Sounds like a Franz Kafka type of situation, and the truth is that reality is often way weirder than the fictional stories.
The Tarpon Springs man found himself charged for the Verizon service he never purchased after someone allegedly used his identity to open a new account. But when he tried to report the fraud, he discovered he was still responsible for the bill.
It’s not just that he didn’t open an account with Verizon – he has always been an AT&T customer.
Mr. Battista, who lost both of his legs due to complications from diabetes, went to a Verizon store to sort out the issue. Instead of finding a solution, he was redirected to another location, where he was told to file a fraud claim online.
The process was frustrating to say the least – a series of dead ends and no sense of adequate customer support.
He eventually filed a report with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and forwarded the documentation to Verizon. But the response he received from the company left him stunned. Verizon informed him that they could not verify his claim that the account was fraudulently opened.
Battista questioned the logic, pointing out that if he had willingly opened the account, his police report would be false, which could lead to criminal charges.
Not knowing where else to turn, Battista contacted the consumer investigative segment Susan Solves It on ABC Action News. Reporter Susan El Khoury reached out to Verizon on his behalf, and within hours, Battista received an email saying the issue had been resolved.
While Verizon declined an interview, a spokesperson told ABC Action News that the company had reached what they described as a satisfactory resolution.
Anna Marie Fiallos from the Pinellas County Office of Consumer Protection emphasized the importance of contacting the major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) when identity theft is suspected, to place fraud alerts and freeze accounts. She also recommended setting up a credit freeze in advance as a precaution, explaining that it’s quick to do and can be lifted when needed.
Mike Battista, a retired law enforcement officer with 28 years of service, said he had already taken that preventive step to safeguard himself from identity theft.
He expressed gratitude for the help he received and urged others to speak up if something feels wrong. His message was simple: never give up.
