tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post4327234112746595120..comments2024-03-03T22:24:13.350-08:00Comments on VerizonMath: Summary for those who haven't pieced all the details together.George Vaccarohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15304125791379242960noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-34839261252983208522007-01-29T03:44:00.000-08:002007-01-29T03:44:00.000-08:00I've just read your story on http://www.consumeris...I've just read your story on http://www.consumerist.com/<br /><br />O.M.G. I'm speechless. You were SO patient with them. This must have been one of the most frustrating and maddening experience of you life!!<br /><br />BTW, I saw the consumerist link on an unrelated discussion forum where someone had incorrectly said ".02 cents" when it was reasonably clear they meant "2 cents" or "$0.02". There was then a brief exchange on the forum about how .02 cents is not the same as $0.02, and then someone else replied with just a link to your story on consumerist.comJasminehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03101225465908877393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-87429574777108122592006-12-10T14:18:00.000-08:002006-12-10T14:18:00.000-08:00Their posted rates do not matter when a Rep of the...Their posted rates do not matter when a Rep of the company quoted the rate of .002 Cents per KB. When they noted it on your account they were locked into upholding that quote. Talk to a lawyer about Suing them for Fraud.<br /><br />I worked for Ford Motor Credit Company we handled similar issues all the time.<br /><br />Personaly If I was a Rep or a Manager at that company once I saw that quoted rate of .002 Cents per KB I would have just credited your account with $72.00 and thanked you for your time.<br /><br />$72.00 is not worth the loss of a customer.MailSmithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06953183066472221927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-80225490449807674652006-12-10T10:40:00.000-08:002006-12-10T10:40:00.000-08:00I think that the problem is in the units--not the ...I think that the problem is in the units--not the decimal.<br /><br />Maybe you could have one of those people get a piece of paper out and have them write this down as they go:<br /><br />3 dogs * 4 = 12 Dogs<br />4 apples * 7 = 28 Apples<br />8 quarters * 3 = 24 quarters<br />16 dimes * 3 = 48 dimes<br />3 cents * 6 = 18 Cents<br /><br />and finally:<br />.002 cents * 35,893 = 71 cents<br /><br />I would think that someone should be able to detect the pattern--but maybe not at VZ.Dave Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09129443660196101647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-90856534856090387232006-12-10T04:59:00.000-08:002006-12-10T04:59:00.000-08:00George, you should send them a bill for your maths...George, you should send them a bill for your maths tutoring services.<br />Shall we say around 85 mins?<br /><br />Charge for services rendered:<br />Flat rate: 50c per hour<br />Duration: 85 mins (1.42 hours)<br />Call surcharge: $1<br />Total: $72.00Eat_My_Shortzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06422127293883939556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-68493123384282775502006-12-10T03:52:00.000-08:002006-12-10T03:52:00.000-08:00You should realy sue the motherfuc****. You would ...You should realy sue the motherfuc****. You would win in 2secs You have permission to use audio recording. I say go ahead and sue them!Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102235042233076030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-65959878266934578542006-12-10T03:30:00.000-08:002006-12-10T03:30:00.000-08:00Keep fighting the good fight! Years ago, I was of...Keep fighting the good fight! Years ago, I was offered those "pay half" deals for ridiculous fines I got while living in Philadelphia and instead of fighting, I took their offer. Looking back, I should have fought them. It doesn't help anyone when the offending party doesn't admit their mistakes and own up to them.Enyaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683226657530821831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-56473325288179604632006-12-10T01:26:00.000-08:002006-12-10T01:26:00.000-08:00Whew, i usually hate making these kinds of phone c...Whew, i usually hate making these kinds of phone calls but this one takes the cake. I went through something like this with another mobile provider. Trying to explain a double charge, the phone rep would just say "it's right but maybe you don't understand because I'm explaining it wrong". Luckily when the rep offered to get a supervisor to "explain it to me better" he was actually able to see the math error that I was trying to explain to the rep.dthreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08842390818562422784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-3960668085917642662006-12-09T23:33:00.000-08:002006-12-09T23:33:00.000-08:00Hey man, I listened to that audio clip... Friggin'...Hey man, I listened to that audio clip... Friggin' frustrating but funny at the same time, and I know it's not really a joke but... dang.