Upgrade Fee

[MadCrew]

lesson learned. when purchasing full retail, don't disclose your number. just buy it in full and put your sim card in. those $40 upgrade fees adds up when you purchase new phones for the family. 

[mama23dogs]

I tell them I'm prepaid.   They don't even want your number then. 

[Tigerstep]

If you don't mind the wait, a rep can be accommodating if you call in calm and collected.

Personally I feel the fee is a scam when it's applied for a retail purchase regardless if number is given. Last two phones I bought were for myself and my wife. Her's was an unlocked Pixel 4a from Google and mine an unlocked S20 from Amazon.

[DMathews1]

If you get charged an activation fee, call in  (611) and they'll reverse it for you.  - - Just ignore the well-meaning poster who tells you they won't/don't do that.  -  They do reverse them.

[Tigerstep]

They're not supppsed to and only do so because of the off chance of receiving a bad survey at the end of call.

If their take home pay wasn't put at risk by entitled customers, they wouldn't. Any credit, even as low as a dollar, does count against the person taking the call. Something customers don't seem to care about. And they wonder why they don't always get the best service when they call in.

Message to Verizon: You created this situation.

[vzw_customer_support]

MadCrew, making sure you are aware of all of the cost associated with your upgrade. There will be a $40 Upgrade fee when you purchase a new device. the Upgrade Fee is reduced to $20 when you process your Upgrade online. Please review more details here http://vz.to/2qe5V7f.  

[itsmekaren]

The upgrade fee is fraud at it's finest. Carriers do NOTHING to your account when you buy a new phone. Nothing. It's just a fee they figured out they could charge that very few people would question. There needs to be a class action lawsuit requiring carriers to divulge EXACTLY what each fee means and covers. 

It's the same as the what cable and satellite providers are going through. In my state, the AG currently has a case going against Comcast because of all their "mysterious" fees like "local channel fee" and "sports fee".....it is ridiculous.

I recently bought 2 new phones and was charged $40 for each line. Chatted with a rep and was able to get $40 refunded, but it took an hour. They never could adequately explain what exactly that fee is for. If indeed it is being used to reinvest in their technology and network, then say that. Don't hide it. 

[Tigerstep]

Buy from the manufacturer without a payment plan or sim card.

Seeing these threads gets repetitive. If buying a phone outright is too expensive, complaining about a one time charge of $35 to do a payment plan over 24/30 months seems silly. Guarantee that fee is way less than the interest a credit card generates in the same 2 years if someone did a retail purchase with the intent of paying off the same amount of time.

[mama23dogs]

@itsmekaren  You couldn’t have picked a better screen name.  😂🤦‍♀️
   You aren’t required to buy from Verizon.  If you’re not happy with their finance requirements, then DON’T.   Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola (and others) all sell direct, with payment options.  

[Customer227]

Don't forget to mention the six dollars or added fees cost just to get someone from Verizon on the phone to help troubleshoot the issue.