Has my phone # been hijacked?

[Dewy]

My home phone stopped working on 8/11/11. Called the Verizon service number and just my luck they were on strike so it was goint to be a while before they could come out to check on the line. Today they finally came to fix it. The repairman after about an hour of trying to figure it out said that there was a change of service order on the phone number. Nothing that he could do about it...I needed to call service again.

The service person on the phone found the issue. She said that they receiced a service order from Comcast that my phone service was switching over to them. I haven't talked to anyone from Comcast in about a year and NEVER authorized this. There is no problem switching it back but it can't be done until 9/7/11 almost a month after this issue began before I get my phone service back.

To make things a little worse, the person from verizon suggested that I do not call Comcast and compalain until after my phone serice is restored because it they disconnct the number there is a good chance I'll loose my phone number.

Has this happened to any else? I'm usually a trusting person and will give people the benefit of the doubt but this seems way beyond a simple mistake.

 

[SandrA9810]

Do you know if Verizon is leasing the lines from Comcast? I know when my aunt moved into her house, AT&T didn't have their U-verse lines down in her community, and Verizon was the only one with lines. AT&T were in the process of doing it, but it was still like a month before she got internet service. In the meantime though, AT&T leased the lines from Verizon to allow for customers to have phone service.

For a full month, I would be asking Verizon to credit your account for the phone service. It's one thing if you switch, but it's not right for them to bill you for something you don't have. Especially if it was seen as switching carriers.

After you get that squared away, then call Comcast to see who authorized the account switch, and why it happened without any notification to you.

 

[ellone]

My home phone stopped working on 8/11/11. Called the Verizon service number and just my luck they were on strike so it was goint to be a while before they could come out to check on the line. Today they finally came to fix it. The repairman after about an hour of trying to figure it out said that there was a change of service order on the phone number. Nothing that he could do about it...I needed to call service again.

The service person on the phone found the issue. She said that they receiced a service order from Comcast that my phone service was switching over to them. I haven't talked to anyone from Comcast in about a year and NEVER authorized this. There is no problem switching it back but it can't be done until 9/7/11 almost a month after this issue began before I get my phone service back.

To make things a little worse, the person from verizon suggested that I do not call Comcast and compalain until after my phone serice is restored because it they disconnct the number there is a good chance I'll loose my phone number.

Has this happened to any else? I'm usually a trusting person and will give people the benefit of the doubt but this seems way beyond a simple mistake.

When we were switching from Comcast to AT&T's Uverse I submitted my information online. I can see it being easy for someone to fat finger their phone number there. And no, Comcast didn't call to confirm me changing my phone number over to AT&T.

 

[Kies99]

Have you tried to win anything lately? Say like a car at the mall where you fill out a card and drop it in a box?

I know in the past some of those were a scam where if you didn't read the back of the card you wouldn't notice that by filling out the card you authorized a change in phone service.

 

[seashoreCM]

Don't pay COmcat or whomever supposedly switched your service. Don't ignore the bill but instead write on the bill you never ordered the service and send it back with no check enclosed.

Comcast can negotiate with Veriszon behind the scenes and unbeknownst to you as to how they divvy up who get what money but meanwhile you are not obliged to pay anhtythihng for the anythine for the time the phone was not working.

 

[kaytieeldr]

As far as I know, Comcast can't change your phone service without you being aware of it. Some type of physical - not just in-the-office - work needs to be done. Most often a technician comes to your home and connects the necessary equipment. Less frequently under certain conditions you can get the equipment sent to you, but you still need to connect it and activate the service. Then Comcast tells Verizon your service is changed, and Verizon inactivates your phone service with them.

 

[riley2008]

Something like this happened to a friend, but a little different. Another family switched their provider. Unfortunately, their phone number was similar to my friend's (Their's with a 2 and hers a 7). When the other family got their number switched to the new provider, they got my friend's phone number.

Talk about two unhappy familes. Took over a month to get it all taken care of. Luckily for my friend, the other family was quite nice to those who called (mainly her elderly mother). Unfortunately for them, though, their number was just "gone" so to speak - just rang, but no one knows where it was ringing.

