Beware: Verizon Wireless is on the loose

After coming across this quick snippet over at Techdirt, I felt compelled to write about it and inform all Verizon Wireless customers that you may be duped by a company that obviously doesn't care about making its customers happy.

According to reports, Verizon Wireless is sending out letters in envelopes to its customers that, if not responded to in thirty days, will create a contract between both parties. What does the contract create, you ask? A change in the Terms of Service that will allow Verizon Wireless to take your calling records (unbeknownst to you, of course) and hand them over to advertisers, who will use this information to make your life just a bit more annoying. Even worse, the envelopes will most certainly not tell you what the true intent of the correspondence is, and most will probably throw it out assuming it's junk mail.

Am I the only one who thinks this tactic is utterly disgusting and Verizon Wireless should be ashamed of itself? I'm sure the company would claim innocence and say that it will only release your records if the need should arise, but let's be honest with ourselves -- this is a business ploy and as soon as the company can hear Benjamin's marching towards it, your records will be thrown back.

As a Verizon Wireless customer, I find this to be one of the most underhanded moves by a company that I've seen in years. In fact, I'm going to go so far as to say that this is a good enough reason to end my relationship with Verizon Wireless and move on. Why should I pay a company that will do these things?

Shame on you, Verizon Wireless. Shame on you.