Ok, I'm at a loss with trying to figure out what my phone and the verizon services are doing lately. Not only have we (my family are all on the same plan) been getting THE WORST data, 3G, 4G access lately but no one can really tell me WHY?? I have had a verizon phone and plan since cell phones came out, which has been years. I also live in the same area. So can someone explain to me why have we suddenly (over last 6 months or so) had more dropped calls, spotty service and inconsistent answers from service techs than EVER?? Really, what is going on?
We have 3 phones on our account and sometimes we can't even call each other!! My daughter has tried to reach me sometimes 4-5 times over 2 hours to call me. She says my phone will ring, then to voicemail but my phone NEVER rings and my husband's phone will disconnect from the network? I have contacted tech support numerous times. Now it seems I am unable to unblock phone numbers that have been blocked .
Verizon has sent new SIM cards, they have tried to "reset" our network, taken us through all of the troubleshooting steps and even "escalated it to the engineers to check the towers" and there is no explanation. Also, I have noticed lately that the content on the website changes and differs from the information that I am able to access on the "MY VERIZON app" on my phone. (payments, amount owed, etc) Just today I noticed that tech coach app is something they are charging for now. When did that happen?
I know my family isn't the only ones who are frustrated, I have heard fellow coworkers beginning to complain. So, I thought I would check out this forum to see if maybe there is an area wide issue.
What is really funny, after reading several posts I began to see that often times it is the verizon customers that actually know more about how to fix and solve issues, not the reps. 
RLR9X20 wrote:
Then being told the "unlimited" plan they recommended for all my devices is actually a 10GB plan they just charge more for didn't sit right.
This is a bit misleading. A phone can use 22 GB of data before being re-prioritized. The hotspot on a phone along with any other hotspots/jetpacks/etc... you have on your plan would get their OWN 10 GB of data at 4G speeds. You have 5 phones with hotspots, that is 5 x 10 GB = 50 GB, not 10 GB just for the hotspots. Data actually used on the phone would not be subject to that 10 GB threshold, but a 22 GB threshold before POSSIBLY being re-prioritized.
The unlimited plan is not a "10 GB plan they charge more for" UNLESS you only have 1 device and that device is a jetpack. Otherwise, you would at a MINIMUM get X number of lines x 10 GB for your total data allowance ONLY for jetpacks/hotspots. Other data actually used on phones/tablets would of course be on top of that amount and still be at 4G speeds until AT LEAST the device had consumed a minimum of 22 GB.
Other than that, I can see how some may not like the new unlimited plan offered by Verizon. Problem is that people were asking Verizon to offer unlimited plans like the other providers were offering and Verizon's unlimited plan is patterned after the current plans offered by other providers with a limited amount of full speed data followed by data at speeds much lower than 4G speeds. Sometimes you get exactly what you ask for.
If you want a jetpack without any throttling, you may want to look into Unlimitedville.com which has an unlimited plan without any data throttling. They are much more expensive than those offered by the big 4 providers right now, though. For example, the plan utilizing Verizon's network is $250 for only 1 jetpack with unlimited data without any throttling.
Good luck.
Thanks for your reply rcschnoor. Yes I have a jetpack. Yes it is my sole internet connection. Yes it is at 12GB of data already and has been throttled back. I didn't exactly ask for it. It was recommended as a solution to the poor 4G connection causing servers to timeout and restart downloads eating up my data. No one at the time mentioned that jetpacks have a 10GB cap on them. I was told by vzw it was 22GB. If it is throttled at 10GB then it is a 10Gb limit on it for all intent. The previous 10GB plan and subsequently the 12GB plan did not have a cap on it and cost less therefore it costs $10 more for 2GB less unlimited whether you wish to look at that way or not. I have been in IT since there was IT and have solved many router, switch and firewall problems and the initial problem is an obvious verizon network issue. I am glad your phones are working on your local tower. I wish I could say the same. On the bright side I have work orders in for site surveys by both land cable and satellite providers and may the best company win. Either option will be more expensive but at least I will be able to use the data I am paying for. With main data supplied by another provider a minimum smart phone plan will be fine. If it was a really big problem I would just let the FCC take care of it like they did the last time
