AT&T and T-Mobile change autopay discount requirements
The two wireless carriers have joined Verizon in requiring a debit card or bank account instead of a credit card for their autopay discounts.
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Reports of Verizon outages hit the U.S. early today, Thursday, Oct. 9, with customers dealing with “SOS” mode, dropped calls, texts failing to send and wonky Verizon Fios internet connections.
Now, Verizon says service may not be restored to some areas in New Jersey and NYC until tomorrow.
A spike in Verizon outages started around 12:07 a.m. today and continue this afternoon, affecting customers in New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Georgia, according to Downdetector.
Customers have described their 5G cell phones as stuck on “SOS” mode, while others have reported phone calls abruptly ending and wireless internet connectivity issues.
Verizon acknowledged there is a “known issue,” telling affected customers that “data, voice, text and wireless home internet are limited” in areas across the New Jersey and New York region.
Here’s what we know on restoration times and how you can check the Verizon outage map in your area.
Verizon outage map
To check if Verizon is out in your area, input your address using Verizon’s “Check Network Status.” Verizon will then provide details on when the service disruption started in your area and an estimated time of restoration.
In North Jersey, some customers were told an estimated time to restore service was 1:11 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 10.
Is Verizon internet down too?
Yes. Customers have reported connectivity issues with Verizon’s internet, or Verizon Fios, since yesterday, Oct. 8, 2025. Verizon is working to restore that as well as data, text, voice and other services.
Verizon customer service phone number
Verizon’s customer service number for technical support is 800-922-0204, and they are available from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. every day. You can also chat with its 24/7 chatbot through the Verizon website.
How can I call someone if Verizon is down?
When you are unable to make a phone call or send texts during a Verizon outage, or in an area where the Wi-Fi is weak or there is no cellular network coverage, you can use the built-in Wi-Fi Calling feature, which is available on most Verizon smartphones. To check, go to your smartphone’s settings and search for the “Wi-Fi Calling” feature. More information can be found here.
How to get Verizon outage updates
To get updates on a Verizon outage that is affecting you, sign into your Verizon account and in your Communications Preferences in My Verizon, click to manage service alerts.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.