Local Lakewood, New Jersey Residents Honored For Excellence In Customer Service

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Retail sales representatives, Theodore Alslev and Eric Volk of the Verizon Wireless Communications Store at 1900 Route 70 & Shorrock St. in Lakewood, have received the company's Customer Satisfaction Award, which recognizes retail employees who provide shoppers with an outstanding customer experience.

Alslev and Volk earned the honor during an evaluation by third- party consultants hired by the company to measure customer satisfaction in its stores throughout the country. Both received the highest score possible in all categories measured, including customer service knowledge and expertise.

The evaluation was conducted under the Mystery Shopper program, one of the many ways Verizon Wireless is working to ensure each customer enjoys a rewarding experience when shopping at the company's Communications Stores and Verizon Wireless Stores at Circuit City and BJ's locations throughout the Philadelphia Tri-State region. The program reflects the company's commitment to deliver quality products and services on the nation's most reliable wireless network and the industry's best customer service ─ in-person, over the phone or online.

"Verizon Wireless sales and service representatives in our stores work one-on-one with our customers and are the front line in our efforts to provide superior customer service," said Christine Baron, president of Verizon Wireless' Philadelphia Tri-State Region. "The goal of these in-store evaluations is to ensure we provide the most complete and worry-free wireless experience anywhere."

The company has 1,900 Communications Stores nationwide and 83 Communications stores and kiosks in the Philadelphia Tri-State Region. The stores are fully staffed with highly-trained representatives ready to speak with customers about all their wireless needs. Bilingual representatives, as well as technical staff, are available in selected locations.

Demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during 2005 as the company set new records for customer growth. For the year, the company added 7.5 million net new customers, and more than 2 million net customer additions during the fourth quarter alone, an industry record. Verizon Wireless also maintained its position as the nation's wireless leader in customer loyalty (highest customer retention and lowest turnover rate). In the fourth quarter of 2005, the company posted a churn rate of 1.2%, well below the rate reported by the other national wireless carriers for the quarter.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto the of Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.   

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