Local Delaware Resident Honored For Excellence In Customer Service

DOVER, DE — Retail sales representative, Bill Benini of the Verizon Wireless Communications Store at 1045 N. DuPont Highway in Dover, has received the company's Customer Satisfaction Award, which recognizes retail employees who provide shoppers with an outstanding customer experience.

Benini earned the honor during an evaluation by third- party consultants hired by the company to measure customer satisfaction in its stores throughout the country. He 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 critical to 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 make sure our customers point of sale experience is as good as their experience with our network reliability."

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 and technical personnel ready to speak with customers about all their wireless needs. Bilingual representatives are available at select 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 receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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