The West Virginia Public Service Commission's staff and Consumer Advocate Division are asking the PSC to investigate Verizon's telephone service in the state.

Consumer Advocate Division Director Byron Harris says a formal investigation is needed because the number of customer complaints against Verizon has tripled in the last seven years. The PSC had received 806 complaints through April and Harris says he expects that number to reach 2,000 by the end of the year.

Harris says the complaints include quality of service and repair problems.

Verizon spokesman Harry Mitchell says fewer than one percent of Verizon's customers have complained to the PSC. When a complaint is filed, Mitchell says the problem is fixed.