I may be moving on from Verizon Wireless, but it looks like I might be charged a termination fee evethough I have been with them for dozens of years!! How do I get this resolved?

[MaliaM]

I may be moving on from Verizon Wireless, but it looks like I might be charged a termination fee evethough I have been with them for dozens of years!!  How do I get this resolved?

[rcschnoor · Accepted solution]

You get this resolved by paying the ETF. When you purchase a discounted phone in exchange for signing a 2 yr service contract, you agree to an ETF if you fail to fulfill your 2 yr service contract. If you didn't want the possibility of an ETF, you should not have signed a 2 yr service contract and instead paid full retail price for your phone.

From your customer agreement:

If you cancel a line of Service, or if we cancel it for good cause, during its contract term, you'll have to pay an early termination fee. If your contract term results from your purchase of an advanced device on or after November 14, 2014, your early termination fee will be $350, which will decline by $10 per month upon completion of months 7–17, $20 per month upon completion of months 18–22, $60 upon completion of month 23 and will be $0 upon completion of your contract term. For other contract terms entered into on or after November 14, 2014, your early termination fee will be $175, which will decline by $5 per month upon completion of months 7–17, $10 per month upon completion of months 18–22, $30 upon completion of month 23 and will be $0 upon completion of your contract term. If your contract results from your purchase of an advanced device prior to November 14, 2014, your early termination fee will be $350 minus $10 for each full month of your contract term that you complete. For other contract terms entered into prior to November 14, 2014, your early termination fee will be $175 minus $5 for each full month of your contract term that you complete. Cancellations will become effective on the last day of that month's billing cycle, and you are responsible for all charges incurred until then. Also, if you bought your wireless device from an authorized agent or third–party vendor, you should check whether they charge a separate termination fee.

[MaliaM]

Thank you for these details. I just have a simple flip top phone, nothing

fancy. No one gave me this info when I turned in my old flip top for this

one that there was a termination fee that came along with the renewal of

the 2-year contract....if I had been advised of the loyalty 1 year contract

instead, then I would not now be facing a termination charge that is at

$65.00, but in less then 2 months would be zero! I would think after being

a loyal customer for over 10 years that there should be an accommodation or

a waiver to credit this out! How do I escalate this?

On Tue, Sep 22, 2015 at 11:58 AM, rcschnoor <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[Snn5]

Why would Verizon waive a fee you agreed to when you are in fact, not loyal, and are leaving Verizon?

[MaliaM]

I don't think any company would call a customer who has been with them over

10 years disloyal. When the company is sending you constant emails to look

at the latest set of phones every 2 years, does not warrant another new

termination charge - there's give and take here on both sides. Your

viewpoint is 'duly noted' but not customer satisfaction driven in the

slightest.

[Tidbits]

If you read the contract which they make you sign you would know.  Also it's been that way for years, and at this point there is no reason for any person not to know as it's been that way since the early 80's. The person responding doesn't work for Verizon.  They are marked different.  I have been with Verizon since they were GTE, and I don't consider myself loyal.  If I find a better deal I am gone simply because loyalty in a free market doesn't exist, and is nothing more than a marketing tool to keep residual income.

[rcschnoor]

MaliaM wrote:

there's give and take here on both sides.

Absolutely!!!! VERIZON GIVES you a 2 yr contract with an ETF if you fail to complete it and YOU TAKE a $400+ discount on the price of your phone. Give and take, just as you have claimed. NOW you want to not fulfill your end of that give and take.

[MaliaM]

Well, nice talking with both of you - but you are misinformed. I have NOT

SIGNED anything the last 2 times I got a new phone from them...so stop

pointing that finger when you do NOT have all the facts, you are assuming

things that aren't so. Second, I did not get (ever) a $400 + credit for

getting a new phone, I got $50 - I have just a simple basic flip

phone....so after 22 months I am sure I have more than made up for that

small discount. Third, you can continue to think loyalty is not part of a

corporate world, but the reality is that loyalty does count for something -

to wit, I have been able to finally connect with the right person in

Verizon and based on my LOYALTY to this company for all these years, I have

received what I was looking for in my original note.

I don't mind you both having your opinion, but it is in fact only your

opinion, and I am glad I did not listen to you and continued to believe I

had a legitimate concern that thank goodness, Verizon Wireless also

recognized.

On Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 4:40 AM, rcschnoor <forums@verizonwireless.com>

[rcschnoor]

Verizon has had early termination fees the entire time you have been a customer for those dozens of years.

[Tidbits]

If you recently signed up for a new phone or a loyalty plan you agreed to pay an ETF. There is no fixing unless you haven't done any of those. Contracts are 2 years and I believe loyalty plans are 1 year.