Verizon Tiered Data Plan. Please Read This Post

[nkd]

wrong. Epic wrong.

What about the requirement of data plan with the phone? so is the contract just on the phone? no. you are required to sign a data plan to even get the phone. So whoever was telling you that the contract is only on the phone are just trying to sound like they know a whole lot when they dont.

Yes you can make changes to your plan but can you stop data? No again.

If they change the terms of the contract on the data plan then that is a breach of contract and they will have to give people option to leave verizon if they prefer.

 

[nkd]

Yeah, I know. I'm saying that the data plan is not part of the contract.

-Frank

Yes it is. Can you get the phone without the data plan? No you cant.

 

[Super_Mario]

Information about possible tiered data pricing has not even been discussed to the reps. Any information given by a CSR is going to be pure speculation. And if any changes are made they would never change existing contracts. They never have. If you drop the unlimited plan, let's say for a regular phone, then try to go back to the unlimited plan, then you may lose it but they would never change it just to do it. Not with out getting agreement to do so.

 

[Droid800]

Changing your plans mid contract would be a breech of contract. That would void everyones contracts.

It is not a breach of contract because the contract itself says that they may change prices at any time during the duration of the contract. They are just required to notify you of the change so that you can cancel your contract without an ETF.

 

[HawaiiD]

Depends on what they change it to. It most likely wouldn't be "materially adverse" for most people. The small percentage of high data users who aren't violating any other terms of the contract may have a case.

What would most likely be the cap?

5GB? 2GB?

 

[HawaiiD]

I could actually see Verizon pulling this:

Send out notice that plans are changing and that unlimited data is now say $40 or $50 a month.

Everyone has their legal notice and right to leave but think about this: How many people do you think would actually leave? Many people have multiple lines through Verizon and don't want or can't go to another carrier for many reasons (loyalty to brand, local coverage, all of their friends/family being on the same carrier, etc.).

Remember many people are die hard Verizon users and would never switch. They are willing to pay for their service for a variety of reasons including those listed above.

I'm thinking that most of you here also have a regular internet connection too?

Now adding another 40-50 dollars to each phone on top of your regular
internet bill? That's a pretty steep price to pay monthly weather you got
cash or not?

I could see however, If the 40-50 dollars plan would include free hotspot?
Then you could simply cancel your regular internet connection?

Then again... If your a online gamer(PC,MAC,PS3,XBox360)? your latency would most likely blow?

 

[stratejaket]

Since I have the hotspot promo I've been playing around with it quite a bit. Gaming is just fine thru it. I'm in a 3g only area and have put hours into wow with a consistent latency of 100 or less. Very impressed to be honest. The only time it had struggled was during huge pvp battles. Dungeons and the small battle grounds were just fine. I haven't tried any fps though. Probably wouldn't be as successful in a game like that.
I have not been able to experience the 4g yet. However the demo videos show a substantial reduction in latency. I'm thinking with 4g any game would be possible.
I was at Verizon picking my thunderbolt up the morning it finally released. My rep and the store manager told me that I would have unlimited 4g forever regardless if Verizon ever went to tiered or not. It would only be lost if I tried to change the data portion if my plan. The few times I've called customer service since getting this phone I have been told the same information about my data. If you were not on a 4g plan and they did choose to go to tiered you would be required to choose one of the tiers before your new contract was started.

 

[prakash99]

I think they usually don't mess with the plans that you signed up with when the contract was signed. When I used to have a monthly flat rate prepaid plan a long time ago, they let me stay on the plan even long after the monthly flat rate plan was scrapped by Verizon.

 

[anicholas7]

I will admit that there are reps that do not know what they are talking about and I am not saying this guy was 100% correct but he kept telling me this was the information he has in front of him. I kept questioning this, giving scenarios to him such as if I purchase a 4g phone today and tomorrow they come out with tiered pricing am I obligated to change my data plan to one of the tiered pricing plans and he said yes. Again he kept telling me that the free 4g service people were getting was to determine what their use was so that they can pick the proper plan that fits their needs when the tiered pricing comes out. It seems that although I am paying $30 for unlimited 3g service now, if I show that I have only been averaging 1gb of data every month then I would pick a 4g plan that represented about that much data. The cost could actually be less per month for me but that would be determined once the tiered pricing comes out. If I was using 5gb per month then I am sure I would have to stay with unlimited 4g which will be more money.
I just wanted to post my original post so that people would just be aware that they "might" get screwed with the new 4g phones if purchased before the tiered pricing comes out and if you haven't purchased one yet to question the hell out of the Verizon salesman before you did purchase one.

 

[KingChicago]

There is not a Popsicle's chance in hell that Verizon would do this. It would affect 100% of their data using customers...which I am assuming is a gigantic chunk of them.

Verizon would not risk a change as drastic as this while giving people an exemption from ETF. Most of the "changes" that they make are minor ones that dont affect a monthly bill drastically. This...this would alter people's contracts in a huge way. They usually use this clause to add new small fees.

I don't see them taking the risk on existing contracts...it would be a PR nightmare, and be incredibly labor intensive...just think, the common customer does not make changes to their account online, they go into a store. Having 67% of your users on multimedia and feature "smart phones" (From Shammo's mouth), and having them all have to switch plans is absurd. Also, ATT cut their unlimited plans, but when they did, it was to new plans. Not existing contracts.

