$50 Unlimited--Domestic Roaming Charged or not?

[jayqsen]

On the website it says Domestic Roaming is .20 per minute on the $50 Unleashed Plan. So I contacted VZW online customer service and questioned how you would pay for that......and I was told there would not be any charge for domestic roaming on the $50 Unleashed Plan.

Here is the transcript of the conversation:

info: Please hold for a Verizon Wireless sales representative to assist you with your order.  Thank you for your patience.
info: You are now chatting with 'Morris'
Morris: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service.  May I help you with your order today?
Jon: Hello,
Morris: Hello, how are you today?
Jon: I am looking at the $50 Unleashed program and had a question....it says under Price Info that Domestic Roaming is included.....then further ddown in the fine print it says Domestic Roaming is .20 per minute......how do you pay for Domestic Roaming?
Morris: Since verizon does not roam, there will be charge if any roaming does occur
Jon: So how are those charges added to the $50 plan?
Morris: excuse me, there will not be any charges
Jon: So....no roaming charges?
Morris: This is correct
Jon: So what does the fine print refer to when it says .20 per minute for Domestic Roaming?
Morris: This is if roaming occurs on a monthly plan, not prepaid plan.
Jon: OK.....but that is very confusing when you read the pricing info.
Morris: I totally understand
Jon: Thanks for your help. Bye.

So who do I believe? The website or the Cust. Service Rep.?

Any one else have this issue?

[Minniehaha]

It clearly states that Domestiic Roaming  is included.  If you go outside of the USA and are roaming in that area you could add a prepaid card or use a credit card to add addition money to your account to pay for the roaming. But as long as your in a Verizon area you would not have any roaming charges. Included Features

• Voice Mail
• Call Forwarding
• Call Waiting

• Domestic Long Distance
• Caller ID
• 3 Way Calling

• Domestic Roaming
• Call ID Blocking

[jayqsen]

Thanks for the reply.  You state that in a Verizon area I would not be charged for roaming......so since I am in Tennessee and the coverage map shows that  Kentucky is "prepaid roamin", or not a Verizon area for prepaid, does that mean I will be charged .20 per minute for using my phone in KY?  How is that paid for on a prepaid plan?  

Part of what I am trying to understand is "Domestic" roaming. Usually the word "Domestic" refers to anywhere inside the USA, but apparently my understanding is wrong. What exactly does "Domestic" roaming refer to?

[Minniehaha]

I'm sorry I wasn't clear about that. Domestic means within the USA so if your in Tenn or Kentucky you would not be charged for roaming.  Domestic means local and International is outside the United States and you would be charged if you were out of the Unitede States. . Sorry I confused you about that point.

[jayqsen]

Thanks again......it seems my understanding is correct that Domestic Roaming would refer to anywhere in US.  You correctly quoted the included features in the $50 Unleashed plan.....and in one place it does say Domestic Roaming included......however when you keep digging you get a different answer. 

When you actually click to shop for the $50 Unleashed plan, look at the features list that shows up there:

CALLING PLAN INFORMATION

• $50 Unlimited Plan includes unlimited domestic calls only
• $50 Plan includes Unlimited Texting* to anyone on any network in the U.S. and participating carriers in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico
• V CAST Music – 99¢/song via PC; $1.99/song via phone; 99¢ download fee**
• Ringback Tones – 99¢ per month & $1.99 per Ringback Tone/Year
• $50 Unlimited Plan includes unlimited Mobile Web and does not include full web browsing
• Domestic Long Distance Included (airtime charges apply)
• Domestic Roaming Rate is 20¢ Per Minute
• International Text Messaging – 25¢ per message sent, messages received are same as calling plan
• International Roaming – Voice Calling
      – 69¢ per minute from Canada, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands
      – 99¢per minute from Mexico
      – $1.99 per minute from Bermuda
• International Roaming – Text Messaging
      – 50¢ per message sent
      – 5¢ per message received
• 411 Search – $1.99 per call plus airtime
• Up to $35 activation fee may apply
• Here is the link to that page: https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=prepayItem&action=viewPrepayMonthlyPlans&t...
• This is why I am still unsure about which part of the information on VZW website is correct!
• If there's any light you can shed on this I would very much appreciate it.......I have sent a second request to VZW Customer Service and am waiting for their response.
  

Thank you!

[Minniehaha]

I see what your saying, I went and read all the info on the prepaid monthly, and it seems that your saying on one hand there is no roaming charge and then on the other hand there saying there is. I know on the Daily prepaid plan you pay for roaming and I think somewhere the lines are crossed here. I honestly can't give you an answer after reading all the info. Sorry I couldn't help. I hope one of the customer service reps. can help  Please post back if you get an honest answer so the other Monthly plan people will know what the answer is.

[Ginko3827]

As I understand it, the Domestic Roaming rate would apply when you make or receive a phone call from outside of the Verizon Wireless network while you are within the United States. This is true with both Daily and Monthly Prepaid plans. Therefore, in the case of your example, jayqsen, you would be charged $0.20 per minute if you use your phone in KY. Also, this would be deducted from your available account balance, provided you have sufficient funds available. Otherwise you will not be able to use your phone. I hope that makes sense.

[jayqsen]

Thank you for your reply......that agrees with what a VZW CSR replied as well. Bottom line is ..... (.20) per minute for prepaid roaming.......however, I am still not sure how it would be paid if you are paying $50 per month for unlimited.

[Ginko3827]

Well, like I said, the $0.20 per minute roaming rate would be deducted from your Prepaid account balance. However, with the $50 plan you normally would have a $0.00 balance because the $50 is deducted from your balance when your plan renews. That being said, you would need to add additional funds to cover any roaming costs. I realize roaming with Prepaid Monthly Plans can be confusing, so I hope that made things a bit more clear.

[Minniehaha]

If your in a roaming area you will get a message asking if you want to continue with the number you dialed if you say yes it will and you don't have enough funds in your account they will give you come choices just as credit card etc. I had this happen a few years back so I'm not really sure the system is the same as then, but if your going to be in a roaming area for awhile you can buy a $15.00 prepaid card and add it to your account or wait and see if it will be added to the next months account. I think this is something you will have to go out and try and find out the answer that way. Sometimes you can just walk a little ways away and go out of the roaming area, I was in a store in the back of the store I was roaming and when I went up front I was no longer roaming. Good Luck.