How to claim Verizon outage compensation? Know who will get $20 credit

Verizon faced a significant mobile service outage on January 14. The company apologized to its customers and offered $20 compensation.

Updated on: Jan 17, 2026, 23:35:43 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Verizon customers across the US faced a massive outage in mobile services on January 14, rendering many unable to make phone calls, send text messages, or utilize mobile data. For several hours, devices displayed “SOS” mode, signalling a disconnection from Verizon's main network.

Verizon customers experienced a major mobile service outage on January 14, affecting calls, texts, and data for nearly 10 hours across the US.
(Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg) (Bloomberg) — Verizon customers experienced a major mobile service outage on January 14, affecting calls, texts, and data for nearly 10 hours across the US. (Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg) (Bloomberg)

The Verizon outage impacted users across various states and significant metropolitan regions, swiftly turning into a trending subject on social media as customers shared their experiences of unexpected service interruptions during work hours, travel, and emergencies. The extent of the disruption prompted immediate inquiries regarding the reliability and accountability of one of the largest wireless carriers in the nation.

Also Read: Verizon down: What to do if phone says ‘SOS’ amid massive outage? Here's how to check your network status

Verizon acknowledges issue, announces compensation for customers

Following the outage, Verizon issued a public apology, adding that it would offer account credits to customers affected by the outage.

How to claim Verizon outage compensation?

The Verizon outage, which persisted for approximately 10 hours, impacted extensive areas of the nation and triggered emergency alerts from numerous major cities.

The disruption was attributed to a software malfunction rather than a cyberattack, stated Verizon. The company mentioned that customers in the Northeast, Southern California, Texas, and certain regions of the Midwest experienced the most significant effects.

“We did not meet the standard of excellence our customers expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief to those affected, we are giving customers a $20 account credit,” Verizon said.

In the statement, the firm further mentioned that the customers will be notified via text message once the credit becomes available, adding that business clients will be approached directly regarding their credits. “This credit isn't meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it's a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us.”

FCC reacts to Verizon outage

The magnitude and extent of the outage drew the attention of federal regulators. The Federal Communications Commission confirmed that it is examining the situation.

Speaking to Reuters, FCC Chair Brendan Carr said: “We will review the issue and take appropriate action.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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