Bait and Switch on "Free" LG Tablet - Taking Advantage of a Senior Citizen

[APL999]

As a Father's Day gift we gave my in-laws a cash gift so that they could upgrade their television service. My mother-in-law contacted Verizon FiOS and a salesperson told her about a Triple Play offer that included a $300 Prepaid Visa Card and a free LG tablet. My mother-in-law thought it sounded like a good offer and agreed to order the Triple Play plan and in doing so asked the salesperson to confirm that the LG tablet would be free with no other commitments and he confirmed it on a recorded line. She was so looking forward to the FiOS service and the new tablet that she could play around with.

However, after FiOS had been installed she was now told by Customer Service that there were strings attached to the "free" tablet and that a 2-year Verizon Wireless activation was required in order to get it. My mother-in-law countered that the salesperson who sold her the plan clearly stated on a recorded line that there were no other commitments required. The Customer Service representative said it didn't matter and that she should check the confirmation email which my mother-in-law had not looked at carefully.

Deflated, my mother-in-law who is a senior citizen and not the most technologically sophisticated person contacted me for help.  In reviewing the confirmation email, it does say that a 2-year Verizon Wireless activation is required for the free tablet but that was contrary to what the salesperson had told her so it sounded to me like a misleading sales practice. I then called Customer Service myself and the representative that I talked to assured me that the tablet was indeed free and that Verizon Wireless activation was not required and to just wait for the coupon to arrive.

The coupon then arrived and it does state that a 2-year Verizon Wireless activation is required for the tablet. My mother-in-law and my wife contacted Customer Service again and the first representative they talked to was actually unaware of the Verizon Wireless activation requirement but she then transferred them to another representative to take care of them.  The second representative then did another about face and said that activation was indeed required. He kept on saying the tablet is indeed free but requires a 2-year wireless agreements and that there was nothing he could do.

Has anyone else had an issue like this with the "free" tablet?  It seems like some representatives are clearly promising something, whether intentionally or ignorantly, which Verizon then is not following through on.  We are planning to file a complaint with the NY Attorney General's office and with the BBB but wanted to see if others have had a similar problem. 

Being a long-time Verizon Residential and Wireless customer myself (and also a Verizon shareholder), this is very disappointing.

[xxxx9]

Activation is $35 one time. You will probably also have to pay at least $30/month (plus taxes and fees) for access from the tablet, which a verizon rep told me is the minimum for a tablet, unless you already have a verizon wireless plan. (I think the mimimum for a phone is $10/month).

The offer on the web just says activation fee and 2 years service agreement but does not tell you what that entails - you have to ask. The inclination for newbies is to say "I just paid for a wireless router and fios for two years, now you want more unspecified amount?"

Like everything these companies like verizon and comcast do, it is misleading legalized theft, it's not easy to get honest answers and they pay off the pols in the form of "campaign contributions" to get away with it.

[Sensor]

I too have just signed up for fios . In doing so I asked the sales rep if anything additional would be needed to use the pad as I was receiving a wireless router . I did see the thing about the two year wireless agreement but was assured I could use the tablet at home with the new service I signed up for if I paid a $35:00 activation fee. I have not tried this yet but it sounds that I may have some difficulty as well redeeming the voucher for the free tablet. I would hope this is not a deceptive sales practice on the part of Verizon we will see.

[xxxx9]

Not sure why you would have to sign another "two year wireless agreement" if there were not charges associated with it, since I assume you already signed a two year agreement with verizon for triple play.

Have you got your first bill?

I don't think you are going to get that free tablet until you agree to pay monthy "activation" for 2 years at about $30/month plus taxes and fees. The dual use of the term "activation" is purposely misleading, as is the fine print.

[Sensor]

I only signed up for the triple play package for two years as I do not need a wireless provider as that is handled thru work. I have received the voucher and was going to contact a local store and see what happens . Will update with my findings

[tns2]

Can the LG tablet be used without Wireles phone service.  I.E. WIFI on your home network?  Yes I understand that they might want to have you signup Wireless access, but for most tablets such access is optional.

[Sensor]

I was told it could by the sales rep. But I was also told it only required a one time fee of $35.00 to activate it. Both appear to be inaccurate from the post above.

[xxxx9]

Three Verizon reps told me, after much dialog, I must sign up  to pay initial and monthly fee for 24 months to take advantage of offer.

If that is not so, THEY (rather than the initial offer) are all being deceptive.

Best I can tell, if you bought the tablet yourself, you probably could get a better deal if you are a light user or can get access via work.

[tns2]

Okay found promo and its pretty clear on the Website.  You get a free LG Tablet or Up to 200 off on other tablet but must signup for Verizon Wireless.  Obviously bad that this is not being made clear when someone calls for an upgrade.

Promotional Details

Tablet Promotion: Get a FREE LG G Pad 8.3 LTE or save up to $200 off any Verizon Wireless tablet. Just sign up for FiOS TV or Internet and activate the tablet on a new 2-year Verizon Wireless line of service. ±

How it works:

1. Sign up for a qualifying FiOS TV and/or Internet plan.
2. Within 30 days of FiOS Installation, a certificate will be mailed to your home.
3. Bring the certificate to a Verizon Wireless store, activate the tablet on a new 2-year Verizon Wireless line of service and walk out with a new tablet!

