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Why is there no more Unlimited Data??

I have been a Verizon customer for over 10 years now. Until I upgraded my phone recently (within last 3 weeks) I didn't realize that there was no longer an unlimited data package. Up until now, I haven't had to worry about how much data I am using. Yes, I love to get on Facebook here and there, play my Candy Crush and even play on the internet. And frankly, I'm angry that I wasn't "grandfathered" in. I'm seriously considering dropping Verizon, even if I have to pay the fee for breaking my contract early. I even spoke with someone in customer service who told me that she'd give me 250 free something for my iCloud or whatever, I'm still not even sure what she was talking about. I want my unlimited data package back!

Comments

unknown

Verizon hasn't offered unlimited data since July 2011. That's over 3 years. This is not new. Verizon stopped allowing unlimited data customers to get subsidized upgrades since June 28th 2012. That's over 2 years. Once again not new. Unlimited data clogs up the networks and is not fair to others that do not have unlimited who pay the same or more for their service.

Verizon_Support

MClovin0812,

We truly do not want to see you go. We do have a wide array of data packages that can fit a variety of usage. How many GB a month do you use? Check out our plans here... http://vz.to/1lwOwRQ

LindseyT_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Weth

Multiple choice test:

1. Why does Verizon no longer have unlimited data?

a) Some unlimited users were using lots of data and slowing down data access for everyone else. Some were even using unlimited data as a replacement for home internet and paying $30 for that.

b) Verizon makes a ton more money on metered data than one price fits all unlimited data

c) Because Verizon has the best network connectivity in the USA, and they can do what they want for now

d) All of the Above

Har02052

What did the old plans cost? I know it was $30 for the data, but what about per line and for minutes?

Ann154

Do you want the pricing for Family or Single Nationwide Plans?

SuzyQ

It's not really relevant, since you can't get the old pricing anymore, and they are moving everyone to unlimited minutes and texting and shared data. And I don't remember all of the old pricing structures... I am still on a nationwide shared minutes, unlimited texting, and $30 per data plan. We pay $100 for 1400 shared minutes, unlimited texting, and with 10 F&F numbers (landlines or cell other than Verizon) we can call and not use our allowance. We pay $10 for each of our 5 lines on the shared plan. For 5 basic phones, that would be $150. Three of those phones are now smartphones, with a 2GB (each) plan, so add $90.

We haven't moved to Share (More) Everything yet, as it would cost us more. The 3 smartphones are all in contract, basic phones are not. If we were to put a 4th smartphone on one of the lines, we'd about break even - a 5th would likely save us a few dollars. Between the three smartphones (2 iPhones and an Android) we use less than 4 GB a month, 2GB per line is sufficient.

unknown

SuzyQ wrote:

It's not really relevant, since you can't get the old pricing anymore, and they are moving everyone to unlimited minutes and texting and shared data. And I don't remember all of the old pricing structures... I am still on a nationwide shared minutes, unlimited texting, and $30 per data plan. We pay $100 for 1400 shared minutes, unlimited texting, and with 10 F&F numbers (landlines or cell other than Verizon) we can call and not use our allowance. We pay $10 for each of our 5 lines on the shared plan. For 5 basic phones, that would be $150. Three of those phones are now smartphones, with a 2GB (each) plan, so add $90.

We haven't moved to Share (More) Everything yet, as it would cost us more. The 3 smartphones are all in contract, basic phones are not. If we were to put a 4th smartphone on one of the lines, we'd about break even - a 5th would likely save us a few dollars. Between the three smartphones (2 iPhones and an Android) we use less than 4 GB a month, 2GB per line is sufficient.

Your costs come to $240.

More Everything with 3 smartphones 2 basic lines and 6 GB data is $260

5 smartphones on your plan would be $300, More Everything with 10 GB $300( Of course if you don't need 10 GB you can always choose less )

Of course if all lines were off contract, 5 smartphone lines on 10 GB on More Everything would be $175

Har02052

I realize that you can't get the pricing structure of the old plans, but mrhelper got to my point before I could. There are all of these people that are holding onto the old plans for dear life thinking that they are getting a better deal. I would argue that many people would actually save money by switching to the new plans. SuzyQ, you especially would save money and you could get more data and have all your phones be smartphones (if you wanted, I am guessing you might have kids on your account that you don't want them to have smartphones yet).

Here is my point:

I have 7 smartphones on my account. All of them are off contract. We use around 20gb of data total. about 17gb of the data is used by 2 people. The rest of the lines use very minimal data because they are almost always connected to wifi. Verizon is introducing pricing that goes into effect today and this is what my bill will look like:

7 smartphones X $15 per line access fee= $105

40gb of data = $150.

Total bill= $255!!!

