Verizon FiOS Sucks

After Verizon was unable to recapture my phone number in time for Christmas the following things have happened on December 26th & 27th:

• I received communication from Verizon Executive Customer Relations that they are going to facilitate fixing my problem.
• Verizon has created a standard (copper) telephone account using my home phone number. Unfortunately copper phone service isn’t hooked up into my house (I disconnected it on the outside of the house) and as a result these phone calls don’t actually ring my home phone. At least they are no longer getting the “Number has been disconnected” message.
• I called Vonage to re-initiate the porting of my phone number back from Verizon FiOS Phone to my existing Vonage account. Unfortunately, given the length of time (10 days) since Verizon FiOS disconnected me, it will now take 8-10 more business days before I will be able to receive phone calls again.
• Due to the length of time for my phone calls to be actually ringing on my Vonage account, I asked Verizon to setup voicemail on the copper account they set up. Now callers can hear a message from me and leave a message for me that I can retrieve remotely.
• Verizon also did offer to send installers out to the house to hook up the copper service but I didn’t think that was prudent given that:
  • The account had no bells & whistles (Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Long Distance, etc.) so I may actually restrict my ability to call out.
  • I already initiated a transfer back to Vonage so I didn’t want to disconnect all of my Vonage equipment only to have to reconnect it once the number capture is completed.
  • Verizon has openly told me that it is likely I will receive a bill for this account but will not be “responsible” for paying it. I don’t want to make this process any more complex than it already may be (Am I wrong to think there will be more phone calls to Customer Support in my future?)

All told it is much more progress than I have made in the previous 10 days and I am thankful to know that even through it may take another 8-10 business days I should be able to get my phone service back with my old number intact.