Carrier Verizon raising grandfathered unlimited data plans by $20

[willmtaylor]

You pay more when you sign a contract over the two years of the contract. They won't just give you a free phone...

Your experience doesn't dictate the experience of all. There's so much math and so many variables; every case is different. I've done the math for my family, and it's cheaper for us to sign another contract and get discounted phones. Period. YMMV.

Stop assuming that one (read: your) anecdotal example is dogma.

 

[penajmz]

Your experience doesn't dictate the experience of all. There's so much math and so many variables; every case is different. I've done the math for my family, and it's cheaper for us to sign another contract and get discounted phones. Period.

Stop assuming that one (read: your) anecdotal example is dogma.

Granted, just like yours is not the same for everybody either as you're assuming. You're absolutely right, there's a lot of math and variables, I assure you they are not giving out free phones to you and your family, you're paying that one way or another.

 

[willmtaylor]

Granted, just like yours is not the same for everybody either as you're assuming. You're absolutely right, there's a lot of math and variables, I assure you they are not giving out free phones to you and your family, you're paying that one way or another.

I wasn't assuming anything. That's an assumption on your part.

Nothing is free: one must do the due diligence and calculate the best value for him/herself.

 

[NewdestinyX]

Granted, just like yours is not the same for everybody either as you're assuming. You're absolutely right, there's a lot of math and variables..

This is a correct statement. Each of us got different promotional deals at different times - have differing upgrade patterns. I assume, since I've heard the word 'NEXT' in a couple of these recent posts that we've jumped from Verizon (topic of this thread) to AT&T... at least for some examples.. What can be PROVEN on paper with 6th grade math.. is that FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON on AT&T in ANY KIND OF PLAN - that NEXT will be CHEAPER (..waaaait for it.......) IF you want to purchase your phone outright and go the whole 20-24-30 months... basically 'own' the phone like you did over 2yr contract. This would apply to those of you who only upgrade every two years and want to sell your phone on eBAY when you own it.. FOR THAT GROUP and THAT SCENARIO (which is the scenario any AT&T employee will show you on their calculators) in EVERY CASE - you will spend less on NEXT that 2 YR..

But OF COURSE, that doesn't apply to all cases of the way people's buying habits are done. For example.. last year we all saw the commercial for ATT where they offered the $25 discount down from $40 for all phones and plans.. The $160 for 4 lines deal? We all remember that. You had to call and ASK FOR IT.. But I started saving LOADS of $ then with 5 lines on Mobile Shared.. That discount is now ONLY given on NEXT.. And if you upgrade to 2yr contract anytime after January 2015 (if memory serves) your line would go back to $40 a month per each line that resigned up for 2yr.. Then there was the 15GB doubled to 30GB for the same price promo from last spring. I took advantage of that too...

Then there's those of us who learned a while back about 'crossgrades' where you can use another line on your account to upgrade.. So many of us always have at least '1' line on our account that's upgradable every year and family members who don't need to have a new phone every year - like my wife...

So........ all that to say that between ALL the promos and one line that's upgradable every year... and still ALL of my lines on 2yr only costing $15/mo (not $40)... PLUS my family always giving me my 'subsidized phone $' as cash in my Christmas present.. NEXT is WAAAAAAY more expensive for me - to have that phone 'rental' payment be in my cash flow.

Now of course.. this year - AT&T and I think Verizon (to steer us back on topic.. LOL) - in their attempts to phase out subsidies... are forcing those old promos to disappear.. SO when I crossgraded my wife's line this year back to another 2yr contract - to get my 6S Plus.. that line went back to $40/mo.. But for 5 lines on Mobile Shared at 30GB of data per month... ON 2YR for every phone!!! -- I've only been paying $190 + taxes and surcharges. NEXT couldn't even come close to that deal (not could Verizon, Sprint or TMobile really beat it).

Sorry for the long post. But there is no easy '1 size fits all' that makes subsidized versus payment plan an obvious choice for all. Don't let the in store salesmen tell you otherwise.

 

[geoff5093]

Do you really think you don't pay the phone in full with a contract?

You pay more when you sign a contract over the two years of the contract. They won't just give you a free phone...

This is false. The unlimited plan is the same price per month whether you take the subsidy or not.

Back on topic... I was month to month on Verizon, but I did the Best Buy upgrade method and extended my contract, while still keeping my unlimited data! I figured I'd take my chances and save $400 over 2 years by getting the subsidy, and potentially save $20/mo for 2 years.

 

[dhy8386]

Guys here is a fix. A buddy of mine who works at Verizon looked at my account to see if there were any promotions that he could add to my account that would extend my contract. He found a 100 minute a month bonus offer that extended my contract for a year. He applied it and now I'm locked in again for at least a year with unlimited data. I was out of contract and now I'm good till October 2016

Some good tippage there. Thanks! Just called to add and indeed my contract was extended for 1 year, no cost, no hassle. Whole thing took 5 mins.

 

[aneftp]

I want assuming anything. That's an assumption on your part.

Nothing is free: one must do the due diligence and calculate the best value for him/herself.

