Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

[AntimonyER]

Folks already on a family plan with tiered data plans and unlimited talk n text, like me. The GB amounts suck tho....They do. I have a 3 line plan and there is no way I could go with 10GB shared between 3 phones. Seen something the other day about higher GB amounts....need to find out more info on that.

I already have unlimited talk n text so the new plans will save me a great deal. Dont plan on giving up unlimited data I have on 1 line tho, so I wont be going to the shared plans.

The plans can save some ppl money, mainly new folks that came to Verizon after tiered data plans came out.

As a heads up, the Verizon training manual lists up to 30GB as an option, and I am pretty sure if you are willing to pay, they will even go over that. Its just $10 for every extra 2GB, no limit. So if $100 for 10GB is not enough, Pay another $20,$50, or $100 and get 14,20 or even 30GB.

 

[live311]

My wife and I are currently on a family plan with 2 lines. The loss of unlimited data doesn't bother me as I've never exceeded 1 GB in the 2 years I've owned a smart phone and she went back to a feature phone with no data a few weeks ago, thus saving us $30 a month. What does bother me is being forced into more expensive unlimited talk/text plans and a more expensive shared data plan when I will be the only one using data and neither of us come close to using up our 700 minutes or 500 texts (their current cheapest plans). Our only choices are to either hang onto our current phones forever or split into cheaper individual plans since we will not be eligible for upgrades until July. If we do the latter I'll have to bribe wifey by paying her bill since the account is in her name and I pay the bill already. That way I'm free to upgrade without affecting her. I can't wait to see Verizon's churn rate for the 3rd quarter.

 

[Negativism]

Ok i have the OG droid with two lines available for upgrade. I put it off and put it off and just didn't upgrade on the 27th. I go home after midnight just to see what happens if i upgrade now and sure enough i get ''your current data offering is no longer available. By default 76375- DATA PACKAGE 2GB/$30 offering is selected''

Now i was under the impression that if you didn't have a 4g device before the 28th you can not get a 4g device and keep your dataplan even paying the full amount for a phone but i tried anyway and added a full priced 4g phone to the line and got no message like i did above and when i hit next got

Added Features
blah
blah
blah....
75837 - 4G APPLICATION ACCESS</SPAN>$0.00/month
75836 - 4G INTERNET ACCESS</SPAN>$0.00/
....blah blah blah
73715 - EMAIL & WEB UNLIMITED $29.99

Dropped Features

blah blah
76064 3g device

...... Now im not going to pay full price for a phone today but when the lte iphone ( or a android phone i really really love ) comes out i just may and verizon may still hang on to my 248 bucks i send their way every month.

 

[Wizard Prang]

....What does bother me is being forced into more expensive unlimited talk/text plans and a more expensive shared data plan when I will be the only one using data and neither of us come close to using up our 700 minutes or 500 texts (their current cheapest plans)... I can't wait to see Verizon's churn rate for the 3rd quarter.

^^ this

 

[live311]

So I went to the web site and went through a few pre-order steps for GS3 just to see what would happen. Although I may not have looked closely enough, it looks like they changed the name of the talk/text plan but it's still the same limits and same price. They also forced me into an individual tiered data plan, and since the 2 GB would be plenty for me it's basically the same as I'm paying now. So again, unless I missed something it looks like those of us with unfortunate timing on our contracts do have options comparable in price to what we were previously paying, as long as you don't care about losing unlimited data. What is everyone else seeing?

 

[no cigar]

Upgraded to GSIII a week ago and was able to get my $150 credit applied and kept all my original plan in tact. Family 1400/Unlimited Data. Total cost, $83.

 

[pockings]

So I went to the web site and went through a few pre-order steps for GS3 just to see what would happen. Although I may not have looked closely enough, it looks like they changed the name of the talk/text plan but it's still the same limits and same price. They also forced me into an individual tiered data plan, and since the 2 GB would be plenty for me it's basically the same as I'm paying now. So again, unless I missed something it looks like those of us with unfortunate timing on our contracts do have options comparable in price to what we were previously paying, as long as you don't care about losing unlimited data. What is everyone else seeing?

