Verizon to Cops, we won't help you track down sick, possibly dying man unless you pay

[Majic Walrus]

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/22/verizon-to-cops-we-w.html

A 62-year-old man had a mental breakdown and ran off after grabbing several bottles of pills from his house. The cops asked Verizon to help trace the man using his cellphone, but Verizon refused, saying that they couldn't turn on his phone because he had an unpaid $20 bill. After an 11-hour search (during which time the sheriff's department was trying to figure out how to pay the bill), the man was found, unconscious.

Two K-9 units, several fire departments and 100 individuals on foot also were involved in the search for the man, who Sheriff Dale Williams said fled his residence on Kensington Rd. after a domestic disturbance call to deputies... Williams said he attempted to use the man's cell phone signal to locate him, but the man was behind on his phone bill and the Verizon operator refused to connect the signal unless the sheriff's department agreed to pay the overdue bill. After some disagreement, Williams agreed to pay $20 on the phone bill in order to find the man. But deputies discovered the man just as Williams was preparing to make arrangements for the payment.​

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[Drakon]

Couldn't they charge criminal charges?

 

[Kane52630]

i have verizon, oh well at least its better than Time Warner (ive heard of scary stories from them)

 

[mrvlknight21]

Unreal.

 

[Wiseman]

It's called capitalism people, be proud of it

 

[Addendum]

Not the first time Verizon has given the run around with cops

http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-kelsey-smith-parents-fight-bill-story-2909,0,7840431.story

 

[Hotwire]

I wonder if I contact Verizon, if I can notate my account to give the authorization to work with police in such a situation? I'd feel sorry for anyone at Verizon who stonewalled me while trying to find my daughter.

 

[Majic Walrus]

I wonder if I contact Verizon, if I can notate my account to give the authorization to work with police in such a situation? I'd feel sorry for anyone at Verizon who stonewalled me while trying to find my daughter.

I don't think it's as much an issue of account security as it is legal obligation. They are not legally obligated to assist or to turn over account information without a subpoena so why go the extra mile?

Go figure.

 

[ComicChick]

this is a shame. glad i don't have verizon and would never recommend it to anyone, especially now

 

[Tyrinus]

Hey, proof that you don't need a cell phone to get by, but nobody is looking at it that way.