new Verizon plan

[ralph1017]

So I was informed via chat that there were going to be new plans with carry over data that is set to be released by next week. Which is good. The only problem is that if you are one of the lucky persons who took advantage of the 2GB bonus data for life  for upgrading a phone while in the Verizon Plan XL and above. Those 2GB bonus data won't carry over to the new Verizon plan. Regardless if you'll get the new XL plan which I believe has 14GB or 16GB.

How come? It is still Verizon Plan, just "new". Apparently the chat agent that I talked to would consult the matter and would give me an update via text but I doubt that. I have 6GB bonus data for upgrading three lines last May and it sucks if Verizon won't keep their promise for this bonus to be FOR LIFE. The only condition I was told is as long as I keep the lines active and stay on XL plan or above then I'll keep the bonus.

[dilbertaz]

I ran into the same problem, Verizon promised me 6gb of bonus data for life as long as you keep a Verizon Plan of XL or greater with the three lines I have and now they have revoked it and I am paying $10 more for the same amount of data that I had (with the added feature of rollover).  However, there was no warning of this loss of data in upgrading and I'm severely disappointed with Verizon's decision to not follow through with the promise of the bonus data for life.  This is going to lead to a lot of angry folks as the upgrade to the new plans.

[sprmankalel]

Did you actually make the change to the NEW plan? If you read the FAQs first it would have explained this.

If you did not initiate a change then you will keep what you have. Verizon will not change it automatically.

Keep in mind that any new promos that become available for having the NEW plans will not apply to you as long as you keep the old plan.

[DEFFENMA]

I would file an FCC complaint for deceptive marketing.  I have had limited luck in the past with this approach.  Verizon is required to answer the complaint that way, and they usually do so through someone a little higher up than your average CSR.  I am not advocating that you handle most complaints this way, but in this case, that would be my recommendation.  If the FCC was looking to crack down on "unlimited means unlimited", I would think that "for life means for life" would be a similar issue.  On top of this, the fact that the only terms were to stay on a Verizon XL plan or higher, and they have chosen to keep the plans labeled as both the Verizon plan and XL/XXL adds even more confusion.  Yes, I understand that it is still a new plan, but this was done in a way that means "for life" doesn't really mean for life and it is very confusing that one Verizon XL plan qualifies, but another Verizon XL plan doesn't, when none of that was clarified or addressed while the bonus data promotion was running.  I myself was assured several times in the retail store that it was "for life".  Honestly, I don't think you will get very far with Verizon--especially considering they are still trying to pass off a price increase as "savings", but this is the best response I can think of.  I had a very prompt response when I made an FCC complaint over the plan to start throttling unlimited data plan holders a year or two ago.
FCC Complaints

[Ann154]

The unlimited data plan is not subject to the same rules as the tiered plans. This throttling is only occurring on the current Verizon Plans.

[DEFFENMA]

This conversation had nothing to do with throttling on the current plans.

Two years ago Verizon tried to implement throttling on unlimited data customers.  After unlimited customers such as myself began complaining, the FCC stepped in and reminded them that unlimited means unlimited. 

Verizon backs off plans to throttle unlimited data users - CNET

[rcschnoor · Accepted solution]

Having the same name does not mean anything. It is a new plan with new features/pricing.

The fact you have the choice of staying with what you currently have or go with the new features/pricing means that it is NOT the same. Otherwise you would not be given a choice.

If it is beneficial to stay with what you have, do so. If it is not beneficial, switch.

I believe the XL plan is being changed from 12 GB to 16 GB of "high speed data". If you activate "safety mode" on your account, then you can use as much data as you would like without overage fees but at a lower speed once you exceed your data allowance.

[ralph1017]

The throttling I believe is only for the new plans and it is optional. They named it Safety Mode and it is free for XL 16GB and above. But cost $5 for lesser plans. Technically, it will slow down your speed to 128kbps. You can still use data and there won't be overage, though it will be slow. Unlike with the usual scenario wherein even a 1MB of excess is already considered an overage. It's a good thing. If only they made it available to all plans not only to the new ones.

And to piggyback my ire regarding the new plans not being compatible with the 2GB for life bonus data. It appears that if you are still under old Verizon plan and would need more data, then there are no other options available anymore except moving to the new Verizon Plan options. If you want to move up your data like before. As long as it is above the XL plan then the 2GB bonus data's will work. But now, Moving from XL12GB to a higher one without losing my 2GB bonus data's are impossible. Sad to say, I am stuck with the XL12GB plan if I'd like to keep the 3 "2GB for life bonus data". I'd really like to have the carry over feature. But I guess I am stuck with my current one for now.

[rcschnoor]

ralph1017 wrote:

And to piggyback my ire regarding the new plans not being compatible with the 2GB for life bonus data. It appears that if you are still under old Verizon plan and would need more data, then there are no other options available anymore except moving to the new Verizon Plan options. If you want to move up your data like before. As long as it is above the XL plan then the 2GB bonus data's will work. But now, Moving from XL12GB to a higher one without losing my 2GB bonus data's are impossible. Sad to say, I am stuck with the XL12GB plan if I'd like to keep the 3 "2GB for life bonus data". I'd really like to have the carry over feature. But I guess I am stuck with my current one for now.