SuzyQ, I have two more lines than you. I have all smartphones. I get 10X more data. and I only pay $5 more than you. I do see that you have 3 of your phones that are on contract. But guess what? Verizon is literally making you pay MORE for your phones and lines because you have a contract. It used to be that having a contract saved you money and you were able to get a new phone every two years. It isn't that way anymore. You would think that they would want you to stay on contract rather than going month to month. But it is actually much cheaper to go month to month. Lets do that math now:

According to the new plans, smartphone access on contract is $40/line. Off contract (you pay full price for a phone) it is $15. That's $25/month savings. On contract you pay $200 upfront plus activation fees and the new "upgrade fee" for an iphone (or pretty much any high end smartphone). Off contract you pay about $600-650 for a brand new top smartphone. So:

Off contract

$15/month X 24months= $360 + $600 for a new phone= $960 over two years

On Contract

$40/month X 24months= $960 + $200 + upgrade and activation fees= about $1200.

So those on contract actually pay over $200 more for the "subsidized phone" and you are locked in to a contract with a $350 fee if you want to leave. Besides the fact that I never buy a new phone for full price. I buy them off of craigslist and ebay for about $200-300. With those savings I can buy a "new" smartphone every six months. Besides the fact that I can resell the old one and get most of my money out of it as long as I take good care of it. I could buy a new smartphone every 3 months if I wanted and still pay less than those who are in a contract.

I realize I didn't add in the cost of data. It doesn't matter. You pay the same for the data whether or not you are on contract.

This is why I don't understand why people are holding onto the unlimited plans. If you have an unlimited plan, it is only viable to keep it if you use a ton of data. Like I said, I have 7 smartphones, 40gb data. My bill will be $255. Thats $35 per line. 5gb/line. If I had 7 smartphones on unlimited data plans, it would cost me about $400. At that price I can get 80gb. So my lines would have to be using more than 10gb/line for the old plans to cost less.

rcschnoor

Of course there are multiple issues with your statement.

1) you don't have to pay activation fees AND upgrade fees. You only have to pay activation fees OR upgrade fees, never both.

2) The prices of your "pretty much any high end smartphone) can be considerably higher than what you have listed. The lowest priced iPhone 6 has a retail price of $650 and the prices go up from there to $950, 50% higher than your upper limit. Many people who want to upgrade multipel phones "off contract" don't necessarily have the funds to front $2000-$3000 to purchase new "off contract" phones all at once. Of course there is Edge, but then the Edge payments quite often are larger than the discount you would receive which makes your bill HIGER than if you were "on contract".

I am certainly not saying contracts are the way to go, I am not. It isn't simply cut and dry, though. Personally, I am thinking of upgrading 3 lines soon and am weighing my decision between no contract/contract. The numbers are a bit higher than what you are quoting, though.

Let's do the math, shall we?

2 64 GB iPhone 6 = 2 x $750 = $1500 (on contract price would be 2 x $300 = $600 + $60 in upgrade fees with $72 in tax savings)

1 64 GB iPhone 6+ = $850 (on contract price would be $400 + $30 in upgrade fees with $36 in tax savings)

It appears as it turns out, the tax savings more than wipe out the upgrade fee.

Total UP FRONT phone cost = $2350 vs $1000. That is quite a large number simply to upgrade 3 phones at full retail. Not everyone can do so. For that fact, it is even quite a large number on contract.

Of course there is always Edge with payments equaling $115/month($2300/20). IF I were to upgrade my data plan to 10 GB and take the $75 line access fee credit it would still not even offset my Edge payments and my bill would increase by $40/month on top of the additional data fees over my current data plan.:smileyhappy:

Total breakdown with new phones:

no contract

$2350 + $188(tax) for phones = $2538

(1 x $40 smartphone access fee + 3 x $15 smartphone access fee) x 24 = $2040

10 GB data allowance($100 less 22% employer discount = $78) x 24 = $1872

Total over 2 years = $6450 with $2538 paid up front and a monthly bill of $163/month

IF I choose to Edge, only $188 up front cost but monthly bill jumps to $280 for the 1st 20 months.

contract

$1000 + $90(upgrade fees) + $80(tax) for phones = $1170

(4 x $40 smartphone access fee) x 24 = $3840

3 GB data allowance($70 less 22% employer discount = $54.6) x 24 = $1310

Total over 2 years = $6320 with $1170 paid up front and a monthly bill of $214/month

With my scenario, it is a LITTLE cheaper to go with the contract but not by much. Yes, I get more data with the 10 GB plan, but I am using the same amount of data NOW as I was when I had unlimited data. Even with the increased data allowance, it is unlikely I would use more than I am now so THAT is a non factor. With the 1 GB promotional data for 2 years Verizon is currently offering with a phone purchase, it is even MORE of a non factor. Which way will I go, I haven't decided yet. Both have approximately the same cost, but there is a much higher up front cost for "off contract" than for "on contract".:smileyhappy:

SuzyQ

Har02052 wrote:

.... There are all of these people that are holding onto the old plans for dear life thinking that they are getting a better deal. I would argue that many people would actually save money by switching to the new plans. SuzyQ, you especially would save money and you could get more data and have all your phones be smartphones (if you wanted, I am guessing you might have kids on your account that you don't want them to have smartphones yet)....

