Verizon EDGE Program Experience
Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

About 4 weeks ago my impulsive buying habit got me into quite the financial problem using the EDGE program. I had a 928 and just couldn't resist getting the new ICON. I went to my local corporate store to make the buy. I was fully prepared to buy off contract because I did not have an update available.

The sales person advised me since I was a 19 year Verizon customer, I could take advantage of the early entrance to the EDGE program and get the ICON for just under $25 per month. I jumped at it and took the ICON home. My 928 was taken in on trade and all was well.

During the next few days a pang of guilt about being tied to the EDGE program took over and within my 14 day return window, I took back the ICON. I was given a 928 and thought the matter was over.

My wife, who pays the bill, asked why I was being charged again for the monthly EDGE program. I thought it was a mistake and called *611 and was connected to very helpful young man in Nebraska call center. Explained the problem and he said it was no problem and he could take care of it.

When he looked into the situation, he found that since I agreed to enter the EDGE program as an early qualifier, he could not do anything about it. He suggested I go to the local Corp Store I dealt with.

I did and found a brick wall. No longer having the ICON, I was now paying for a 928 that was given to me when I returned the ICON. I was told that the rules under early EDGE program, I could not cancel the EDGE but had to pay for the 928, a phone I traded in to begin with.

I was upset, mad and disgusted that a 19 year customer was being treated this way. I paid the ETF for the EDGE program, over $400, to get out of the obligation. Now, I have a $400 928 and still ho ICON.

I expressed my displeasure to one of the Store Managers but hit the brick wall again.

All of this said, it was my fault. The original sales person did not explain the early EDGE entry meant with respect to returning within the 14 day return policy. I did not read the fine print. I'm now out quite a sum of money for someone on a fixed retirement income.

I would caution everyone to ask questions about the details of the EDGE program. I didn't and now feel violated; even though it's my fault in the end.

I think it's a good way for people to get new phones and to keep up with new things every year. Just remember, ask questions and read, read, read the fine print.

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13 Replies
liverdonor
Enthusiast - Level 2

Wow @Jazzman1 - I was thinking about this also, but having read your experience, no way.

I'll wait until they roll it out to everyone.

Thanks for sharing the info, sorry you had such a sh*tty time.

SickFreak
Specialist - Level 1

As I understand the program, it's basically a lease for a phone, and you're paying for it regardless of whether you have a new phone or not.  I don't see the value.

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Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

That's my understanding of the plan now but not when I entered into this fiasco. Think of all the money Verizon will make on suckers that use the EDGE plan or whatever slant they go to in the future. Each year you have to lease another phone and on and on. You are caught in a spiral you can't get out of without losing your phone. Remember, you traded in your phone to start this mess.

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rcschnoor
Legend

Jazzman1 wrote:

Each year you have to lease another phone and on and on. You are caught in a spiral you can't get out of without losing your phone.

This is simply not true. You can choose to keep your phone for the duration of the Edge payments at which time the phone will be yours to do with what you would like. You DO NOT have to "lease" a new phone every year, however that may be what some will CHOOSE to do.

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Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

My mistake, you are correct.

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Aquariusdiva83

Wow, your story amazed me Jazzman1

I am in the same situation as you with the EDGE program on a Galaxy Note 3 phone. Although I love my galaxy note 3. I think I rather just pay off the phone and not try to EDGE UP. We all make mistakes and we learn from them. Hope everything goes well for you with your phone situation.

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Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thanks, lessons are hard learned no matter you age or awareness. Still have the 928 and bit the bullet and bought an ICON from a developer. Love the phone. Did the 8.1 update and love it even more.

Still not happy with myself for being so cavalier with the whole process but life goes on.

What I have done is recommend the ICON to my friends but advise them to either buy outright or go with another carrier; even if the phone is handicapped a bit. AT&T and others can use the GSM bands and make the phone work.

In July, I will have been a Verizon customer for 20 years. Boy that taste sour at this time.

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Aquariusdiva83

Jazzman1 I agree with you 100% on buying the phone outright in order to save money. I learned my lesson after reading your story. I plan to leave Verizon due to finances. It's costing me a lot of money per month. I love Verizon and their coverage is awesome but as far as money wise, I might have to go else where. Wow 20 years is a long time as a loyal customer vs 2 and a half years.

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ponyruns
Contributor - Level 3

People on the Edge plan may be able to pay off their phones in full and keep their Edge discount see the following

MORE Everything - MORE Everything Plan

I don't know this for certain but it is worth investigating and any one with a completed contract can switch to more everything and get the line access discount that the Edge program gives. 

MadDogFL62
Contributor - Level 2

File a complaint with the FCC.  Regardless of what Verizon thinks they have from you in writing, the fact is that what they did is deceiving.  It's much like their data plan scam.  They sign you up on a new contract and put you on a data plan they know you will go over.  Verizon figures that it will take you a few billing cycles to catch the excessive charges and revise your plan.  Yea, it's part of the contract - but very deceiving.

Use the link below.  Select your category.  Provide backup documentation and see what happens.  Cheaper than a lawyer.

In addition, your State's Attorney's Office may be able to help too.

File Complaint | FCC.gov

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Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thanks for the suggestion but in this case it's more my naivety than Verizon. I will not ever do any business with Verizon regarding phone hardware. I will use the service but only until I can convince my family to move our 4 lines to AT&T.

Interesting comments by the CFO of Verizon in the news this week. He states that Verizon will not get into a price war with other US carriers just to gain or maintain their market share. So the arrogance goes on with Verizon.

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moncenhs
Newbie

I have four phones now on EDGE, and as my plan is over 10GB of data, we are getting the $25 discounts on our bill. Verizon says they are line discounts, but I still see them as device discounts.  For the life of my ICON, I will pay only the tax and the first month's payment.  A family member on my plan recently got his Galaxy S5 and is only paying a few cents a month for his phone.  You can look at it however you want, but your still paying Verizon in one way or another, whether it be for the device or the service.  When I did the math, it was cheaper to go with EDGE.

My negative EDGE experience came when performed an early edge upgrade online for another family member.  I ordered the phone, but it was on backorder. It came in the next week, but so did a charge for the full price of the device.  It took Verizon two months to sort out the problem that never should have been one in the first place; TWO MONTHS to get my money back.  I just noticed the other day that they also charged me a restocking fee on the device that I had to send back to get the refund.  I now have to call again to get that $35 credited back to my bill.  I will continue with the EDGE program as long as I am with Verizon and have 10GB of data, but I will not be ordering the phone online anymore. 

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Jazzman1
Enthusiast - Level 3

Yeah, my problem was the early EDGE upgrade. I didn't read the fine print so when I wanted to get the ICON, I was rightly advised that I could not cancel the early EDGE. I could keep both, the EDGE on the 928 and the new EDGE on the ICON but certainly couldn't justify having two phones. I finally paid the ETF on the 928, bought the ICON and now go month to month.

I can see where the EDGE would be good for some people but for me it wasn't. I like to change phones more often then 2 years and didn't want the hassle of changing phones under the EDGE plan.

Good luck on getting the restocking fee taken care of. I'm sure they will handle it to your satisfaction.

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