Shame on Verizon

[scouture]

Recently I've found out that if I wish to upgrade my phone (without paying full price...at least 500 dollars) my grandfathered unlimited plan will cease to exist. My family and I have been Verizon Wireless customers since the early 2000s. Now I'm strongly considering moving to Sprint because of their unlimited data and fair prices. My phone bill alone is already $80 dollars per month and if I were to buy the data package with the amount that I would need for my personal use, JUST my phone bill would be well over $100 dollars per month. This is just not acceptable or doable. I know a lot of other people have been very unhappy with this new change and many of them have probably switched to other wireless providers. Kudos to them. The only reason the big phone companies can get away with things like this is because people will put up. I'm not encouraging others to switch, I'm reluctant to switch because I live in a rural area and Verizon is one of the only companies that actually cover my town. But this change just might be enough for me to switch and suffer.

[ashtontr]

Sprint has unlimited data only on their towers.

[Ann154]

This change in upgrade policy and contract terms became effective 6/28/2012 when the Share Everything Plans were added to the plans. It isn't a new story and Verizon Wireless did give existing customers with the unlimited data plan options. Whether or not you agree to them isn't going to change their policy.

[chrissy24]

Good for you scouture!! I'm glad you commented on this because I feel the same way. I am not happy with verizon right now either. 

[commonsense101]

Wait tll other carriers cach on users and speed and see ow long they keep it...

How much data do you even use?

[rcschnoor]

Your options are to switch and suffer or stay with Verizon???

You say Verizon is ONE of the only carriers which cover your town. Why would you be suffering if you switched to a carrier which DOES cover your town, or do they only cover it with roaming agreements with Verizon.

Or if by suffering means to pay for service which you cannot use because it is not available to you, how is THAT going to help you?

[scouture]

If I switch to another carrier that covers my town (AT&T) then I can't get the unlimited data which is an absolute must. They only offer it to existing customers who have had it in the past. The only carrier that offers an unlimited package is Sprint which is not a reliable or good plan for me.

Sent from my iPhone

[rcschnoor]

scouture wrote:

The only carrier that offers an unlimited package is Sprint which is not a reliable or good plan for me.

Then why are your "strongly" considering it?

It seems as if the question you really need to answer is if unlimited data really is an absolute must. IF it is, it would appear you only have one option, to pay full retail for your phones.

[scouture]

The unlimited is a must I can't be spending over 100 dollars a month on a phone bill for my phone alone. I also can't afford to spend 1000 dollars on a new phone every time I need one. It defeats the purpose of looking for something cost efficient. This leaves sprint. I don't want to have to but if I can't get unlimited or at least some discount for data without buying phones for full price Ill have to switch.

[rcschnoor]

And how is it "cost efficient" to pay for a service which does not reliably cover your area? Unlimited data which will not provide you with "any" data seems like a recipe for disaster if unlimited data really IS a must.

The most expensive smartphones are considerably less than $1000. There are several which can be had for about half that price. Verizon offers a device payment plan which spreads payments out over a 12 month period.

How often do you "need" a phone? I know I certainly upgrade more often than I "need" to upgrade. If cost is a problem, maybe it would be more "cost efficient" to hold on to your phones longer.

Regardless, good luck with Sprint if you decide to switch. It sounds as if you will need it. Keep in mind, if you are in a marginal Sprint area and are serviced often with Sprint's roaming partners, you may find yourself terminated for roaming too much. Then you will once again looking for another provider and won't even have the option of keeping your Verizon unlimited data.

From Sprint's website:

Usage Limitations: Other plans may receive prioritized bandwidth availability. Streaming video speeds may be limited to 1 Mbps. Sprint may terminate service if off-network roaming usage in a month exceeds: (1) 800 min. or a majority of min.; or (2) 100 MB or a majority of KB. Prohibited network use rules apply. See sprint.com/termsandconditions.

If unlimited data is a must, 100 MB seems to be quite a paltry amount for a limitation on roaming allowance for a service which does not reliably cover your area.