Verizon Tiered Data Plan. Please Read This Post

[Chrisy]

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.

But this has never happened with Verizon. Also, how are they going to charge me 4G tiered plan when I only get 3G?

 

[htowngator]

As others have said, that sounds like nonsense. They can't tell you "choose this new option" without ending your contract sans ETF.

 

[blackberryconvert2011]

Does anyone know if the tb works on any other network? I bought the tb free and clear and if there were a change in the plans, could I take my phone to amother carrier?

 

[PsYcHoNeWb]

I only read the first couple of posts and did not see this so I will post it here anyway... I apologize if this has been said.

I called VZW 2-3 weeks ago about this whole issue because I was considering getting a TB (which I just bought yesterday and should be coming Thursday-Friday) and I am going to be moving to my own plan soon since I am on a family share plan. What the VZW rep told me on the phone is that they have no intention of tiering their 3G service, but they are going to tiering the 4G data plans. After talking more with this rep, he told me that if you have an unlimited data package now, they will be grandfathering that. What he was not sure of on the phone was that whether or not the grandfathering of the unlimited data service will include the 4G service. He also told me, that in my case if I have an unlimited data plan now on a family share plan and decide to switch to my own plan 99% of the time the will honor your current plan since you are staying with Verizon.

I hope what this rep told me is true since it isn't as bad as what AT&T is doing.

 

[JC4131a]

I think Verizon will grandfather in everyone's unlimited plan for atleast the remainder of current contracts. As others have pointed out, assuming I understand this correctly, not doing this would leave the customer the option of terminating their contract with not ETF since Verizon is changing the contract you agreed to. As a result everyone who just got a TB could terminate, turn around, sign up for a new 2 year deal and get another subsidized smartphone (I would sell my current TB on e-bay). Am I understanding this correctly? If so there is no way Verizon will not grandfather contracts due to the money they could loose.

 

[KingChicago]

Does anyone know if the tb works on any other network? I bought the tb free and clear and if there were a change in the plans, could I take my phone to amother carrier?

No. The radios in it are specific to Verizon's networks.

 

[fatboy97]

Reps say all kinds of things that are not true... could it be true: yes... it could.

I'll wait until it's official before I believe ANY of this.

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

But this has never happened with Verizon. Also, how are they going to charge me 4G tiered plan when I only get 3G?

They could have you sign up, and when 4G hits your geographical area, kick in the 4G rates. Or, they could do like Sprint, change the wording, and apply it to ALL smartphones. It would be difficult for Verizon to differentiate between who was receiving 4G and those who were only getting 3G on a 4G-capable phone. Well, one by one it would be easy. Compiling it to a billable database would be the hard part. Especially if people started turning off 4G at will. My bet (if it comes) is that they tier ALL smartphones and feature phones.

 

[anon(2632)]

No. The radios in it are specific to Verizon's networks.

Some regional carriers will allow Verizon equipment. Metro PCS is one. Depends on where you live.

That said, this is a 4 g phone so i am not sure it would work on any of those, but i know 3 g equipment will.

 

[jim302]

This is all senseless panic and speculation based on something that was supposedly said by one customer service rep. Apparently, it wasn't even a supervisor.

If they had actually announced plans to force people off the unlimited plans, there would be a lot more news about it than just one post in a forum.

I highly doubt VZW will force anyone off the unlimited plans, especially when they can just throttle the connection speed down if too much data is being used. They have not had a history of forcing anyone off a plan or promotion yet unless the customer changes their phone or wants to change the plan (and even these things don't always trigger a forced plan change).

 

[cordoni]

+100

Sent from my Froyo Fascinate using Tapatalk.

 

[SpaceHippie]

Lol It's like the February 17th rumor all over again.

 

[androidburn]

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.

I would be willing to bet as much money as I could that if Verizon decides to change the data rate of Thunderbolt purchasers to a tiered data contract, while "in contract", they will be sued by a number of entities and that Congress would even get involved.

