Legal Question in Consumer Law in Virginia

Last year, August time frame, we ordered Verizon Internet, phone and cable. They did not offer FIOS in our area at the time, so they offered us Direct TV through some agreement that they have with Direct TV. We took that. Every month our phone/int/cable bill all came in one, and was all from Verizon. The Direct TV we were paying for was billed through Verizon.

Last month a Verizon sales team came to our door and told us they now offer FIOS in the area. I explained to him what we currently have since, up to this point, Verizon didn't offer FIOS. He said he understood, and it will be SWITCHED OVER, he knew the agreement Verizon has with Direct TV, and it would be an easy transition.

Now, the problem: My first Bill comes in and it's $384, and still has Direct TV charges on it. This is my Verizon bill. It has FIOS AND Direct TV charges on it. I call Verizon and they said I was supposed to call Direct TV and Cancel the service. They never told me this when I signed up for FIOS. I know that if I have, let's say, Comcast and I switch to Verizon, I am responsible for canceling Comcast. Verizon would have nothing to do with that. But this was different. I only had Direct TV because VERIZON offered it through them. That charge always came on a Verizon bill. Everything was with Verizon, AND, the FIOS guy said everything would just be smoothly switched over as Verizon is just happy to now offer us FIOS.

So I call Direct TV. They told me if I cancel now, I owe them $300 in a cancellation fee. They said I have to work it out through Verizon and there is nothing they can do. verizon, who was in control of this whole thing, the whole time, said it's direct TV they we have to go through.

Verizon also charged me for 51, 411 calls! I explained to them that I have 1 phone in my house, in the basement, and I NEVER use it, EVER. I only ave a home phone because it was part of the bundle. There is no way I made 51, 411 calls!!! There is no way to prove it! They are literally adding fake charges to my bill that I have no proof or able to reverse! Who uses 411 anymore? Again, I have 1 phone and it's in my basement, and I NEVER use it or ever hear it ring!

Verizon is stealing from us. They act like I AM the one who made the Direct TV deal, when it was Verizon who offered me direct TV (or satellite TV in general) because they didn't have FIOS in the Area. I explained this to the FIOS sales man and he said it wouldn't be a problem, of course. Every time I have used Verizon, the bill is NEVER what they say it's going to be, EVER. Now Verizon wants $384 (for their FIOS service, and 51, 411 calls that I never made) and Direct TV wants $79.00 for their monthly charge and if I cancel, I get hit with a $300 charge!

I want to take Verizon down! Can I sue them??? This is ridiculous to have to go through this, and they do it to so many people. what can I do to get the ridiculous charges dropped? I have no problem paying for Verizon services, but I am being taken for, here. what can I do? Please help. we don't have $700 to end this mess, and even if we did, this is just unfair business practices!

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