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Company employee discount discontinued for a retiree

I think that it's pretty sorry of Verizon to discontinue the company discount because you retired. I've worked for over 30 years with Dow Chemical and am now retired doing volunteer work for them and others. With a limited income, Verizon decides to charge you more for the same service. I guess this is typical of all these big companies that all they care about is the all mighty dollar. Shame on you Verizon.

Comments

ashtontr

There are so many posts regarding this issue...

gem5858

I have been a Verizon customer for years with 3 lines and pay just short of 200 dollars per month. Because I was diagnosed with Leukemia and had a bone marrow transplant, I am now on disability retirement from the State of CT. I tried to speak to someone today about how to verify for discount, but all I got was a "robo response" from the customer rep telling me over and over to go to Verizon.com. I tried to tell her I get a paystub on a monthly basis. From the State of CT comptrollers office, but it was like talking to a wall. Well, I'm here now and it's really disappointing, but I guess predictable. My discount was fine for years but all of a sudden everybody is being referred back to their employers. Shame on you Verizon! I can't wait until my contracts are up. My family and I will take our business elsewhere!

jroeder

Ashton Roesbery is right. There are too many posts about this. Am employee/retiree discount is not up to Verizon. The EMPLOYER is the one who offers the discount. If you lost the discount, its because your EMPLOYER no longer offers it. Stop blaming Verizon for losing the discount. If only your employer would be responsible enough to contact you to let you know they no longer offer it.....

gem5858

Too many posts?? That's because this affects a lot of people. And if you think that my "company" and all the others mentioned started this, then you are very naive. I spoke with my HR and do you think Verizon bothered to notify that they were instituting this verification program before giving them a chance to include retirees?? And other chance to recoup the 5, 7, 10, etc. percent that they saw slipping through their greedy fingers was just too much to resist. Can't wait until contracts are up.

flutterfly8497

It really becomes a "he said-she said" situation. Verizon tells you it is up to your employer to include retirees, and you think this is a lie. So you talk to HR and they tell you it's Verizon's fault. This you believe, however. I find that whoever is catching heat will redirect it somewhere else...your HR department is passing the blame back to Verizon. The truth is, the company negotiates a discount agreement contract with Verizon (and sometimes other wireless carriers), and the COMPANY either opts to extend the discount to retirees or not. I would hope that whoever handles the contracts within a company is aware of the terms, which would include this. The recertification of benefits portion must not include options for those who are still affiliated but no longer actively employed. If the company doesn't specifically say retirees should be included, why would Verizon add that stipulation? When the current discount agreement is renegotiated, your employer can add retirees and your discount will resume from the date of the new contract.

unknown

However with all the he said and they said the basic truth is retired employees may not be spelled out in the Cellular contracts.

In example when I was communications officer in the state, the contracts stated that "employees and their families" are getting a 19% discount on service and data, and 25% off accessory purchases. There is no actual language about retirees and the contract was renewed through 2017.

Now what is happening is Verizon Wireless is sending out verification emails to the state employees that use Verizon in this email it states to click a link and answer a few questions via radio buttons. The problem with this email is many times employees move or get promoted to other agencies, the email servers may bounce large numbers of these verizon emails, or as happened this last few years the domain names have changed from .us to .gov let alone the domain names have themselves changed. So those emails will never get verified.

Another problem in verification is although the discount will be dropped when verizon cannot reach you via email the process then falls on the employee to go to a corporate store and show id from your agency. These days the employer does not require your work id back, it can still be copied at the store and the duscounts are applied once more.

Recently when I went for new service at T-Mobile the store manager asked if I worked for a company that was given a discount? I said I was a retired state employee. He said with your id card (I still posess it) or a copy of my retirement check stub I can get 15% off every line I opt for. I bought one libe so they did honor it.

The problem is not going to human resources for Verizon discount plans its the contracts department that would have the info you need. The state contracts in my state are on line in pdf formast.

