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Just ran across this article http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/verizon-cfo-says-grandfathered-unlimited-plans-on-the-way-out/ and wanted to get feedback from other current unlimited subscribers.
I don't see how Verizon can do this? We sign a contract with them, in good faith and now they want to change the rules? If VZW does this and Google makes the future Nexus devices GSM only http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2012/05/google-to-expand-the-nexus-line-with-more-smartphones-tablets-wsj/ I guess I'll take my 10+ years and 4 lines elsewhere.
Can't say we didn't see this coming. They have been unmovable on the upgrade fee, claiming it's for crap no one uses (upgrading a basic phone still requires the fee to cover the cost of "workshops"). Now, wanting to get rid of the unlimited plans they told everyone they'd get to keep at their next upgrade, pushing everyone to the share plans. So, if I get this straight, since I have 1 smartphone and 3 basic phones, I'll get to lose my unlimited data so I can share a tiered plan with phones that don't use data. I may go back to seeing what life is like without a cell phone. I guess these things are made of gold and run on pixie dust. Too rich for my blood.
It's my understanding that you're fine while you're in your contract. But once you upgrade, your new device will go off the unlimited plan.
If this happens, I'll gladly leave Verizon.
I am totally with you. If they take away my unlimited plan, then I will take my business to another carrier. I guess loyalty to Verizon means nothing. My contract is for UNLIMITED data, NOT shared data. If they want to lose $200 per month, then they can take away my unlimited data. I'm sure that AT&T or Sprint would love to have my business!
I've been with Verizon for years and I fully intend to take my business elsewhere if they take away my unlimited plan. I guess they've not been paying attention to what has been happening to Netflix.
MikeInATL wrote:It's my understanding that you're fine while you're in your contract. But once you upgrade, your new device will go off the unlimited plan.If this happens, I'll gladly leave Verizon.
MikeInATL wrote:
Well, considering they told us not to worry, when we upgrade, we'll get to keep our unlimited data, this is just one more money grab from Verizon. I've just about had it with them. Miserable customer service and high prices just doesn't mix well.
I just read that article as well. This is total BS. Here I was hoping that when the iPhone 5 comes out with all its LTE goodness, that I'd finally get to enjoy the speeds that my partner has been enjoying ever since the Thunderbolt launched, especially now that there's actually 4G service in our area now, but no. We are absolutely switching providers if they take away the unlimited data as a "reward" for our loyalty. That was the whole reason why I bought the iPhone on Verizon in the first place. You'd get out cheaper to put a satellite internet dish on top of your car, hook it up to a wireless router, and buy an iPod Touch. Seriously. We 'love' you too Big Red. "Can you hear me now?"
No surprise. I think they've made it very clear that all they care about is money. I think if that's their outlook (and it is their right), then I think we should also look at carriers purely from a financial perspective as well (though I know there are some exceptions with people who only get decent service in a given area so for those people, I imagine you have to take level of service into consideration. For most people though, it really doesn't matter which of the main carriers they use).
Verizon is not the cheapest. Pure and simple. However, they used to get many recent phones (particular when Android was first being rolled out), they used to give the best coverage, and from what I've heard, they used to have the best customer service (though I haven't really had any experiences with them early on from that perspective). Right now, it's safe to say they don't really care about their customers or their experiences with Verizon phones, they give little to no knowledge on future releases, updates, patches, etc, they are falling behind on recent phones (no decent Windows phones and a complete failure with Nexus devices), they implement charges "cuz everyone else is doing it."
Way I see it, unless you have a significant reason to stay with Verizon, don't. I think being apathetic to the way they treat their customers sets a bad example and only a significant backlash against them has any chance of knocking some sense into them. I also think if we can go somewhere else, we might as well. Even if their upgrade fees are the same as everywhere else, I think it's safe to say they're not trying to stay ahead or set themselves apart from anyone else in the industry, not in prices/fees, not in phone technology, not in customer service.
If they want to be the same as everyone else, we can just go with everyone else. No clear advantages to sticking around. Honestly, the unlimited portion is, flat out, the only reason left that I'm considering enduring Verizon further. If that's gone, I'm leaving, no question. It's not about loyalty anymore, it's about what we pay vs the services provided to us. I don't see them pulling their weight on this one.
In before a community leader jumps in, defends verizon and tells us how expensive it costs to run a network, how much the company is suffering in profits because they're only making 59% rather than 60% profit this year, and how kids these days are just a bunch of whiners for not agreeing with them . . .
im gone no reason to stay with verzion...stupid freakin crooks
I read an article last week about the billions Verizon is making from the tiered plans.
Maybe if enough of us jump ship to Sprint they'll have enough money to expand their LTE faster.
Then maybe Verizon will be in the position Sprint is in now and we can all tell Verizon to kiss our ...
The sad about this is that they going to make customers that has unlimited data plans to change to their new plans with data caps wish is not fair at all.Verizon if u have customers that has unlimited data plans leave them alone and let them stay with their unlimited data plans that u gave them went you took them.
It is totally unfair for them to change our plan! I just bought a 4G Razr Maxx and accessories including a lapdock before my contract was even up with assurances from Verizon staff that I was grandfathered in to the unlimited data plan. 4G isn't even available where I live yet! I want to know if Verizon will let me return these things and go back to my former end date on my contract because they changed the plan without my knowledge? I hope everyone starts bombarding them with calls and emails to make them reconsider this!
<---- another long time customer with multiple smartphones on one account that will cancel if/when unlimited data is removed.
This is ridiculous. What ever happened to rewarding long term loyal customers? Your marketing/pricing team really needs a refresher course in understanding the value of long time loyal customers. First they get rid of the "New Every Two" discount, then they add a $30 upgrade fee (oh wait, if you are a loyal customer, you don't have to pay it - still ridiculous), now this? This is even more reason for me to not be loyal.
Heh, that's where I'm at too. I was told 4G would be in my area by end of summer 2011. Now I'm told it will be rolled out everywhere by the end of 2013, after my 2 year contract expires. I now feel like an idiot for buying into new technology based on dishonest projections (whether intentional or unintentional). If they get rid of my unlimited plan before I get a chance to use it, I will not only leave Verizon, I will take absolutely every single person I know with me, and will continue to turn people away on every forum that I can. I will easily waste the money they made off me through lost contracts.
Time for them to start informing both their customers AND their customer service/store reps with REAL information rather than no or misinformation. It's about time their corporate incompetence(once again, whether intentional or unintentional) starts having a monetary effect on them for the decisions they've made. Otherwise, no changes will be made.
I think most companies don't care about "loyalty" and it's more about profit. As is their right as a corporation (capitalism and all that). But I think if we stop looking at it in terms of "loyalty" and start looking at it from the perspective of "what we pay" versus "what we receive", then we start looking at this from a logical perspective rather than an emotional aspect (myself included).
Basically, the money we pay is not worth the service we receive and Verizon keeps tipping the scales further and further from it's customers. I think they've made their choice. I don't think they should be surprised when they see our response.
If they do this, i will probably just buy an unlocked nexus phone from the Play Store and use AT&T or T-Mobile. Only $100 extra, no contracts and no waiting for Verizon to update the software months after the rest of the world..
Sprint is looking good right now, I agree. After several months of owning a Galaxy Nexus and NO software updates, and now the likely hood that those of us who are grandfathered in to unlimited data plans losing them is going to cause me to take a long look at Sprint. They have the Galaxy Nexus and it's shipping with Android 4.0.4 and it has Google Wallet which Verizon blocked so they can continue working on ISIS they're own payment system launching next year. I was with Alltel for 8 years, they're selection of phones wasn't always current, but they were a good company. When Verizon absorbed them it was ok at first, but things are different now. There are a lot more options for smartphone users as far as prepaid and alternative data plans. I'm quite frankly tired of paying $ 106.00 per month and not always being treated well, i.e. I paid $650.00 for my Galaxy Nexus in January. When the first replacement crapped out, Verizon said I was out of my 2 week window and I would be issued a Certified Like New replacement. I explained that I paid $650 for my phone a month before, they said it didn't matter. I think the final nail in the coffin will be when Verizon officially announces the end of unlimited data plans.
I will too.
