Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Letters to the Editor

Frontier's Verizon takeover is a horror for consumers

A Massachussets business owner, angry that a Verizon worker parked on his grass, trapped the worker in an unventilated underground vault. He now faces kidnapping charges after the worker, who called police on his cell phone, was rescued.
A Massachussets business owner, angry that a Verizon worker parked on his grass, trapped the worker in an unventilated underground vault. He now faces kidnapping charges after the worker, who called police on his cell phone, was rescued. Paul Sakuma Associated Press, file

I fully agree with the letter regarding the takeover of Verizon by Frontier. This entire merger was botched from day one.

I have been involved with takeovers, sales and mergers in my career and have never seen anything like this. But wait, it's not over yet. Wait until you see the bill for this mess.

I have used FIOS since the day it was offered, and have been used to the service and many add on's that were provided. I had caller ID, call blocker and call waiting, but not anymore.

But on my bill I have been charged for a sports channel that I never had, and for operator-assisted long-distance information that was charged on days that I wasn't even in the state.

To make things worse, they can't seem to understand and correct my bill. I was paying $147 for TV, phone and internet, now they want $163, and I had a discount at Verizon because I had my wireless there, also. It was called "double-up" and gave me a $10 discount.

Well, Verizon no longer owns FIOS residential; I lost that discount too. That means my bill has gone up a total of $26 a month.

At least I have service for my Internet, phone and TV; some people still have nothing.

Why doesn't the FCC step in and drop the hammer on Frontier. Tell them they will get their raise when they can do the job.

Richard Mock

Bradenton

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Frontier's Verizon takeover is a horror for consumers ."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER