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Retiree discount discontinued?

I received an email from Verizon Wireless saying...

It's Time to Renew Your Discount.

You're currently receiving a discount on your monthly Verizon Wireless service based on your employment or affiliation with an organization that has an agreement with us. Your discount eligibility is tied to your employment or affiliation status, which may change over time.

To continue to receive your discount, please validate your employment or affiliation within 30 days.

It's easy to renew with our online validation process.

I attempted the online process with no success so I called Verizon Wireless Customer Service, who told me that my former employer is no longer supporting the discount program for retirees. I called the HR/benefits line and was told they have no information on a policy change that would discontinue the benefit. The corporate intranet discount page does refer to the discount for active employees, but does not specifically mention retirees. I have enjoyed this discount for over 15 years as both a current employee and a retiree since 12/2002. Without a correction, the 20% discount on rate plans and phones and accessories will be deleted within 60 days, and literally thousands of United Airlines retirees will seek other service

Is it possible to resolve this?

Comments

Ann154

Verizon Wireless has been re-verifying all customers who receive a discount. You might have to work with the HR dept of your former employer for what paperwork is needed to verify you qualify for the discount as an retiree of the company.

CessnaDriver

Thank you for your reply. HR said there have been no changes by the

company,but I will attempt to pursue f

urther up the ladder. In the interim, I am investigating other service and

have heard from others who are as well.

Verizon_Support

We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, CessnaDriver. I do understand your concern here. I mean, honestly, who doesn't enjoy receiving a discount off there monthly bill. I did review corporate accounts that have retiree discounts associated with them and United Airlines is not currently on the short list of corporations. With the employer not currently contracted to support retirees we're unable to continue the discount.

Since retirement, have you began to work for any other organizations or associations?

YosefT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

lrush57

I am being asked to verify my employment, after many years with verizon wireless. I also have multiple FIOS accounts for my homes for internet and television. I have retired from the Postal Service, and can find no definitive answer in writing as to whether or not federal retirees continue to receive a discount on their cell phone service. Can you please tell me if my discount will continue? If not, I (as well as many other) will be checking out other service providers for deals. Thank you.

necer

I was informed today 9/22/13 by Verizon that postal retirees DO NOT get discounts. After 15 years with Verizon, who needs them. All current postal employees should cancel at this time.

ttipgem

Why would do people expect an Employer's Discount when they are no longer employed by that employer?

"Your discount eligibility is tied to your employment or affiliation status, which may change over time."

rcschnoor

Because the DO get the discount???

That would be a good move by someone who is happy with the service they are getting AND the discount associated with their EMPLOYER.

Scott3

Obviously you are not losing your discount......................... most of us already pay twice as much for insurance and now we lose our discount at verizon too? Less money in my pocket means more now than ever. IF it is the fault of the company I worked all those years for..... shame on them! Should have known they would find yet another way to...........

ttipgem

I understand why you would be upset about losing the discount. What I don't understand is why you would expect to continue receive something for which you are not eligible due to no longer meeting the eligibility requirements.

When/If I leave my current employer, I fully would expect to no longer get the discount affiliated with that employer.

Not sure what having to "pay twice as much for insurance" has to do with your cell phone bill, however.

unknown

ttipgem wrote:
Why would do people expect an Employer's Discount when they are no longer employed by that employer?
"Your discount eligibility is tied to your employment or affiliation status, which may change over time."

Its because the company if still under contract with Verizon is not saying not to give that discount. If the company decided to break ties with Verizon Wireless, then I can understand the discount ending.

In the NYS Government Employees case retirees are still covered. When such a provision is not specified the contract for the employees would prevail. The commodity of Cellular Services is good through 2017 and covers all cellular carriers. T-Mobile gives 15% as does AT&T and Verizon gives 19% discount and I have no idea what Sprints discount is.

Retirees need the discount more since they don't make the full regular salary they did while working.

So Verizon should leave the discount alone. But I am sure what is not offered here is offered elsewhere .

azmtngirl

For those who think the whinning of a retiree who is losing their discount is unjust. Speaking for myself when I retired I left the workroom floor for good, but I did not leave the company. I will be forever associated with them until the day I die because I will receive my retirement from them.

This subject for myself and possibly other retirees who are here to voice their opinion is a matter of principle. I see it as purely a revenue issue for Verizon. It began when Verizon wooed and smoooozed big employers seeing an opportunity to in one fell swoop attract thousands of customers all at once. A 20% discount was an easy marketing tool and strategy that could be easily absorbed compared to the millions to be made with the potentiality of thousands of new customers. The organization I retired from had over a quarter million employees.

I think Verizon was mesmerized by the shear number of customers to come on board by these contracts and reverification was obviously not a Verizon company policy or standard so they just did not monitor "the discount" because for everyone here this is the first time any of us have had to reverify our employment. Consequently now I would imagine Verizon has thousands of customers who are receiving the discount still after terminating employment with the original employer which qualified them to get the discount. Did Verizon not think of that?

When I received my notice to reverify I promptly called to find out where to send my annuity statement to reverify and was quickly informed Oh No you are retired. Never before requested had lead us to believe after many many years because of our employment and/or association that YES it meant for retirees too. In my organization the retirees before me never said oh when you retire you will loose your Verizon discount. I would also venture to say that most of the retirees on this board have had opportunities over the years to switch to a different carrier but did not and have stayed as happy satisfied loyal customers. Back in the day when I went to Verizon, it was the best cell service out there. That is no longer the case and with loyalty not being appreciated by Verizon, I have other options.

Fast forward to today's toilet economy, everyday companies laying off people, downsizing, closings whatever the reason, have thousands of people stampeding towards the retirement door. Verizon sees with tunnel vision the potential without having to leave their desk of the money to be made off the thousand who have and will retire. A 20% revenue jump times thousands of retirees should look pretty good on the books.

The principle is a system that Verizon created to get our business that they let the ball drop on only now decides to pull the plug on thousands of loyal customers who are retired stinks. This is a knee jerk impulsive attempt to make millions but they forgot or never considered what effect it would have on their retired customers now that the cell market offers much more. Why not target the customers who are no longer actually working for or are affiliated with the company who holds the contract with Verizon.

So to those who think retirees are being cry babies, just remember we are older Americans. We have spent our life in the work field and there are many businesses and companies who appreciate and offer all sorts of things to seniors and retired folk and that is where we will take our business. Verizon obviously is not one of them and doesn't have to be, but this issue speaks volumes. If Verizon was smart they would do what they could to keep our business and attract new retirees because as our economy gets flushed there will be more and more retirees and we will go where there is incentive to go, plain and simple.

For those who do not understand a retirees viewpoint, try to imagine or remember that you came to Verizon for a reason. When you get what will feel like an autocratic slap in the face and you look all around for a reason to stay but there is none and your loyalty is not considered and unwanted what would you do.

Scott3

Amen Sister !! You said it much better than I ever could have! If you havent seen my update yet go to " update on retiree discount " I hope the info helps you and many more

azmtngirl

Scott@AZ, awesome news for you! You must be ONE squeaky wheel. So glad you were able to work something out.

Steve29

Can you tell me if United Technologies Corporation discount applies to Retirees ?

thanks

Steve@H

Verizon_Support

Hello Steve@H,

Discounts are always a great thing to have. What better way to add to an already awesome value! It will be my pleasure to see what discount that you qualify for. May I ask for you to send me a private message so we can begin? I took the liberty of following you so all you have to do is approve the request before sending the message.

Thank you...

ArnettH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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