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Previous Alltel Customer phone about to become a paper weight in Canada and Mexico

I just received a letter stating that my Blackberry 8830 World Edition as of November 15 2009 will not work in Canada or Mexico. It also tells me I have two options buy new equipment (I am assuming at retail value) or rent an international phone. Since I'm still relatively early in my Alltel contract, I will not be able to purchase a discounted phone by extending my contract for almost 9 months after November 15th date. What a catch 22.

To me this seems like Verizon is breaking their contract with me. Services that I expected to have signed the contract will no longer be an option. If I were to break my contract I would be hit with a large fee. I'm pretty sure Verizon has no plans to live up to the same standard they would expect from me.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions for me.

Comments

iPhonelove

Tell them that since them that you expected to have the services that you signed for, and that them not giving that service is a breach in the contract. Then tell them you will terminate your contract and go to AT&T to get the iPhone. Everytime AT&T and the iPhone are mentioned in the same sentence to a Verizon rep they will exhaust every option to keep you.

Try it. :smileyhappy:

NekoSaru

If you originally signed up with Alltel, sorry to say, its not Verizon breaking their contract as Alltel was not Verizon at that point.

Verizon is obligated to help merge you over to their network as smoothly as possible. I would give Cust Serv a call and see what other options you have. At least they gave you a fair notice on what is going to happen.

Believe it or not, this same thing happened during the AT&T and Cingular merge. People were forced to upgrade to the new contract/network system in order to keep certain features.

Chances are you can get the needed equipment for your service without having your contract extended. Free? Probably not. Discounted? More than likely.

NekoSaru

Also, from the Alltel Merger FAQ:

Will Alltel customers’ wireless devices still work once the company is fully integrated with Verizon Wireless? Most Alltel customers’ wireless devices will work on the Verizon Wireless network after conversion.

Based on our wireless device testing, fewer than one percent of Alltel customers may need to replace their wireless devices for use on the Verizon Wireless network after the conversion. These are older devices that do not contain the chipset required to receive over-the-air software changes to enable them to work on the Verizon Wireless network.

If an Alltel customer’s current device cannot receive over-the-air software changes, does the customer have to pay for a new device? If a device cannot receive over-the air software changes to enable it to work on the Verizon Wireless network after conversion, the phone will be replaced with a like device at no cost to the customer, or the customer will receive a credit toward the purchase of a higher-priced device.

Sounds like this is the reason you received the letter. I would call VZW Cust Srv.

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