<br /><br />Like I said on the putfile site, you could have tried to explain it differently by telling them to convert to dollars first or whatever.... Doesn't really matter, that point's moot, the people are still idiots for not having understood it in the first place.<br /><br />Good luck in the future with sorting it out, though.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02228879530613725264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-46399035905452614462006-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:002006-12-09T22:16:00.000-08:00In September 1999 a 125 million dollar Mars probe ...In September 1999 a 125 million dollar Mars probe crashed into Mars because of a math error. <br /><br />http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Metrication/mars_orbiters_demise_avoidable.htm<br /><br />Since that time no one knew what happened to the rocket scientists who screwed up the math and caused the crash. <br /><br />Until now... Now we know... They all went to work for Verizon. <br /><br />An actual NASA conversations :-)<br /><br />George: Do you recognize there is a difference between .002 newtons and .002 pounds of thrust per second?<br />NASA engineer: No.<br /><br />George: Ok do you recognize there is a difference between .002 feet and .002 meters?<br />NASA engineer: No.<br /><br />George: Do you recognize there is a difference between .002 pounds and .002 kilograms?<br />NASA engineer: No. Hold on a second.... Hey Joe, go ahead and launch that mars probe.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00143175912805354012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-44771669179118353152006-12-09T21:32:00.001-08:002006-12-09T21:32:00.001-08:00Anyone else finding the irony of Verizon having sp...Anyone else finding the irony of Verizon having sponsored <a href="http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2001/page.jsp?itemID=29740189">math competitions</a>? A lot of other <a href="http://www22.verizon.com/Search/detailed/?searchText=math&searchState=TX&searchSite=corporate&searchType=1&txtNPA=&txtNXX=&collection=corporate&s=54771069">ironic press releases</a> are available as well.wamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09793654218598579764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-30218893766183190852006-12-09T21:32:00.000-08:002006-12-09T21:32:00.000-08:00I just moved to Blacksburg, VA. I have Cingular r...I just moved to Blacksburg, VA. I have Cingular right now, and I was going to switch to Verizon to get better coverage. After listening to this audio, though, I think I'll stick with the geniuses at Cingular. They actually require college degrees, I think.<br /><br />SamKatherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09131642514014892392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-41153893161127163432006-12-09T21:16:00.000-08:002006-12-09T21:16:00.000-08:00rofl. first, i would like to say this is absolutel...rofl. first, i would like to say this is absolutely AMAZING. i am speechless.<br /><br />secondly, this could be cleared up VERY easily. call verizon again and speak to the same reps. then ESTABLISH very clearly the fact that 1 cent is equal to 0.01 dollars. <br /><br />after you've established that, the rest is easy.<br /><br />0.002 cents is equal to 0.00002 dollars. and tell them to charge you according to that rate.alex chowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06151227774931923395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-22748298992774652092006-12-09T20:51:00.000-08:002006-12-09T20:51:00.000-08:00Please, do not just pay the $72. You are absolute...Please, do <b>not</b> just pay the $72. You are absolutely, 100% correct. Giving in to their stupidity would actually cause me (and other internet readers) substantial mental trauma.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17189135553655574457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-34149045612057842332006-12-09T20:41:00.000-08:002006-12-09T20:41:00.000-08:00First, let me start off by saying that George is 1...First, let me start off by saying that George is 100% right, and Verizon is 100% wrong. I <b>do</b> think I understand where the breakdown was though. The original rep (as well as every other person he talked to) saw "$0.002/KB" on their screen and verbalized that to George as "point zero zero two cents per kilobyte", which I would also interpret as "$0.00002/KB" just as George did.<br /> <br />If they saw $0.02, the would read that as "two cents". When you stick in another zero "$0.002", they can't figure who how to properly verbalize that, so they say "point zero zero two", and then use the wrong unit - "cents". Saying "point two cents" when you see "$0.002" may not be intuitive to the *cough* mathematically challenged.<br /> <br />Clearly, George is in the right, but I wanted to put in my opinion that the problem was the reps not being able to verbalize $0.002 in a way that makes sense to ... well, smart people.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00331116508077641385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-27298366122170650942006-12-09T19:49:00.000-08:002006-12-09T19:49:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15082568220137841006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-84768378814687847752006-12-09T19:31:00.001-08:002006-12-09T19:31:00.001-08:00Everybody else is giving you advice; here's mine.