This is the final straw. Between Verizon totally botching the Galaxy Nexus. It's been 5 months and no update to fix the crappy radios and the battery life is awful. The phone constantly random reboots. I have to pull the battery twice a week just to keep the phone working decent. The only reason I stayed with Verizon is cause of the unlimited data. This fall when the new Nexus phones are released I'm leaving Verizon and going else where. I've had enough of Verizon's crap. They load down all the phones with their own craps that you have to pay to use. If I really wanted Verizon Video and VZ Navigator I'll download them. The tighter you close your fist around your customers, the more will slip through your fingers.
I'm frankly looking forward to the data share plans. I don;'t know what the pricing structure will be, but I sure don't like paying $50/mo or more PER LINE for data, unlimited or not. I've been on capped data plans for 18 months now (150 Meg/mo and now the 2 Gig/mo) and I didn't have any problem with any of it, thanks to WiFi in most places. If you look at your data usage per month over 6 months or more, you can see whether unlimited data really is an issue or not. I've had unlimited plans too, and for all they really mattered, I didn't use more than 1 Gig a month when I had them. Capped data is no big deal to me. If it is for you, then learn to MANAGE. And Sprint is NOT the Messiah and savior of Unlimited Data. Unlimited (for now) on smartphones, but limited on everything else. Only a matter of time before it goes, promises regardless.
Most of us might go to ATT? I heard Sprint service sucks and its slow data. And if lte does roll out will sprint still pay for the bandwidth of lte or not? Because their network is so crowded, and thats what made it slow. Unless if sprint hikes their service plans so that they can give people more bandwidth then it will be almost as good as verizon is right now (if you have unlimited data). But I can believe I told my mom not to switch us from verizon to att. Now i regret it.
Well If the shared data plan is unlimited(which I really doubt) then I would stay with Verizon, but if not my mom might move us to ATT. It's sad that Verizon would rather make more money than have customers happy. The service is great but looks like other carriers would be happy to have a family of 4.
The arrogance of the CEO is staggering. Count another family who will be glad to be done with Big Red. Can you hear me now? Not from our family.
I just called Verizon and the rep had no knowledge of this. Put me on hold to check with her supervisor who also didn't know anything. I told her that I holding off on my upgrade until they can tell me if I can keep my unlimited data plan. If I can't keep my unlimited plan, I"M OUTA HERE! If they're not loyal to us, why should we be loyal to them.
I have been a Verizon business customer for over 10 years and a personal customer almost as long. When I had to combine the accounts I wanted to continue my unlimited data business plan. I made my original request on April, 4th. I have contacted to call center numerous times since. I have always had excellent service from the call center on other issues. However, I was told this decision has to be made by “corporate”. I have received several reference numbers in my attempts to get an answer, <reference numbers deleted per > but have not heard from anyone regarding my request. It looks like it is time to look for another cellular carrier.
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator
As Verizon customers, we are paying the highest rates in the industry for our services.
However, every time we turn around, a new fee is being imposed.
First, the $30 upgrade fee, now no unlimited data.
When my contract expires if I cannot be grandfathered into my unlimited data - I will definitely switch to a different carrier...I PROMISE.
I phoned Verizon Customer Service earlier today. I currently have an iPhone 4 with the unlimited 3G plan (which is throttled after I go over 5GB, which I do every month simply by streaming internet radio, and watching YouTube or Netflix on my lunch breaks.....so imagine what life would be like without unlimited 4G). The representative I spoke with said that when the iPhone 5 comes out later this year, I will be able to buy that phone at its full price (non-subsidized, so that's approximately $400-$700), and change the iPhone 4 on my plan out for the iPhone 5 without needing to renew the contract. She also insisted that I would have unlimited 4G LTE data with the iPhone 5, and that I would not need to buy a 4G LTE phone in the interim between now and the phone's launch in order to grandfather myself into the Unlimited 4G plan as I did when I bought the iPhone 4, so I could grandfather myself into the Unlimited 3G plan. She explained that Verizon looks at Unlimited 3G and 4G plans as if they are one in the same.
So there you have it, according to this 'one' representative, if you have a 3G phone with an unlimited data plan at present, if you purchase a new 4G phone at its full, unsubsidized price, EVEN if it is past the time when they stop offering unlimited plans (her exact words) then you will still be able to retain your unlimited service.
