This guy just appeared at my door asking for "the landlord" claiming he's from Verizon, immediately flashing an iffy badge claiming Verizon, saying his visit was "about some work we need to do in the back."
i shooed him away. and then watched as he canvassed/visited every other apartment on our side of the block, and those too, i'm sure, allegedly "about some work in the back?"
i smell horse-hooey. be warned.
anyone else?
I don't know about Verizon but I know with Cablevision the boxes are in the back of the buildings. If someone on the block needs new service and their building isn't run for cable, the techs often need to get into the backyards. They will then climb over walls in order to get to the box to activate the new account/line.
distrust and verify, my friend. no one i know of in our building has requested any verizon lines/work. and the fact that he's going to each apartment, plus his extremely pushy demeanor and immediate flashing of the badge reeks of a well-known, ongoing scam, typically done by fake energy companies but also perpetrated under the guise of landline providers.
my advice is tell anyone you don't know of claiming needing access to your apartment or building to get lost and stay gone. just good sense. if there's a legitimate need, it will make itself known through proper channels in time.
here's an old thread on topic that may be of use:
http://brooklynian.com/forum/greenwood-heights-and-sunset-park/idt-energy-scamhave-you-been-hit-up
Skribe, while I get where you're coming from, you should know that Verizon usually has one trunk line in a central yard on each block and then runs lines to individual homes (this is for the old copper wiring). When there is a problem on the trunk line, they often will need to get into the yard of the house where it is located, or an adjacent house to get access to the line. Its going to be this way until fiber optics are 100% on-line in the city which isn't going to be for another couple of years.
My DSL went down about a year ago and the after three service visits the Verizon technician told me that the problem was the old copper wiring in the trunk line needed to be replaced. Fortunately, its located in my next door neighbors yard, so the serviceman was able to go directly over the fence to make the repairs. What will NOT happen is Verizon petitioning landlords directly for access to their buildings. They will rely on either the customer to ask the neighbors if they can gain access, or the technician getting someone in a building to let them in.
By all means, if something feels wrong to you, you should go with your gut. However, know that you may be screwing some neighbor who's just trying to get their phone/cable/internet service working.
While I feel for your specific situation, this ain't it. Three reasons why not:
1.) This guy was no Verizon technician: He was dressed in street clothes. I've dealt with Verizon for years, both in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and every time, they are dressed in Verizon uniform. His "official" badge around his neck he so eagerly flashed seemed highly unofficial and therefore incredibly suspect.
2.) He was on foot, with no Verizon or any telecom van visible in either direction for three blocks, which are yes, easily visible to our naked eye from our building.
3.) He was incredibly odd-acting, very pushy, and asked to speak to the landlord, which would never happen if this were a legitimate Verizon call for DSL/trunk line work. And one more thing: This neighborhood remains ineligible for Fios, so there is NO Verizon DSL offered.
And in honor of decorum, I'm never interested in "screwing" any neighbors. In fact, in the example you provide, it was your ultimate responsibility to make your neighbors aware that work may need to be done on their property to meet the needs for what are your expected services. I mean, it's not as if any neighbor with no foreknowledge at all of such services that they did not themselves engage or pay for and therefore doesn't directly include them, should just simply be a mind-reader and hop to it to comply with what amounts to a third-party cold call they know nothing about that was initiated by you.
skribe00 said:
While I feel for your specific situation, this ain't it. Three reasons why not:And in honor of decorum, I'm never interested in "screwing" any neighbors. In fact, in the example you provide, it was your ultimate responsibility to make your neighbors aware that work may need to be done on their property to meet the needs for what are your expected services. I mean, it's not as if any neighbor with no foreknowledge at all of such services that they did not themselves engage or pay for and therefore doesn't directly include them, should just simply be a mind-reader and hop to it to comply with what amounts to a third-party cold call they know nothing about that was initiated by you.
Well, as much as I would have loved to tell my neighbor that the Verizon guy would be climbing over the fence, I didn't know that was necessary until after the third repairman arrived (and consequently, I had taken my third day off from work). Once I was made aware, the technician was very clear that if he couldn't gain access to the yard where the line was located, he couldn't make the repair. As my neighbor and I are on good terms, I knew it wouldn't be a problem, but its damn frustrating when you find out that the tech needs to access another property and your only option is to send him away again (and make yet another interminable "some time in this 8 hour window" appointment) since he can't get in.
And Verizon does offer DSL (hi-speed internet over copper phone lines), but they don't yet offer FiOS (high speed over fiber optic cable).
ah. phew. well. this is after all, all about you. and your very specific situation. so kudos.
i'm sure most of anyone viewing this will gain something from your circumstance. as it surely seems memorable to you; so might it for others. surely. albeit i have illustrated a circumstance as well, that folks are encouraged to, gain from, which is to say, be informed by.
and regardless that you've pretty much totally thread-stolen this topic, which is after all just the organic nature of any forum, and you'll forgive me if i forget the latin for 'freedom: it can be as annoying as it is gratifying,' but i think everyone definitely knows now that you once tried to get DSL. and that you found it difficult.
but to anyone else wanting to avoid trouble: beware the "verizon" guy with no uniform. 'cause he kinda really seems like total BS. THE END.
Today it was dudes claiming to be from "Con Ed," but again: no uniforms, no vehicles, on foot, highly suspect, plain old weird behavior, flashing poorly mocked badges that seemed to be nothing more than a bunch of random cards without any ConEd branding stuffed into a wallet divider.
They're working this neighborhood good; at least this section of Park Place between Franklin and Bedford, the last two days. Be warned.
when my neighbors needed access they the Verizon guys just climb the fence and did it that way :p.
homeowner said:
Well, as much as I would have loved to tell my neighbor that the Verizon guy would be climbing over the fence, I didn't know that was necessary until after the third repairman arrived (and consequently, I had taken my third day off from work). Once I was made aware, the technician was very clear that if he couldn't gain access to the yard where the line was located, he couldn't make the repair. As my neighbor and I are on good terms, I knew it wouldn't be a problem, but its damn frustrating when you find out that the tech needs to access another property and your only option is to send him away again (and make yet another interminable "some time in this 8 hour window" appointment) since he can't get in.And Verizon does offer DSL (hi-speed internet over copper phone lines), but they don't yet offer FiOS (high speed over fiber optic cable).
Actually, they do not -- at least, not here. My only Verizon offer on Sterling between Franklin and Classon is dial-up + satellite (the latter serviced by DirecTV).
I agree the situation is suspicious, and the fact that they try to use well-known vectors for backyard access only makes it more so.
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