Way to go Verizon!!! What are you going to do to fix the mess you caused, with the release of unlisted/non-published, CONFIDENTIAL information??? The phone numbers, and worse, addresses, of many Law Enforcement, Correctional, Public Office, Victims, and other, Personnel "Hand-Delivered" to everyone, including scum of society, who doesn't need this information!!! There are varying reasons why these people did not want their information readily available, and you put it right out there!!! Sure, you can change their phone numbers, that's the easy part, BUT, what are you going to do about the addresses of thousands of these folks, being put into the hands of those who shouldn't have such information??? You can't change their addresses!!! You've instantly put many people at risk, in harm's way, due to negligence!!! There are Law Enforcement Personnel, who are now targets of those who they have arrested and dealt with; There are Correctional Personnel who are now targets of inmates, ex-inmates, and families of; There are Victims who are now easier-access by their attackers and scum-associates; There are Public Officials that are now easier targets of those they have had dealings with!!! There are also Retirees of various Professions now at risk by this as well!!! The list goes on!!!

If a bad guy is crazy enough to go after somebody in one of the professions you listed, they are going to do it with or without the phone book. Petty vandalism and harassment is a more realistic concern.

That said, I happen to be one of the people who had their unlisted info printed. According to the recorded message I received Friday, their remedy is a refund for the unlisted fee (a year, I think it said) and an offer to change your number for free.

F' you, Verizon!

I'm pretty pissed about this. We've had an unpublished number for years since my husband is a cop. Now our phone number and complete street address are published for all the world to see. We have the option of changing our number, but what a pain in the ass to have to notify banks, credit card companies, friends and relatives of the change! Yep, F** you very much, Verizon!

The verison CSR I wrote basically responded that he looked in the Verizon directory and did not see my name, so I must be mistaken!!!! WTF???? I had to write back and tell him the directory info -- still waiting for a response on that.

I think the PSC needs to get involved. The good news part of the bad news is that the cops will get some legislators involved. Everyone affected should raise a stink a'la the Allegheny Energy light bulb fiasco.

The light bulb bit was intentional. This was not. It is a big blunder though.

A company with this kind of private info must work hard to protect it. They were PAID specifically to do so. And Verizon has still not notified many of those affected! What do you wanna bet this has happened before in other towns? Verizon saw $$$ in selling info and put security last. There needs to be much more disclosure from Verizon on this. I hope the PSC gets involved.

Which Directory was it sold to?

I have not received the phone call, but I want to check anyway.

Ogden.

Does anyone have a link to this story?

As much as I pay for Comcast, I can't say I've had any major complaints aside from their price.

I sent a letter to Verizon and the Maryland Public Service Commission complaining about this huge mistake. How could something like this have happened? It is unexcusable. Do you know how many data bases these non-published phone numbers and addesses are on now!!!!!!

These are the address to write a complaint to:

Contact information for Verizon and the Maryland Public Service Commission:

Verizon-Maryland

1 E. Pratt St.

Baltimore, MD 21202

301-954-6260


Maryland Public Service Commission

William D. Schaefer Tower

6 St. Paul St., 15th floor

Baltimore, MD 21202

800-492-0474

Happy to say I haven't had a land line for around 6 years or so.

Refunding people the $1.89 it costs for an unlisted number is not nearly enough in my opinion. Class action lawsuit anyone?

Ugh, I go away for a long weekend and I come back to this. Yep, I just looked, and our unpublished # is in there too. This is not good. Sman, you got a call Friday? It's Tuesday and I haven't heard a peep. Are they supposed to be notifying everyone? This really sucks. I don't know what to do; changing to another unpublished # is going to be really problematic as far as notifying everybody, and the address is there plain as day for whoever wants it.

The Herald-Mail ONLINE
http://www.herald-mail.com/
06/03/2008
Verizon ordered to appear before Md. PSC

By ERIN JULIUS and ANDREW SCHOTZ

The Maryland Public Service Commission has ordered Verizon to appear before the regulatory agency in Baltimore on Thursday to explain how private information of Washington County residents was released to a telephone directory publisher, PSC spokeswoman LaWanda Edwards said.

