I am actively in small claims court (July 2004).
Verizon Information Services Canada Inc. / pka Dominion Information Services Inc. / dba SuperPages C/O Patrick W. Watson Barrister (Richmond)
VS
FraserValleyBC.com (me as the contact person)
What's happening:
We did advertise in 4 City Directories in 2001.
In January 2002 we received a 'proof' of the adds that Superpages wanted to run for the 2002 year. I thought about renewal, however did talk to a customer service rep shortly after receiving the proof, (end of January - Feb. 2002) and told the person we did not want to renew.
I didn't think any more of it until I received my invoice for the month of July 2002 - at that time I noticed that the date of the advertising for one of the directories had a completion date of 2003 - instead of 2002.
I called customer support again (August 28 2002) and told the person that we had not renewed. Support said it was too late. I explained I had called months ago about this, Support said there was nothing on record about a cancellation.
I paid up until the year I ordered was up and then I stopped.
Superpages has gotten a default order against me in small claims court. That happened because my reply to the court was late getting in. With the default order they already got a garnishment order for my employer and my employer had already started to garnish my wages at 30% of my net. per pay cheque.
I managed to get an application before a Judge to have the garnishment cancelled for now and the money returned to me. We have a court date now for July 29 2004 at 800 Hornby, Vancouver for a settlement hearing. However the Judge has already commanded me to pay Verizon $200.00 for costs to date. (on top of the $1300.00 or so they say I owe them for the disputed year of service).
I want people to be able to know what is happening to me, because when I was at court on Tuesday July 13 2004 I saw that Verizon's name is all over the docket, suing people and I believe that this seems to be a convenient cancellation policy problem - and It is my growing opinion that Verizon is almost making a business out of not cancelling non-renewed advertising in time for publication, causing people to have to pay for an entire year of service that they don't want.
I don't think I will win this case, because it seemed to me that the lawyers representative for Verizon makes a living from being at court very often and taking case after case up in front of the Judges. I felt like I was the outsider at court that day.
I can't afford a lawyer really, for a $1500.00 (or so) debt, however I also believe that the negligence to cancel my advertising is on the Verizon side, and that therefore I should not be responsible to pay.
I would like other people to contact me, if this is happening to you. I would like to be able to produce some witnesses at my trial who will be able to support my counter-claim, of non liability. I will also be happy to go as a witness for others who need some backing on the same issue. This is because it is turning out to be Verizon's word against mine, I am aware that they are most likely calling the customer support reps as witnesses for their side.
Contact me at: [email protected] if you can assist or think I can assist you... perhaps enough of us will make a difference.
Tammy
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Canada
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