pm - NO DIAL TONE - NO NOTE - NO PHONE CALL!

Maybe MANANA? NO INTERNET AGAIN TONIGHT!

OH - at 8:00 pm - went outside to check - the same old grey box is still there - it has letters on the door - TELEPHONE LINE INTERFACE - and, on further inspection, the rear of the box has 10 pre-drilled or molded little holes in the back - IF they were originally intended for air to get in, then certainly so could WATER! DUH!

This morning, Thursday May 28th, 2009 - at 10:30 am -

As I had totally defrocked myself and was about to step into the shower when

MY HOME PHONE LINE RANG! YAAAAAAY !

Rushed into the living room, stark naked - but when I grabbed the cordless it stopped! CRAP! But, within seconds it rang again - Hello?

“Mister Hyland, this is CHRIS, the Verizon repairman.” Hi - how you doin’?
“Your line is fixed. It was SHORTING OUT WHEN IT RAINED - then working again when it dried out. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE INTERFACE. You shouldn’t have any more problems with it. But, I will call you back this evening, or tomorrow, just to follow up.”

Meanwhile, I had crept over to my back door - peeked out the blinds, and saw him sitting there right outside. I thanked him profusely, and told him that between himself, BRIAN, and LARRY TOMCHO, their Supervisor - they had RESTORED MY FAITH IN HUMAN NATURE!

Is there a MORAL to this story? You bet your Sweet Wadda-Call-It -

Persistence - Determination - and a Hardheaded Irishman will eventually RULE OUT!

After months and months of aggravation - Three young male ‘Professionals’ were also determined - to FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT PROPERLY!

CHRIS - BRIAN and LARRY - are Capable, Competent, Caring Employees of Verizon - and DESERVE RECOGNITION!

THANK YOU GUYS! THANK YOU! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Tom Hyland -

P.S. Now - all I have to do is WATCH for my CREDIT on my Account!