What happened to the free phones Verizon used to offer?

[johnnyr787]

My 2 year contract with Verizon ends in less then 1 month now and I am looking to upgrade my phone. I have been with Verizon for over about 8 years now. Upon looking into new phones I found out that Verizon has eliminated the 2 year contracts so we no longer have to worry about contracts. But then how does that work for getting a new phone? From what I see my only option is to buy the phone at full price or pay it off in monthly payments for 24 months. But I am not looking to do either of those things because I remember Verizon always had a selection of free smartphones to pick from I know there was a few where you could pay $100- 200 or the older model iPhones that were 99 cents. So is Verizon no longer doing free or cheaper priced phones anymore? How does this work now that the 2 year contracts are no more?

[Ann154]

You always paid full price for the contract phones. Before it was bundled with service plan cost. Now it is separate and the line access fee is lower if your line is out of contract or on the installment payment option. For many the cost of the phone over 24 months is less expensive than purchasing a phone under contract.

[johnnyr787]

I just want to make sure I have this correctly here. So when the website says I can get a galaxy S7 for $28 a month that means the $28 monthly is for the phone only and then I would pay whatever I normally pay for data talk and text on top of the $28?

[Ann154]

Yes to a point. If your line access fee is $40 since the line is currently under contract, it will drop to $20 per if you are on the Verizon Plans. If you have a different plan, please post that information so the community members can accurately calculate your numbers.

[vzw_customer_support · Accepted solution]

You got it, Johnnyr787. Ann154 provided great details about this as well. To add a bit more clarification, keep in mind that certain plans do provide a discount for being on a Device Payment Plan. Check out this link for additional details.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/support/device-payment-faqs/

NicandroN_VZW
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[Weth]

Your not looking at the whole picture. 

You get a phone for $199. However, Verizon charges you $40 per month for access 2 year contract. Total cost after 2 years  $1159.

New way, buy phone for $28/ month for 2 years, but access fee is only $20.   Total cost after 2 years $1152. 

See, it was all smoke and mirrors.  You always paid for the phone, one way or another. 

[#7]

johnnyr787 wrote:

I just want to make sure I have this correctly here. So when the website says I can get a galaxy S7 for $28 a month that means the $28 monthly is for the phone only and then I would pay whatever I normally pay for data talk and text on top of the $28?

Not really. I assume you're on a More Everything plan? As such you COULD still get a 2 year contract. Now I would NOT do that. Because it ends up costing more.

First of all the S7 is NOT going to be free on a 2 year contract. It's $200. Plus there is the $40 upgrade fee. So $240. Your line fee will stay at the $40 rate it currently is. So over 24 months you'd pay $1200 for line fees and the phone. Now if you the phone on payments and your More Everything plan is 6 GB or higher then you'd pay $672 for the phone but only $15 a month for you line fee. So $672+$360=$1032. If More Everything plan is less than 6 GB then you'd pay $672 for the phone but $25 a month for you line fee. So $672+$600=$1272. If you choose to move to the new Verizon Plan your line fee would be $20 a month so $672+480=$1152. So you're not saving by being in a 2 year contract and you have to wait 2 years before you can upgrade. On device payments you can upgrade whenever.

[DigitalRules]

Phones were NEVER free. As mentioned earlier, it's just smoke & mirrors.

I talk to people all the time that think they got a free phone from their provider. The most ironic part is that most of them went to college . . . . . .guess they skipped math class

[vzw_customer_support]

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[tikibar1]

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