Unlisted and unpublished telephone numbers of more than 12,000 people were printed in the Washington County Phone Book after Verizon inadvertently sold the information to the phone book publisher Ogden DIrectories Inc., The Herald-Mail reported Saturday.

When it discovered the problem, Ogden asked the postal service to stop delivering the books, but a majority already had been distributed.

The PSC, which regulates such utilities as gas, electric, telephone, water and sewage disposal companies, learned about the situation Monday afternoon, Edwards said.

“As soon as we found out about it, we contacted Verizon,” she said. “Because of the public safety issue we wanted to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.”

According to information in a letter dated June 3 from the PSC to Verizon officials, Verizon “advised the commissioners by e-mail that ‘as a result of a ‘feed error’ from IT,’” Verizon inadvertently sent approximmately 12,400 non-listed/non-published listings to the publishers of Washington County Phone Book, also known as the EZ To Use Big Book.

http://www.herald-mail.com/?cmd=displaysto...amp;format=html

I just checked my phone. The recorded message came in Saturday morning around 10:15 a.m.

I just saw the story on channel 5 - 10:00 news – thanks to the media a lot more people that would never have known this happened are aware of what happened and know that the information is out there.

Sadly that is true for many things. But there are times when it is important to get the word out. Unfortunately the phone company was not quick enough calling affected customers. On top of that the customer service line has not been too helpful to some. Many involved would have not known until calls occurred, or someone noted the address. Numbers are easy to change but addresses, ugh.........

But I see and respect your point, it is hard to balance when to publicize. At least all have an awareness and maybe in numbers can make sure there is some accountability. Bottom-line: the Verizon phone company is to blame, and customers have to make adjustments. They should cut the unlisted fees for life to affected patrons. I feel bad for anyone facing difficulties from this. I wish them well.

(While Verizon is to blame, hopefully, Ogden will put some checks and balances in to their protocol. Ogden and a lot of these new directory services need to ask some questions next year, when Verizon sells them another list. This is a wake up call to many such companies.)

heh heh, I was thinking the EXACT same thing when I saw it plastered on the front page of the H-M this morning. I understand that it's news, but unfortunately you're exactly right; people who wouldn't have known otherwise now know, and might be picking up that new phone book to hunt down people from their pasts, who have been in undisclosed locations until now (cops, correctional officers, etc.). Pretty scary.

I still haven't gotten my call from Verizon.

Hmm...curious. I got my call Saturday morning as well. It was a recording stating how sorry Verizon is and yada yada about the refund for a year and the offer to change the number at no charge. That's great...but now I've got to look over my shoulder wondering what low-lifes my husband has arrested are going to drop by my house for a visit.

If the media hadn't written about it, how many people with unlisted/unpublished numbers STILL wouldn't know their information was out there. Hundreds, if not thousands of phone books were out. People were talking about it all over the place. How do you think the media found out about it? People were talking about it.

I worry a lot less about police officers (first someone would have to be nuts to go after a police officer and, second, at least they know how to defend themselves). I worry more about domestic violence victims who, literally, are trying to hide. How long would it take Verison to tell them the secret was out? The media at least gives people like that a heads up so they can start making decisions about what they want to do.

WB - Two potential aides for those unexpected "guests"

PP, while agree you would have to be nuts to go after a LEO, it happens more often than you think. A really good friend of mine is a Frederick City Police Officer and he has had a person that he has arrested approach him in Wal-Mart threatening him, saying "you're off duty, what are you gonna do about it now?" The idiot failed to realize that even off-duty LEO's carry a weapon and a badge. Guess what he got locked up again for threatening a police officer. And that my friend is just once instance of a nut job going after a LEO. IMO LEO's, their families, and all other prior victims of crimes need to be looking over their shoulders thanks to this highly publicized blunder. Sorry but I tend to agree, just as in many other instances the media has done little to help this situation.