You will only be penalized if you are:
Please feel free to post back if you have received any conflicting information since we all know how reliable customer service can be....
I can believe this, but this is bullcrap! How can you say you are loyal when you just made a loop hole so people who were "grandfathered" in last time couldn't do it the next time when they need a phone? I can see them all counting out there money now. I have been loyal to Verizon for years and I have never really had a problem with them until now. Its like they are trying to make a buck any which way they can. When America and its people are financially hurting they choose come up with a scheme to make people switch. I love how the article says its benefits us meaning Verizon. YOU THINK? Yeah we know it will benefit you! They are going to try and make you feel are warm and fuzzy inside when they try and explain this is not much different. How are you going to make me feel when I go over on my 2g. If and when I do its not by much, but I like knowing that I dont have to worry about going over. Get with it Verizon! I know this will not be read by anyone in corporate because obviously if it were to be read they would see the thousands if not millions of angry customers. Most companies would take that as a hint to change!
No NO NO no NO Verizon if you proceed with removing my 4g unlimited grandfathered plan then i will drop you and my family and many many others will drop you. BAD WRONG NO STOP IT! undo the damage and FIRE Fran Shammo and his administration.
If Frank "Shamwow" Shammo removes unlimited data and force tiers to us grandfathered in, I too will be looking elsewhere for my cellular/ data needs, and we have 5 people on our family plan. I'd rather have slow & unlimited than fast and gauged, and Sprint will have their true LTE network by 2013.
actually they can't take off your unlimited data plan if you are in contract. That's a violation of contract and in case they try to do it, you can be free to cancel the contract with no cancellation fee. Period. The only way they can remove it is if you upgrade your phone or switch plan. I still have one more year in my contract and I'm not upgrading. I rather buy a new phone at regular price or buy a used phone and activate it with them and there's no way for them to cancel the unlimited data since I'm not updating directly or through an offer from them.
That's the true and I ask any of the Verizon employees to say I'm wrong.
The data plan is a feature and not subject to the two year contract. Only the voice plan is tied to the contract.
I find all this very upsetting. I've been with Verizon since it started calling itself Verizon. That's a loyal customer. As you all have said, we have watched as our perks have vanished and our costs have risen. Now this. The last real incentive for us customers who have been with them for a long time. The thing that really gets me is that the number of grandfathered in unlimited-data users is a finite number. It will never grow, it will only shrink as people leave, move, change carriers, die, whatever. Why can't they continue to show some loyalty to that constant group like they said they would. So frustrating.
I will certainly be calling Verizon and telling them that I will be changing carriers once this implemented. Now they say you can keep your unlimited if you pay full price for the phone?! That's absurd and downright rude.
We have seen several major banks do away with proposed added fees due to customer outcries, let's make a HUGE noise and get them to realize that they are acting like a ruthless corporation to it's most loyal customers.
Good Morning everyone. There is now a petition on Change.org that you should each go sign. Change.org has been a very effective tool for creating major change in the past, and they are certainly a positive venue for us to create our consensus on. Here is the link to the petition to keep unlimited data: http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-verizon-from-killing-unlimited-data-plans-for-existing-subscribers
Have any of the other petitions on that website made any difference? It sure doesn't seem to be helping those who want the Galaxy Note on Verizon Wireless.
Hi There Ann154. Of course not all petitions are successful, but Change.org has gained a large notoriety in the time it's been around. It's helped to stop people from losing their homes, brought criminals to justice, and even aided the last time Verizon was in the spotlight, when they wanted to charge $2 for online payments. Complaining on a forum is well and good, however, these petitions are in fact delivered to the companies or responsible parties in question, so it's a more direct form of communication. Posting in this thread, you assume that any one of the admins will read it, and then that they will care enough to alert the higher ups..... it's too easy to get swept under the rug that way.
For this reason, I encourage everyone who has posted to this thread to sign the petition (located here: http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-verizon-from-killing-unlimited-data-plans-for-existing-subscribers ) and have your friends and family sign it as well.
If you don't try and affect a change, you will never succeed.
