Verizon on Thursday said it would be issuing $20 credits after a major service outage that left thousands of customers without the ability to call or text for hours.
The outage struck around noon on Wednesday and lasted well after 10 p.m. It affected voice, text and data service, but users reported still being able to use apps with WiFi connection.
Many Verizon customers said on social media that their phones showed “SOS” in place of network bars.
“Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves,” Verizon said in a statement posted to social media site X. “To help provide some relief, we are giving you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app to accept.”
If customers are still experiencing issues, Verizon recommended restarting the device, explaining that it is the “fastest way to reconnect your phone to the network” and resolve any lingering connectivity issues.
“This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened,” Verizon said. “No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us.”
Verizon has not yet said what caused the massive outage. According to DownDetector, it affected nearly 180,000 people at its peaks, with the highest concentration of reports in New York City, Atlanta, Charlotte and Houston.
“Verizon is working to solve the issue,” NYCEM said in a statement Wednesday. “If you have an emergency and cannot connect using your Verizon Wireless device, please call using a device from another carrier, a landline, or go to a police precinct or fire station to report the emergency. In the meantime, you can check the website or social media account of your cellphone carrier for updates.”