Service Maintained for Verizon Customers Affected By Payment Agent Default

Payment agencies operate under rules set by the state Banking Commission, which is responding to complaints about ElectroPay. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzers office is investigating any possible wrongdoing involving possible fraudulent collection of funds by ElectroPay from customers of Verizon and other utilities. Customers are invited to call the Attorney Generals Brooklyn regional office at 718-722-3949 with complaints or information regarding ElectroPay. Verizon periodically reminds its customers to only use authorized payment agents. This reminder was in a bill message issued in January and will be in another scheduled for April. Customers making payments to authorized agents are protected in the event Verizon does not receive payments. ElectroPay was not a Verizon authorized payment agent but may have had direct payment agency agreements with other utilities. To find the nearest authorized payment agents, customers can dial 1-800-698-3545 (English) or 1-800-281-6118 (Spanish). Customers who speak Mandarin, Korean or other languages can ask Verizons service representatives to be connected to the multilingual center for help in other languages.