rdlaing,
1. This link will give you all the instructions needed to
configure native PPPoE in XP. No need to call Verizon. I would strongly suggest dumping WinPOET either for this or RASPPPoE. They're much more stable.
2. Verizon provides info on how to configure the TCP/IP protocol which may be of some assistance.
Check here.
3. If you continue to have problems, turn PPP logging on by opening a command prompt and typing "netsh ras set tracing * enable" without the quotes. This will cause PPPoE to write log entries to a file in a %windir%\tracing directory. There may be helpful information there. Failing that, you could use a sniffer like ethereal to look at the packets/network activity but let's try these steps first.
Hope that helps.
The Old Man