I don't care about losing unlimited data. But for an individual user like myself. I will have to pay more for less. I am a light user. I don't use voice mins and text that much. I have 350 mins, 250 texts plan, and unlimited data currently. With this new share plan, I will be paying $20/mo more for 1GB of data. The cost increase just doesn't work for me. When my contract ends, I will most likely switch to a different provider unless VZW let me keep voice/text/data at the same monthly price. Then I am ok even with just a 1GB data limit. But after chatting with a VZW sales rep online today, I found out I won't have that option. I will have to choose the new plan. So I guess I will have to switch to a different provider .

 

[chmodx]

I'm researching exactly what I want to do with Verizon at this point.

Currently with discount, I pay $71 a month for 450/unl text/unl. data. I'm not due for an upgrade until September, so that boat has sailed unless I pay full price.

My skepticism is this--Verizon will likely in the future discontinue ALL unlimited data, regardless if you paid full price. Why? Because once all of us end our contracts, they are under no obligation to honor the original service agreement. It's coming, and I'm hesitant to buy any device at full price now knowing that I'll end up losing unlimited data in the next 2 yrs.

Sprint has spotty coverage, almost no 4G in the DC area(except downtown). ATT has great phone selection and switching devices in the future would be easier, but I'm not going to save much with them.

No prepaid plans are really looking worthwhile, most are on 'network leftovers' and coverage isn't a priority.

I may just switch to ATT, they've been uber-reliable with my work phone, and I'm just tired of Verizon's too big to fail attitude. Netflix pulled the same crap, and Verizon will gradually lose its customer base.

 

[AntimonyER]

I don't care about losing unlimited data. But for an individual user like myself. I will have to pay more for less. I am a light user. I don't use voice mins and text that much. I have 350 mins, 250 texts plan, and unlimited data currently. With this new share plan, I will be paying $20/mo more for 1GB of data. The cost increase just doesn't work for me. When my contract ends, I will most likely switch to a different provider unless VZW let me keep voice/text/data at the same monthly price. Then I am ok even with just a 1GB data limit. But after chatting with a VZW sales rep online today, I found out I won't have that option. I will have to choose the new plan. So I guess I will have to switch to a different provider .

When you are due for an upgrade, you will be able to keep your minute and text plan, and just switch to 2GB limited data. It will be the same price as you are paying now, and you will have a fresh 2 year contract and a subsidized phone.

 

[pockings]

When you are due for an upgrade, you will be able to keep your minute and text plan, and just switch to 2GB limited data. It will be the same price as you are paying now, and you will have a fresh 2 year contract and a subsidized phone.

You mean when I'm eligible for my upgrade, which will be Jan 2013, I can buy a new phone from VZW at the discounted price with a 2 year contract and keep my current voice and text plan at the same price? And a 2GB data plan at the same price? That wasn't what the VZW sales rep told me online though .

But if that's the case, I will be ok with that as long as I'm not paying more a month. Limited data don't bother me.

 

[euph_22]

You mean when I'm eligible for my upgrade, which will be Jan 2013, I can buy a new phone from VZW at the discounted price with a 2 year contract and keep my current voice and text plan at the same price? And a 2GB data plan at the same price? That wasn't what the VZW sales rep told me online though .

But if that's the case, I will be ok with that as long as I'm not paying more a month. Limited data don't bother me.

It is in the Verizon training manual. Of course Verizon could change things up again before you update.

 

[pockings]

It is in the Verizon training manual. Of course Verizon could change things up again before you update.

I read AER's sticky thread. I am only confused because the VZW sales rep told me different than what AER put on the sticky thread. Perhaps the sales rep didn't read up on the training manual? I dunno.

 

[GandalfTehGray]

I read AER's sticky thread. I am only confused because the VZW sales rep told me different than what AER put on the sticky thread. Perhaps the sales rep didn't read up on the training manual? I dunno.

I'd trust our source/interpretation more than just a sales rep. Only ones I would put above ours is a store manager or customer loyalty.

 

[AntimonyER]

Yeah, unfortunately, for some CSRs, this is just a paycheck, and I guess the penalties for giving out incorrect information isn't severe enough to get rid of some of them. Even on twitter some of the reps were giving conflicting info regarding if new customers would be forced onto share everything (And I would hope those folks were some of the most dedicated and up-to-date).

But yeah, at least for now, ALL existing customers can keep their existing voice and text plans, with the only penalty being if you have unlimited, and you buy a phone at the subsidized price, you will lose unlimited, and switch to the 2GB instead (but no change in what you pay each month).