±VZW Tablet Offer: Offer ends 7/19/2014. Consumer wireless accounts only. Not combinable with any other device or service offer. Available only for new or existing FiOS customers that install new FiOS TV and/or Internet service by 8/20/2014. Within 30 days of installation, eligible customers will be mailed a unique bar code which must be redeemed by 9/30/2014. Limit one bar code per customer. Bar code may not be copied or transferred and is redeemable only at Verizon Wireless Communications Stores. No cash or credit given if discount exceeds price of tablet after any available rebate. Activation fee/line: Up to $35. IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to Customer Agreement, Calling/Data Plan, & credit approval. Deposit may apply. Up to $350 early termination fee. Offers & coverage, varying by svc, not available everywhere; see vzw.com. While supplies last. Restocking fee may apply. Limited time offer. In MA: Sales tax based on Verizon Wireless’ cost of a device purchased at a discount with service. In CA:  Sales tax based on full retail price of tablet. Add’l CA eWaste fee may apply. © 2014 Verizon Wireless

[Gizmo2008]

What if you already have a verizon wireless account? Does it have to be added or do you have to open a whole new account?

[ferdinando]

maybe Verizon should educate the salespeople  not to mislead.. Going back to Optimu i was never misled by

[jazzybell]

I WANT ONE OF THEM CAUSE I NEED A NEW ONE BUT I JUST WANNA KNOW IS IT FREE FORREAL BUT I DONT MIND IF I DID GOT ONE SO I CAN PLAY N TALK ON IT AN THANKS U

[xxxx9]

I think they require you to pay for 2GB plan at $30/month locked in for 24 months plus $35 initial fee. If you bought the tablet yourself, you could get a 1GB plan for $20/month with no lock-in and no initial fee.

The difference is $275 more over 24 months, which pays Verizon for the "free" tablet.

If this is correct, the practice is indeed misleading and deceptive but probably legal since Verizon has squadrons of lawyers making sure it is OK and plaltoons of lobbyists in case it isn't.

[SinCara]

The tablets do in fact require a new 2 year activation. The certificate that Verizon mails out for it states so. You can't just walk into a wireless store and walk out with a free tablet. My parents who I refered to fios and signed up tried it, but of course didn't work. A data contract is required to get it.

The rep. who said you did not need to sign a new 2 year agreement for wireless service for the tablet as wrong and was most likely just saying it to get a sale. This is why I never deal with phone sales with any company. It's online or I don't do it. 

[xxxx9 · Accepted solution]

The worst part is they don't tell the cost and call the monthly fee "activation", so one can be easily misled into thinking the initial $35 activation fee is all it costs. Since when is activation every month? Also, minimum tablet fee is for 2GB ($30) which is more than cell phone fee. Misleading at best.

(To add insult to injury they probably charge you sales tax in some states for the "free" phone.)

But I suppose it is still a good deal for some?

[Sensor]

I wonder if Verizon monitors this forum to see what their customers think of what can be perceived as deceptive and misleading practices in their quest to steal away comcast customers. Or maybe they just don't even care .

[tns2]

---

@xxxx wrote:

The worst part is they don't tell the cost and call the monthly fee "activation", so one can be easily misled into thinking the initial $35 activation fee is all it costs. Since when is activation every month? Also, minimum tablet fee is for 2GB ($30) which is more than cell phone fee. Misleading at best.

(To add insult to injury they probably charge you sales tax in some states for the "free" phone.)

But I suppose it is still a good deal for some?

---

"...activate the tablet on a new 2-year Verizon Wireless line of service"

Pretty clear at least on the web site.  Not a great deal  but the details are shown.  No comment about some of the sales representative either being unaware of details or actually making things up.

And to someone else asking do they monitor for complaints here.  No Not Really.  The Verizon people who monitor these boards look for things that they can do to help.  They may mention that some are complaining to the other areas but that is always occurring, even when actually Verizon is not at fault.  If they see a deal that does exist and doesn't appear to be being honored they will help.  The ones here are actually usually knowledgeable and helpful but there as limit to what they can do. 

[pixological]

You should have read through the fine print before you gave you in-laws the cash "donation". I believe its partly your fault for setting them up to fail. Senior citizens need help from their families. They need smart kids that can help not hurt.

[xxxx9]

Maybe so, but it is also intentionally misleading.

[ferdinando]

never seen the ad only spoke with salesman

I was told that if sign up for 2 years for Fios Triple Play I would get a free LG G tablet no mention of sign in in for 2 year with Verizon Wireless. When I got a redemption code I went to the store I was told the only way to get it free if I sign a contract for $10.00 a month for 2 years. I called the salesman who sold me the contract he had no idea. To me this is false advertisement

[tjgriffin1]

If you have a cell plan, it's $10 added on to your current monthly cell bill. The sales ARE lying. They may plead ignorance, but they're told to do that. And it's perfectly legal.

I came here because I was suspicious of this tablet offer extended to me on a sales call. Now I know.

The ONLY thing counts is what is in writing and in the contact. They can tell you you'll get free chocolate chip cookies for life, even a recorded line, but if it's not in the contact you signed, forget it. It sucks, it's morally void, but it's perfectly legal. Your only defence is to read the contract before you sign it.