Verizon Announces a Single Nationwide Customer Service Phone Number

February 11, 2009

By Jennifer Hull

Verizon has announced it is now offering consumers a single toll-free phone number to contact the company, greatly simplifying the process of reaching the correct customer service area. The new number, 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966), replaces more than 100 toll-free numbers used in the past by Verizon wireline customers. The number creates a more efficient way for Verizon wireline telephone, high-speed Internet, and FiOS Internet and TV customers from coast to coast to speak to service representatives who can answer billing questions, process orders for new service and repair requests, and provide technical support.

Nationwide Toll-Free Number Makes Life Easier for Verizon Customers

The new Verizon toll-free number was introduced market by market across the country over the last few months. Already, more than 40 percent of all calls to Verizon from residential wireline customers are made via 1-800-VERIZON. Other Verizon services will be added to the number in the future, and the other toll-free customer-service numbers will be gradually phased out.

"Instead of asking customers to figure out which number to call for what, one number is now all they'll need," said John Comisky, vice president of operations at Verizon. "It makes life much easier for our customers."

Verizon Subscribers Get Faster Assistance with 1-800-VERIZON

After dialing 1-800-VERIZON, customers first hear an automated "greeter" that recognizes either word commands or number prompts to obtain a particular area of assistance, automatically routing the call by geographic region and function.

Once a customer's specific need is identified, the call is directed to the proper service representative, regardless of whether the call originated from a landline or wireless phone. Early results from customers using the one-number contact show a significant, and growing, increase in calls going to the right place the first time. The simpler process is helping customer communications while making more efficient use of service representatives' time.