PSA: Verizon customers eligible for up to $150 credit amid recent service outage — here’s what to do

If your phone displayed those dreaded “SOS” messages over the weekend, you’re not alone. Thousands of Verizon customers found themselves cut off from the digital world when a widespread outage knocked service offline for hours. But here’s the silver lining: customers are walking away with credits ranging from $10 to $150 on their accounts, and you might be eligible too.

The outage, which began Saturday and stretched into Monday for some users, left phones displaying Emergency SOS mode instead of normal service bars. Reddit forums and social media quickly filled with frustrated customers sharing screenshots of their devices stuck in this emergency-only state. Even Downdetector recorded the massive surge in reports during the outage.

What started as a technical headache, however, has turned into an opportunity for affected users to secure compensation.

Getting your credit isn’t as complicated as you might think. Several customers have reported success through Verizon’s online chat system, though you’ll need some patience. One user shared they needed four attempts before connecting with a representative due to ongoing system issues. The key seems to be explaining how the outage impacted you personally rather than just asking for compensation upfront.

“I missed a call from work and missed out on a day’s pay,” one customer explained to a chat agent, securing a $150 credit. Another received $30 monthly credits for an entire year. The amounts vary based on your situation and how persuasively you can demonstrate the outage affected your life or work.

For those trying to reach customer service, be prepared for some roadblocks. The company’s systems are still experiencing problems, with chat services displaying messages about “widespread system outages.” Some customers report better luck calling the main customer service line at 1-800-VERIZON, though wait times remain longer than usual.

The standard calculation for outage credits typically breaks down your monthly plan cost by daily usage. If you pay $90 monthly, expect roughly $3 per day of lost service. However, customers who can demonstrate specific impacts like missed work calls or important appointments have secured much larger payouts.

Don’t expect miracles if you waltz into a Verizon store demanding compensation. Retail employees can’t issue credits for service outages. You’ll need to contact customer care directly, either through the chat system once it’s stable or by phone. Store representatives will simply redirect you to customer service anyway.

The timing adds another wrinkle since Monday was Labor Day. Some customers found chat services unavailable during holiday hours, so weekday attempts might prove more successful. Keep screenshots of your phone showing SOS mode if you have them, though they’re not strictly required.

If you were affected by the weekend’s service disruption, now’s the time to speak up. The worst outcome from contacting customer service is getting a small credit based on daily service calculations. But customers who can articulate specific impacts from the outage are scoring much larger payouts. Whether it’s missed business calls, inability to reach family members, or other concrete problems, having a clear story about how the outage affected you seems to be the ticket to bigger credits.

The bottom line: don’t just accept that outages happen. While technical problems are inevitable with any carrier, you’re paying for reliable service. When that service fails, compensation should be part of the conversation.