I worry about domestic violence victims in this situation too, but there are crazy people out there who will go after police officers. We were harassed several years ago by someone my husband had arrested, which is the reason why we got an unpublished number in the first place. I hate to sound paranoid, but I'm only going by past experience.

Hey Patton, you may be on to something there! I actually love German Shepherds...a very smart and beautiful breed. And my husband, who also happens to be a firearms instructor, knows how to wield a weapon (as do I, although maybe I'll brush up on my target practice). Like I said, hate to sound paranoid, but it sucks worrying about your kids playing out in the yard. Verizon really f**ked up big time on this one.

Exactly.

Wow, Coma and I actually disagree on something, LOL. I guess there is doing their job and reporting a story, and then there is making a bigger deal out something when it isn't necessary or not prudent. Just my OPINION.

Verizon not only screwed-up, their handling of the screw-up has been another screw-up.

These kinds of stories aren't just thrown into the paper. There was a lot of talk about what was the responsible thing to do. The responsible thing was to tell people their unpublished/unlisted numbers were out there.

And Wildblue, I'm not dismissing the potential threat to law enforcement officers and their families. You've at least had some experience dealing with it. Like Smokechaser said, police probably always have to be watching the people around them, no matter where they are. This escalates it for you, I know.

I think not publishing the story would have meant a lot of those 12,000 plus customers still would not know how exposed they were.

Well I just think that there are victims here that deserve the right to be told of this, especially if some of them are unlisted for reasons of personal safety. Let's say Jane Doe has an unlisted number because someone wants her head on a pike. Verizon doesn't notify her of the screw-up, so she has no clue that her address is now publicly available. Her assaulter breaks into her home at night, without her being the least bit prepared, and kills her. Not good. As if Verizon isn't in enough hot water as it is, could you imagine the trouble they would be in if they tried to keep this hush hush, or news outlets for not reporting on it?

If you are living in that much danger, you shouldn't be relying on an unlisted number for your security and preparation.

Well, danger is danger. A convicted rapist seeking vengeance can be as dangerous as about anything else.

It is one layer of protection, and when that is compromised people should be notified.

Some people have unlisted numbers because they were simply harassed by someone in the past, others may have been threatened with much more serious harm. It should not be made light of. Even if the worst that happens is a few people's house gets egged or their tires flattened, it should not happen. Verizon screwed-up. I do not see their execs publishing their phone numbers and addresses. Wonder why?

This is one of those problems that isn't "fixable." It doesn't matter what Verizon does, what the newspaper does, what the public service commission does.

It's like trying to put the shells back together after you break the eggs. You can give people new, unlisted phone numbers but who is going to buy their house so they can move?

Class Action Suit is starting to sound better all the time.

That's a pretty stupid, non-compassionate, idiotic statement!!!
How about all of the people in this County who have this protective measure in place, due their employment, and for the safety of their families??? Does that qualify for "That much Danger"???? What about the countless victims in this area, who take this protective measure, out of fear, to try to go on with their lives, as low-key as possible??? Do they also not have the right for this safety choice, or do they not deserve to try to live as peaceful as possible, free of the past dangers that victimized them already???? What about the staff of local Law Enforcement agencies, Prisons, Detention Center, Courts, etc. who had this measure in place for safety and security reasons???? Do they not have a right to privacy, from the scum of society that they've had to deal with professionally, and don't deserve to have to put up with them privately, as well as their family members????
No one said that this was the only thing for their protection, but this was their choice, and their right, to have their PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTED, and it has been violated!!! Yes they paid for such, and it's awfully nice of Verizon, to refund and/or waive future fees, and change their numbers, but how does that protect their homes???? Just because you, obviously, have never walked in the shoes of such people, don't judgmentally down-play the seriousness of the issues at hand!!!!
And, as far as phone calls, from Verizon, we have yet to receive any. When we have called we have been transferred from one person to another to another, put on hold indefinitely, hung-up on!!!! Real professional handling of the problem they created!!!!

