In what looks like a very hardhearted approach by Verizon, the Big Red stood by their early termination fee when it came to the widow of Marine Lance Corporal Gavin Brummund and demanded the full ETF, at first anyway.

According to an article over on Phone Dog by Ari Robbins, the window of the late Gavin Brummund, who was killed in action in Afghanistan, Michaela Brummund, was informed by Verizon that she would have to hand over the full $350 ETF regardless of her situation.

Apparently a CBS report states that Michaela Brummund, says “I called them [Verizon] to cancel. I told them the situation with my husband. I even said I would provide a death certificate.”

However apparently the CSR was adamant over the ETF and unwilling to move; Michaela had decided to move back to her home town after her husband’s death to be with her family, a town that doesn’t have Verizon coverage and hence the need to cancel.

Apparently though once the story was aired on local news, the Big Red quickly backtracked and issued this statement…”Verizon Wireless has long supported our troops and worked with members of the armed services with flexibility. Once we understood this Marine’s widow’s circumstances, we quickly resolved the situation. We regret any undue frustration we may have caused the Brummunds. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Brummund and her family.”

All’s well that ends well, but perhaps when it comes to those who serve their country and the widows of those who gave their lives, the wireless carriers along with others should investigate the situation further before being so hardhearted, and cause unnecessary grief to those who are already grieving, wouldn’t you agree?