Why am i paying for premium data!??

[vinnyw54]

So I live in upstate NY (Rochester) and we do not have LTE coverage yet. We barely had any WiMax coverage.

My question is why am I paying for the premium data when all I can get with the HTC ONE is 3G coverage???? It just doesn't make sense to me. If I had only a 3G capable phone, I wouldn't have to pay the extra $10.

Can anyone shed some light on this? I just wanted to ask before I spend 13 hours on the phone with customer service seeing if they can remove the charge until we get LTE coverage. Can I get this charge taken off my bill??

 

[friedtators]

listen do not waste your time that charge has been there for a while. corporate crap...crappy 3g. has nothing do do with lte. when they put in wimax they made the charge because you could use it if you had access. many did not have access. everyone got charged

 

[BigDinCA]

Tators is right - it's not a 4G charge, despite the fact that we all know it really is. But fear not, this might brighten your day just a touch:

Network Vision/LTE - Rochester Market (Rochester, New York) - Markets - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

 

[vinnyw54]

Tators is right - it's not a 4G charge, despite the fact that we all know it really is. But fear not, this might brighten your day just a touch:

Network Vision/LTE - Rochester Market (Rochester, New York) - Markets - Sprint 4G Rollout Updates

That does brighten my day, just wish I wasn't being charged that extra $10. I appreciate the info guys.

 

[jrsharp70]

That does brighten my day, just wish I wasn't being charged that extra $10. I appreciate the info guys.

I have sprint near Atlanta. When I got my first 4g phone, the coverage map had me smack in the middle of 4g coverage. But... Nothing.

That map actually displays current and "pending" 4g.

Well, anyone with sprint knows that their 3g is basically no g at all. Maybe 128kbps on a great day. (usually I got around 17 kbps, not exaggerating).

So after a few days of wondering why I had no 4g in spite of the map saying I did, I went to the store and told them 4g didn't work, at which point they explained sprint's liberal application of "coverage".

I called sprint that afternoon, and made sure I got an American call center, and told them that they were lying liars and I only stayed on their **** network because I could actually get decent data speeds now, which is a lie.

Long (boring) story short, I told them I don't want to pay their premium data fee until my area actually gets the coverage that the map says it does. They gave me a $60 credit and told me that if I didn't have 4g in 6 months to call back and they would give me another credit.

4 months later it showed up.
The end.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Almeuit]

It basically is a 10$ smartphone charge.. They chose bad wording but as the post above says you may be able to call and have it taken off.

Sent from my Sprint S3 using AC forums.

 

[brycenull]

I get about 1Mb down and maybe 2Mb on a good day. The Revision project must have not gotten there yet. I also get 4g

 

[BigDinCA]

Long (boring) story short...

Too late.

 

[digitallove]

My family's been chillin' with 3g phones because Denver doesn't have (official--there's 2 towers up, though!... though none near me) 4g yet, and we all had our last upgrades without the $10/mo smartphone charge (it was just a 4g charge a couple years ago). I've been upgrade eligible since last August and I'm annoyed with my phone, and the HTC one would obviously be an upgrade even without usable 4g, but $10/mo is steep on top of the price of the phone, just to get a shiny new smartphone. So I'm hesitant to upgrade, even though the phone is absolutely phenomenal. There'll be other phenomenal phones out this fall, too...

 

[HalizDad]

Ya' know, the "Premium Smartphone Data" (Not 4G) addition was added since the Evo4G came out. It is to help Sprint buy all these nice new towers, and increase the network to handle all the new data traffic since smartphones got all popular back in 2007. If the $10.00 a month charge bothers anyone, feel free to join Verizon, or AT&T and get ****-raped by them, or join T-Mobile and maybe you'll have HSPA+, or, maybe you won't. Verizon coverage where I'm at is 4G/LTE in a select few spots, and even then it's not the blazing fast downloads people in the city get to brag about. Whenever I did hit those areas, I had to watch out for data overages. Trust me when I say "if you don't like it, find another carrier"....but listen to this little caveat beforehand....You'll be back. T-Mobile is a little cheaper, but they don't subsidize a phone every 20 months...Sprint is the best deal if you want the newest phone and a decent 3G signal. Most places are on WiFi nowadays anyhow, and voice doesn't use 4G.

Just my $.02

 

[digitallove]

Ya' know, the "Premium Smartphone Data" (Not 4G) addition was added since the Evo4G came out. It is to help Sprint buy all these nice new towers, and increase the network to handle all the new data traffic since smartphones got all popular back in 2007. If the $10.00 a month charge bothers anyone, feel free to join Verizon, or AT&T and get ****-raped by them, or join T-Mobile and maybe you'll have HSPA+, or, maybe you won't. Verizon coverage where I'm at is 4G/LTE in a select few spots, and even then it's not the blazing fast downloads people in the city get to brag about. Whenever I did hit those areas, I had to watch out for data overages. Trust me when I say "if you don't like it, find another carrier"....but listen to this little caveat beforehand....You'll be back. T-Mobile is a little cheaper, but they don't subsidize a phone every 20 months...Sprint is the best deal if you want the newest phone and a decent 3G signal. Most places are on WiFi nowadays anyhow, and voice doesn't use 4G.

Just my $.02

I think that's why we haven't switched to verizon, cause we were comparison shopping for a bit. And again, since they changed it from being a charge for subscribers with 4g phones to all smartphones literally 2 weeks after I got my phone (and I was the last to upgrade), we've been able to avoid the charge, since preexisting subscribers only get it once they activate another smartphone. In the time everyone's been eligible for upgrades and we haven't done so, we've avoided about $400 in premium data charges so far. Downside is... old phones. Though I'm the only one who uses apps anyway, so I'm probably the only one feeling the pain of being stuck on gingerbread on an entry-level smartphone from over two years ago.

