Backend Activation Issues - Still Not Helped By Customer Service

[technotimber]

For the last four weeks, I have tried to work with customer service to solve our issue. Four weeks ago, my wife and I switched to Visible. After five different attempts with customer service, I decided I would post publicly to see if this can be solved. Please read the entire post. Also, I hope someone from Visible is monitoring this thread. 

After receiving our SIMs, my phone activated problem free... just as expected. My wife's phone appeared to have activated. She was now on the Visible network, receiving phone calls, and sending texts. I have screen shots to show it. However, the app continued to say that she need to activate her SIM before the app would allow her to finish registering, setting up payment, joining a party, or using the chat feature for help. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL #1

As expected, I was asked to reboot the phone. Done. I was asked to remove the SIM and replace it. Done. I Then asked to remove the SIM, reboot the phone, and replace the SIM. Done. Next, uninstall the app and reinstall. Done. After about 35 minutes of working through these steps (which I had done before the call), I was told that the issue would be escalated and that I would hear back in 48 hours. Nothing. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL #2

This was actually the most helpful call. After verifying the account and the ticket number, I was told that it was a backend issue. The Visible team had tried to force activation multiple times and couldn't get it to go through. They also suggested that I contact our previous carrier because it seemed like the phone number had not been released. And of course the number had been ported. My wife was receiving calls and texts, but the account would not recognize it. I was told we would receive a confirmation email that the issue had been solved with 48 hours. In the meantime, I reached out to our previous carrier and was told that the account was closed and the number released. Still no email. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL #3

I gave it a few days before reaching out again. This time, I provided the ticket number and asked the rep to read through the ticket before we proceeded. She said that it appeared the account was active and was working properly. She suggested rebooting the phone, to try reinstalling the app, and give it about 24 hours and it should be solved. Before we hung up I was given an updated ticket number. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL #4

After 24 hours the app still said to activate the account. So, I reached out again and provided the ticket number. I was told that everything was working fine. I asked which phone number appeared to work fine. It was confirmed that my account (not my wife's) was working fine. Yes, of course. Once it was clear that I was speaking about my wife's account and confirmed that I had access, Kevin asked, "Why are you trying to solve a problem for your wife?" I said, "If you need to know in order to solve the problem, I manage all our tech. Is that sufficient?" Kevin confirmed that there was still a backend issue, increased the priority, told me a manager was now working on the solution, and that we would hear back via email within 48 hours. For the first time, we received an email though it was still beyond 48 hours. Sure enough, the account in the app now said activated and allowed my to login. Unfortunately, none of the other services in the app work. She's still unable to join or create a party. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL #5

I chatted in again from my device, verified both accounts, provided the ticket number, and explained the problem had not yet fully been solved. My wife cannot join or create a party. The solution provided was to logout, remove the app, reboot the phone, reinstall the app, login again and that it should work fine. Done. Problem remains. I asked if the backend problem still existed, she said it had been resolved. I was then told that we likely were not setting up the party correctly or maybe not following the steps correctly to join a party... user error. So, I asked that if this still didn't solve the issue would we be charged full price $40 for either account since the issue was a Visible error and that the problem still existed. She assured me (and I have screen shots) that my wife would be charged $35 per month if it wasn't resolved. I asked about my account since we would be in a party together. Yes, I would also be charged $35 for the month. Great, well that sounded like a fine solution. Today, I received my notifications from PayPal that both accounts were charged $40. What gives? And my wife is still unable to join a party, create a party, or use the chat feature in the help button. 

So here we are, Visible. What's next? 

[oncebitten]

I'm feeling your pain. They couldn't activate my brand new iPhone 12 with an eSIM so I ordered a physical card. I used the physical card; went through the activation process; was charged $25 and my phone still doesn't work. The person I chatted with told me it might be fixed in 48 hours. I'm not a happy camper.

[beav]

I would do another chat, screenshot the Paypal $40 charges, and ask for $10 in credits to Paypal, or $10 for next months service. 

I am sorry this has been your experience so far.

[technotimber]

Unfortunately, they can’t receive screens shots through the chat, only through social media which I abandoned more than a year ago. 

[technotimber]

Clearly, Visible does not pay attention to the forums. That’s too bad. 

[andrianchan]

Escalate your case to FCC. 

Here the link

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us

[jameswwhite54]

This appeared to work for me - thank you! After 9 frustrating days without service with multiple chat contacts each day I was given only platitudes, broken promises and outright lies by Visible "help". On day 9 I filed an FCC case per andrianchan recommendation and hey presto I was directly contacted by "Visible Escalations" (visible dot escalations at verizon dot com) and finally got some real help. After a few go arounds my phone and eSIM appear to be working as advertised but the frustration lingers. Perhaps users in a similar predicament can use the above email address (they won't even let me paste the link!) and possibly get some real help. Good luck!

[technotimber]

Call #6

The problem is still not fixed. Though my wife got her saying, we’re working on it. Not, it should all be resolved now, but we’re working on it. That was more than a week ago. She still can’t join a party. Though, this time customer service again assured me that both of our accounts would receive discounts this month. Time will tell. 

in another post someone said, it’s a trade off of customer service for lowers prices. There should be no trade off. I have access to customer service and Visible should be responsible to provide the services that they promote. The trade off shouldn’t be, “It might work like we described.” 

[jameswwhite54]

I'm sorry I can't solve your problem... My phone was working fine for about a week then suddenly stopped making calls and my account was locked - "Uh Oh there's a problem ... "

I am on my eighth call and have been unable to get help. I've had all the same promises as you: a case number, elevated to "expert team", promised email, a call back BUT nothing has happened! My account is locked so I can't stop paying and can't cancel. It seems like we are caught in a mobius strip in time with no one listening... I was a loyal customer of Verizon since 1998 but it now appears they are operating a scam - can someone help?

[technotimber]

They did eventually resolve it for us. Took about three months though. Since, we not had any issues. The trade-off financially is a win. It just means that customer service is minimal, slow, and sometimes unresponsive. 

[jameswwhite54]

I understand the point about a financial win but customer service that serves up nothing but platitudes, broken promises and outright lies in completely unacceptable at any price. 

[jameswwhite54]

Filing an FCC report appeared to work for me - thank you! After 9 frustrating days without service with multiple chat contacts each day I was given only platitudes, broken promises and outright lies by Visible "help". On day 9 I filed an FCC case per andrianchan recommendation and hey presto I was directly contacted by "Visible Escalations" (visible dot escalations at verizon dot com) and finally got some real help. After a few go arounds my phone and eSIM appear to be working as advertised but the frustration lingers. Perhaps users in a similar predicament can use the above email address (they won't even let me paste the link!) and possibly get some real help. Good luck!

[Nanii]

I have the same problem now as well. After porting my number over, I no longer have service with Visible. Reached out to customer service, they said there is a backend activation problem that could take up to 4 hours to resolve. Meanwhile, I have a paper weight of a phone. The customer service rep was speechless, offering no way to make things right. What a great first experience, it's going to be hard to recommend my friends and fam to use Visible. 

[Nanii]

4 chat sessions later and 10+ hours, I am still not getting any service. Filed complaint with the FCC. I've decided to cancel the service, there is no way I can go about my day without a working device. The customer experience has been a dumpster fire. 

[Nanii]

duplicate post

[justpidlin]

Yep.  add me to this ridiculous list.  Just want to go back to paying more for a phone that works

[kap15]

How did you speak with someone at Visible in customer service? I can't get through.