Good Luck

Retired_Fed

I have been a retired Federal employee for over 5 years, and a Verizon customer for about 11 years. My "employee" discount amounts to around $13.50 from what I can tell. My bill is about $258 for four phones. I was just told, point blank, over the phone by Verizon Employment Validation Center that retirees no longer qualify for the discount. Verizon can do whatever they want - they are a lot bigger company than when I first trusted my business to them. So I'm wondering, for $13 is it worth it for them to risk losing customers like me who pay on-time every month? Some accountant at Verizon got a big bonus for figuring this out, but forgot to talk it over with the marketing department. I wonder if NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees) knows about this? They will in about 10 minutes.

unknown

You know that organisation that you mentioned may have a discount with verizon wireless. I know that the major unions have discounts offered. Even AARP has these cell phone discounts. So if you are retired or still belong to an organisation that is large AFSCME, CSEA, PEF, NALC,Teamsters union or others then you may still get that discount.

Worth checking into.

Good Luck

netnellie

I'm just beginning the retiree discount war with Verizon. Seems they have discontinued many discounts, and with phones costing sometimes $400-$600, and monthly service bills in the hundreds of dollars, I would guess (hope) that there will be a MAJOR backlash to these cuts. I hope so. If the other 2 major providers still offer discounts, that's the end of my story with Verizon when contract renewal rolls around in a couple of months!

And speaking of contracts, how is it that they can just cut these discounts while I'm currently under contract with them??

lre862

I also am retired Fed, thinking how cheap and low can Verizon go? My husband has dropped verizon, and I will be following as soon as my contract is up. Hope it is worth them losing $100 a month for a $8 discount!.

unknown

They don't care.

Until there are mass defections from their service they know they have you.

That $96 you saved a year now makes more profit for Verizon Wireless. Multiply that 250,000 times over and the profits are astounding .

Feels good to vent.

lre862

Mass defections would feel even better!

phonie1234

I was told by whoever answers questions here for Verizon that a pay check is a pay check for validation. I contacted opm and got a copy of annuity check and sent it in for verification that I was associated with usps through retirement check. I was denied. Does it or doesnt it state 'employed or affiliated with the company'? Even though the check is from opm it is still a branch of the postal service! I would call that verification. I was not fired or quit. I retired and still recieve a check. Can someone explain this to me? Nowhere does it state that retired postal employees do not qualify. It does state affiliated to the compamy does.

netnellie

Verizon is just eliminating discounts wherever possible, and retires are (always) the first targets. Verizon will only accept pay stubs for current employment, not proof of pension. Or a functioning employee email address. Someone told me he called when his discount was discontinued and they gave him a loyalty discount instead. But now they have discontinued that also. So when my contract is over, I'm leaving! Hope many others do too.

RPKP273

phonie1234 - I totally agree with you. I worked for NASA for over 36 years. I lost my Verizon discount a couple months ago. I've called customer service 3 X - no luck. Each time, I questioned why would I get a discount while I'm working, and making more money, than when I am retired - and could really use the discount. I was given the 'Verizon canned response . . we were losing so much money from people who no longer worked with a company who offered the discount."

I said that I can appreciate this, if - someone left that company and went to work elsewhere. But I don't understand why, if I simply retired, I was now being denied the discount. Still no relief, except that they said they were losing "too much money" by offering the discount to people who were 'no longer employed'.

Well, here's my note to them: Once my daughter's phone contract expires next year, I will be leaving Verizon for good. I've been with them for nearly 15 years, and at one point, had 3 lines on my account.

All they had to do was continue to give me that discount - now they're going to lose so much more money. Because of pure greed on the part of the upper management. Touche.

pherson

People work for a company and get a pension and feel their former employer can do no wrong. Truth of the matter is that when a discount is offered their are stipulations...this amount for so many lines etc. Companies can choose how many lines they will maintain and whether or not they will include retirees. Its up to the company to maintain their part of the deal. And if employees who retired arent included it is what it is. What would you rather lose your precious discount or part of your pension? You decide.

Comments edited as required by the Terms of Service.