I don't care what kind of boilerplate exists in the contract. Regardless of what is "generally understood" by the public, Verizon Wireless' own employees have made many representations of "this is your data rate for the entire contract" to numerous people. They know that if they try to play the "as per clause 52.8 of the agreement" with the public, they will be crucified. We haven't even talked about the actual fraud of 8GB of available internal memory (less formatting) that appeared everywhere (even on the HTC website) and specifically represented in stores. As I said, they will get crucified. No, it won't happen to Thunderbolt owners but I wouldn't be surprised if they do that BEFORE the Bionic is released, knowing numerous people are waiting for that phone.

"Grandfathering" is a whole other bit of nonsense. They will force you to pay current data rates, whatever those are. And this is where it will get dirty. You buy a $650 phone and you're stuck with a monopoly. Forget about GSM locking. You can't use a CDMA phone on any network. I'm not even sure you could hack a Verizon phone to use on Sprint. Essentially you're stuck with a $650 brick unless you pay your wireless monopoly's month to month pricing. This is where it will get more interesting.

 

[RkyMtnHigh]

I would be willing to bet as much money as I could that if Verizon decides to change the data rate of Thunderbolt purchasers to a tiered data contract, while "in contract", they will be sued by a number of entities and that Congress would even get involved.

Let me know when you want to put some money on congress getting involved. They might...5 or 6 years later. If Verizon was the only carrier in the US, then the FTC might get involved, but not Congress. They have bigger fish that need fried up before they rot. (like our budget for next year, debt ceiling, etc)

I love all the "Breach of Contract" crap getting thrown around too. It's NOT a breach of contract. Does ANYBODY have something in writing saying they'd be grandfathered? Didn't think so....

 

[SpaceHippie]

I get a discount on my account so im not too worried. But i still think they will grandfather us. If not, then they would have to let me out of my contract. Where i would then sell my TB on ebay for 600 bucks, and wait for the EVO 3D to come out. And grab that. Balls in your court Verizon.

 

[Jude526]

maybe my situation will help a little bit. It doesn't relate to the phone contract but it is a Verizon contract just the same. I have my wireless internet with them as well. I have not upgraded in a few years because I have UNLIMITED internet data.........if I upgrade it, it will change my contract and I will lose my unlimited plan. They can't force me to upgrade. I am grandfathered in and can keep this as long as I want. They keep telling me to get the 4g. I don't care about the 4g. I care about keeping my unlimited.

 

[EggoEspada]

It can go either way.

A) User get grandfathered into their plan.

B) They change your plan and you can cancel your contract with the ETF waived.

When you got your phone, you signed for a certain plan and that plan sticks until YOU decide to make changes.

An example is if you have unlimited data, you would be grandfathered in. Then if you go to make changes to your contract in terms of data plans, you will be given the option to choose from their newer pricing plans. Like say you have unlimited, you'll be given the option of $15 for a 1GB, $30 for 3GB, $45 for 5GB if you want to make changes (speaking hypothetically of course, these aren't the pricing).

There is some truth to the OP though. Tiered plans will most likely come at the end of May/early June. We have unlimited data and free hotspot for the Thunderbolt because they are conducting tests on your usage. This will determine how much the data plans will offer and whether the hotspot will come as a separate cost or bundled with the tired plans.

 

[SpaceHippie]

If hotspot comes bundled with the plan and they have a cheap one, i may just get a 4g plan. Worse case, i think i would just sell my TB or trade it in to Verizon for credit and get the new iphone this summer. Only because i know it won't be a 4G iphone.but im not going to think on it too much since i doubt it will come to this.

 

[FrankXS]

Tiered plans will most likely come at the end of May/early June.

They're gonna have to be here before the current free Mobile Hotspot promotion ends on May 15th. I'm not saying anyone is going to be "forced to change", I'm just saying that the new price stucture will most likely be here by then.

-Frank

 

[htowngator]

People, please relax. Obviously they CAN tell you to change the terms of your contract BUT they must give you the option to get out of your contract without paying ETF. It is law.

It would suck if they did that, but heck I'd let them terminate my contract then go month-to-month with my paid off Thunderbolt. It would be a massive PR nightmare not to mention a lot of lost revenue for Verizon. I just don't see that happening.