Verizon plans to block outgoing calls on remaining Galaxy Note 7 units

Earlier this month, Verizon Wireless rolled out an update to the recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that was supposed to keep the phone’s battery from charging when it was installed. However, the carrier admits there are still “thousands” of its customers still using the phone, so many that Verizon is now planning even more drastic action to get them to turn in the recalled device.

According to Fortune, a Verizon spokesperson said there are still people who are hanging onto the Note 7 “in spite of our best efforts” to issue warnings and updates to make the phone unusable. The spokesperson added, “The recalled Note 7s pose a safety risk to our customers and those around them.”

The carrier says it won’t allow those remaining customers to make any outgoing calls on the Note 7 to any number, except to 911 or to Verizon’s customer service numbers. It also says it may make those customers pay the full retail price for the phone. Verizon is still allowing the Note 7 holdouts a way to turn in their phone, in exchange for ditching its normal upgrade fee as well as adding a bill credit up to $100. But that grace period is coming to an end.

Samsung officially recalled the Galaxy Note 7 in October after a number of the handsets exploded, causing damages to homes, cars and more. Unconfirmed reports claim Samsung has put the the blame on the phone’s battery and that the company will officially reveal its findings sometime in January.

Do you know anyone still using a Galaxy Note 7?