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I have had it with Verizon

I have been a customer since 2001 but recently I have experienced the last straw. I had a 5 phone family plan (4 smart phones and one flip phone as my wife does not like smart phones). In December my son needed a new phone and my wife's flip phone had an upgrade available on it. So I went to the Verizon store and we used her upgrade for my son's phone. The next bill shows a $30 data plan charge on my wife's flip phone (it can't even use a data plan). The Verizon store never told me that would add a data plan to her flip phone, and especially not a $30 plan when my other phones only have $20 data plans. It seems like they are out to get everything they can whether it is fair or not. And, then when I called Verizon about it they told me they could remove it for future bills but they couldn't do anything about what had already been charged. Does this seem right?

Then, last month my daughter was moving out of state and needed to have her own phone plan. So, she transferred her number to a new phone at a new provider. I brought the old phone into Verizon the next day so I could get a new number assigned to it and continue my five phone family plan. But, Verizon insists that I could not do that and they needed to charge a $235 early termination fee (which turned out to be $305 after I got the bill). Again, I don't see the rightness in this; I had a five phone family plan and if they simply assigned a new number to the disconnected phone (one day later) I would have still had a five phone plan.

I now have a four phone plan. My other daughter has an upgrade available on May 4 at which time this will become a three phone family plan and this will continue until it is a ZERO phone family plan because I have had it with the way Verizon continues to screw people.

John

Comments

kaebfly

I believe the policy has been that if a smartphone is purchased on a line then that line has to have a data plan added to it, even if you transfer it to a different line. The store definitely should have communicated that to you. As far as the line that your daughter ported to another carrier...when you do a port you are closing the line with Verizon. You can't come back and decide to use that same line as a new one and maintain whatever agreement you initially had as that line is now closed. I understand what you wanted to happen but it just doesn't work like that. So if your daughter ported out a line that was still under contract then yes, an ETF was due and has to be paid. Depending on where she ported she may receive a gift card for the amount owed on the ETF, which she should give to you as reimbursement. I'm sure if she is eligible for this her new provider should have provided her the terms and requirements.

Verizon_Support

You expereince is not what we want for any of our customers. Based on what you have stated it looks like we may have dropped the ball on explaining the process. When ever you use another lines upgrade it then assumes the contract agreement which would require a data plan. Also, regarding your daughters line once a phone number has been ported out the line is now considered canceled and no longer active under Verizon. Due to a contract agreement the phone number would need to remain on the account untill the agreement is completed.
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johnzupan

I think this is the main reason I have to terminate my Verizon service. Every time I talk to someone at Verizon this is what I get. It is interesting how you can justify charging a data plan on a phone that can't use one. Regardless of what the policies are, that is just not right and it is ridiculous that you should try to justify it. Additionally, because of the business to business agreement between Verizon and my company, my other phones are charged a $20 unlimited data plan; but Verizon decided to charge this line a $30 plan. Why? The problem was not in someone did not explain the policies, it is that the policies don't make sense and are designed to maximize Verizon profitability.

As for the phone number being ported out. Again, I had a 5 phone family plan and was attempting to continue my 5 phone family plan. Again, all I get is lousy justifications for policies that don't make sense or have no room to work with customers.

John

johnzupan

That's right, it doesn't work that way. It is very customer unfriendly, but certainly maximizes the profitability for Verizon and I guess that is the bottom line (not customer service). Verizon's only response anytime there is a problem is an attempt to justify the action. It is interesting how you can justify charging a data plan on a phone that can't use one. Regardless of what the policies are, that is just not right and it is ridiculous that you should try to justify it. Additionally, because of the business to business agreement between Verizon and my company, my other phones are charged a $20 unlimited data plan; but Verizon decided to charge this line a $30 plan. Why, maximize profitability? The problem was not in someone did not explain the policies, it is that the policies don't make sense and are designed to maximize Verizon profitability.

John

Weth

Smartphones cost much more than basic phones. The subsidy for a reduced price smartphone on contract takes into consideration the user will be paying access fees and data fees monthly in order to pay the real cost of the phone off. So the requirement is if you buy a reduced price smartphone, you are expected to pay the access fee and data fees for 24 months. It doesn't matter you put (or kept) a basic phone on that line, the access fee is not enough to pay back the phone.

By your argument you could put no phone on that line and then complain they are still charging you access fees for 24 months. For the books to work and the ability to do a contract, Verizon counts on the access fee and the data fee to justify the reduced subsidized price of contract phones.

Sorry you are not correct on this one.

kaebfly

The same would be true if you were with another carrier and attempted the same things. But if you feel like you can do better with another provider then that may be what you need to do.

pherson

Although you have a right to disagree, policy is policy, and is the case no matter which wireless carrier you choose. In the future when you make changes to your wireless account its best to ask questions first before you make a decision. All information provides to you in this forum has been correct.

And no; I am not a Verizon wireless employee.

johnzupan

Good to know that you think it is right to be charged for something that you have no way of using. You are the type of customer that Verizon loves. Pile up the charges.

johnzupan

Actually my argument was that if I have 4 smart phones and 1 basic phone then I should be charged for 4 data plans (not 5). And, I don't believe you read any of my posts correctly. I had a family plan with 5 phones and I wanted to continue a family plan with 5 phones. Never said anything about no phones, or complaining about access fees or data plans for smart phones, they are correct. Try reading my original post more carefully.

johnzupan

If you are saying that all carriers try to charge you for data plans on phones that can't use them, then I don't think you are correct. I spoke with T-Mobile today, they said that if I had 4 smart phones and one basic phone then I would only have to pay for four data plans (not 5). I do agree with your statement about trying another provider and I will be as I specified in my initial post. It will just take a while as I get all of the phones to end their plan.

Ann154

See item number 9 on this Web page. It is pretty clear to me. Upgrade Device FAQs | Verizon Wireless

kaebfly

Your situation is not relevant to this thread. If you haven't already start your own thread so this can possibly be addressed. But definitely stay on top of them about what's going on.

PAMPET46

I HAVE HAD WITH VERIZON ALSO. THEY CHARGE INORDINATE FEES, CHARGE TO RETURN A PHONE THAT IS'T WORKING CORRECTLY THEN GET YOU LOCKED INTO PURCHASING ANOTHER PHONE LOCK YOU INTO FEES.

THEY ARE THE WORST COMPANY EVER!I AM DONE

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