Verizonmath

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Verizonmath is a term coined by Kelly Hawk in December of 2006 used to describe the arbitrary alteration of Dollars to Cents in the billing rate quoted to George Vaccaro by several Verizon Wireless customer service representatives. The term has grown in popularity due to the high profile billing error made known by George Vaccaro.

1 Definition
2 Overview
3 Results
4 Criticism
5 See also
6 External Links
7 References

[edit] Definition

The mathematical process by which one 'sees' the answer one wishes to see.

In verizonmath, the traditional adherence to the use of dimensional analysis has been abolished.

Math is therefore simplified, as you may simply choose the unit in which any answer should be expressed.[1]

[edit] Overview

The Verizonmath fad began in December of 2006 in response to a billing error made by Verizon Wireless. An audio recording of Vaccaro's communications with customer service reps (CSR) was posted to his blog and several other sites on the Internet. The recording documents several instances where the CSRs insisted that $0.002 was equal to 0.002¢. The recording also documents the CSRs admitting that Vaccaro was quoted a data usage rate of 0.002¢ per kilobyte. In actuality, he was charged the actual rate of $0.002 per Kilobyte. Vaccaro was charged a price of $71.79 for using 35,895 kilobytes, when the quoted rate would determine a price of 71.79¢.[2] The first known occurrence of Verizonmath is when several CSRs calculate 0.002 cents per kilobyte times 35,895 kilobytes and arrive at 71.79 dollars instead of cents. In their calculations they seem to arbitrarily jump from the dimension of cents to dollars without any conversion. The recording ends with a manager stating that the 100 fold mathematical discrepancy was a matter of opinion and would not be corrected.[2]

[edit] Results

The efforts started by George Vaccaro to make this issue public eventually reached hundreds of thousands on YouTube alone. The effort proved successful as Verizon Wireless apologized for the misquotation and waived the fee entirely. Currently Vaccaro's site and others are continuing to spread their message due to reports (and recordings) of other similar incidents with Verizon Wireless customer support regarding similar misquotations in which rates measured in dollars and confused with cents.

[edit] Criticism

Critics of Vaccaro and his efforts make several arguments against him. Most notably, some seem to think he should have known the rate of 0.002¢ per kilobyte was too low. However, Vaccaro states that he was unfamiliar with the going rate for wireless data transmission since he pays a fixed rate for unlimited service while in the United States and the quoted rate only applied to transmissions made while in Canada.

Critics of the term Verizonmath have previously fought efforts to publicize the term by stating the creator and those involved are only trying to harm the reputation of Verizon Wireless.