...Everybody else is giving you advice; here's mine.<br /><br />"Okay, so bear with me here. This may sound condescending, but let me walk you through something. You game?<br />"Okay. First, take out a pencil and a piece of paper. On the left side of the paper, write down a dollar sign, then a one. On the right side, write down a one, and then a cent sign.<br />"Can we agree that on the left you've written 'one dollar' and on the right you've written 'one cent'? And can we agree that those are not the same thing--that one dollar is one hundred times as much as one cent?<br />"Okay, next: on the left, write down a dollar sign, a zero, a decimal point, and a one. On the right, write down a zero, a decimal point, and a one, and then a cent sign.<br />"Now, looking at those, can we agree that on the left you've written 'zero-point-one dollars'? And that that is the same as 'point-one dollars' or a tenth of a dollar? Can we agree that a tenth of a dollar is a dime?<br />"And, if you look at the number on the right, can we agree that you've written 'zero point one cents,' and that that's the same as 'point one cents,' or one tenth of a cent? Does it help to think of that number as one tenth of a penny?<br />"And now can we agree, again, that a dime--one tenth of a dollar--is more than one tenth of a penny?<br />"Okay, third set of numbers: on the left, write a dollar sign, then a zero, then a decimal, then a zero, then a one. On the right, write a zero, then a decimal, then a zero, then a one, then a cent sign.<br />"Can we agree that, on the left, you've written 'zero point zero one dollars,' which is the same as 'point zero one dollars,' and which is the same as a hundredth of a dollar, all of which is the same as one cent?<br />"Okay, now: this part might start seeming confusing, because people aren't used to dealing with tiny fractions of cents, but bear with me again.<br />"On the right, so far you've written down 'one cent' and 'point one cent,' and we've agreed that those are not the same as 'one dollar' and 'point one dollars.'<br />"Can we now agree that the third number you've written is 'zero point zero one cents,' and that that's the same as 'point zero one cents,' which is, in turn, the same as one hundredth of one cent? If it helps, think of that number as one hundredth of a penny--a tiny little sliver of copper. And we can agree that a tiny little sliver of a penny is worth much less than a whole penny, which is what we decided the point-zero-one dollars is equal to, right?<br />"Now, finally, a fourth set of numbers on each side: on the left, dollar sign, zero, decimal, zero, zero, one. On the right, zero, decimal, zero, zero, one, and then a cent sign.<br />"We're getting into really tiny numbers now on both sides, so I'll try to walk through this slowly.<br />"Can we agree that what you've written on the left is 'zero point zero zero one dollars'? This is where I've had the sticking point with your other representatives. And just remember how we described the values above: first, one dollar, then point one dollar (a dime), then point zero one dollars (a penny). So now, we have to keep using the same units, right? So this value on the left should be point zero zero one dollars. That's less than a penny--it is, in fact, a tenth of a penny. Are we in agreement on that?<br />"Okay... now look at the number on the right. Remember that we agreed that the first number is one cent, the second number is point one cents (or a tenth of a penny), the third number is point zero one cent (or a hundredth of a penny).<br />"First, can we agree that this fourth number on the right is smaller than the third number on the right?<br />"Okay, second: can we agree that this fourth number on the right is smaller than the fourth number on the left?<br />"Now, remembering that we called the first number on the right one cent, the second number point one cent, the third number point zero one cent, can we agree that this fourth number is point zero zero one cent?<br />"And can we agree again--I just want to make sure--that this fourth number on the right is not the same as the number on the left, and that it is, in fact, a value much smaller than the one on the left?<br />"Okay, good. Now, what your representatives have quoted me is 'point zero zero two cents.' Write down, on the right, as your fifth number, zero, decimal, zero, zero, two, and then a cent sign.<br />"However, what I'm being charged is 'point zero zero two dollars.' On the left, as your fifth number, write down 'dollar sign, zero, decimal, zero, zero, two.<br />"Now, remembering that at each step of the way, we've shown that the number on the left is expressed in dollars, and the number on the right is expressed in cents, and that the number on the left is worth more than the number on the right.<br />"What I was quoted is zero point zero zero two cents--the number on the right.<br />"What I'm being charged is zero point zero zero two dollars--the number on the left.