Chapter 6.1: Databases, Quality Information{1}
I first heard about my article on the news Sunday night regarding Verizon Wireless and I was able to find more information about it in the New York Times. As of today Verizon has announced that it’s going to pay back $90 million in refunds to all customers who were wrongfully charged in their monthly bill statement. Ever since 2007, the FCC has been investigating Verizon Wireless because of numerous customer complaints about being over charged for data sessions or Internet usage. The way this happened was because some people who didn’t purchase a data plan, for their cell phones, would be charged $1.99 for each data usage. Even if you accidentally pressed an application that connected you to the Internet, you would still be charged the FULL $1.99. Verizon Wireless will begin making refunds to customer who did not have a data plan in increments of $2 or $6. This article also questions the authenticity of Verizon refunding everyone who was affected because some people might have changed companies or mailing address. As of today Verizon is still under review and might have to pay an additional penalty for letting this problem go on for years without notifying its customers. According to PCWorld, they state that Verizon is trying to blame the situation on some kind of buit-in software that has been creating this issue, but has not mentioned which one.
This article relates to chapter 6 section 6.1 because Verizon failed to make sure that the quality of the data collected was accurately processed into information. The data consisted of recording how many times customers used data sessions or connected to the internet, but the database failed to filter when customers accidentally were granted access. This happened because customers were pressing the wrong application and the database charged them as if they used and entire session. Verizon failed to monitor the information in their database system. This situation would be an example of low quality information and Verizon has suffered the cost of Poor Information.
I liked this article because Verizon Wireless is currently my service provider and its quite possible that some of my class mates, as well as myself, might soon be receiving a refund in the mail.
Nystedt, D. (2010, October 3). Verizon Blames Built-in Phone Software for Overcharges. PCWorld, p. 1. Retrieved October 4, 2010 from http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/206846/verizon_blames_builtin_phone_software_for_overcharges.html.
Wyatt, E. (2010, October 3). Verizon Wireless to Pay Millions in Refunds. New York Times, p. B1. Retrieved October 4, 2010 from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/technology/04webphone.html?_r=1&src=busln.
Nov 29, 2010 @ 15:43:14
I wonder what backlash Verizon will experience because of this porblem; I bet that most customers will be happy with the refund, but some will want to switch carriers.