Verizon of Virginia

Verizon of Virginia

As anyone who has ever opened residential telephone services in Virginia with Verizon will tell you, Verizon has no tolerance for consumer privacy - your papers better be in order or else! FCPC believes that Verizon is not upholding their responsibilities under federal and state laws, including the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), in that they are currently:

1. Failing to disclose to customers that they may refuse to disclose to Verizon their Social Security Number ("SSN"), if any, without loss of rights to residential service.

2. Failing to meaningfully inform customers that they may refuse to participate in credit applications, surveillance, or reporting in conjunction with their account if they are willing to provide a reasonable cash deposit.

3. Intimidating customers into illegally copying Virginia driver's licenses and certain federal ID documents.

Here is Verizon's Official Justification (Does it make sense to you?):

By Email on 23 September 2003: "As indicated before, Customers applying for service are provided disclosure prior to our request of credit information and Verizon's decision to use Credit Bureaus to validate credit information. We maintain that if the applying Customer provides their identifying information, that they are accepting that validation process. Customers that choose not to release

their credit information have that option and are protected accordingly. Their refusal to provide identifying information does not, however, eliminate or change Verizon's responsibility to identify our Customer though.

So we must disagree with your conclusion that there is no option for the Customer. Customers can choose to provide identifying information or

choose not to provide the information. Verizon is not "demanding" that they do. I would also add that if a Customer should refuse permission for Verizon to contact a credit bureau, we would not necessarily deny residential phone service to that person. But we would still require

identifying information. If the information provided were deemed insufficient, service could be denied or a security deposit may be

requested. Once again, the Virginia SCC General Regulations Tariff, Number 201, Section 1 F, Original Page 33 under Limitations and Use of Service, item 2 - Obligation to Establish Identity item 2. Obligation to Establish Identity defends our approach. You may view Verizon's Tariffs and Privacy Policies on line at "Verizon.com".

Kenneth Kardaras, Regional Verizon Customer Service Manager for Virginia"

Take Action!

Boycott Verizon:

FCPC recommends everyone avoid doing business with Verizon in Virginia until they mend there ways.

Complain to Verizon and the Virginia Corporation Commission:

If you would like to make a complaint, you can email Kenneth Kardaras, Regional Verizon Customer Service Manager for Virginia, at kenneth.r.kardaras@verizon.com and complain. Don't forget to copy the Virginia Corporation Commission ("VCC") by emailing Tracy A. Mathews at tmathews@scc.state.va.us.

Sample Email:

Verizon Corporation of Virginia

ATTN: Kenneth Kardaras, Regional Verizon Customer Service Manager for Virginia

SUBJECT: Verizon Privacy Violations

Dear Mr. Kardaras:

Is Verizon of Virginia going to respond as to your progress, if any, in complying with the FCRA VA Code § 46.2-346, VA Code § 46.2-350, 18 USC 701, and 18 USC § 1426, and the Virginia State Corporation Commission's guidelines established in CASE no. 19589 (Opinion and Final Order, dated December 8, 1975)?

You need to fix your unfair, predatory, and illegal practices which involve:

1. Failing to disclose to customers that they may refuse to disclose to you their SSN, if any, without loss of rights to residential service.

3. Intimidating customers into illegally copying Virginia driver's licenses and certain federal ID documents.

I expect more from a private profit making corporation granted a government monopoly to operate in Virginia.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

cc: Your State Delegate and Senator (see http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy/constinput.asp to find their email addresses)

REFERENCES:

Virginia State Corporation Commission's guidelines established in CASE no. 19589 (Opinion and Final Order, dated December 8,1975):

By Email on 4 December 2003: "It is not SCC regulation per se to refuse to agree to a credit check. One can refuse a credit check with a company and that company still has to provide service if the customer agrees to the deposit, which the SCC has set up guidelines for deposit. The guidelines were set up in the CASE no. 19589, Opinion and Final Order, dated December 8, 1975. The order states: "...A security deposit is required of some customers to protect a utility company against losses from nonpayment of bills. Deposits are generally obtained form service applicants who are considered poor credit risks or who are of unknown risk. ...It is customary for a customer's deposit to be returned after he has established good credit with the utility. Generally, such credit is established within a one to two year period during which the customer makes no more than two late payments or during which he has no disconnects for failure to pay. ...The amount of a deposit is most often the approximate equivalent of anticipated charges for two months of service...."

Tracy A. Mathews

Telecommunications Specialist

tmathews@scc.state.va.us

804 371-9207

804 225-1047 (fax)

Virginia Driver's License Photocopy Prohibition

"VA Code § 46.2-346. Unlawful acts enumerated. A. No person shall: …4. Reproduce by photograph or otherwise, any driver's license, temporary driver's permit, or learner's permit issued by the Department without obtaining prior written consent of the Department;"

Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-346

"VA Code § 46.2-350. Penalty for violation. Notwithstanding § 46.2-113, except as otherwise provided any violation of any provision of this chapter not declared to be a felony shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor."

Source: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-350

Federal ID Photocopy Prohibition

"18 USC 701. Official badges, identification cards, other insignia. Whoever manufactures, sells, or possesses any badge, identification card, or other insignia, of the design prescribed by the head of any department or agency of the United States for use by any officer or employee thereof, or any colorable imitation thereof, or photographs, prints, or in any other manner makes or executes any engraving, photograph, print, or impression in the likeness of any such badge, identification card, or other insignia, or any colorable imitation thereof, except as authorized under regulations made pursuant to law, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both." Source: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/701.html

US CIS Document Photocopy Prohibition

"18 USC § 1426. Reproduction of naturalization or citizenship papers… (h) Whoever, without lawful authority, prints, photographs, makes or executes any print or impression in the likeness of a certificate of arrival [INS Form I-94], declaration of intention to become a citizen, or certificate of naturalization or citizenship, or any part thereof - Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 25 years…"

Source: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1426.html