Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
braunstein82
Newbie

Important point you have to send the phone back when you upgrade. So at the 50% requirement you have about $300 invested in it and don't get to keep it. I liked the old 1 year plans paid $300 for newest phone and upgraded every year and kept old phone to do what I wanted to with.

0 Likes
Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
B33
Legend

To bad those plans are Gone..

0 Likes
Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
rcschnoor
Legend

PaulMichaelOwens wrote:

Thanks for the courteous and thoughtful response.

As this program ages (Day 2), the information that is communicated and being expressed to the customer is more and more expanded and please note CHANGED. I am fine with that because Integrity in business is what is lacking in Corporate America and your changes are becoming more informative for the consumer. If I had not been mislead originally about this program by the original wording of the advertisement, there would have been no challenge and I would have not felt mislead.

This information when I originally posted this thread, Sunday Early AM, was misleading, because my statement word for word quoted it, which is why it is in quotes. Now after your communication and legal teams have probably reviewed it, I do not have communication and legal teams. You may have mistaken me for a Verizon employee, which I am not, just another customer like you.

the wording has been changed and more information is readily available for the customer. It specifically said "Anytime", I have ALSO been watching info leak out about the Verizon Edge program for at least the past month as I have been interested in this program, but from the very beginning had thought it was a plan which was NOT very appealing to a Verizon customer. This information has ALWAYS pointed to being able to upgrade AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 50% OF THE COST OF THE PHONE BEING PAID OFF. This is STILL the case, so again, I see nothing misleading.

and I do recall upon initially it stating "No Contracts" I DON'T recall this and I don't possibly understand how anyone could be lead to think this. The whole concept of the EDGE program has ALWAYS been to get a phone for little or no money down and make payments for that phone over a period of time. HOW, exactly, can Verizon accomplish that WITHOUT a contract to have you make those payments. Are they just to hope you will make good on it? Now I agree that it was said there will be no SERVICE CONTRACTS, but if there is going to be a payment schedule, there MUST be a PAYMENT CONTRACT!

perhaps when it was first announced, either way "No Long Term Contracts" is also misleading, because you have to change your plan, which I note it went from being a program to a "plan". Again, from the very start, this program was aimed at people on the Share Everything plan, so you are correct in the point if you are not currently on the Share Everything plan, you would have to change your plan.

Regardless, "Upgrade When You Want", as it stands now, is still completely false, because there are MANY criteria to fall into the category. So the broad swath of "Verizon Edge - Upgrade When You Want" is completely misleading when it is broadcasted as a communication tool , ie: Advertising Image I suppose if you ONLY read headlines, disregarding ALL of the additional information included in the page you are referencing below, you wouldn't see the information INCLUDED in this EXACT SAME "advertisement":"After six months, if you’ve paid for at least 50% of the phone, you’ll have the option to Edge Up to..."

I obviously should have done this originally to capture the changes, but I mistakenly did not. As another couple of posters referenced, the expectation when reading "Upgrade When You Want", leads one to believe that they can now get a new phone, which is just not the case.

I took actions on my account that were made on assumptions of the advertisements leading up to this program, in which I was lead to believe that I could upgrade whenever I wanted under this program, only to find out that I could not. The statement is misleading and has led to a frustrated customer who is bound to a certain carrier based on coverage and availability.

Thanks for your time.

You're welcome.edge.jpg

0 Likes
Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
PaulMichaelOwens
Enthusiast - Level 3

I think I understand the gap in your perspective and mine.

I completely understand about the 6 months and 50% deal, which must be the angle that you are coming from, in which I don't disagree with that statement as it applies to after you are in the program.

Also, The screenshot you posted was only RECENTLY available. The screenshot that I posted is generically what has been advertised for the longest time, without the bottom portion. If you have been following this as I have, then you are aware of this as fact.

My perspective is from a customer trying to engage the program. "Upgrade When you want" -- I cannot upgrade unless I am eligible. So, you cannot say you can upgrade when you want, when the reality is you cannot. Understanding that once in the program you have qualifications to re-upgrade, but even engaging the program there are eligibility requirements, so you cannot upgrade when you want, ie: you have to be a member of the share everything plan.

The only reason I assumed you were a Verizon Employee was because of the level of defense that you are putting up for the statement of "Upgrade when you want", when it is a completely false statement, which leads to a complaint of false advertising because only recently has Verizon placed this extra information which completely contradicts the Upgrade when you want mantra.

Perhaps we will never agree, but I just don't see the logic behind defending a statement that is blatantly not true. Upgrade when you want is simply a falsehood, as demonstrated by the many requirements for you to actually upgrade.

Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
JM25
Enthusiast - Level 1

I agree with you. They are completely misleading. I didn't get into the eligibility details and ended up finding out today that I STILL have to wait for my upgrade date. Screw this program. I'm gonna stick to the old way of upgrading. Also to anyone complaining about this guy filing a complaint with the FCC, shut up. He has a right to and Verizon is false advertising to lure in unsuspecting customers. This is nothing more than a money scheme to lure you in to steal your money. Yes we all know that we don't HAVE to participate, but that's not the point. So stop making that point because it's annoying and has nothing to do with this discussion. It clearly states, "Upgrade when you want" which is a complete and total lie. You have to be eligible for an upgrade, pay off 50% of the phone before another upgrade; which is about 6 months, and be in good standing with your payment history for 6 months. Upgrade when you want should mean upgrade when you want. Idk why they feel the need to be a bunch of criminals. If we end up paying the full retail price in 24 months, i don't see what the problem is. You wanna know why this program is a bunch of crap? Because they want their money now. Plain and simple. I'm alright with the plan and phone i have now, but I still want an upgrade. This Verizon Edge bs won't be getting my money. I'll stick to the original upgrade plan. As I said before, I'm with you on this one Paul. If anything, I'd like to see this program and all the others terminated.

Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
rcschnoor
Legend

While the screenshot MAY have only been available recently, it HAS been available for AT LEAST as long as the Edge program has been available. If you have been following this as I have, you are aware that as recently as last Friday Verizon has been saying the full Edge program details would be available when the plan is introduced as details were still being finalized. While I think the statement that plan details were STILL being finalized at that point in time is ludicrous, anyone who had been following the Edge program WAS aware the full details of the plan HAD NOT BEEN RELEASED and anyone who was taking actions on their account was doing so WITHOUT knowing the full details of the Edge program.

You say you are coming from the perspective of a customer trying to engage the program, yet one of your biggest complaints was something YOU saw in an "advertisement", "Upgrade anytime you want", didn't apply to you, someone who wasn't in the Edge program. Did the advertisement ALSO say it superseded or nullified any requirements or obligations you had with your current plan and/or contract?

You may take my statements as defending Verizon, but the ONLY reason I have been stating an opinion contrary to your own on the development of a program you claim to have been following is because from the VERY FIRST mention of the Verizon Edge program on July 18 by the Verizon CFO in an investor conference call and later confirmed by the Verizon Chief Marketing Officer, it was described as "Available starting August 25th, Verizon Edge spreads the full retail cost of the phone over 24 months in exchange for being able to upgrade your device as soon as 6 months. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to pay off 50 percent of the device to step up to a new one. Those who want to upgrade after a year won’t have any balance to pay."

Maybe, it is just me, but that sounds pretty straightforward.

Finally, it does seem uncharacteristic of Verizon to NOT allow people STILL under contract to participate, though. The Edge program wouldn't have to nullify the contract of anyone currently not eligible for a discounted upgrade due to contract obligations. I don't see why any current contracts couldn't run concurrent with monthly payments on the Edge program. Seeing that the Edge program is basically designed to be an EXPENSIVE rental program, it would seem Verizon would want people entering into the program as soon as possible.

You may be right, perhaps we will never agree, but since I have seen the requirements in order to upgrade in the Edge program from the MOMENT it was first announced, I see no falsehood. Additionally, as the Edge program was introduced because people "WANTED" to upgrade earlier than what was currently available, then the statement "Upgrade When You Want" is exactly what people wanted.

Keep in mind, you can still UPGRADE ANYTIME YOU WANT simply by paying full retail for a phone, so even THAT statement is technically STILL true.

Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
wallabbie
Enthusiast - Level 1

I agree completely with the complaint- their advertising says they let you keep up with the "latest" technology and that's what I want. Their website says "UPGRADE WHEN YOU WANT" and I want to also, but am not allowed because I currently have a 2 year contract. Before EDGE, I could have also upgraded anytime I want by paying full price for a phone, so how is this ANY different. Verizon" Edge" is a farce. Companies always treat worst the customers whose money they already have....and I think I will file a complaint with the FCC also. And you don't have to be "made of money" to want a newer phone. The newest ones have the chip that allows ISIS  mobile wallet and some other RFID advances.

Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
Liquorpuki
Newbie

I'm not upgrade eligible for Edge, I haven't even been in my VZW contract for a year

But if I go online, click on the HTC 8X I'm currently using, and click Upgrade at Full Price, I'm given the option to pay for a new phone at either full price or with Edge Payments.  No clue why the option to pay with Edge is there.

Anybody else get this?

0 Likes
Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
RadialXX
Enthusiast - Level 2

Here is where I am right now... I purchased a Motorola Droid MAXX Thru the Edge Program online. my old phone has no speakers as they are messed up, Instead of warranting the crappy phone with crappy battery I did the Edge. I get the phone on 8/28/2013... Follow the activation directions like many times in the past. Call the number provided and it says all ready and turn phone on and follow prompts... I Get a message sorry we are having trouble activating your phone...after about 6 tries I call Customer Service Tech department. after being on/off hold for over an hour there seems to be an issue in the programming in verizons system(not phone related). Because you have to go to month to month and your unlimited data goes to a set amount it will not allow you to activate the phone. Its been 24 hours and no resolution to this problem. I call back this afternoon and the tech looks into my ticket and finds out this is now a major ticket and HAS BEEN a major ticket since Monday August 26th 2013....So sounds to me like NOBODY is upgrading to the EDGE right now, but they sure as hell are selling phones on the program, and altho I only paid the first payment of 27 bux, I also bought accessories. The tech tells me I can go to the verizon store and either return this phone or get a loaner?... ok, how about activating the phone on my current plan until you figure out how to make the new plan work, sorry sir, we dont know how to do that...UGH!!!!... NO answer to when it will be fixed.... Nice new phone that I cant do a damn thing with cause IT department cant fix the problem... very frustrated!!!!

Re: Verizon Edge - FCC Complaint
GregoryB
Newbie

Dang, that's unbelievable! You'd think they would test the system before going live. SMH!

0 Likes