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What is a smart line access fee and why do I have to pay it?!

I have a single Unlimited line and have to pay a Smartphone line access fee. I have read The Smartphone line access should be included in the price they advertise and even other companies like xfinity doesn’t even have the fee. “Verizon customers have to pay it anyway and there is no way to get out of it” is what I was told by a rep. If we have to pay it they should included in the pricing they advertise in their services. I will be soon be changing to one of the wide range of competitors that actually charge what they advertise and an extra $240.00 per year for a made up fee.

Comments

Momma23dogs

The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill

It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.

https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared

If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”

ahunter87

No I’m not a new customer and it’s not a new contract. Yes I’ve been paying this fee for a while. Yes it’s a unlimited plan. Yes I’ve read I shouldn’t be paying it but here I am shelling out money or my phone will be cut off. Please don’t assume you know what I did.

@mama23dogs
wrote:
The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill
It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared
If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”

rcschnoor

So how much is your bill? Which unlimited plan do you have? A single line with the current selection of unlimited data plans would run:

GoUnlimited = $75 + taxes/fees

BeyondUnlilmited = $85 + taxes/fees

AboveUnlimited = $95 + taxes/fees.

Any purchase of a smartphone made with monthly payments would be in addition to the above.

What is your total monthly bill? Since you don't provide much information, any replies you receive will undoubtedly include assumptions. If you don't want people to "assume" you should provide more information.

In the past, Verizon has broke down its charges into different parts, but the "total" still adds up to what they advertise as the cost for a line of service. Of course, if you are on an older plan and are wondering why you are not paying the current rates, you must first move to one of the newer plans in order to be paying those rates.

Furthermore, if you were on a service contract when you switched to an unlimited plan, you will continue to pay that smartphone line access fee until you complete your service contract. The line access fee, in this case, is associated with the service contract and would remain even if you switched plans and stay in effect until you complete the service contract.

Momma23dogs

@ahunter87
wrote:
No I’m not a new customer and it’s not a new contract. And I know this HOW? (When you write information here)

Yes I’ve been paying this fee for a while. Yes it’s a unlimited plan. Yes I’ve read I shouldn’t be paying it WRONG. And read where that you shouldn’t be paying it?

but here I am shelling out money or my phone will be cut off. Please don’t assume you know what I did.
@mama23dogs
wrote:
The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill
It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared
If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”

This comes up with people who haven’t used postpaid before. The fact is EVERY carrier and EVERY plan charges for each device connected to their network. I have asked everyone with this complaint to tell me a carrier that doesn’t charge for each device - since there is no such thing, no answers.

Prepaid is single line, so it’s one amount. Postpaid is always a group plan, even if you are a group of one. Both pre and postpaid have multinline options that lower the cost per line. Prepaid applies a discount per line to do this. Postpaid charges a plan charge, and then a line access for each phone number. The line access is a lower price, so the more lines the lower the average cost per line.

The ala’carte way postpaid bills means I pay more as I have 5 lines, you pay less as you have one. Unless you think it’s fair that I pay the same as you, even though I have 5 devices? Would you think it’s fair?

ahunter87

@rcschnoor
wrote:
So how much is your bill? Which unlimited plan do you have? A single line with the current selection of unlimited data plans would run:
GoUnlimited = $75 + taxes/fees
BeyondUnlilmited = $85 + taxes/fees
AboveUnlimited = $95 + taxes/fees.
Any purchase of a smartphone made with monthly payments would be in addition to the above.
What is your total monthly bill? Since you don't provide much information, any replies you receive will undoubtedly include assumptions. If you don't want people to "assume" you should provide more information.
In the past, Verizon has broke down its charges into different parts, but the "total" still adds up to what they advertise as the cost for a line of service. Of course, if you are on an older plan and are wondering why you are not paying the current rates, you must first move to one of the newer plans in order to be paying those rates.
Furthermore, if you were on a service contract when you switched to an unlimited plan, you will continue to pay that smartphone line access fee until you complete your service contract. The line access fee, in this case, is associated with the service contract and would remain even if you switched plans and stay in effect until you complete the service contract.

Yes Thank you for letting me know more info was needed. I’ll gladly fill in the missing info.

I appreciate your time.

My bill is about $107 each month. I signed up for the $65 single line(More of everything?/ can't remember the name) unlimited plan on 10-13-18. Insurance is $15, taxes $7 and a $20 smartphone line access fee.

I can even provide copies of the agreement, all other fees are mention except “Smartphone line Access”

Yes a reasonable amount of assumption is fine but the topic and discussion of what I should have done at the time of purchase was unnecessary.

Doggo

@ahunter87
wrote:
No I’m not a new customer and it’s not a new contract. Yes I’ve been paying this fee for a while. Yes it’s a unlimited plan. Yes I’ve read I shouldn’t be paying it but here I am shelling out money or my phone will be cut off. Please don’t assume you know what I did.
@mama23dogs
wrote:
The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill
It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared
If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”
Read where? Verizon was one of the more transparent companies about it before the unlimited plans post August 2017.

