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unhappy with no longer getting early upgrades

sandymwp

i am having trouble with my current phone, i.e. touch screen becoming difficult to use (not responsive frequently and time lags in changing screens.

under the circumstances, i was planning to do an early upgrade. i just found out that that is no longer available. i am trying to understand why, under the circumstances, i can't get another phone. i do not want to pay full price (and don't feel i should have to do so). i have been a customer for many years....never been late on a payment. verizon offers discounted phones to NEW customers.....why would they deny me the same courtesy?

Comments

tikibar1

Verizon changed the upgrade policy earlier this year. For contracts that began 1/1/12 and after, upgrade dates now coincide with contract dates rather than 20 months into the contract.

You cannot get another subsidized phone until you complete your current two-year contract. If you aren't eligible to upgrade and don't want to or can't pay full retail price, you could activate an older phone if you have one or get a phone from somewhere like ebay or swappa.

HappyHelper

New customers get the discounted phones because they haven't already agreed to a 2yr contract. If you were out of contract then just like a new customer (but instead of a $35 activation fee it's a $30 upgrade fee) you would get a discounted phone as well. Since the upgrade fee is cheaper than the activation fee, Verizon actually favors it's existing customers :smileyhappy:

eday

You signed a 2 year agreement and once that is up you can get a discount on a phone. I'm a loyal customer at burger king and I don't ask for discounts or get upset when a new customer pays the same amount as me

sandymwp

Well, my phone us crapping out. I have had to call tech services a few times.. If it breaks, I am without a phone. This is more than just wanting a different model.

Sent from my iPad

ttipgem

Regardless of that, you entered into a two year contract. When that contract is up, you will be eligible for a phone upgrade at a discounted price.

Until then, you can always purchase a phone a full retail or from some other source (eBay, Craigslist, etc.) if you need another phone.

Verizon_Support

sandymwp,

I definitely appreciate your loyalty and would love to further assist and provide all available options! Which device do you have? Have you completed a factory reset? If so, are you aware if you are under warranty? Please share more details so I may help. Thank you.

TominqueBo_VZW

Please follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Verizon_Support

Sandy, we don't want you to be without a phone. What phone do you currently have and what exactly is going on with it?

MarquiaF_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Butler1967

I don't understand why Verizon won't take my money... I am wanting to increase my plan, add Data, upgrade to iPhone, and sign a new contract. What the company risks here is that, when my contract ends, I am free to go to another company with a better employee discount (25% for my company vs,. the 20% that Verizon currently gives us) and more liberal upgrade terms.

If Verizon management is watching, they will pay attention. We want the product and we're willing to pay for it. If you won't let us, we will go elsewhere. Companies can't afford to ****-off their customers. Period.

rcschnoor

I'm not sure what the problem is either. As far as I know, Verizon is willing to take your money at any time. However, they are not willing to discount phones if you are unwilling to fulfill your contract.

You say you want to upgrade to an iPhone. Have you completed your last contract you signed in order to receive a discounted price on your last device? Are you expecting to purchase a new phone at the discounted price?

If you have not yet completed the contract you signed when purchasing your last discounted phone, Verizon WILL NOT sell you another discounted phone, however you CAN purchase one at the full retail cost. If you are not willing to fulfill the promise you made in order to receive a discounted device, why would Verizon think you would be willing to do so this time in exchange for ANOTHER discounted phone.

If you are attempting to purchase a device with the Edge plan, you must first fulfill your current contract. If you would like to purchase a full price phone with payments and do not qualify for the Edge plan because you are currently under contract, you may qualify for the Device Payment Plan after a credit check.

Good luck.

krunon

I just found out the policy changed too....while other companies are making it easier to change phones, Verizon is making it more difficult. I have two teenagers who have been anxiously awaiting their October upgrade which is what our account USED to indicate. When I logged in today to verify the exact date in October, I now see they have to wait until February (i.e., 4 month early upgrade is gone). I spend $400 a month with this company on all services for home and wireless. The IPhones my boys are using are a mess (due to their own fault). VERY disappointed!

rcschnoor

While other companies may be making it easier to change phones, I think you will find it is most likely geared towards people who DO NOT have phones which are "a mess".

As far as I know, ALL of these new programs "making it easier to change phones" require you to return the phone you last purchased in good working order with all accessories which originally came with the phone. If you are unable to do so, you would have to either continue making the monthly payments on the phone OR pay the remaining balance due BEFORE you could upgrade to a new phone.

Being that your sons currently have iPhones, I would assume you would want to upgrade to something similar. That would mean paying full price on a ~$650+ phone over 24 monthly payments. If you wanted to then trade in those phones, after say a year, if they were in a condition described by you as "a mess", you would then have to pay off the balance of $325 left on the phone BEFORE you would be able to upgrade.

I think people who do not treat their phone in a manner in which they will last for the duration of the payments will find it is NOT so easy to switch phones on these plans. I think THESE people will also find themselves "VERY disappointed" when they go to trade in their beat up old phones, regardless which provider they currently have.

Of course it is just my opinion, but it seems the people MOST excited about these new plans are the ones which can't seem to make their phone last "in good working order" and want to upgrade. It will be these SAME people who will get a big shock when they want to upgrade to a new device and find they owe about half the original cost on their broken phone just to get rid of it before they can upgrade.

smaruska

Yep, these are exactly the people who are going to not treat their phones well because "I'll just get a new one in 6 months and keep making payments". Also the commercials they don't mention you need to pay the sales tax on the full price of the phone. Depending on where you live that can be over $100. I personally like the 2 year contracts an getting a phone for $0 and will stay on those. And to the person whose kids' iphones are messing up "due to their own fault". Let this be a life lesson to them. There is zero reason a phone can't last 2 years and look in very good condition when that time is up. A good case and a wet apply screen protector (zagg or skinomi) and treat it like the miniature computer it is and it'll be good to go.

Verizon_Support

Hi Butler1967,

Let's get to the bottom of this! Are you currently eligible to upgrade? If so, place your order here:http://bit.ly/nD0WuY . If not, please further clarify your concerns. I look forward to hearing from you soon

Thanks for your contribution to our community forums,

AyaniB_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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