Message was edited by: Admin Moderator

sspradling

I am retired from USPS. I have had a discount with Verizon for 2 years as a government retiree. They now decide I do not qualify. What about the previous 22 months with 3 lines at $200 a month? Oh yes, the end is near and I can't wait to leave. BIG BUSINESS GREED!

No customer service or customer appreciation!

rcschnoor

That means you got the benefit of getting a discount for which you didn't qualify for 22 months!:smileyhappy:

You were receiving a discount because you were an employee of the USPS which you continued to receive after retirement even though you no longer qualified. That is a bonus!:smileyhappy:

Verizon has recently started making sure people STILL qualify for the discounts they receive. I can understand why they would do so. Simply because you ONCE worked for a company does not mean you will work for that company in perpetuity.

sspradling

Typical of Verizon to change the rules as they go! I was retired when I originally got the discount. Gave them the same documentation 22 months ago that I recently submitted that is now considered invalid. There is no justification for removing this discount with only 2 months left on the contract.

RetiredUSFS

My husband who is the account holder just retired after almost 30 years with the federal government. We have 5 lines on our verizon account and have just learned that he has to verify his employment. So, since he is retired and no longer an employee, we will be losing his discount. Very sad to hear that this is how Verizon handles retirees as well as families like us who have had Verizon for years ~ with numerous lines and monthly bills in excess of $200. The discount was one reason we had not shopped around for other companies and plans. But now, as our contracts expire, we will have to rethink the loyalty to Verizon. My guess is that Verizon will lose a fair number of customers over this, but whether or not it will be significant enough for them to reconsider their policy is another matter. VERIZON - please know that we have been good and loyal customers who haven't had anything bad to share with others asking for cell provider references - but this will definitely change our opinion of the company.

fishrods

There's never too many posts on this issue....perhaps if more people complained, Verizon would do the right thing. I know seven individuals that have discontinued their service with Verizon, because of this issue. When you look at the profit Verizon has lost just in these cases, then maybe they should rethink the big "money saving" effort they're trying to implement.

rcschnoor

RPKP273 wrote:
offering the discount to people who were 'no longer employed'.

It is an EMPLOYEE discount, after all.

fishrods

After listening to that comment, it's apparent that you're an employee of Verizon. Not surprised!

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator<<>>

gem5858

I am forwarding these comments to Verizon's Corporate Office.

1. My pension bears no relation whatsoever to any discount offered by Verizon Wireless. That in itself is laughable!

2. My employer from whom I retired does not offer discounts to a certain "number of lines". Get your facts straight!!

3. FYI: To those planning to leave upon expiration of their contracts. Go to Walmart and speak to a employee there who can direct you to the various Straight Talk phones that utilize the Verizon towers. For a mere $45 per month you will have unlimited Talk, Text and Data and still be able to take advantage of coverage WITH NO CONTRACTS!!!

Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator to comply with ToS. <<>>

fishrods

Thank you gem on all accounts. Moderators like this give us an even poorer impression of Verizon than we already have. Its off to Walmart we go.

flutterfly8497

Verizon Wireless employees are clearly identified by their avatar and rank. Pherson is not an employee, and even if they were, they are not posting here as a representative, just as another customer. So forwarding their comments to corporate is useless, as Verizon is not able to "discipline" a customer for their opinions. Why do people assume that if someone disagrees with a negative post here, they automatically must be employed by Verizon? Sometimes people are satisfied with their service providers, without being employed by them.

flutterfly8497

Straight Talk might use the same towers, but Verizon customers get first priority for signal and data bandwidth. It also isn't true unlimited. Try streaming anything you want, and they will cut your data off and can also drop your service if you continue to violate theit policies. Read the fine print before you purchase.

pherson

Thank you.

I am not a vzw employee.

Even if I was, or rather being that im a customer, can still post common sense answers to peoples comments. Some people feel like you said if you disagree that you are an employee. Asinine if you ask me.