This is a customer peer to peer forum and not a direct line to corporate. If you want to reach corporate try to "Contact Us" link at the top of the website.
Data plans changes have already begun!! We have one data line, one regular phone. Replaced the non data phone in March. Verizon switched us off the unlimited plan to 2GB. No warning, no notice. When I saw these posts, I checked my bill. Sure enough, they changed us over. I called "Customer Service" and asked why since we were changing the non data phone. They said because we made a phone change, the new plan automatically took place. They said that if I had caught this within 30 days, they could have changed it back to unlimited, but beyond the 30 days their hands were tied. I have spoken to two CS people and a supervisor, so they said, all equally inept. Bottom line, they are not going to make a change.
Moral of the story, watch your bill. The 2GB charge is the same as unlimited so you may not notice anything different. I will change over to Sprint, I just hope all of these people complaining and making threats to change will also follow through!!
vtwinrider wrote:Data plans changes have already begun!! We have one data line, one regular phone. Replaced the non data phone in March. Verizon switched us off the unlimited plan to 2GB. No warning, no notice. When I saw these posts, I checked my bill. Sure enough, they changed us over. I called "Customer Service" and asked why since we were changing the non data phone. They said because we made a phone change, the new plan automatically took place. They said that if I had caught this within 30 days, they could have changed it back to unlimited, but beyond the 30 days their hands were tied. I have spoken to two CS people and a supervisor, so they said, all equally inept. Bottom line, they are not going to make a change.Moral of the story, watch your bill. The 2GB charge is the same as unlimited so you may not notice anything different. I will change over to Sprint, I just hope all of these people complaining and making threats to change will also follow through!!
vtwinrider wrote:
They lied to you. I recently upgraded a non-data phone to an iPhone. It came in as a 2GB plan phone, but my unlimited smartphone plan was unchanged. I'd threaten legal action, and follow through if you're not satisfied. They had no right to change a plan that you didn't do anything to. They have told me that specifically in the past. At one time, I had a feature phone with the $10 data plan. It was 25MB, if I remember, and then that plan when to 75MB, but they didn't increase my plan. When I asked them why, they said they couldn't change it without my permission.
The data plan is per line. When you switched the non-data to a smartphone, you are required to select a tiered data plan for that line. The other line with the existing data plan shouldn't have changed.
For clarification we have a family plan with 2 lines, one on data, I replaced the non data phone to another non data phone. They still made the change, effective March 26. They said I could have straightened it out, but only within 30 days. Have spoken to 3 people at Verizon, and while all have differing interpretations of the new changes, all were adamant that after 30 days, you are just out of luck!!
I've been a Verizon Wireless customer for over 10 years and a stockholder for two years. I currently have a grandfathered unlimited data plan. I understand the need for a company to manage its business and to maximize its profits (as I said, I am a stockholder), but you don't do either effectively by alienating your customers. Verizon's proposal to eliminate all of those pesky unlimited data plans by making it painful for their customers to keep them is a classic "stick" method of the carrot/stick management philosophy. Companies become successful (and stay successful) by maintaining a balance within three aspects of their business: stockholders, customers, and employees. Ignoring or minimizing any of the three is a recipe for disaster. Chasing customers away with a "stick" is counter-intuitive. Perhaps with a little creative thought, Verizon could achieve the results that they want by using a "carrot" instead. Why not provide permanent discounts for those voluntarily giving up their unlimited data plans? Verizon might end up with satisfied customers instead of disgruntled ones.
Good for you. YOU don't. It's very possible that YOU don't use YOUR phone to stream radio on the hour long ride to work.
YOU may not work in an office that doesn't have open WiFi to connect to so YOUR phone doesn't use data while fetching email.
YOU may not have an EXTREMELY active life that doesn't allow YOU & YOUR family to be home that often to pay for much less to use WiFi.
YOU may not stream Netflix or Verizon Video while waiting in line at Disney World or Great America.
YOU may not use YOUR smartphone to it's maximum potential. Just because YOU haven't used a lot of data doesn't mean the rest of us have YOUR lifestyle. Some of us go to soccer games, baseball games, parks etc etc with our families all of which don't have WiFi.
