Verizon tops in wireless customer service survey, AT&T and Sprint place last

How do you feel about your cell phone provider?

A new survey by J.D. Power and Associates gives Verizon top marks when it comes to customer service and satisfaction. It also found customer service satisfaction is much higher among people who have cell phone contracts than those who have prepaid or non-contract service plans.

T-Mobile placed second in the survey. AT&T and Sprint tied for the worst ranking. AT&T recently announced plans to buy T-Mobile.

Cell phone users with contracts gave an average rating of 761 points out of 1,000 for customer service. Pre-paid and non-contract users gave a rating of 738 points. Non-contract customers reported hold time averages more than one minute longer than among contract customers.

"It is not unexpected that hold times are shorter for contract customers, since full-service providers generally have access to existing account information that helps identify the customer immediately once contact is made," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates.

"There is also a disparity between the contract and non-contract segments in terms of the quality of the experience with the service representative. In particular, non-contract customers are considerably less satisfied than are contract customers in the areas of knowledge about plans; personal concern for customers; and apathy towards customers."

Click here to see the results of the survey.