 

[whiteshadow001]

I understand all of this except #4. My local verizon store tells me that we will be grandfathered in, this will make alot of people mad if we aren't

 

[Edwill86]

Its a contract for service including but not limited to the Device. if they change the terms they void the contract. plain and simple.

 

[JRZLocal]

Complete speculation at this point. And no Verizon can't legally change your contract you signed without allowing you to leave without an ETF. I'm thinking you'll be grandfathered in and since I purchased the thunderbolt on a 2 yr I should be able to keep unlimited data until I upgrade next time.

 

[iLLusive]

Only way I see them attempting to NOT grandfather people in, and this is my huge fear in what they will do. Is to now listen to this carefully Discontinue the Unlimted 3g Data plan we have now. In doing this they send out multiple contacts stating something alone the lines of We are informing you that you have 30 days, 60 days whatever law requires to contact us or go to verizonwireless.com and update to new tier of our data plans. If you fail to do this we will do our best to place you in similar plan as your current. Furthermore all new "4G' phones will have to pick from 3-4 choices of Tier Data based on usage.

So now in theory this has happened with plans before so I see no reason why they wouldn't try to pull this BS with new data service. They give everyone email, mail and legal time to switch. If you don't they drop you in middle tier and your fault for not reacting. In the end we won't know what will happen but I see this as huge loophole if they can no longer offer the 3G plan and give notice I think they would be covered in the clause listed as stating they can make adjustments as needed but need to contact us in regards to the changes. Even though with this loophole I would think since technically speaking it is their choice in changing the service we would be given the option to EFT out of the line of service and go elsewhere.

 

[anon(79257)]

4) is most certainly wrong. They will either have to grandfather people, or let them out sans ETF, unless there's some serious screwing around going on.

^^^^

 

[anon(79257)]

In the end, they will LOSE contracts if they do number 4 (which is akin to doing #2 on their customers). I don't see that happening. They would lose too much money, that way.

 

[anon(79257)]

Only way I see them attempting to NOT grandfather people in, and this is my huge fear in what they will do. Is to now listen to this carefully Discontinue the Unlimted 3g Data plan we have now. In doing this they send out multiple contacts stating something alone the lines of We are informing you that you have 30 days, 60 days whatever law requires to contact us or go to verizonwireless.com and update to new tier of our data plans. If you fail to do this we will do our best to place you in similar plan as your current. Furthermore all new "4G' phones will have to pick from 3-4 choices of Tier Data based on usage.

So now in theory this has happened with plans before so I see no reason why they wouldn't try to pull this BS with new data service. They give everyone email, mail and legal time to switch. If you don't they drop you in middle tier and your fault for not reacting. In the end we won't know what will happen but I see this as huge loophole if they can no longer offer the 3G plan and give notice I think they would be covered in the clause listed as stating they can make adjustments as needed but need to contact us in regards to the changes. Even though with this loophole I would think since technically speaking it is their choice in changing the service we would be given the option to EFT out of the line of service and go elsewhere.

Your theory is interesting. But, does not take into account non-4G areas. Which is 90% of their service area atm...

That's not to say they won't pull this crap, after they have 90% 4G coverage.

 

[anon(79257)]

Today I called Verizon to check up on the tiered pricing plan and when it will start and how it will affect those who buy a 4g phone before the rates go into affect.
This is what I was told.
1)Tiered pricing is scheduled to come out sometime in May.
2)If you buy a 4g phone prior to the tiered pricing plan you will have to choose a new data plan from the tiered pricing they have when it comes out. You will not be able to keep the exact data plan you have now for the same price you are paying today. Apparently they were giving people some time with the Thunderbolt to see how much data they are using and when the tiered pricing comes out you will have a better idea as to what type of pricing plan you want. Obviously if you have unlimited data for $30 and want to keep unlimited you can but it will cost more.
3)No grandfather clause. I read somewhere that you would be grandfathered in but he said no.
4)I asked how can they just change the cost structure of your plan when you have a contract and he said because your 2 year contract is for the phone not the plan as you can change your plan anytime you want within those two years. Kind of makes sense but I call foul anyway.

I asked this because although I did not buy the Thunderbolt I was waiting to see how the Bionic was when it came out and was going to buy that if it proved better then the Thunderbolt. I read how others were waiting like me and hoping the Bionic would come out before the tiered pricing thinking you would be grandfathered in before the tiered pricing came out. Now I am not sure if I even want a 4g phone.

The whole problem I have with all of this is that it came from a telephone rep. Period. We've heard some really bizzarre things from them, over the years. Not sure if they are just having fun with us or just stupid. Either way, putting stock in something the telephone csrs and even in store reps say is like believing in Santy Clause.

I'm not saying they didn't say these things to you. I'm just stating the obvious about the track record from csr's and that company. They usually don't know JACK.

 

[gvillager]

I'm not even going to read through this thread. Nothing official has been released by VZW. Anything a rep says now is pure speculation on their part.

 

[R3dM0nd]

the op does know that since out phone require a data plan the contract we signed 1 yr or 2 year cover the data plan as well. We are free to change our plan anytime we want but they cant actually change it on us if they did somehow i can't count how many lawsuits would be on them