AT&T is the lone leader in guaranteeing a nation will not be cut off from communications.
At least, for now.
Communication giants across the United States have yet to gauge the scale of seriousness the COVID-19 pandemic is presenting to our nation. With Verizon Wireless, one of the leaders in global communication with an estimated 118 million subscribers, telling their customers to ‘call them’ if they’re affected by the coronavirus.
Call them? Really.
In an age where most people forget their phones are…well phones, you a ‘leader’ in communications are asking the entire country to ‘call you.’
Verizon said in a released statement they ‘will not terminate services to a customer who’s been impacted by events involving coronavirus’ asking America to contact them individually instead regarding their ‘hardships’ as the country goes to war with a microscopic menace.
The full official statement from Verizon regarding cutoffs during the worldwide crisis is:
“When a Verizon customer is experiencing hardships because of COVID-19, from March 16, 2020 to May 13, 2020, Verizon will waive late fees, and will not terminate service to a customer who’s been impacted by the events involving the Coronavirus. If you are experiencing a hardship, you can contact us to discuss your situation and available options.”
They are DEFINITELY waving activation and upgrade fees though! No better time to upsell a customer than when a pandemic faces the nation.
For a company that wanted to sponsor the ‘Indominus Rex’, you’re still better than that Verizon. Step up. Verizon was last estimated to be worth 131 billion dollars, the least you can afford to do in response to help a nation and the world in a time of crisis. Make a blanket statement to comfort customers, both residential and business, instead of adding to a laundry list of concerns.
How other communication companies are dealing with the pandemic:
AT&T has pledged for the next 60 days (as of March 13th) no one will be terminated for any form of service be it home, wireless or broadband service as an inability to pay their bill. “We’re waving late payment fees for those customers,” as well, the retailer said in a statement posted online.
T-Mobile says ‘you can arrange a payment arrangement’ online but makes no claim it will not disrupt service as of posting.
Sprint says it is providing unlimited data to customers for 60 days with metered data plays, effective 3/18, with an additional 20 GBs of free mobile hotspot to customers with compatible devices. Free international calling as well.
Boost Mobile (who is owned by Sprint) says customers currently on an unlimited play will receive an additional 20 GBs of mobile hotspot on their accounts at no extra cost through April 30th. Customers will also receive free international calling during this time.
Cricket says ‘chat with us or call’ to wave re-activation fees if you’re affected by COVID-19.
Last updated 3/21/19: We reached out to Verizon and T-Mobile for additional comments regarding their COVID-19 response.