Not to mention I cancelled my home internet connection & pay Verizon an additional $60 a month, PER VERIZON'S RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I HAVE UNLIMITED DATA & DOING SO WOULD GIVE ME UNLIMITED HOTSPOT ON OUR 2 4G PHONES. To set my expectation's up to use solely your services predicated on mis-information I was given, (Yes I was told that I would not have to give up my grandfathered data.) only to remove what my family uses is, simply put, wrong.
Wrong. If you have a smart phone, you are forced to buy a data plan. If you are forced to purchase a "feature", it is part of a contract. They violate that, they violate the contract. Either way, my hatred for Verizon is reaching critical mass.
Hows this for Verizons monumental greed. It is unbelievable. Lets review -
-Forcing you to buy landline bundle on its DSL service
-$30 upgrade fee for new phone, which CEO said "was the right thing to do"
-$2 "convenience charge" to pay your bill
-eliminating unlimited data plans for grandfather customers
Can't wait for the inevitable government smackdown.
mykaelp wrote:Hows this for Verizons monumental greed. It is unbelievable. Lets review --Forcing you to buy landline bundle on its DSL service-$30 upgrade fee for new phone, which CEO said "was the right thing to do"-$2 "convenience charge" to pay your bill-eliminating unlimited data plans for grandfather customersCan't wait for the inevitable government smackdown.
mykaelp wrote:
Don't forget to add NE2 discounts, annual upgrades, one year contracts, and the 30day WFG to the list.
Tree14, I think you have said it best! After weeding through all the comments and reading an official Verizon statement on the matter, I have learned this. When customers switch/upgrade their 3G phone to 4g LTE, on a new contract, they will have to select one of the new tiered data sharing plans. For those who have 4g unlimited LTE, when upgrading or buying on contract a new 4G LTE device, you will then have to select one of the new tiered, shared data plans. Too keep your 4g unlimited LTE, you can purchase a 4G LTE phone at full, non contract price and keep your unlimited data.
After all of these business changes Verizon is changing to make more money, I think I'll go the Google route. They are opening a store in Google Play where you can buy carrier free Nexus phones without a contract and for about 40 - 50% less than a no contract price here. Thats a no brainer for me! The only disadvantage is that they don't have Verizon coverage. (I do not work for Google)
I'm becoming wary of Verizon's pricing changes and policy changes. After 11 years as a client (counting my Alltel days) I don't feel like this company doesn't have much sympathy for consumer pricing. They are already among the more expensive carriers, which I didn't mind paying for because the coverage is the best, but now there is $30 to change phones when yours goes bad and has to be replaced, $2 Convenience Fee to pay your bill !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? And now the beginning of eliminating grandfathered unlimited data plans. I don't feel very special.
Yesterday I called what Big Red calls Customer Service and spoke to Casey. He said that we "can" keep unlimited data as long as we have a smartphone on the line of service.
Turn around a day later, we get back stabbed again with a news story on Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/verizon-unlimited-data_n_1525931.html?ref=technology) saying that we lose our unlimited data plans when we renew contracts and to get a phone at the upgrade cost.
What a difference a day makes.
I was planning on getting an iPhone 5 from Verizon at my next contract, but now when my contract expires, I think I am just going to say GOODBYE!
Note: Remember to sign coolasbluefire's petition... I did.
http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-verizon-from-killing-unlimited-data-plans-for-existing-subscribers
Ugh, you're right. Seems their prickish behavior knows no bounds. I truly used to love Verizon, not to long ago. Amazing what a difference a year makes. Can't wait to see this years most hated companies list is. I know who I'm voting for. Comcast looks like saints compared to likes of Verizon.
Did Verizon not learn anything when Netflix tried to get stupid?
Tell date I'm still waiting on updates to the Thunderbolt to have 4G work correctly. Forcing it back to 3G is the only way to get a decent connection in my area. I pay $110 a month fro pretty bad service. AT&T and Sprint work better in my area but had worse phones when I switched.
Why dose my bill go up and service go down? Don't give me infrastructure cost it's a total BS answer. Learn to do your stuff right the first time and it wont hurt you. Oh wait it's all profit that you dont put back into your network.
