Theory: Canceling free mobile hotspot will trigger tiered 4G pricing

[tkdguy]

So here's my theory:

I once had a free text promotion for 2 months that automatically switched to $10/month unless I canceled it. My theory is that 2 months from now, when everyone starts getting charged for the mobile hotspot feature and wants to drop it from their plan, it will trigger a contract adjustment and invoke tiered 4G data... I don't plan to use the mobile hotspot feature, so I will attempt to deny that free addition to my plan this Thursday just in case.

Any thoughts?

 

[macewank]

I don't think they can change the pricing on "Feature 1" just because you cancel "Feature 2" .. reserve the right to be wrong here though

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

 

[paulmike3]

So here's my theory:

I once had a free text promotion for 2 months that automatically switched to $10/month unless I canceled it. My theory is that 2 months from now, when everyone starts getting charged for the mobile hotspot feature and wants to drop it from their plan, it will trigger a contract adjustment and invoke tiered 4G data... I don't plan to use the mobile hotspot feature, so I will attempt to deny that free addition to my plan this Thursday just in case.

Any thoughts?

Interesting theory. I would hope they don't plan to screw us over like that, but I wouldn't run it past them. This is, afterall, the same company that could care less about public perception and customer frustration.

I was already planning on looking at my account to see if it adds hotspot as a promo, then having it removed as well.

 

[anon(149276)]

So here's my theory:

I once had a free text promotion for 2 months that automatically switched to $10/month unless I canceled it. My theory is that 2 months from now, when everyone starts getting charged for the mobile hotspot feature and wants to drop it from their plan, it will trigger a contract adjustment and invoke tiered 4G data... I don't plan to use the mobile hotspot feature, so I will attempt to deny that free addition to my plan this Thursday just in case.

Any thoughts?

I would have to say that is highly doubtful. VZW canceled activation fees on the Xoom and Tab since people were upset the ipad2 didn't have them.

Interesting theory, but if they were that concerned about getting people into tiered data they'd do it now. And the customer could then say they want out of the contract and VZW would have to comply since they changed the terms. So everybody would have a cheap Thunderbolt and go back to 3G with an older phone

 

[zshazz]

Honestly, this is exactly what I thought of when I heard about the mobile hotspot being free until May. Since the data prices are rumored to change "summer" ... May just may be the time they start rolling out those new plans.

 

[tekhna]

That's actually a plausible theory--although the question is whether the hotspot will activate when you activate it, or if it'll come that way out of the box. If you need to activate it, just root it, delete it, and install a tethering app. If it's the other way around, that's sleazy.

 

[robrecht]

So here's my theory:

I once had a free text promotion for 2 months that automatically switched to $10/month unless I canceled it. My theory is that 2 months from now, when everyone starts getting charged for the mobile hotspot feature and wants to drop it from their plan, it will trigger a contract adjustment and invoke tiered 4G data... I don't plan to use the mobile hotspot feature, so I will attempt to deny that free addition to my plan this Thursday just in case.

Any thoughts?

I don't think so. Sounds more like mobile hotspot is a feature, not part of any contract. You can drop or add features whenever you want without any affect on your contract.

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

Ouch. Makes sense to me and I could see them doing that.

 

[sammy303]

sounds like grounds for a lawsuit if they go that route. just ask them not to activate mobile hotspot when you buy it.

 

[DJBeanPole]

Interesting theory. Sound shady.

 

[Air Force One]

I don't see Verizon doing this at all. IMO they are giving free wifi hotspot away free at first because inevitably some people will simply fail to ever call and cancel in May and Verizon will make good money off those people because they won't even notice their bill went up twenty bucks.

Anyway, given they are offering unlimited 4G and $249 price point, I'm taking the two months of free wifi at face value and appreciating it. I think Verizon has done us very good today. Good enough to make me leave AT&T after ten years.

 

[LESSbuttonPRESSED]

imo, the free mobile hotspot is a conditional agreement to the contract, they've given you limited time offer and if you do not agree within the said time, then you're free to cancel the feature prior to the specified date and w/o penalties. it's similar to having cable/satellite tv, you get 3 months of free premium channels, after 3 months you get charged for regular price...BUT if you cancel the premium channel prior to the 3 months, then you won't be charge for the channel and that does not alter your original contract.

however, unless VZW attached an addendum regarding mobile hotspot.

 

[biff6789]

I don't see Verizon doing this at all. IMO they are giving free wifi hotspot away free at first because inevitably some people will simply fail to ever call and cancel in May and Verizon will make good money off those people because they won't even notice their bill went up twenty bucks.

Anyway, given they are offering unlimited 4G and $249 price point, I'm taking the two months of free wifi at face value and appreciating it. I think Verizon has done us very good today. Good enough to make me leave AT&T after ten years.

+1

Verizon's CFO's words in regards to tiered 4G rollout were "mid-summer" - May is not mid-summer.

They're doing it to get people hooked. Most Android users out there still don't root and have no idea what the app "wifi tether" even is. And they're gonna love this free mobile hotspot idea.

They're just using this as an opportunity to give people a taste of tethering over LTE (after all, they DID say a while back that they hope LTE would replace wired home internet options). And once they get a taste, they're gonna want more

Well played, Verizon. Well played...

 

[ASLgeek]

I'm gonna consider the free hotspot a gift for this messy release. I don't think they can lock you in a contract just for changing a feature. However, I do agree with Air Force One they are probably banking on people to forget it's there and collect the money for it for every month it's on there. It would get someone like me who doesn't really look at the bill unless it's extremely higher than normal. Hell it took me a few months before I noticed the lady from the corporate store never cancelled the visual voicemail on my account like she was supposed to be because a $3 extra charge isn't all that noticeable.

 

[Vincetybor]

Verizon has this free 1-2 month with all of there apps. VZ Navigator, Visual Voicemail, ect. There hope and thought is that you A. Like it and want to keep it. Or B. Forget and don't check your bill. I've got stuck with them charging me for a couple months after the 30 free trial ended. They don't tell you it just starts showing up on your bill.

 

[Droid800]

So here's my theory:

I once had a free text promotion for 2 months that automatically switched to $10/month unless I canceled it. My theory is that 2 months from now, when everyone starts getting charged for the mobile hotspot feature and wants to drop it from their plan, it will trigger a contract adjustment and invoke tiered 4G data... I don't plan to use the mobile hotspot feature, so I will attempt to deny that free addition to my plan this Thursday just in case.

Any thoughts?

Nope, sorry. This isn't a conspiracy.

Mobile hotspot is a plan feature, which is not considered part of your regular contract. You can add it or remove it whenever you choose, and you pay for it as a separate charge from your regular data.

So, they COULDN'T force a change in your data plan once the trial period is over, because they're two separate charges.

 

[superlawyer15]

if you're really that worried just don't accept the hotspot feature as part of your contract

regardless of whether its free or not...

 

[66dude]

Wait... so how does one cancel the mobile hotspot feature after using it?

 

[htowngator]

Not true

Cancelling it doesn't affect anything else

 

[KingChicago]

Nope, sorry. This isn't a conspiracy.

Mobile hotspot is a plan feature, which is not considered part of your regular contract. You can add it or remove it whenever you choose, and you pay for it as a separate charge from your regular data.

So, they COULDN'T force a change in your data plan once the trial period is over, because they're two separate charges.

Correct, it is a plan feature, it also does not need to be cancelled or else you would be charged. It is usually automatic for these 2 month trials, and you need to manually add it to your account in order to be charged for it.

They can't change the base of your contract without your consent.