I can't imagine this to be the case, but since I am still on the More Everything Plan and not the Verizon Plan I can't know for sure. On the legacy More Everything you CAN change to a larger data allowance and still keep the More Everything Plan.

[sprmankalel]

ralph1017 wrote:

The throttling I believe is only for the new plans and it is optional. They named it Safety Mode and it is free for XL 16GB and above. But cost $5 for lesser plans. Technically, it will slow down your speed to 128kbps. You can still use data and there won't be overage, though it will be slow. Unlike with the usual scenario wherein even a 1MB of excess is already considered an overage. It's a good thing. If only they made it available to all plans not only to the new ones.

And to piggyback my ire regarding the new plans not being compatible with the 2GB for life bonus data. It appears that if you are still under old Verizon plan and would need more data, then there are no other options available anymore except moving to the new Verizon Plan options. If you want to move up your data like before. As long as it is above the XL plan then the 2GB bonus data's will work. But now, Moving from XL12GB to a higher one without losing my 2GB bonus data's are impossible. Sad to say, I am stuck with the XL12GB plan if I'd like to keep the 3 "2GB for life bonus data". I'd really like to have the carry over feature. But I guess I am stuck with my current one for now.

If you want the carry over feature you have to switch the NEW Verizon plan which would make your bonus data null and void. You can't have both. If you are currently paying $80 a month for 12GB and getting 6GB bonus then you have to weigh the options. You raise $10 and lose 2GB but get carry over AND Safety Mode for no overages. Apparently, you don't use the all 18GB anyway otherwise you wouldn't want the carry over. This is a NEW plan and comes with NEW rules. If you want your "for life bonus data" stay on the plan that provides it.

[hthtodd]

I totally understand what your saying.. When they say for life I guess your thoughts are that its for life. The confusing part is the "New Verizon Plan" that moving to revokes our 2GB for life is also called XL and XXL plans. One would think the "as long as you have an XL plan or larger" fulfilled what they were talking about. I guess it's the XL or larger in the "Old Tier plans" not the XL plan in the "New Verizon Plan". They shouldn't have mixed the plans using the same XL/XXL names. There should have also been a warning that when you leave your 12GB plan with 2GBX2 lines equaling 16GB's, your losing the 4 GBs and going to 16GB(that you already had) for $10 more a month. There was no mention of that, at all. I had to actually argue with a customer service agent because he was trying to convince me with rollover it was a better deal. I told him I'm losing 4GB/month of data. In order for there to be rollover I'd have to use less than 16GB when I'm already used to using 16. That isn't happening and there'd have to be a lot of rollover to make that beneficial which there wouldn't be. Then there's the SafetyMode feature. Why would I get excited for being throttled for no overage but still get to use low speed internet when in my mind at the time of throttle I should of still had 4 more gigs of my "for life promo data" had followed me. I just upgraded the lines two or three months prior and it kind of torqued me that the for life only lasted that long as a gift for upgrading with them. It was a confusing sales pitch and almost felt like a slap in the face for those who were promised an extra for doing what they wanted us to do, buy more stuff from them, just to sneakily take it back without warning with a "gotcha". I finally spent two hours arguing and got switched back in time to the 12GB XL old Verizon plan and my 4gb promo data restored and now they offer the "New Verizon Plan XL 12GB with 2GB per line" which for me would be 22GB. It happened two whole days after I spent two hours arguing about the lost data in the switch that they wouldn't give me. The new change would now give me an additional 6 GB more than I was arguing for in the first place that they were so adamently denying me. I'm so frustrated with how they did this. I have two lines that are available for new phone upgrades and I'm not even excited about doing it, even with the new iPhone here to do so. Two whole days... They got us with the data fix. It used to be unlimited. They sucked us in and then they capped us with 2 GB to charge is thru the nose. Take me back to the Alltel unlimited days. I know, some smarty pants will come on to defend the practices and say how this plan this and this plan that. Like we're all educated to the hilt on every Verizon plan, etc. The average person would expect for life to be for life and XL plan or higher to mean exactly that. They wouldn't expect the XL Old plan or the XL new plan unless it was spelled out that way and it wasn't. I wish TMobile, AT&T, Sprint, etc were available in my area. I'd seriously consider leaving Verizon. It's really amazing that I pay more for my phone service monthly than I do for my own house or car payment a month. Tired of fishy scheme with gotcha verbage in the fine print or astric area.

[rcschnoor]

hthtodd wrote:

I totally understand what your saying.. When they say for life I guess your thoughts are that its for life. The confusing part is the "New Verizon Plan" that moving to revokes our 2GB for life is also called XL and XXL plans. One would think the "as long as you have an XL plan or larger" fulfilled what they were talking about. I guess it's the XL or larger in the "Old Tier plans" not the XL plan in the "New Verizon Plan". They shouldn't have mixed the plans using the same XL/XXL names. There should have also been a warning that when you leave your 12GB plan with 2GBX2 lines equaling 16GB's, your losing the 4 GBs and going to 16GB(that you already had) for $10 more a month. There was no mention of that, at all. I had to actually argue with a customer service agent because he was trying to convince me with rollover it was a better deal.

Whether or not it is a better deal would certainly depend on the customer. For many, with Carryover Data, SafetyMode and Canada & Mexico Calling included, it IS a better deal. For others, it may not be.