Verizon Loyalty Department, got a question

I've been fortunate to have good dealings with the vzw loyalty department. I won't go much into the details for their sake but I have a question. They are going to let me buy a phone on the terms I sign up for a two year contract. I'm under contract now, and I have an unlimited data plan still, which I think dearly of. I was told to talk to the loyalty department once I receive the phone call I was told I would receive in the upcoming days, and be sure to ask them this question. Will I still be able to keep my unlimited data plan or will I have to give it up?

Accepted answers

bigguy2211

elector I totally agree with you. I tried my best to prove this point in an example up above. Most folks, I'm not saying all, like knowing they still have that device they took out of the box that very first time, has spent a great amount of time with that device, and therefore, knows his or her device very well.

I didn't originally want to come out and announce to the world what vzw is offering to do for me. I'm grateful for what they are allowing me to do, and that makes me want to stay with this company.

I wish that some of the carriers didn't have to change their plans the way that they have. Talking with an At&t rep yesterday, and he explained to me why the carriers decided to do away with their unlimited data plans. I sort of seen their perspective but in a sense as will, I couldn't ignore my own perspective as to why carriers decided to do away with unlimited in favor of fixed plans. Times are tough I guess.

All comments

spitxfire

You probably won't get a response from an actual Verizon rep but you would still lose your unlimited data, that offer is probably just a promotion but that $30 upgrade fee and losing unlimited data still apply, but definitely verify with them, but the system automatically kicks it out that you lose unlimited data.

budone

If you get a subsidized phone, you will not, under any circumstances keep your unlimited data.

unknown

I'm not sure the point of your post. Anyone can buy a subsidized phone by signing a new 2 year contract and anyone signing a new 2 year contract will lose their unlimited data plan.

vzwbutterfly

No you won't. You'll have to decide now, New phone and tiered data or old phone and unlimited data. If they're offering you an early upgrade its because you need a phone and you a loyal customer. That would be the end of the offer though. They are not able to change the contract that you would need to sign and let you keep it. Although I'm a little concerned that you said dealings..as in plural..I'd hope that you aren't calling in all the time? Although hopefully with a new phone it solves your phone issues.

bigguy2211

butteryfly, yes, I've had been calling since friday when my phone crapped out. Guys, my phone just stopped working, I called had my service moved to a flip phone, called again that day, and they wanted to send me a refurb phone, I didn't want it, they sent it anyway. Then on Saturday, I called and expressed how unhappy I was going to be with having a refurb phone, a refurb phone to me, is someone elses phone that they had problems with, and I don't want someone else's problems, and I told them that. I know that there is a slim chance I might have gotten a new phone of the one I had, I wont say what kind of phone, but none the less, I was not going to be happy.

I asked the rep, could I pay the etf, and then come back and buy a new, never been used phone, and I was put on hold while they checked his or her options. They came back and gave me two options, wait till my one year anniversary date, which is in a few weeks, then they would let me upgrade early, or I could pay the etf fee, come back to vzw in at least 50 days, and they would waive the fee once I bought a new phone.

I was afraid of this but as one of you stated, "don't give up your unlimited data plan at all cost". I am grateful for them doing what they are going to let me do, and I don't want to seem like i am ungrateful, cause I'm not but being with them since 2005, I came into my first smart phone, blackberry storm one, with an unlimited data plan, and to have that taken from my hands after they gave it to me, that hurts. I understand how contracts work, they place new terms and conditions in the new one, and you are the one that agrees to the terms. I want the need the phone, its my only means of reaching me but I don't want to give up my data plan for a smaller one.

