On Reddit, a number of Visible customers say they didn't have any trouble on Wednesday but still managed to secure a $5 credit for their next bill.

By requiring customers to redeem the credit manually, Verizon is adding an extra obstacle to the process, knowing that many affected customers will never apply the credit, thereby saving money for themselves despite the massive service outage. Needless to say, this move sparked outrage on social media.

Verizon Wireless said it will provide credits to customers after a widespread outage disrupted mobile communications.

Verizon has received all approvals it needs for a $9.6 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, an Internet service provider with about 3.3 million broadband customers in 25 states. Verizon said it expects to complete the merger on January 20.

During the Verizon outage, police warned that contacting 911 could be tricky. Big disruptions can have cascading effects on everyday life.