I am not "holding onto the old plan for dear life" - I've done the math, and in our current situation, it is (as mrhelper pointed out) $20 less per month to stay with what we have now.

You said I could save money, get more data, and have all smartphones ... the point I was making is that I AM on the best plan for my situation NOW. It may change...I said we haven't moved to the More Everything YET. Right now we don't need more data, and we don't need all smartphones.

Oh, and your guess that I have kids on the account that I don't want to have smartphones?? Guess again!! The smartphones are for me, and my two daughters (23, 28). The basic phones belong to hubby (who has a work smartphone and he's perfectly content with his flip phone for personal use) and my 80 yr old Mom, who uses less than 10 minutes a month and sends maybe 10 text messages, and who could not deal with a smartphone. I don't see us adding more smartphones anytime soon. My line's contract is up in March, and if the $10 or $25 discount for month 2 month is still in effect, I'll re-evaluate.

I'm not hanging on for dear life - I'll change plans if it makes sense. Right now, it wouldn't save me any money, and my unlimited data was gone awhile ago, the two girls never had unlimited data, and we are all fine with the 2GB plan per line.

Each family needs to figure out what works for them.

whyflyguy

Mclovin0812: Dont listen to mrhelper...he's bitter that he doesn't have unlimited and thinks all people with unlimited data should switch to the more nothing plans. Verizon got rid of unlimited data so they can add millions to their billions.

smith6612

I personally find it funny how there's a two page thread debating the costs of all of the limited data plans. Verizon DOES still sell Unlimited data. The catch is, you must register as a business with a certain number of people, and have an account rep handy and ask them for the "Good" business package that isn't advertised. The more hilarious part is, the unlimited data is only $35/line. Don't believe me? It's out there on the Internet, and all of this info is public. This package still exists. I've used this method just recently.

Let that soak in for just a little bit. Then tell me where the problem is.

If Unlimited data is fully killed off now that Verizon's plans to de-prioritize the unlimited data plans are shelved, then what everyone should do should be one of the two: 1: Soak it up and ditch the smartphone or 2: Go to T-Mobile or Sprint's unlimited packages, and use Wi-Fi calling where needed. Don't keep giving Verizon money for garbage and proceed to post on forums.

Mclovin0812

Thanks for the comments, I have checked out different data plans and wound up paying overage fees. I'm done with Verizon if they don't grandfather me in again. Just because I upgraded doesn't mean I should lose my unlimited data. So, what's it going to be Verizon?

Tara

Weth

You won't get it back, so start looking for your options.

whyflyguy

Verizon not going to grandfather you in, well, they probably did but you went off unlimited when you upgraded using subsidized pricing. They did that so people can hop into more nothing plans and so that we'd lose more money and they'd gain more.

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Post was edited by: Admin Moderator

smith6612

Mclovin0812: For now, what you can do to get the unlimited data back is this. Should you still have your old device and your new phone is still within the return period, insert your SIM if possible into it. From there, if you return the subsidized phone and argue your case, Verizon should give the unlimited data back. You will likely need a supervisor with contacts to those with access to the unlimited billing codes to add it back. Make sure you get the unlimited data on the account before handing over the device - that way you're not just backtracking.

To get a new device while keeping unlimited data, the device will need to be paid for outright. If you're looking for Android at least, I can recommend going with the Moto X line of phones. They're solid phones. Otherwise, look on a site called Swappa for smartphones if you don't mind getting a used phone on the cheap.

This wouldn't be a problem if those unlimited data plans were still offered .

@whyflyguy: I didn't say specifically where as to not anger the moderators at this site. It's out there. The info is going to be hard pressed to find on Verizon's website since the website for most organization is driven by the marketing team. Marketing will not advertise "Unlimited data" as it goes against VZW's interests.

unknown

One reason why I wish Verizon would just dump unlimited data already is so this arguing over it and how to keep it and why so and so's was taken away and yadda yadda yadda would stop. That way those that really wanted it can just go to a carrier that has it and those that stay can just be quiet about it because by staying they are accepting the fact they are with a carrier without unlimited data and there is no point discussing it further

Sugibear

I have been with Verizon Wireless for over 10yrs as well and ever since I've had a smart phone we have had an unlimited data plan. When we upgraded to our iPhone4s 2yrs ago we were able to keep our data plan. While attempting to upgrade to the iPhone 6 the unlimited plan is no longer available and you are required to sign up for an iCloud at an additional expenses I do think this isn't fair to the loyal customers that switched to Verizon and have remained for several years. To add insult to injury your competitors are offering unlimited data plans with the iPhone6 and will pay the $350 early termination fee. I viewed the plans that are being offered and they result in a much higher cell phone bill if both of us were to upgrade to the iPhone6.

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