<br />"Can we now agree that what I'm being charged is not the same as what I was quoted?McSneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01191103796483305529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-74623645932276036352006-12-09T19:31:00.000-08:002006-12-09T19:31:00.000-08:00http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?p=302...http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?p=302746#post302746<br /><br />same f'ing thing scenereo with meAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15082568220137841006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-80821053719359439792006-12-09T19:23:00.000-08:002006-12-09T19:23:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.McSneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01191103796483305529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-33697473035609733472006-12-09T17:21:00.000-08:002006-12-09T17:21:00.000-08:00This story has been hilarious from start and I thi...This story has been hilarious from start and I think it'll get even funnier when Verizon responds, I'm in the process of building a forum where uses can discuss the pros/cons of there service providers and cell phones. My offer to you is for us to pay your $72 fee for you! Our site is here <a href="http://www.mobileforum.com/">Mobile Forum</a> Just hit the contact us button to collect your payment.mobileforumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09109453512776933950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-17391413126641706752006-12-09T16:10:00.000-08:002006-12-09T16:10:00.000-08:00@ Don, regarding:
>>>"Hopefully the Verizon logo ...@ Don, regarding:<br /><br />>>><i>"Hopefully the Verizon logo on the cartoon will be seen as a parody which will keep that person from copyright infringement."</i><<<<br /><br />You're kidding, right?<br /><br />First of all, I don't give a crap what any obscure bit of the DMCA has to say about the subject...my use of the Verizon logo is not generating any money for me or for George, nor is it diluting their brand identity.<br /><br />Second, Verizon already has enough egg on their collective face, imagine how petty and vindictive they'd look to the public if they tried to harass me about using their logo in a cartoon parodying them and their pathetic understanding of math.<br /><br />No...strike that.<br /><br />I'd <b>LOVE</b> for them to drag my name out into the bright light of public glare.<br /><br />My tiny little ol' one man graphic design business could use the publicity.<br /><br />Oh, and in case anybody might be wondering...I'm <B><I>NOT</I></B> a cartoonist, and have never claimed to be. But this was just too good to pass up. It gave me a reason to bust out my way underused Wacom tablet to scrape out a bad drawing in Alias SketchBook Pro. :o)Patrick "Phos...." Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08132453886854529595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-15788322322148190302006-12-09T16:07:00.000-08:002006-12-09T16:07:00.000-08:00This is so sad! Keep us updated. I will be checkin...This is so sad! Keep us updated. I will be checking back regularly. Quite a laugh!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00031041656412654303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-66875288497263674562006-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:002006-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:00I don't have any insightful "how to teach math ove...I don't have any insightful "how to teach math over the phone" tips for you, I just wanted to say that this was very funny and that the clip is being passed around my law school while we all study for, ironically, our corporations law exam on Monday. I'd help you out, but I don't take the bar until July. =)Ann Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06037726976655604309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-76373397292295119702006-12-09T15:46:00.001-08:002006-12-09T15:46:00.001-08:00LOVE it! you definitely had a lot of patience, a...LOVE it! you definitely had a lot of patience, and I love the use of Google calculator to prove your point. can't wait for this to hit the TV news. :)gadgetfanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13744739813645324843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-54420175125341922522006-12-09T15:46:00.000-08:002006-12-09T15:46:00.000-08:00By the way...
Although this is an extreme represe...By the way...<br /><br />Although this is an extreme representation, this is just how it seems to be when dealing with a big Telco. It doesn't matter whether you're talking about American or Canadian telco's either. (I'm Canadian myself)<br /><br />I have over the course of my career had to deal with several different companies to get hundreds of repairs, installs and billing problems fixed and I don't know that I can count on my fingers how many got done correctly the first time. It doesn't even matter if you get someone good to help to help you (i.e. someone that knows how to work with decimals) the systems they use are so archaic and convoluted they're useless anyways.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14226904442699172365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516155314784643420.post-26836316768646349202006-12-09T15:35:00.000-08:002006-12-09T15:35:00.000-08:00If it never reaches 10, that might be a browser pr...If it never reaches 10, that might be a browser problem... getting to 10 works fine here :/<br /><br />You could try <a href="http://uploadfile.putfile.com/getfile/11657-3c8bslash26c4-8b1-07190video-05b7sslash34218030056.mp3">This</a> but I highly doubt that will work as the link is probably dynamically generated.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01728593899602535616noreply@blogger.com