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Thousands of Note 7 Phones Still in Use On Verizon, All Non-911 Calls To Be Rerouted To Customer Service (cnet.com)
Thousands of Verizon customers continue to use the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, the carrier said. This despite the widely publicized recalls spurred by battery fire concerns and a software upgrade designed to kill the phone by preventing it from recharging. From a report: "In spite of our best efforts, there are still customers using the recalled phones who have not returned or exchanged their Note 7 to the point of purchase," a Verizon spokeswoman said. "The recalled Note 7s pose a safety risk to our customers and those around them." So now Verizon is fighting fire with fire, so to speak. The carrier plans to reroute all non-911 outgoing calls to its customer service line, and it might bill the holdouts for the full retail cost of the phone.
Who uses their cell phones for phone calls anyway?
-- All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. -- Edmund Burke
...sucks to be you. I can feel the waves of hate already. It's as if millions of voices suddenly dialed out, and were silenced.
If you didn't turn it in, you didn't get a refund. Those that have them have paid for them (though some may have been at subsidized prices).
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
I have a coworker who's holding on to his Note 7. He's been staying on top of all of this. It appears that after a recall, a company cannot require nor continue requiring payment for a recalled device. Some may argue that he has a loan he still owes Verizon, but it appears also that Samsung bought out all those loans.
There has been no word from Verizon that they will prorate service contracts since they are effectively disabling service...that's gotta be some kind of illegal.
I haven't confirmed any of the above, as I don't care, but I do find it interesting.
I think Verizon and the other carriers have done all they should do for the recall; my coworker even got the fire-proof box shipped to his house for the return. He likes the phone, he knows about the (extremely minor) risk, and wants to keep the phone. All Verizon is doing with this is pissing off those few thousand customers.
OMG! I hope the government and corporations can save us all from the threat that is exploding cell phones!
Seriously though, we are all going to die. But none of us from a cell phone exploding.
In other words, you didn't read the post at all...
Calls to 911 are still allowed, all OTHERS will be directed to Veri$on customer service.
protip: thousands < millions
yeah, I know that wrecks your quote. This is slashdot, where technically correct is the best kind of correct.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
How can you be so sure? I am thinking based on such actions that Samsung will not reimburse Verizon at all until the phones are retrieved from their customers.
This will go over like a pay toilet in a Diarrhea ward! :-D
As a collector's item, it might eventually be worth something. But probably never more than it is now.
Your ad here. Ask me how!
...because they get no call at all. 911 operators instead are raising complains: due to Verizon decision they are now very busy!
federally mandated recall
The recall notice says clearly that consumers should stop using and power down.
The device related problems are an issue between the end-user and Samsung, not Verizon. Verizon has no business interfering in the legal use of a legally purchased device. To Verizon's network, it is irrelevant what device I would use, and therefore Verizon would be in breach of contract for turning of services I am paying for. Unless of course, Verizon can demonstrate how the use of a Samsung Note 7 device is interfering with the integrity of their network. This is a class action lawsuit coming.
Don't forget that the issue is battery related. So take out the battery, and you have a perfectly functioning computing device.
I'm not a complete idiot... Some parts are missing.
With Samsung's forthcoming hot handsets. They will redefine what an explosive device is all about.
You don't understand the problem. The battery isn't too big, it's too thin. The protective sheath between the layers is too easily punctured. And no, you can't replace it with a thicker battery.
Then they get a fine, or a visit from the cops. Their problem.
Just wondering... what happens to Verizon if, despite all of the notices, someone continues to use the device that they obtained through Verizon, and... the device explodes, causing loss of property or life? Is it possible that that someone could/would sue Verizon for damages?
Don't call me Shirley.
I learned back with my Galaxy S4 that no one owns any Samsung product. Samsung really retains control. The so-called customer just has a license to use it for a while.
I wanted to put on a different version of Android, and Samsung's Knox software prevents modifying the bootloader, so I'm stuck with all the Verizon bloatware and limited functions from their stock software, such as no tethering.
That's why I went with the more open ZTE as my current phone since it's made by the more open Communist Chinese.
This sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to me.
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Verizon's lawyers would cross-claim Samsung's, and besides having to pay their own attorneys to make required court appearances and monitor the case, that would pretty much be the limit of Verizon's liability. Sure, in theory, Verizon could be held liable for the full amount under the doctrine of joint & several liability... but that really only matters when the company with primary responsibility is judgment-proof (bankrupt, out of business, etc). Samsung is one of the largest conglomerates on Earth, and SamsungUSA is pretty huge, too... they aren't going anywhere, and their checks won't be bouncing anytime soon.
Right now, the closest device is a downgrade.
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