 

[kjarrett]

For those wondering how this will affect them, I strongly encourage you to go to VerizonWireless.com and start the Share Everything Plan upgrade wizard thing. I just did it. It was extremely logical and clear, explained everything as I went along, and allowed for cancelling (closing the browser) at any time.

Bottom line: I have two smartphones and a dumbphone (the exact example scenario VZW uses). Droid Incrdible 2 for me, Droid 2 for kid #1, and an old stinky LG for kid #2. Our data usage was around 1.4gb/month. Could have gone with the 2gb plan and just yelled at kid #1 to cut back but instead went with the 4gb plan (gonna need some breathing room anyway for the 4g hotspot, which I am DYING to use.) When it was all over, I actually SAVED a whopping $0.40 (yes, 40 cents). I get a 15% discount as a State of NJ employee and my monthly access fee is $170.49 (it was $170.89).

I am happy. Once I get the Incredible 4g LTE (on 7/5, presumably) I'll be able essentially to have 2gb to myself (at least) as long as kid #1 doesn't change her usage habits. Thinking about kicking her onto her own plan (she's 21) which would reduce my bill $40/month and more importantly subject her to paying for her own overages if there are any. I might even kick the plan back to 2gb bit for $10 having twice the data seems like a no-brainer.

The big delta here which I can't speculate on is how much data I'll be munching at 4g thanks to the new Incredible. It's gonna be more than I use now, that's clear. But most of the time (at work and home) I'm on wifi so maybe it won't matter that much. We'll see.

Bottom line, do the wizard thing, it clearly shows you what is changing, what the cost implications are, and you can cancel easily before committing - I did so once.

Your mileage may vary,

-kj-

 

[pockings]

Yeah, unfortunately, for some CSRs, this is just a paycheck, and I guess the penalties for giving out incorrect information isn't severe enough to get rid of some of them. Even on twitter some of the reps were giving conflicting info regarding if new customers would be forced onto share everything (And I would hope those folks were some of the most dedicated and up-to-date).

But yeah, at least for now, ALL existing customers can keep their existing voice and text plans, with the only penalty being if you have unlimited, and you buy a phone at the subsidized price, you will lose unlimited, and switch to the 2GB instead (but no change in what you pay each month).

If that's the case, then I'm fine with it. Thanks for the confirmation AER :thumb:.

 

[AntimonyER]

If that's the case, then I'm fine with it. Thanks for the confirmation AER :thumb:.

 

[octoberdana]

I've done the research and as much as we hate to leave Verizon I think we are going to AT&T in December when our Verizon contracts are up. AT&T offers 3GB of data for the same $30 for 2GB's on Verizon. In addition, mobile to mobile is free and they have roll over minutes. So we will pay about $10 more than on our current Verizon plan but we will get more for that $10 as opposed to staying on Verizon and paying $50 more for less.

 

[AntimonyER]

I've done the research and as much as we hate to leave Verizon I think we are going to AT&T in December when our Verizon contracts are up. AT&T offers 3GB of data for the same $30 for 2GB's on Verizon. In addition, mobile to mobile is free and they have roll over minutes. So we will pay about $10 more than on our current Verizon plan but we will get more for that $10 as opposed to staying on Verizon and paying $50 more for less.

More power to you, although those plans at AT&T may not be there either... AT&T admitted they are also looking at similar plans as Verizon's Share Everything plan, 6 months is plenty of time for them to implement them.

 

[rdalev]

My Plan !
I have 4 phones with Verizon. 1 unlimited, 2 @ 2GB a piece, 1 generic phone. Pay $170.00 a month. My contract, unlimited phone, is up in Jan. The contract on the other 3 are already up !
In Jan. I'm signing up with Sprint ,case closed !
BUT, I'm keeping the Verizon ,unlimited phone and getting rid og the other 3. Should drop my bill to approx. $120.00 a month for 700 mins. unlimited text and data.
I will use my "NEW" sprint phone with unlimited data, everywhere I go !
My 2 year old Verizon Droid Charge ,will sit at home, where I will try to download as much useless crap as possible and run my usage through the roof ! Bye Bye Verizon !

