Verizon offers payments following outage. How NC users can get one

Verizon customers are eligible for a payment from the carrier following a seven-hour outage that affected much of the U.S., including parts of North Carolina.

Verizon customers are eligible for a payment from the carrier following a seven-hour outage that affected much of the U.S., including parts of North Carolina.

The outage of the nation’s largest wireless network began around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, impacting more than 1.5 million customers, according to Downdetector.com.

USA TODAY reported that there is no indication the service interruption was caused by a cyberattack. A software issue, which is still under investigation, according to a Jan. 15 Verizon statement, is apparently to blame for the outage.

Here’s what to know about the outage, the payments and more.

How to get a Verizon outage payment credit

Affected customers can use their myVerizon mobile app to request a compensation payment for the outage, the company confirmed.

How much are the outage credits?

Verizon customers impacted by the outage will receive a $20 credit.

When will the $20 credit arrive?

Verizon, as of Jan. 15, did not provide a specific day or time the $20 credit would be available. As of 3:30 p.m. ET, USA TODAY staff impacted by the outage said they had not received the credit.

Customers who will receive a credit will be notified by text message, a Verizon statement said.

How long was the outage on Jan. 14?

The Verizon outage lasted roughly seven hours, beginning around 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Where did the outage occur?

The outage was widespread across the United States, with the highest reported concentrations in New York City, Atlanta, Houston, Brooklyn and Charlotte, per Downdetector. The outage affected more than 1.5 million customers.

What caused the outage?

The widespread outage was due to a software issue and the company is “conducting a full review of what happened,” a Verizon statement obtained by USA TODAY said.

In September 2024, a similar widespread Verizon outage impacted more than 100,000 people and was reportedly probed by the Federal Communications Commission.

Reporting by Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times / Asheville Citizen Times

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect