Child Item

Site Totals

61487 Questions Answered 271 Categories

WARNING ALL OLD AMERICA'S CHOICE CALLING PLAN USERS!

I have just gotten off the phone with a customer service agent who said that this phone is and is not compatible with our old plans. While it doesn't need a data plan and you can block the data, data will not come off your minutes! If you try to unblock data, they automatically charge you with the $15 data plan! Up until today it had been coming off my minutes and then all of a sudden now, it's not any longer. They said that this phone is not compatible with the plan, even though they allow you to keep it.

I checked with 6 different representatives. Local, Online, and phone sales to make sure that this phone wouldn't change my plan and that data still came off my plan minutes. I was told yes every single time. I even called in yesterday and checked because I received a letter that some services were added to my line that didn't cost anything. They guy on the other line told me no that according to his records that it was coming off my minutes. Then today I find the $15.00 data plan added to my account. Everyone I talked to today said that the phone is not compatible with the old America's Choice plan, but they still allow you to keep it. The whole reason I bought the phone was that I could use my extra minutes up just like the Samsung Intensity II allowed me to do. I checked multiple times and was all told the same answer before I bought the phone and even after I had it!

I just wanted to warn people because their reps know nothing or their store personnel. Plus when you upgrade it does not say that the phone is not compatible with the plan but they let you keep it anyway. The website says nothing at all. So hopefully if you're interested in the phone, you'll see this little bit of information before you buy it.

Right now, I have no idea what I'm going to do. I really like the phone, but if I keep it we waste 300+ minutes every month. If I don't, I loose a good phone. So much for a loyalty plan...

I'm still going to corporate though and see if they can do something. Because when I changed phones I could use the browser and everything just fine without wifi on and no data block. and it WAS coming off my minutes. I know it was. I could see it. Now all of a sudden it isn't. So I am talking to corporate to find out why. Someone must know something somewhere. This is ridiculous. I'd be gone if it wasn't for the fact that I can't get service with anyone else where I live. They are darn lucky! This is the 2nd time that I've been miss led while upgrading my phone, and I end up paying the price.

Mel

Comments

daarnold82

I KNOW!!! I am absoultely aggravated as this is the sole reason I purchased this phone as well. I usually have 400+ minutes extra and I was sold on the idea that I could use these extra minutes for data. How can they up and change it after renewing my contract? Im really fed up and may just move on to another provider. AGGRAVATING

mizmelzywi

I know I was looking into changing providers however, being I live in a rural area, the only one that I get service with is Verizon. I am stuck, and can't do anything about it. I had the Samsung Intensity II and I loved it accept for the fact that the camera sucked and no video. When I saw the kin I thought my problem had been solved. That I could use the data just like the Intensity II, but nope. I'm still trying to contact someone to see if they know more about it. Why would 6 different people say that it was compatible and I wouldn't have any problems if there was? I even called them yesterday and was told it was coming off my minutes, and suddenly today it's not? The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing.

They did this to me before when I was trying to upgrade to the Samsung Omnia and they started those stupid data plans. I was told repeatedly I didn't need a data plan that all I had to do was sign up for the data plan and I could cancel it. Nope, get the phone and the current months bill to find a data charge. Even called up and told them that I wanted to cancel the data plan and the customer service rep said it was taken care of. No it wasn't! I ended up having to return the phone for something I didn't want and still got stuck with the restocking fee!

It would be nice to see that for people if they use under a certain amount of data every month that it comes off their minutes until they run out of minutes and then data charges kick in. I only use the internet to check for weather while I'm out of town or camping. That's probably maybe 4-5 times a year.

It's ridiculous. It doesn't have any social networking apps at all. Heck you can't even download anything through the browser or upload anything. You have to send pictures to Facebook through pix messages, and that's covered through my 250 text messages a month plan! With the intensity II they have an app for social networking where you can upload pictures through it. That uses more data for cripes sake.