 

[SirEagle]

My bill would be within $5 +/- of what I currently pay, depending if I would go with 2gb or 4gb of data. This is with my work discount and I only have my one phone. But I have another year on my contract and right now I would see no reason to have to upgrade to a different phone, so everything will stay as is. By that time all the big carriers will more than likely have similar plans also. And I would not switch for crappier coverage anyhow.

 

[jroc]

My bill would be within $5 +/- of what I currently pay, depending if I would go with 2gb or 4gb of data. This is with my work discount and I only have my one phone. But I have another year on my contract and right now I would see no reason to have to upgrade to a different phone, so everything will stay as is. By that time all the big carriers will more than likely have similar plans also. And I would not switch for crappier coverage anyhow.

Gotta agree about the coverage. You won't believe how irritating it is to have bad coverage. My kids mother has sprint and possibly a crappy phone. She says she barely uses it for anything. Its that bad. So before anyone jumps to the next carrier....I would really suggest making sure you have decent service with them. Only other carrier I could go to is AT&T. And their service might actually be better than Verizon in my area.

And seeing how the other carriers have followed suit for the most part with other carriers...I agree about expecting them to have similar plans too.

 

[TheMortallyWounded]

I wouldn't switch carriers. I would probably just dump the data plan altogether and go back to a flip phone. The way it's going, I may want to switch to a tablet experience via WiFi only, and resort to some sort of SMS-based IMDb and Wikipedia services. With upcoming standard-unlimited-text plans, I'm sure someone will figure out how to tweet an entire article. #ibetterpatentthisideabeforeappledoesandsuesmefirst

 

[Idunno]

So, here it is straight from Verizon, to avoid any confusion/rumors/fights/quarrels/disagreements/rabbling etc.

If you are currently on an unlimited data plan (typically 29.99/mo, doesn't matter though), YOU WILL LOSE YOUR UNLIMITED DATA IF YOU UPGRADE ON YOUR LINE AT A SUBSIDIZED PRICE. Read that carefully. If you upgrade on your line (your current number, not your account) at the discounted price (the upgrade price, not full retail value) you will lose your unlimited data regardless if are upgrading to a 4g model, staying with 3g, or even downgrading to a dumb phone.

Ways to work around this:
1.) Pay full retail value for your next phones on your line, keep your unlimited data.... asses to that.
2.) Add a line to your account. This is typically an extra $9.99 and adds an extra phone number (line) to your account. This line will require a phone, so now you get a new phone (an S3 or whatever) at the upgrade price ($199 usually) for this new line. Then simply have them activate the new phone on your line... effectively bypassing the upgrade rule and keeping your unlimited data even on 4g.
---------At this point you have two options. Sell your Nexus (or old phone) on craigslist or something and make the cost of the upgrade a wash or even make a little money, leaving the newly added line without a phone associated with it (aka a ghost line). Or you can activate an old flip phone or something (dumb phone) that doesn't require data and keep it as an emergency phone in your car or something, this will keep the cost of the extra line at $9.99/mo.

So essentially you need to figure out if the cost of keeping your unlimited data plan is worth it. Since these rules have become effective since the beginning of July we are all forced to make this decision (at least us with unlimited data). So $10/mo for an extra line = $120, $200 for the upgrade = $320 annual cost for adding a line and buying a phone.

Sell the nexus for at least $300+ w/ accessories your basically at a wash. Do whatever you want with the new line. Just thought everyone might like to know to clear up any confusion.

 

[RWil85]

My situation:

I got the itch to get away from Blackberry (very badly, and most likely for good) and grab one of the newer 4G LTE Android models..

I never got an email, and in the midst of taking care of minor things like my entire life, totally missed the whole "6/28 thing"..I never thought it through.

Just for opinions - I would have to be the biggest schmuck in the world to give up my grandfathered unlimited, switch over to tiered data and take on a new 4G device (which will EAT more data most likely)?

I just got the phone (RAZR MAXX) yesterday - does anyone know if I return the phone will it revert my plan back to my previous plan since that is what 'forced' me to change over to tiered?

If I call and complain to Verizon tomorrow that I never got the 'reminder email and included $100 off any 4G LTE smartphone offer', etc, blah, blah, etc, do you think I could swing them into giving me back my unlimited and perhaps keeping the upgrade as if I did it on 6/28?

If there's anything else you suggest that I do - please let me know. I feel like my brain won't work, haha. Thanks.