Upgrade and an activation fee?

[SunkissedSmiles]

I just read an article today that effective April 2016,  Verizon will be charging an upgrade fee.  I am extremely disappointed in this.  I have been a customer of Verizon for approximately 16 years.  My entire family are all Verizon customers.  At what point are you going to value your customers and perhaps give us a reprieve from these rate increases?  The cost of the phones have gone up, the cost my plan keeps going up without any perks.  I have always said, no matter how much more I am paying for my cell service Verizon has always been reliable.  I will pay for reliability and quality.  At this point...the cost of this service and the value that I am getting is starting to no longer becoming a reason to stay loyal to Verizon.  Sad day to think I am considering changing service.

[vzw_customer_support]

SunkissedSmiles,

We truly value the 16 years you've been with us and we don't want to see you can leave us at all. While we don't have any information we can discuss about future potential changes, we can assist with the concerns you have currently with your account.

You mentioned that your bill is increasing. This shouldn't happen unless there are changes being made to the plan or overages. An account analysis can help with finding the best plan to fit your needs http://vz.to/2149eYJ .

ShawnteJ_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the �Correct Answer� button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

[Ann154]

Verizon Introducing $20 Fee to Upgrade Your Smartphone - Mac Rumors and http://www.droid-life.com/2016/03/31/verizon-upgrade-fee-iphone-upgrade-program/

[DigitalRules]

Even more reason to only buy unlocked phones directly from the manufacturer

Cheaper warranty

Lower deductible

No upgrade fee

[Salisbury]

    With the amount of smartphones being returned for the slightest reasons, could be a simple setting issue. I was expecting something has to give, how can Verizon or Apple sustain? I figured they'd have to increase the cost of the smartphones to off set this. But apparently they decided on a one time fee?

   Most folks don't realize the tremendous overhead these wireless carriers have. Last week was reading an article where AT&T spent 600 million on upgrades in just one state Massachusetts, and where one city in that state was doing 65 thousand music downloads per day.

[Xyvis]

Nobody will argue that the cost of maintaining a wireless network is high, it absolutely is.

However this fee is ridiculous, and simply insulting. I can understand a $40 upgrade fee for those who sign a 2-year contract, I can understand the $20 upgrade fee for those who use the device payment plan (you could call it a one time finance charge), however I cannot understand why they would charge somebody $20 to drop $600-$700 on a smartphone, purchasing it outright (no contract, or payment plan).

And in the same regard, if I purchase a compatible, unlocked device from say Motorola or Google, I can take it in the store, they will activate it on my current line of service, and not charge me the $20. How does that make sense? 

For people who purchase phones outright (like myself) this fee presents itself as a fee to pay Verizon the cost of a device, it is ridiculous and I will not pay it.

If I ever do go into a store and purchase a phone outright from them in the future, and they try to add this fee, I will ask them to waive it, if they do not, they will not make the sale and I will purchase it elsewhere and then have it activated on my line. 

[Ann154]

CNN picked up the Mac Rumors post. Verizon is tacking on another $20 fee - Mar. 31, 2016

[SunkissedSmiles]

I honestly never thought about doing this. Might be an idea!  Thank you!

[SunkissedSmiles]

I guess what I would like to go.  How does Verizon value it's customers?  What type of incentive programs are there if you pay your bill on time or perhaps the longevity of your accounts and so on.  Something Verizon...do something that will allow those loyal customers defend paying for top rates for top service!

[Averix1]

I cannot express how much this disappoints me.  I've been buying phones at full price from Verizon for the last several years.  How many times have I called customer service because I needed help getting it set up or swapping SIM cards?  ZERO.  If you want to charge $20 for someone to buy a full price phone, either put that in the cost so it isn't misleading/shady or charge a user $20 when they call in to have you help them set it up.  Don't punish loyal customers with this silly fee and write it off as a blanket fee to cover increased switching costs.