If you’re thinking about ending your Verizon service, there’s one vital action you should take before you officially part ways. Recent experiences from former Verizon subscribers reveal that failing to disable autopay before canceling service can lead to unexpected charges long after the account is closed.
Why Canceling Autopay Before Leaving Verizon Matters
A longtime Verizon customer, who had used the carrier for an impressive 25 years, shared his frustrating story on Reddit. The user, known as ProfessionalTerm8089, discovered that even after terminating his service, Verizon continued charging his credit card each month through autopay. Since his account was technically canceled, Verizon did not maintain official records for disputes, leaving him stuck in a difficult situation.
He wrote, “Don’t autopay… when you cancel they keep charging your card. And since you canceled, they don’t have a record of you to dispute the charges… happened to me for months until I noticed the withdrawals.” His account was eventually handed over to debt collectors, forcing him to pay for services he no longer used.
What Former Subscribers Are Advising
Another Reddit subscriber chimed in, emphasizing the importance of canceling autopay before terminating Verizon service. This simple step could help avoid months of unintentional payments and billing headaches. Indeed, ProfessionalTerm8089 admitted, “Never thought to cancel autopay first… that’s good to know!”
While some customers stop all charges immediately, others have reported that Verizon continued billing them for streaming subscription services tied to their accounts—despite having canceled those subscriptions before leaving the carrier. A different ex-subscriber, jimedwards4343, mentioned complications with account numbers and phone numbers being untraceable after cancellation, which made resolving these billing issues even more difficult.
Key Takeaway: Disable Autopay Before Cancelling
To avoid scenarios like these, the critical first move if you plan to leave Verizon is to disable autopay on your account prior to cancellation. This preventive measure ensures Verizon stops withdrawing funds once you terminate your service, avoiding accidental billing and debt collection actions.
While not every Verizon user faces post-cancellation billing problems, the negative experiences are serious enough that skipping this step is a risk not worth taking.
Looking Beyond Verizon
Having personally used Verizon for two decades, the author notes that while the service quality has generally been dependable, competitors such as T-Mobile are now offering more attractive customer rewards and perks. For those considering a switch, the combination of good service and better benefits might make the decision easier.