I'm hoping that with contacting someone else I can get a straight answer.

Plasticman

All I can add is that I have used the Kin TwoM for a couple of weeks at Wifi locations. To date not a single minute has been taken off of my monthly allotment. I have data services blocked so no data charges incoming.

I agree the reps do not seem to know a lot about the phone.

daarnold82

The reason I am close to flipping my lid is because the phone was marketed to me on the basis that I could use my extra minutes for data. This was just over 30 days ago, and ironically enough...as soon as I got out of my 30 day worry free guarantee they up and changed the way my data works. I mean honestly...is this not illegal? I enforce contracts at work all day and I do absoultely know that you cant make changes mid term without CONSENT. I know im just a small fish in a big pond, but I sure hope someone from Verizon reads this post and decides to make this right for me. I got my first Verizon phone 11 years ago and I have never changed providers a single time. That is loyalty...How about some of the same in return.

cscilley

You don't have to text your pictures to facebook. I use wifi to send pictures to Facebook from my Kin2m.

Carolyn

blackmamba

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Did you expect to use your extra minutes to pay for data usage? Why would you do that if you get free wifi with this phone?

I have the America's Choice Calling Plan. I also pay an extra $5 for 250 text per month. I have turned off all the data stuff on my Verizon account just to be sure that I don't accidentally tap into THEIR wifi. Are you saying that if I turn it all back on, they would charge me $15 for a data package on this phone? I would assume that if you do something outside of the free wifi on this phone, you would be charged something, so I don't understand what you all are discussing here. Please explain more thoroughly. What do I have to be worried about, if anything, here?

Thank you.

blackmamba

Ok, I reread the posts and I think I might understand now what your issue is. You guys can't get the free wifi or for some reason, want to just unblock the regular data/wifi on your phone, yes? And in the past, you were able to pay for that using your extra minutes on your phone and now you can't. So if you try to do this, they will either add on the $15 plan or charge you per use fees, yes?

So for those of us who weren't doing this or aren't worried about this, it is ok that we still have the old America's choice calling plan. We're either tapping into the free wifi or expect to pay per use (I would be surprised to instantly have the $15 plan put on though) if we use the non-free wifi from Verizon.

Confirm please. Thanks.

fisharefriends

Actually, what i believe they were talking about was the capabilities of using this 'America's choice' plan. This plan was able to use minutes as data; in other words, connect to 3G or other Verizon internet connections (1x/EVDO) without being charged extra for it. However, Verizon made it so this wouldn't work with the Kin phones, and i'm pretty sure they made it that way with other new phones too; that is their way of making old plan users sign new contracts with the new plans. AMerica's choice plan no longer exists; however, Verizon is under legal obligation to hold that contract, so until the customer switches, the way that they bill remains the old plan. No one wants to be running around with a 6 year old phone though; so they just make it so features like using minutes for data no longer works with newer phones. The problem that occurred with these customers was that Verizon did indeed tack on the $15 data plan without their consent, and i don't know how that is legal, but they were doing it and these customers were frustrated. They wanted to use their minutes as data (the regular data, 3G, not wifi; wifi is a completely separate entity from data), and Verizon didn't let them.

Wifi always would've worked, regardless of plan. In fact, if you bought the kin phones and didn't have any verizon service, you would still have a device that was wifi-capable, had an 8MP camera/720p HD video recording, and an 8GB Zune player/fm radio. Those are features of the actual device; the service covers calling, texting, MMS, data/3G, and those likes.

daarnold82

Thank you Fish..my sentiments exactly. I will say, Verizon FINALLY offered me an upgrade to a smartphone at two year pricing. I will be getting the HTC Thunderbolt on Thurs. when it is released and smash this Kin 2 into 10,000 pieces

bdcs64

>Post deleted as it is a duplicate. Please refrain from multiposting the same thing over and over.Thread will now be locked<

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator

Child Item