Verizon Home Customers Get Simple, Worry-Free Option for Recurring, Monthly Card Payments for Calling, Internet and Entertainment

NEW YORK -- The more than 6 million Verizon customers who manage their home phone accounts online each month are flocking to a new option to automatically pay their monthly calling, Internet and entertainment costs with their Visa or MasterCard card accounts.

"Verizon has just begun promoting the option, now available nationwide, of automatically charging customers' home bills to a Visa or MasterCard account, and we've already seen a surge in customers who are opting for the ease and simplicity of automatic billing," said Mark Studness, director of e-commerce for Verizon. "Customers save time and postage and help reduce paper waste when they pay their bills automatically."

The option is now being promoted in online banner ads on the Verizon Web site and in bill inserts, e-mails to registered online customers and envelope imprints.

To help draw attention to the option, Visa USA is running a sweepstakes through July, offering four Verizon winners $5,000 each for paying their bills using Visa.

Verizon has offered online account management and bill payment at verizon.com/billing for over six years, primarily relying on one-time and recurring direct debit payments. Last year, 15 million payments were made online at verizon.com; over 300,000 Verizon bills are paid online each week.

For privacy and convenience, enrolling for the new recurring payment option is done online.  Once enrolled, customers continue to pay their bill by the previous method until their online or paper bill includes a "Do Not Pay" notice.  Paper billing is automatically suspended once the recurring payments start.  An e-mail is sent to customers when the bill is available online for review, and the customer's card is charged after a preset review period.

With nearly 30 million home customer accounts, the environmental impact of more paperless billing will be significant, Studness said.  Last year, Verizon saved over 400 tons of paper, or about 6,300 trees, as a result of the program.

"This option, plus our very popular ONE-BILL option that integrates all wireline, wireless and entertainment costs on a single statement, make doing business with Verizon a breeze for our home customers," he said.  "E-commerce is mainstream now, and the Verizon billing services are a big part of that flow."

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 59 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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