Some people mistake blunt truth as a threat and wanna get peoples comments moderated. This isnt 5th grade. This is life. Get over it.

jroeder

Verizon gives the discounts based off who the employer says can have them (Employees, 3rd parties, Retirees etc.) If you had a retiree discount that was "discontinued" that discount most likely didn't exist, they just never re-verified you. I bet you were never reverified since you retired until now. So you were still getting your employee discount. Here's how it happened:

1. You were employed

2. You received a discount

3. You retired

4. You kept getting the discount

5. You were asked to re-verify

6. You lost the discount

So Verizon re-verified you and found you retired. They checked the agreement and you employer did not state that retirees received a discount. So Verizon pulled the discount because according to the agreement made with the EMPLOYER, there was nothing stated about retirees also receiving a discount.

sspradling

Just received this from the Verzion "Moderators". Delete at will-It doesn't change the situation/truth!!

Please note: Moderators do not publish comments, and only edit the Community content posted by members in discussions.

Message was edited by: Admin Moderator

SGOEagles

I agree with you 100%. I retired with 42 years of service to the same employer and have had a Verizon account for over 20 years. In all that time I was never asked to verify employment, show pay stubs, etc. I will be shopping for a new carrier next year when my current contracts are up for renewal. For those who think the employer writes the contract I can assure you as a retired chief business officer the contact is written entirely by Verizon.

flutterfly8497

I don't think the employer writes the contract, and even if there is no collaboration between VZW and the employer, the employer still has to agree to the terms of the contract. Having said that, the employer is not exempt from responsibility, although I have never encountered a human resources department that would admit any responsibility in a situation such as this.

flutterfly8497

Personally, I would find it troubling that for twenty years you were never asked to verify your employment to keep a discount based solely on the condition of that employment. It seems irresponsible to assume that once someone has a job somewhere they will have it forever. How many people are taking advantage of a discount they no longer qualified for? Apparently too many, and Verizon is doing something about it.

Brozy

I too am retired and had my discount removed. I don't understand why this could not be done upon renewal of a contract, not in the middle. Has Verizon changed the terms of the contract we entered into?

What I would like and can not find anywhere on their web site is a list of agencies/groups that are given discounts. I belong to a number of associations and may be eligible for a discount through them

HappyHelper

The employee discount is not related to the contract. Rather it's conditional to whether or not you work for a specific employer.

flutterfly8497

As Happy Helper states, the discount is not part of your contract. If you retire, change employers, or anything else that affects your eligibility, you lose the discount. I really don't understand how this is so difficult to understand. If you quit your job, do you expect to keep receiving paychecks until the end of the year? No, because your paycheck is solely contingent upon employment. Same with your discount.

fishrods

Looks like flyboy has it all figured out. I think we've got him a little up tight, so I suggest that since I started this blog, we stop it. I think it's not worth the effort.

flutterfly8497

Hahaha, flyboy. Cute. No, I don't have it "all figured out," but I do have a basic understanding of how these discounts work, because I have one as well. If you have not come to an understanding of how the employee discounts work yet, fish, or that if you don't meet the eligibility requirements you will lose the discount, then I would have to agree this thread should be put to bed. No sense beating our heads against brick walls, right?

PearlieGirlie

Very similar situation for my husband and me. I think Verizon has ice water in its veins. We served close to 50 years combined working for a large city's police department and receiving the Verizon employee discount for several of those years. Now in the golden years of our lives, Verizon cuts off our discount because we are retired and civilians. We are pensioners and cannot afford to be charged more for services. We are seniors, both over 65, card-carrying AARP members, for crying out loud!! Even Denny's gives us a discount. How cold, how disrespectful, uncaring and callous can you be, Verizon?? Would you do this to your grandparents?? Well, your are, and shame on you! As soon as we can afford to end our contract, we are gone, and I am telling everyone I know about this, hoping they will follow me to a cellular company with a pulse and a heart! :-((

unknown

http://www.consumercellular.com is the exclusive provider for AARP members, ranked number one is customer satisfaction. Connie & Jack commercials say your plan can be as cheap as $10-$15 a month. Can change your plan at anytime. Check them out.