True. But under the old $9.99 add a line system. During the hey days of cell phone subscriber growth of 2000-2010 when carriers had to show investors how many subscribers they were obtaining.

It made sense for Verizon to offer "free" flip phones that only cost Verizon around $100 in exchange for the $9.99 flip lines that generated $240

Some good tipple there. Thanks! Just called to add and indeed my contract was extended for 1 year, no cost, no hassle. Whole thing took 5 mins.

Wouldn't it be better just to take advantage of the subsidized upgrade loopholes and do whatever u want with the phones? Sell/keep as a spare etc.

It's funny that extending ur contract for a year and Verizon not giving u anything. And people think Verizon is doing u a favor?

It's not like they are lowering the $29.99 data plan.

This remind me what apple did back in April 2011. They raised the price of the iPhone 4 from $599 to $649. Imagine that. The iPhone 4 had been $599 since June 2010. And 10 months later Apple raised the price. Makes no sense for electronic product.

 

[BarryL]

Some good tipple there. Thanks! Just called to add and indeed my contract was extended for 1 year, no cost, no hassle. Whole thing took 5 mins.

What call plan are you on? Wondering if those on unlimited minute plans can have a similar account change & renewal.

I've had $90 unlimited min plan for 5 yrs, plus $30 unlimited data.. It's pricey at $135/mo after taxes and BS on your bill.

 

[Applejuiced]

You pay more when you sign a contract over the two years of the contract. They won't just give you a free phone...

That's what they want you to think.
I don't pay more by signing a 2 year agreement.
Those mobile share plans are a rip off and there's a reason they're forcing me down on everyone. Not to do you any favors. It's all about their bottom line.

 

[dhy8386]

What call plan are you on? Wondering if those on unlimited minute plans can have a similar account change & renewal.

I've had $90 unlimited min plan for 5 yrs, plus $30 unlimited data.. It's pricey at $135/mo after taxes and BS on your bill.

Pay for the 900 mins. Then obviously 30 for data and 30 for hotspot

 

[rdcamero]

True. But under the old $9.99 add a line system. During the hey days of cell phone subscriber growth of 2000-2010 when carriers had to show investors how many subscribers they were obtaining.

It made sense for Verizon to offer "free" flip phones that only cost Verizon around $100 in exchange for the $9.99 flip lines that generated $240


Wouldn't it be better just to take advantage of the subsidized upgrade loopholes and do whatever u want with the phones? Sell/keep as a spare etc.

It's funny that extending ur contract for a year and Verizon not giving u anything. And people think Verizon is doing u a favor?

It's not like they are lowering the $29.99 data plan.

This remind me what apple did back in April 2011. They raised the price of the iPhone 4 from $599 to $649. Imagine that. The iPhone 4 had been $599 since June 2010. And 10 months later Apple raised the price. Makes no sense for electronic product.

 

[rdcamero]

Works for me.Only have a single line so no loop holes and it saves me $20 a month.

 

[SamTheMan65]

This is false. The unlimited plan is the same price per month whether you take the subsidy or not.

Back on topic... I was month to month on Verizon, but I did the Best Buy upgrade method and extended my contract, while still keeping my unlimited data! I figured I'd take my chances and save $400 over 2 years by getting the subsidy, and potentially save $20/mo for 2 years.

geoff5093 I'm coming from the same scenario as you. I just received my iPhone 6s using the same best buy upgrade method. It's late so I haven't even opened the box. The way I understand it is all I have to do at this point is remove the sim card from my iPhone 5 and place it into the new iPhone 6s. Sound about right?

 

[aneftp]

geoff5093 I'm coming from the same scenario as you. I just received my iPhone 6s using the same best buy upgrade method. It's late so I haven't even opened the box. The way I understand it is all I have to do at this point is remove the sim card from my iPhone 5 and place it into the new iPhone 6s. Sound about right?

Yes. This is all u have to do. Do not turn the new phone on with the sim that Best Buy gave u.

Eject the sim. Destroy it. Cut it. Burn it etc. ha.

Than put ur already active sim in. Than turn the phone on. It will go through an activation process like any new iPhone. It will ask u to connect to wifi network. Takes literally 30 seconds to activate it.

Once activated. U are done.

One word of caution. You will likely have a pending activation on your my Verizon account. This means for the next 1-2 months it may not be possible to make changes to he Verizon account (add lines, switch minutes etc). This is fall off the system in 1-2 months.

And if u should ever need a new sim in the next 1-2 months. Pay for it via eBay or authorized Verizon reseller. DO NOT go to Verizon Corp store for a free sim if u need a replacement in the next 1-2 months until the pending activation warning goes off ur account.

 

[SamTheMan65]

Yes. This is all u have to do. Do not turn the new phone on with the sim that Best Buy gave u.

Eject the sim. Destroy it. Cut it. Burn it etc. ha.

Than put ur already active sim in. Than turn the phone on. It will go through an activation process like any new iPhone. It will ask u to connect to wifi network. Takes literally 30 seconds to activate it.

Once activated. U are done.

One word of caution. You will likely have a pending activation on your my Verizon account. This means for the next 1-2 months it may not be possible to make changes to he Verizon account (add lines, switch minutes etc). This is fall off the system in 1-2 months.