I went to at&t yesterday, a corp store, and I asked about becoming a customer there. I was told that new customers have to sign up for a 3 gig plan, which is not bad, I never use that much data, I do use between 2 and 3 each month. But one thing that I was told is, existing customers that come in to upgrade, THEY GET TO KEEP THEIR UNLIMITED DATA PLANS, thats awesome if thats the case. Now that you know the full story, I appreciate your thoughts.

bigguy2211

Oh...I stopped calling yesterday, and I'm not going to bug them today. I felt that if I kept calling, I might could make them get tired of my crap, and get something done. I was mad and frusturated but once I got calmed down and a little over the smart phone empty nest syndrome, I am grateful for what they have done for me.

lewisr13

I've had dozens of refurb phones over the years and have never had any more issues with them than with a new phone. If there's no cost involved why would you not take a refurb? You could turn around and sell it and buy that phone you want and break pretty close to even.

budone

Yes existing AT&T customers who have unlimited data get to keep it.....with some throttling and such at certain levels. A new customer can not get unlimited data. VZW has no reason to offer unlimited data to existing customers who want subsidized phones. They are adding new post paid subs at levels the other big three can not meet combined. With the lowest Churn rate of the big four also. That is why as print offers phones at a lower cost with a hardly an unlimited plan. Their coverage stinks, data is slower than molasses in January in Michigan. And they are losing money. Heck I admit I still have in my name a SERO Sprint account. $50 Gets me 500 minutes, unlimited data and messages with 4g....where available. . But I let a friend use it as she wanted a cheap plan. She is fine with it.

lewisr13

budone wrote:
data is slower than molasses in January in Michigan.

It's not THAT cold here in January, maybe April, but not January!

unknown

The contract you agreed to and signed says that if your phone is replaced under warranty, you get a refurbished replacement. What makes you think you deserve more than the other 98,000,000 Verizon customers?

bigguy2211

jim, I agree with you to an extent but here's my take on things, and I know this isn't a great example but I'll do my best here, so try not to take the example literarly, I'm just trying to prove how most folks would feel, and I also understand some would be okay with this...Jim... I'm a car dealer, you've been coming to me for years when you need a car. You buy a new car off of me, and I warranty it for one year. Will your so proud of your new car, and you do the best that you can possibly do to keep it looking nice and running great...and then...one year down the road, the engine starts giving you problems. You know your screwed, you have to have this car to get around, and you realize your gonna be out some money but times are tough right now, and you look to see what your options are, maybe my dealership offers some options.

Will you come to me, and ask, "what can you do for me doc?" I know you have been coming to me for years Jim, and I respect you for that, so I go into my office and see that you have one week before your warranty runs out, and I realize, just like yourself, they don't make your model car anymore, so I do my best, I come out and offer you a car like you had, same make, same model but it was involved in a head on collision. I assure you that we took the car into our body shop, and mech shop, and had it inspected from top to bottom, and the car is 100 percent okay. How would you feel about this situation? I realize most would be like myself, they wouldn't want a wrecked car, they would want something like they had before, something thats not been totally heavily worked on. And I realize there are some of us out in the world that would be totally fine with this situation, just as long as they have no problems with the car. But most of all...most folks would just simply want to be back where they where before the engine problems started.

I have had bad luck with refurb phones in the past, you get one, works two weeks and start having problems with it the next week, and have to send it back for another refurb phone, and the cycle always seemed to continue after each phone I received. I'm not looking for a free hand out, I am willing to spend some money to get me back where I once was but I think that you yourself would agree, a person should first look at his or her options before they go spending money first.

unknown

I didn't bother to read all that because we're not talking about cars here. We're talking about a cell phone for which we all signed a 2 year contract. In return for an approximately $400 discount, we agreed to remain as a Verizon customer and make monthly payments for 24 months. Verizon agreed to provide us service. One on the conditions of the contract is that warranty replacement phones will be refurbished. That makes sense because the defective phones we are returning are used with a reduced value versus a new phone. 98,000,000 customers agreed to this including you (except for the ones that don't buy subsidized phones).

unknown

bigguy2211 wrote:
I went to at&t yesterday, a corp store, and I asked about becoming a customer there. I was told that new customers have to sign up for a 3 gig plan, which is not bad, I never use that much data, I do use between 2 and 3 each month. But one thing that I was told is, existing customers that come in to upgrade, THEY GET TO KEEP THEIR UNLIMITED DATA PLANS, thats awesome if thats the case. Now that you know the full story, I appreciate your thoughts.

You're not an existing at&t customer so that doesn't apply to you so who cares?