New Verizon Unlimited (single) is $65 + $20 line access or $85. The equivalent as of this post is Beyond Unlimited which is advertised as $90.

ahunter87

@mama23dogs
wrote:
@ahunter87
wrote:
No I’m not a new customer and it’s not a new contract. And I know this HOW? (When you write information here)
Your not.Here’s a thought, ASK or simply say “to give a more definitive answer I need more details about the plan”

Yes I’ve been paying this fee for a while. Yes it’s a unlimited plan. Yes I’ve read I shouldn’t be paying it WRONG. And read where that you shouldn’t be paying it?
So according to the VERIZON CUSTOMER SUPPORT COMMUNITY MANAGER
What I “read”
“Our Unlimited Plans do not have an access fee, because the data in not shared.”
(I’ve attached a screen shot of the posting)

but here I am shelling out money or my phone will be cut off. Please don’t assume you know what I did.
@mama23dogs
wrote:
The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill
It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared
If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”

This comes up with people who haven’t used postpaid before. The fact is EVERY carrier and EVERY plan charges for each device connected to their network. I have asked everyone with this complaint to tell me a carrier that doesn’t charge for each device - since there is no such thing, no answers.
Yup been using post paid phones for 20 years, been with most of the major carriers. Yup ALL of this is FALSE. Not sure where your getting this dated info. So XFINITY T-MOBILE both do not charge a additional fee. Sprint will remove the fee if you own or pay off a phone. According to the FCC it’s up to the company to charge or not to charge this fee. Here’s article on it Dated April 26,2019:
https://www.xfinity.com/hub/mobile/smartphone-line-access-fees

Prepaid is single line, so it’s one amount. Postpaid is always a group plan, even if you are a group of one. Both pre and postpaid have multinline options that lower the cost per line. Prepaid applies a discount per line to do this. Postpaid charges a plan charge, and then a line access for each phone number. The line access is a lower price, so the more lines the lower the average cost per line.
The ala’carte way postpaid bills means I pay more as I have 5 lines, you pay less as you have one. Unless you think it’s fair that I pay the same as you, even though I have 5 devices? Would you think it’s fair?
I’ve never used pre-paid
I’ve already shared that I’m in contract not sure why your discussing prepaid it doesn’t concern me or is relevant.
“group plan, even if you are a group of one.” That’s not even logical it’s a oxymoron.
Also shared I’m a single user I understand the logic on charging to add additional devices.

I want to know since my smartphone is already connected to a 4G LTE antenna using data VoLTE(VoIP) for voice, why the additional charge (smartphone line access) to use data for the web if I’m already connected to the network using data? Their Voice and Data essentially carried the same way IP.

ahunter87

@glitchedpixel
wrote:
@ahunter87
wrote:
No I’m not a new customer and it’s not a new contract. Yes I’ve been paying this fee for a while. Yes it’s a unlimited plan. Yes I’ve read I shouldn’t be paying it but here I am shelling out money or my phone will be cut off. Please don’t assume you know what I did.
@mama23dogs
wrote:
The advertised single line price on Verizon’s website includes the data plan, the line fee, and any discounts which may not kick in on your first bill
It is not a made up fee, it is how most postpaid carriers price their plans to accommodate both single and multi lines.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/#shared
If you had read what you were purchasing ahead of time, you would know how the plan is structured. You not knowing how it is structured does not make it fraudulent, wrong, or “made up”
Read where? Verizon was one of the more transparent companies about it before the unlimited plans post August 2017.

New Verizon Unlimited (single) is $65 + $20 line access or $85. The equivalent as of this post is Beyond Unlimited which is advertised as $90.

Hi, I would have to go back to find the exact page but I screenshot it.

The plans literally advertise unlimited Voice and Data. Not unlimited voice and add on unlimited data.

I want to know since my smartphone is already connected to a 4G LTE antenna using data VoLTE(VoIP) for voice, why the additional charge (smartphone line access) to use data for the web if I’m already connected to the network using data? Their Voice and Data essentially carried the same way IP.

Ann154

@ahunter87
wrote:
@rcschnoor
wrote:
So how much is your bill? Which unlimited plan do you have? A single line with the current selection of unlimited data plans would run:
GoUnlimited = $75 + taxes/fees
BeyondUnlilmited = $85 + taxes/fees
AboveUnlimited = $95 + taxes/fees.
Any purchase of a smartphone made with monthly payments would be in addition to the above.
What is your total monthly bill? Since you don't provide much information, any replies you receive will undoubtedly include assumptions. If you don't want people to "assume" you should provide more information.
In the past, Verizon has broke down its charges into different parts, but the "total" still adds up to what they advertise as the cost for a line of service. Of course, if you are on an older plan and are wondering why you are not paying the current rates, you must first move to one of the newer plans in order to be paying those rates.
Furthermore, if you were on a service contract when you switched to an unlimited plan, you will continue to pay that smartphone line access fee until you complete your service contract. The line access fee, in this case, is associated with the service contract and would remain even if you switched plans and stay in effect until you complete the service contract.
Yes Thank you for letting me know more info was needed. I’ll gladly fill in the missing info.
I appreciate your time.
My bill is about $107 each month. I signed up for the $65 single line(More of everything?/ can't remember the name) unlimited plan on 10-13-18. Insurance is $15, taxes $7 and a $20 smartphone line access fee.
I can even provide copies of the agreement, all other fees are mention except “Smartphone line Access”
Yes a reasonable amount of assumption is fine but the topic and discussion of what I should have done at the time of purchase was unnecessary.

The More Everything Plan wasn't available to new customers in October 2018. Only customers who had that plan from earlier and hadn't switched away from it could continue to keep it. The More Everything Plan had been retired by 2018. You either have the New Verizon Unlimited Plan or the Beyond Unlimited Plan. Please check your account or bill to verify the exact name of the plan.

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