Verizon Wireless offers Spanish-language billing

Spanish-speaking customers of Verizon Wireless now have the option to receive monthly bills in their native language. The first Spanish-language bills were delivered today as part of Verizon Wireless's enhanced customer service and marketing campaign for this growing segment.

“We have a significant marketing effort aimed at Spanish-speaking customers, including products, stores, collateral material, a Web site that is bilingual and bilingual directory assistance,” said a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless. “This is just one more effort to provide a better level of service to a customer base that may speak a different language.”

The company has no plans to offer other languages at this time, the spokeswoman said, “But we are always looking at that because we recognize we have a diverse customer base.”

Verizon Wireless does not provide data on the size of its bilingual or Spanish-speaking customer base, but believes a definite need exists for Spanish-language billing.

“When Spanish is your first language and you are looking at something that involves your money, you certainly would prefer having it in a language where you have the highest comfort level,” the spokeswoman said.

The Spanish language bills are expected to reduce the number of calls into Verizon Wireless’s call centers, but that is not the primary reason for implementing the billing option, said the spokeswoman. “Calling us and having someone explain a bill is not something customers want to do. So this will cut down on that issue, but it is really another way to provide customer service,” she said.

New customers also have the option of receiving their confirmation letters and collateral information in Spanish.