Good Luck

Message was edited by: Elector

Ktlove

Nothing says verizon CAN'T continue the discount either. If they really appreciated customer loyalty then they could easily offer to continue the discount for retired employees. We'll over 20 years with VZW and no hint of customer appreciation. How about sorry we can't continue your 19% discount but we WOULD LIKE TO OFFER perhaps a 10 % retiree discount etc.

Verizon you are making many disgruntled customers.

Ann154

Ktlove wrote:
Nothing says verizon CAN'T continue the discount either. If they really appreciated customer loyalty then they could easily offer to continue the discount for retired employees. We'll over 20 years with VZW and no hint of customer appreciation. How about sorry we can't continue your 19% discount but we WOULD LIKE TO OFFER perhaps a 10 % retiree discount etc.
Verizon you are making many disgruntled customers.

The agreement with the company and Verizon Wireless says who is eligible for the discount. If the agreement doesn't cover retired employees then they are not eligible for the discount. Take it up with your former company.

Ktlove

Thanks. T Mobile is starting to look better all the time. NY state contract with Verizon for discount won't be renewed for a while. Retires need a discount. Why can't Verizon offer those who HAD a discount SOMETHING to ease the pain and reward longtime VZW customers for loyalty.

Sent from my iPad

ralphr

I got the retiree discount after I retired from IBM over 5 years ago. Several months ago I upgraded my plan with a total of four of us to smart phones. All of us have over a year left on the contract. Then I found out in December that I lost the retiree discount. The answer I was given was that it is not our decision (Verizon), it is the employers decision. I have no problem with that except the the right thing to do is for Verizon to grandfather retirees until the the contracts are over. It almost feels as a ***** and legally I think Verizon is on firm legal ground, but not ethically. Looking for a provider who will do the right thing!

unknown

ralphr wrote:
I got the retiree discount after I retired from IBM over 5 years ago. Several months ago I upgraded my plan with a total of four of us to smart phones. All of us have over a year left on the contract. Then I found out in December that I lost the retiree discount. The answer I was given was that it is not our decision (Verizon), it is the employers decision. I have no problem with that except the the right thing to do is for Verizon to grandfather retirees until the the contracts are over. It almost feels as a ***** and legally I think Verizon is on firm legal ground, but not ethically. Looking for a provider who will do the right thing!

No provider will give you a discount your former employer doesn't feel you're entitled to. Once again this is on your former employer. If your former employer no longer has deal with Verizon, Verizon is no way responsible legally or morally to give you a discount. You do realize that if you say got a 15% discount your EMPLOYER paid for that not Verizon. So if your employer is no longer paying for that you somehow expect Verizon to eat that money?

ralphr

The issue is not stopping the retirement discount, it is doing it in the

middle of a contract without appropriate notice or any consideration. . .

unknown

ralphr wrote:
The issue is not stopping the retirement discount, it is doing it in the
middle of a contract without appropriate notice or any consideration. . .

Once again that is on the EMPLOYER not Verizon. A discount is not tied to the contract. If a employer/Verizon discount agreement ends on Dec 31 then on Jan 1st no one gets the discount no matter how much time they have on their contract. that's just common sense.

ndragna

So I just got off the phone with a Verizon rep and they told me if your business you retired from still offers a discount (Which mine did; General Motors) then you can simply go into a store and show them a verification of your pension from that company. Had to find alternate ways cause a work email or pay stub was not going to work. So if you are losing you discount then it is the business that has cancelled the discount, not Verizon, just sayin'.

MZTLC

Im retired/disabled from the state. I was told I dont quailfy for the discount anymore. Why? I still have my pension from the state after 26yrs.

vzw_customer_support

I know saving every penny counts. I would love to help in any way I can. In order to get a discount you must be an active employee. You can learn more here: https://www.verizon.com/discounts/ I am more then happy to review your account to see how we can save you money. I have sent you a private message. -Amber

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