If the unlimited has any changes made to it I'll be gone. This tiered junk is a waste it's only more options to trick people into spending more. At this point I could care less about a phone I have wifi and a laptop with me every day. Skype works pretty good.
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Read the responses and I'm right there too.
If they want to trash my 10+ years as a customer (and a $300/month bill), then I'm gone as soon as this crap kicks in.
No reason for me to stay! I'll find another carrier and the screen door won't hit me in the ass on the way out.
Take note VZ.....customers leaving in droves if you stick to this plan. 'Cause we WON'T stick with you.
You've been warned.
Lets look at the past few months of Verizon
So there is a history of corporate shortsightedness on their part. They are looking at short term profits, not long term viability. They are betting that they will have more profits from moving people from unlimited data plans to shared data plans, than losing customers to other carriers. They have accountants that have sold them a bill of goods and made it sound like nirvana, but in fact, it will be a place closer to hadas.
While only 2 other carriers claim to have 'unlimited' data, TMobile will throttle the data after about 3 gigs, and Sprint claims to have no throttling at all. Unfortunately, in my experience, Sprint has worse customer service than Verizon, which isn't saying much.
If they do institute this plan and try to force me to a shared data plan, I will definitely look at other carriers. My criteria will be price, availability of 4g in my home, work, and my kids home area's.
Personally there have been 3 things that have kept me at Verizon. 4g coverage in all area's, employer discount on my main line and data, and my data has been unlimited. If Verizon goes through with this, upgrading my phone will cause the unlimited to go away, ATT does have an employer discount, and ATT does not have 4g in all my area's yet, but they all have HSPA+ in all the areas. They do not have unlimited data anymore, but if I lose unlimited data on my 2 lines, then it doesn't matter about the data. Now it all comes down to price, will ATT have a better price? Well the last time I checked, the prices were comparable, without a discount. I will wait to see what Verizon actually does in regards to the unlimited data plans and if they will force me to look. The debacle with the Galaxy Nexus has really soured me on Verizon because the Nexus product is the only product on the market that doesn't have a skin from the hardware manufacturer. I feel that Verizon will never be able to sell another Nexus product from all the crap that they have put the Galaxy Nexus, why would any manufacturer put themselves through that.
Verizon dropped the ball on this... and it looks like they will continue down the path of corporate greed and bend the customer over a barrel.
My understanding is the only way Verizon can do this is if you do not currently have an unlimited 4g plan, meaning you upgraded to a 4g device while renewing your unlimited data. I believe that those who currently have unlimited 4g will be safe unless they change their contract. If you currently have unlimited 3g, you are not safe. You are grandfathered in under unlimited 3g not 4g. If you are content keeping 3g and can find 3g devices they can not take away your unlimited data. By upgrading from a 3g to 4g device you are changing your data plan and this is why they can force you onto a tiered data plan.
nexus_truth wrote:My understanding is the only way Verizon can do this is if you do not currently have an unlimited 4g plan, meaning you upgraded to a 4g device while renewing your unlimited data. I believe that those who currently have unlimited 4g will be safe unless they change their contract. If you currently have unlimited 3g, you are not safe. You are grandfathered in under unlimited 3g not 4g. If you are content keeping 3g and can find 3g devices they can not take away your unlimited data. By upgrading from a 3g to 4g device you are changing your data plan and this is why they can force you onto a tiered data plan.
nexus_truth wrote:
I spoke with a CS rep the other day. He told me that (at this time) if I were to upgrade my 3G device to a 4G device, I could keep my unlimited data. That's the word today. Tomorrow? These things can change on a daily basis, as we are finding out. I am considering borrowing an upgrade from another line to upgrade so when they change their mind, I'm not out of luck. What they are saying today is, "We have no information on shared plans, so you are okay." We all know, though, that as soon as they DO announce the plans, it's over. There will be no "window" of opportunity to make the change.
Don't get me wrong. If the plan would work for my family, I might be willing to trade a couple of my feature phones for smartphones, share the data, and go on with life. But for me to give up my unlimited data, it will have to be very attractive. If they will make it attractive, and give people time to analyze the product, they might find some happier customers. I think a better business strategy would have been to announce the upcoming shared plans, educate people on the benefits, make the plans attractive, give people time to analyze the plans, and allow them to make their choice. Yes, some would stay with their unlimited plans, but many would shift. But, as of late, when has VZW shown good business sense?