You are quite possibly one of the rudest, least articulate, and most obnoxious posters I've ever encountered on this board. And to be lectured by you about stupidity, idiocy, and lack of compassion is truly hilarious.

My post you quoted was in regards to the very specific, hypothetical example given by coma. I interpreted the example as the person taking no other precautions other than the unlisted number, and I stand by what I posted. As for me never having walked in these shoes, I said in my first post that I was one of the ones affected. And, BTW, I'm in one of these professions that you think are in mortal danger.

I happen to not think it's as big a deal to law enforcement/corrections people as others apparently do. I know many of my colleagues who have always listed their number/address and none of them have been attacked or harassed.

I wouldn't make such statements if you don't know much about the backgrounds of some of the folks here.

And Sman, I see what you're saying, but there have to be folks out there that don't do more than just get an unlisted phone number/address. Personally I don't think there will be a mass wave of crimes against protected individiuals, but I think the main issue is peace of mind.

That's it exactly.

Gone, changed my mind.

I heard they (by they, I'm not sure if it is Ogden, Verizon, or both) are considering a "buy back" program for the rogue phone books. Offering some sort of minor incentive to mail back or turn in a copy of the book. This was just a rumor, but it came from a co-worker who seems to be in the know on this subject.

Has anybody heard if anyone is looking into a Class Action Suit?

I understand your interest, but the only people who usually get anything out of them are the lawyers.

Very true.

According to last night's paper it has happened before with Verizon. Apparently Verizon doesn't take this too seriously. Last time, like this time, they blame some vague IT error as though those damn self-aware computers are fudging up the good work their people are doing.

I see there may be fines levied -- if so all the money should go to those affected.

Unfortunately Fat chance of that happening. The PSC will pocket it.

Class Action is the only way I see, those affected getting anything close to resembling a "reach around".

What? A great patriot like Verizon? Sue them?

I think we should give them retroactive immunity.

What are you getting at, Id?

Just a thought. I'm sure they're very concerned with customer privacy.

If you're not willing to say it, and support it, don't insinuate it.

Go ahead -- might start a debate!

Go ahead and sue them. But you'll have to wait in line.





Plus several states are suing them for violation of privacy rights over their warrantless-wiretapping of millions of Americans.

On second thought, according to your philosophy, they would be justified to simply pass that cost on to ALL their customers. What are we going to do about it, quit using the phone? We can't do that any more than we can quit driving our cars. Keep in mind, all the tecom companies are being sued for the same thing.

Nope, you wouldn't want me on that jury. Why should I pay more because the phone company published your address?

There's nothing they can do to undo the slight "damage" done. However in this day I say that if you think that anything short of being in the Federal Witness Protection Program is really going to keep you hidden from anyone with internet access, you're seriously deluded.

It was a very minor, superficial layer of "protection" that was worth about what they made you pay for it.

People still use telephone books?? J/K sorta.

If your main concern is your address now available for all to see, I would be more concerned about zabasearch.com. There are loads of search engines out there that can find people anywhere in the US. Good way to find out where old high school or college friends are living. Not much privacy with the internet anymore. If someone wants to find you and stalk you, they don't need the phone book.

But, with that said, Verizon was wrong and should have to be penalized (or something) for what they did. My worry is that they'll increase Your costs with each law suit they have to deal with. That's the American way! So, it seems to be a lose/lose situation.

We have an unlisted number as well but in PA. Have for the 18 years that we've lived here due to hubby's profession. But, nobody uses our land line. Hubby keeps wanting to discontinue it, but I won't let him. It's needed for an emergency that may turn up. And our address is on many search engines on the internet. Anyone wants to stalk us, they'll be bored to tears. And they'd have to face our pitbulls.

But, I can understand the invasion of privacy that many feel.