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A local family is fighting a battle they never expected after their loved lost his life on the front lines in the war in Afghanistan.
Michaela Brummund is a young widow going through the most difficult time in her life, burying her husband Lance Corporal Gavin Brummund, a marine killed in action.
Michaela and her family say a cell phone company is making this time even more difficult.
"The remote detonated IED, one of those went off, and he took full force," explained Michaela surrounded by pictures of her husband and flowers, still fresh, from his recent funeral. "He died on the chopper on the way to the field hospital."
Michaela has decided to move back to Copperopolis in Calaveras County to be closer to family. But her Verizon cell phone does not have service in the small town. But the cell phone company is not showing any compassion for the war time widow.
"I called them to cancel. I told them the situation with my husband. I even said I would provide a death certificate," Michaela said. Despite the circumstances, Verizon is imposing a $350 early termination fee.
Michaela's father, a veteran himself, is outraged. "It's not about the money. I don't care about the money. It's the principle. The man was overseas fighting for our country and lost his life doing so," said Kevin Gause. "It's heartless what Verizon is doing."
The family feels that imposing a fee on a woman who just lost her husband in a war is an unpatriotic act. The family says a Verizon customer service representative told them that "nothing could be done" about the termination fee.
CBS13 contacted the Verizon Public Relations Department for the family, and the company responded saying, " 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."
Source: CBS13
Michaela Brummund is a young widow going through the most difficult time in her life, burying her husband Lance Corporal Gavin Brummund, a marine killed in action.
Michaela and her family say a cell phone company is making this time even more difficult.
"The remote detonated IED, one of those went off, and he took full force," explained Michaela surrounded by pictures of her husband and flowers, still fresh, from his recent funeral. "He died on the chopper on the way to the field hospital."
Michaela has decided to move back to Copperopolis in Calaveras County to be closer to family. But her Verizon cell phone does not have service in the small town. But the cell phone company is not showing any compassion for the war time widow.
"I called them to cancel. I told them the situation with my husband. I even said I would provide a death certificate," Michaela said. Despite the circumstances, Verizon is imposing a $350 early termination fee.
Michaela's father, a veteran himself, is outraged. "It's not about the money. I don't care about the money. It's the principle. The man was overseas fighting for our country and lost his life doing so," said Kevin Gause. "It's heartless what Verizon is doing."
The family feels that imposing a fee on a woman who just lost her husband in a war is an unpatriotic act. The family says a Verizon customer service representative told them that "nothing could be done" about the termination fee.
CBS13 contacted the Verizon Public Relations Department for the family, and the company responded saying, " 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."
Source: CBS13