How much data are using? If it is more than 3 Gbs, how are you using it? Most people don't use one whole Gb in a month, yet there is a lot of talk about how this is a deal breaker. I'm not picking on you in particular. It's just this thread goes on for days about all the greedy profit VZW is trying to make, and these postings are chronological. If over 90% of users have less than 2Gb of usage, this doesn't seem a profit maker for VZW. Those data hogs who have rooted their phone so they can avoid a cable bill, while still downloading HD videos and playing World of Warcraft, will simply move on to Plan B. So the motivation would seem to be more about reliability. If you get a household or an apartment complex full of these "Big Bang Theory" characters, all of a sudden everyone in that cell is running at ATT speeds. "Can you hear me now?"
I want to dispell the allegations that I'm a plant for VZW, in advance. I'm a self-employed 50-year old man. I don't have a penny invested in VZW. I'm invested in my own business, which is real estate. I just hate ATT. I do like that T-mobile girl, and her motorcycle, but I'm too old for her. So I'm staying with VZW.
When Verizon makes decisions of this magnitude, I really believe they owe us an explaination. Rather than just saying customers want family shared data. They should openly defending their position to gether support rather than animosity. If Fran Shammo had had specifics with when he spoke at the Chase Bank conference, then this might have turned out differently. Had he said to our remaining grandfathered unlimited plan holders we would like you to consider moving to a family plan because it will benefit you in this way to share a pool of X data for Y dollars which in the long run will save yoy Z dollars. Instead we got no specifics and crickets when we ask questions.
Lol, I'm sorry if you thought I was calling you an employee of Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless removed that part of the post where I named the person. I use under 1 gig of data monthly but my problem lies with the fact that every time Apple comes out with a new item it costs me more money and I have no Apple products and now their taking away my safety net of wireless and the cheapest data plan is $10.00 more PLUS it will cost me $30.00 if I upgrade my phone . Its not my fault I waited to get data when the price was cheap. Their big advertising gimmick at that time was " get it while its still here because it wont last long " they never said because we will take it away the first time we need to. The whole reason to do this is to not only push a family plan but to make money off of people for going over like they did in texting, are they going to take away unlimited texting next? Im just saying theres other companies out there much cheaper and has about the same service. I myself will take the three phones that come up in the same month and leave but if I do, theres no going back unless they make it worth my wild. I have been in a discussion in Facebook about this as well and when there was a poll on people leaving Verizon over this there were hundreds saying yes and less then a dozen staying. If that just a small group in a small discussion place ( as in here ) they could lose millions over what can be a bad desition and most of these people leaving will sign a two year contract keeping them from coming back. Myself, I have found a great unlimited plan with everything unlimited including minutes for $29.99 monthly WITHOUT a contract. A friend of mine has had it for over a year now and gets great coverage in the areas I live and vacation in.
Could not agree more. I got a rep to tell me the other day, "They have information about the new plans, but they can't talk about it...". So goes to show you how dishonest they are, when they won't even let the Reps share information they already know, which we are asking about. They are going to make them stay tight lipped until it's too late to avert certain things we may not want to deal with in our plans. Why I'm buying out and going to T-Mobile Prepay. At this point it's about integrity, and there lack of it.
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Gorilla72 has it right. Verizon has a lot to learn. As some know, Broadband companies are also beginning to cap data, but there caps are reasonable. AT&T has uverse capped at 250 GB /month and Comcast just raised their cap from 250 to 300 GB /month. At home I have Centurylink. For $44.95 a month I enjoy 10 MBPS (just as fast as my 4G LTE) and they recently put in a cap of 250 GB. These reason this is important is these caps are realistic when sharing a connection between multiple devices. 250 GB is roughly 8 GB per day of internet downloading and streaming. This is the kind of plan we will need to see from Verizon if they want their Family Shared Data Plan(s) to be viable. So whatever plans Verizon is crafting, I hope they take notice that other broadband providers offer large buckets of data for minimal pricing.