And if u should ever need a new sim in the next 1-2 months. Pay for it via eBay or authorized Verizon reseller. DO NOT go to Verizon Corp store for a free sim if u need a replacement in the next 1-2 months until the pending activation warning goes off ur account.

Thanks aneftp. I'll report back later with the results.

 

[mdlooker]

You pay more when you sign a contract over the two years of the contract. They won't just give you a free phone...

My rates are the same whether I'm on a 2yr plan or not. I showed the difference in price in my example earlier. In any rate, if I were to go to their lowest (5Gigs of Data) plan, the total price will be exactly how it is right now with unlimited. The only difference is do I buy the phone full retail upfront, full retail with installment plans, or the subsidized price by tying myself into another 2yr contract. If I were to do installments, I'm just freeing my opportunity to get an upgrade earlier than 2yrs if I desire and add that installment price to my existing plan; no added value whatsoever.

I don't know why people are saying a tiered plan is more economical. Maybe for them but for me, its the worst thing ever to do.

 

[willmtaylor]

My rates are the same whether I'm on a 2yr plan or not. I showed the difference in price in my example earlier. In any rate, if I were to go to their lowest (5Gigs of Data) plan, the total price will be exactly how it is right now with unlimited. The only difference is do I buy the phone full retail upfront, full retail with installment plans, or the subsidized price by tying myself into another 2yr contract. If I were to do installments, I'm just freeing my opportunity to get an upgrade earlier than 2yrs if I desire and add that installment price to my existing plan; no added value whatsoever.

I don't know why people are saying a tiered plan is more economical. Maybe for them but for me, its the worst thing ever to do.

Who are you with?

 

[mdlooker]

Who are you with?

Mine is with ATT. Before you say it, I'm fully aware this is a Verizon thread..lol. There was a lot of chatter with hoping ATT doesn't do this same action so it evolved into what is transpiring now.

 

[willmtaylor]

Mine is with ATT. Before you say it, I'm fully aware this is a Verizon thread..lol. There was a lot of chatter with hoping ATT doesn't do this same action so it evolved into what is transpiring now.

Nah, I asked.

I was just going to point out that as someone who willingly signs up for 2-year commitments with VZW for subsidized phone prices, I also know that VZW offers line discounts once the 2-year commitment has been fulfilled. E.g. My wife currently gets $15 off her line every month she stays with VZW (out of contract). Maybe ATT offers the same?

 

[mdlooker]

Nah, I asked.

I was just going to point out that as someone who willingly signs up for 2-year commitments with VZW for subsidized phone prices, I also know that VZW offers line discounts once the 2-year commitment has been fulfilled. E.g. My wife currently gets $15 off her line every month she stays with VZW (out of contract). Maybe ATT offers the same?

I'm not sure about discounted additional lines. I'm on a single line but it definitely is possible. I called retention and they stated that each situation is unique and different offers are given at the time of the call. I haven't seen that kind of discount in the open though.

 

[neteng101]

I guess I'll have to determine how important the tethering option is to me and either pony up the additional $20/month, or tell Verizon to go $*@# themselves and cancel my service altogether and just use my work phone.

At least you still have the option with Verizon unlimited to do this - with AT&T, unlimited was limited to phone only, ie. no tethering.

 

[aneftp]

At least you still have the option with Verizon unlimited to do this - with AT&T, unlimited was limited to phone only, ie. no tethering.

Verizon official tethering with unlimited is $30 extra a month (in addition to the $29.99 unlisted phone plan).

But guess what? Because of Verizon FCC band 13 agreement.

I don't even bother using my Verizon unlimited line in the phone anymore. I put that lte sim in my iPad Air 2 cellular.

It's not my main line so I don't care. I forward all my Verizon calls to my att line. And Verizon has Verizon messages where I can text from my iPad with my real Verizon number.

But the best part of the Verizon unlimited data in the cellular iPad?

Verizon enables the hotspot on the iPad. So I can tether for free off the iPad (usually 3 connections). So that's how i use my Verizon unlimited data.

I have it in the iPad. Great for tethering especially on long road trips with the kids. The wifi iPads use the cellular connection.

 

[geoff5093]

Received my new phone today from Best Buy. Cut up the SIM, and used my old SIM. My Verizon shows a contract end date of 2017 and still have unlimited data.

 

[BarryL]

Received my new phone today from Best Buy. Cut up the SIM, and used my old SIM. My Verizon shows a contract end date of 2017 and still have unlimited data.

Good for you! What model did you get and how much did you pay?

 

[karuk]

I went to Best Buy store to pickup 6s plus I was forced to ship to the store. As expected they required activation. I requested the low level employee call someone to get an exception and she said the only number he has is the toll free number for sales. I had him cancel my order and refund my money.

I called Verizon last night and added the 100 bonus loyalty minutes and extended the contract 1 year.

In the end I got what I wanted on the two lines I have. 1 phone shipped to my house from Best Buy, sim swap, and I'm good. Line 2 got locked in through loyalty plan.

***** I verified that I can still buy a subsidized phone on the line that was extended with the 100 bonus minutes.