 

[sherry7]

As far as I know, Comcast can't change your phone service without you being aware of it. Some type of physical - not just in-the-office - work needs to be done. Most often a technician comes to your home and connects the necessary equipment. Less frequently under certain conditions you can get the equipment sent to you, but you still need to connect it and activate the service. Then Comcast tells Verizon your service is changed, and Verizon inactivates your phone service with them.

Sorry, but the above statement is incorrect in most cases. I work for Verizon, and see lots of service orders from customers changing from us to other carriers, or vice versa. In most cases, it is simply a computer service order that is done - no physical visit required. There are cases where a tech needs to visit, but that is usually only if the other company is providing their own phone lines.

Original poster, you got "slammed" or "crammed". That the non-technical word for when your telephone service provider is changed without your consent. Verizon customer service should be able to help you get changed back, and help advise you about the charges from the unauthorized company. There used to be a block available to prevent it from happening again, but you have to specifically request it. I haven't worked in customer service for over 12 years, but I would assume that there is still some sort of block available.

 

[Dewy]

Thanks all for the replies. I haven't entered any contests and I don't answer emails form people I don't know so I'm not sure how something thing like this can happen. No equipment has been sent to me either.

One thing that is puzzling: If they converted me over to Comcast shouldn't the phone work...just the billing would change to Comcast right?? I have no service. I pick up the phone and no dial tone. It starts to ring and then I get a recording that the number cannot be completed as dialed(without me dialing anything). I did try calling my home phone from my cell and it sounded like I was calling a fax line...you know that sound it makes.

I'm itching to call Comcast to find out what the heck happened but the warning from the Verizon person about losing my number has me worried. I've had this number for over six years now and it would be a real pain getting a new number.

 

[Leajess99]

Thanks all for the replies. I haven't entered any contests and I don't answer emails form people I don't know so I'm not sure how something thing like this can happen. No equipment has been sent to me either.

One thing that is puzzling: If they converted me over to Comcast shouldn't the phone work...just the billing would change to Comcast right?? I have no service. I pick up the phone and no dial tone. It starts to ring and then I get a recording that the number cannot be completed as dialed(without me dialing anything). I did try calling my home phone from my cell and it sounded like I was calling a fax line...you know that sound it makes.

I'm itching to call Comcast to find out what the heck happened but the warning from the Verizon person about losing my number has me worried. I've had this number for over six years now and it would be a real pain getting a new number.

It sounds like someone messed up the change request made by another customer. Comcast once turned my cable (when I had it) off when they were supposed to be turning the neighbor's off.

Sometimes it is order error but more frequently it is a technician that messed up.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You're right, that doesn't make sense. Comcast can't disconnect your number if they're not providing you phone service now. The other thing that doesn't make sense is why it's going to take Verizon so long to get your service back on.

 

[ellone]

One thing that is puzzling: If they converted me over to Comcast shouldn't the phone work...just the billing would change to Comcast right?? I have no service. I pick up the phone and no dial tone. It starts to ring and then I get a recording that the number cannot be completed as dialed(without me dialing anything). I did try calling my home phone from my cell and it sounded like I was calling a fax line...you know that sound it makes.

No, the phone wouldn't work since someone else probably has it. Have you tried calling your phone number from another phone and seeing if someone (the person who mistakenly transferred your number) picks up?

 

[minushka72]

Sorry, but the above statement is incorrect in most cases. I work for Verizon, and see lots of service orders from customers changing from us to other carriers, or vice versa. In most cases, it is simply a computer service order that is done - no physical visit required. There are cases where a tech needs to visit, but that is usually only if the other company is providing their own phone lines.

Original poster, you got "slammed" or "crammed". That the non-technical word for when your telephone service provider is changed without your consent. Verizon customer service should be able to help you get changed back, and help advise you about the charges from the unauthorized company. There used to be a block available to prevent it from happening again, but you have to specifically request it. I haven't worked in customer service for over 12 years, but I would assume that there is still some sort of block available.

Actually switching to Comcast usually does require a visit from Comcast to set up the phone. You are not just plugging the phone directly into the phone jack on the wall like w/ traditional Verizon service. The Comcast tech needs to come out to you home and hook up the phone to a modem which connects to the jack. This is what happened when i switched from Verizon to Comcast for my home phone. Comcast provides their phone sevice via the modem so that is probably why the OPs phone did not work when it was switched over.