Slow data...

[bchandler02]

Anyone have any ideas of how to deal with Verizon on this?
I've been seeing data speeds slowing for about a year now, but recently they've gotten so bad that I often cannot use my phone. Happened last year on my S7e and now on my Moto Z. It's happened in 3 states, 4 major cities.

Download speeds suck to the point that I often can't even load a picture on Facebook or from my Plex server. Speed tests are mostly under 0.5Mb, about 15% of the time I can get 1-3Mb, and once in a while I can get low double digits. These are all in places with 3-5 signal bars of LTE, again in major cities like Austin, Houston, Nashville, etc.

Repeated reports to Verizon just fall on deaf ears -they want to troubleshoot the device, then open a network ticket - no results.

I'd love to switch, but I have two extra lines on my account for family members that are mostly talk/text users (< 500Mb data per month), and because I'm on the old $80/10GB plan, those lines are $20 each. I can't reproduce that anywhere, and it doesn't make sense to put them on an unlimited account as they just don't use it.

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I would request a new SIM card, if something with it isn't working right you will get network issues. I used to work for Verizon.

 

[bchandler02]

I would request a new SIM card, if something with it isn't working right you will get network issues. I used to work for Verizon.

Thanks. Not once have they suggested this. It does seem strange that a SIM could impact the speed of the connection, but at this point I'll try anything.

I wanted to throw the SIM in my other phone (an unlocked AT&T GoPhone) last night and run a test to help rule out the device, but it wouldn't take it. That phone obviously doesn't have a CDMA radio, but it should see LTE. This is my backup phone, and data only is fine for a few days if I had to (I can do VOIP via Google Voice). In the past, it has done worked - but now it will see the Verizon network for about 3 seconds and then go into emergency call only mode when my VzW SIM is in it - so something has changed there. Not sure if evil red is blocking non-VZW phones or what now.

 

[Almeuit]

A lot of users on Reddit have said they have seen speed drop a lot since unlimited came out. Some areas are affected less then others of course.

 

[bchandler02]

A lot of users on Reddit have said they have seen speed drop a lot since unlimited came out. Some areas are affected less then others of course.

Yes, that was my thought as well, it makes sense, except that it started last year well before unlimited, and I find it hard to believe that most of the areas I am in are all impacted THIS much.

Even if that is the case, Verizon needs to do something about it. If they truly can't handle unlimited data, it should have never been offered. Forcing everyone to suffer with data speeds that are worse than they were 10 years ago is unacceptable - if they are only going to provide a portion of the service, I should only have to pay a portion of the bill.

 

[Almeuit]

Yes, that was my thought as well, it makes sense, except that it started last year well before unlimited, and I find it hard to believe that most of the areas I am in are all impacted THIS much.

Even if that is the case, Verizon needs to do something about it. If they truly can't handle unlimited data, it should have never been offered. Forcing everyone to suffer with data speeds that are worse than they were 10 years ago is unacceptable - if they are only going to provide a portion of the service, I should only have to pay a portion of the bill.

I am sure one day they can handle it in all areas. When I was with T-Mobile they had rough spots as well but worked through it. Now they have a pretty fast network in majority of places .

Also sadly no carrier will ever pro-rate your bill based on what you get data speed wise. Mainly because none of them truly guarantee any speeds and they do it for this exact reason. If they started handing out half bills to people with bad service you would instantly see people going to a bad area and calling to claim "my service is bad" and such. The overhead on trying to manage who is truly doing what would be a nightmare.

 

[bchandler02]

I don't disagree that they all have rough spots. However, when rough spots span months over multiple states and major cities, that's an issue. Verizon's own site says an average on LTE is 5-12 down.

I've been forcing VZ to give me $15 credit every week until the offer a solution. So far they've done it, but I do not expect that to continue long term.

 

[bchandler02]

Update: Vz just sent the text saying it is resolved. Speed test shows it clearly is not, so I called them. Explanation is that there is high traffic on the tower, one change was made today and one to be done tonight/tomorrow. This is for the tower near my house/account address. I explained that work being done does not equal resolved.

Also told them that their answer does not explain why I have issues in multiple places in multiple states. Friends here that have a jetpack for work also report their data speeds are horrible on the north side of the city - a good 20 miles away from me. They again wanted to go through my device, etc - which is a big part of why I am so fed up with them.

 

[cnotes2019]

Update: Vz just sent the text saying it is resolved. Speed test shows it clearly is not, so I called them. Explanation is that there is high traffic on the tower, one change was made today and one to be done tonight/tomorrow. This is for the tower near my house/account address. I explained that work being done does not equal resolved.

Also told them that their answer does not explain why I have issues in multiple places in multiple states. Friends here that have a jetpack for work also report their data speeds are horrible on the north side of the city - a good 20 miles away from me. They again wanted to go through my device, etc - which is a big part of why I am so fed up with them.

You know where the door is

 

[Doug Moffat]

Have had both modes on Verizon. Formerly paid $300 a month for extra data. Haven't noted a slow down and I'm not a fan of Verizon.