While browsing Digg I came across this story regarding Verizon Wireless’ incompetence when it comes to basic mathematics.

Verizon Wireless customer George Vaccaro called Verizon to get the rate for wireless data usage while in Canada. They quoted him a rate of .002 cents per kilobyte. He had them note this in his account, which they did. While in Canada he had a data transfer total of 35893 kb. They sent him a bill for $71. The problem? Verizon charged him a rate of .002 DOLLARS per kilobyte. His bill should have been 71 cents at the quoted rate.

George called VZW about the problem and recorded his phone call. It is hilarious. He keeps getting transferred to rep after rep and each one has absolutely no understanding of the difference between .002 cents and .002 dollars. Despite the complete lack of understanding of basic mathematics by Verizon’s customer service reps, George stayed calm and tried to explain it to them, doing a very good job in my opinion. After getting no resolution he decided to take his problem to the Internet, in the same fashion that a customer did with AOL earlier this year.

So far Verizon’s only response has been to offer to cut his bill in half, but why would he take that offer when Verizon is clearly at fault? I can’t stand corporate incompetence and customer service has gone to hell in America, so I hope he not only gets a full refund but also gives Verizon a black eye in the process. Maybe companies will start taking some accountability for their errors.