But yes, they're a pretty good deal still, and we get good service. And it looks like they are making progress with 4g locally, so that's good. I don't think anyone absolutely adores their network provider, anyway, so that's good enough for me.

 

[HalizDad]

I think that's why we haven't switched to verizon, cause we were comparison shopping for a bit. And again, since they changed it from being a charge for subscribers with 4g phones to all smartphones literally 2 weeks after I got my phone (and I was the last to upgrade), we've been able to avoid the charge, since preexisting subscribers only get it once they activate another smartphone. In the time everyone's been eligible for upgrades and we haven't done so, we've avoided about $400 in premium data charges so far. Downside is... old phones. Though I'm the only one who uses apps anyway, so I'm probably the only one feeling the pain of being stuck on gingerbread on an entry-level smartphone from over two years ago.

But yes, they're a pretty good deal still, and we get good service. And it looks like they are making progress with 4g locally, so that's good. I don't think anyone absolutely adores their network provider, anyway, so that's good enough for me.

Upgrade your phone without a subside and see how you feel...You buy a phone outright and you'll still pay the same, no discount...or you'll still be stuck with the same old phone. THAT is where T-Mobile has found their niche...You pay up front, though you buy the phone or finance it. A Verizon plan with a 22% discount is $94.60 a month for 2GB of data (I had it...don't even TRY to call me out) A Sprint plan with a 15% discount is $68.00 a month with t, and is just as fast as Verizon 4G out here....Plus, every 20 months, a new phone...hmmm I'd say T-Mob or Sprint...I'm on Sprint...who is bringing their LTE here this summer. Sprint will upgrade my phone for around $200.00 in 2 years if I continue to use them...I'm happy.

 

[digitallove]

Upgrade your phone without a subside and see how you feel...You buy a phone outright and you'll still pay the same, no discount...or you'll still be stuck with the same old phone. THAT is where T-Mobile has found their niche...You pay up front, though you buy the phone or finance it. A Verizon plan with a 22% discount is $94.60 a month for 2GB of data (I had it...don't even TRY to call me out) A Sprint plan with a 15% discount is $68.00 a month with t, and is just as fast as Verizon 4G out here....Plus, every 20 months, a new phone...hmmm I'd say T-Mob or Sprint...I'm on Sprint...who is bringing their LTE here this summer. Sprint will upgrade my phone for around $200.00 in 2 years if I continue to use them...I'm happy.

I don't think you get what I'm saying, I apologize, and I'll try to clarify.

I said that we did the math (hence, "comparison shipping") and stayed with Sprint for that reason, just chose to keep our phones, though we have been eligible for upgrades for a year now, to avoid the premium data charge and save, by the time we 4G is in place here, at least half a grand. Just from not getting a premium data charge.

Thank you for math and plan comparisons, I'm sure someone will find them helpful.

I honestly just popped in here in the first place to tell OP that you are not crazy, when that charge was first introduced, it only was given to people with 4G phones, and if your last upgrade before the One was to a non-4G phone and was before mid-Jan 2011, that's why you're getting this new charge. And if you're a new customer, it's kind of poorly worded, sorry, but it's for all smartphones now, that's the deal.

 

[HalizDad]

Yep, I read it wrong...I thought you said you had switched to Verizon to avoid the charge...lol It was 100 degrees here yesterday, and I was out in the sun...with a beer or four... The $10.00 charge doesn't bother me because it's on one phone and still a buttload cheaper than anyone other than T-Mob. Switching back to Sprint saves me over $300.00 a year...with the $10.00 premium smartphone data charge.

 

[Bretski169]

With a 10% discount I am paying $94 dollars a month, is this high? I don't get 4g at home, I sawsomeone said they were paying around $68 dollars, How do I lower it, I just switched to sprint.

 

[moosc]

Just do some searching. You'll see sprint been raping since the evo. There are ton threads on this. Just live with it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Xparent Cyan Tapatalk 2

 

[Bretski169]

Yep, I read it wrong...I thought you said you had switched to Verizon to avoid the charge...lol It was 100 degrees here yesterday, and I was out in the sun...with a beer or four... The $10.00 charge doesn't bother me because it's on one phone and still a buttload cheaper than anyone other than T-Mob. Switching back to Sprint saves me over $300.00 a year...with the $10.00 premium smartphone data charge.

Im on the lowest plan I think and im at 94. How do I lower it.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[HalizDad]

Im on the lowest plan I think and im at 94. How do I lower it.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4 Beta

It's probably your minutes, or you went with the "Everything Unlimited" plan. I have 450 anytime minutes, and unlimited everything-else. 450 minutes to call landlines between 7a and 7p is a lot of minutes since nights and weekends are free, and most people I know use cellphones which is unlimited calling on any network. My bill is $68.40 a month.

 

[Bretski169]

It's probably your minutes, or you went with the "Everything Unlimited" plan. I have 450 anytime minutes, and unlimited everything-else. 450 minutes to call landlines between 7a and 7p is a lot of minutes since nights and weekends are free, and most people I know use cellphones which is unlimited calling on any network. My bill is $68.40 a month.

I have the 450 min plan. do you have discounts or multiple lines? I want my bill to be that low lol

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[Almeuit]

It's probably your minutes, or you went with the "Everything Unlimited" plan. I have 450 anytime minutes, and unlimited everything-else. 450 minutes to call landlines between 7a and 7p is a lot of minutes since nights and weekends are free, and most people I know use cellphones which is unlimited calling on any network. My bill is $68.40 a month.

I have the 450 min plan. do you have discounts or multiple lines? I want my bill to be that low lol

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Yeah he has a discount. I'm on the same plan. I'm around 92 a month after taxes.

Sent from my Sprint HTC One using AC forums.