Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

Old Man · May 23, 2012

Steven58 said:
I said I wanted to speak to customer loyalty because I was probably leaving. She then told me they received the letter early this morning that due to customer outcry, they've changed policy for grandfathered customers.

Has anyone found any confirmation of this? Since the initial announcement was public and widely covered, then one would think that if VZW changed their stance then to get the most positive PR from that they would also be promoting the change. I realize it comes from a good source and I am not questioning that, however I have searched the Internet and not been able to find any corroboration, only support that the grandfathered unlimited plans will be eliminated.

The only option I see that would fit both a change in Verizon's intent and it not being promoted is that VZW is trying to come up with a way of achieving their goals without it being so blatant or causing such an outcry from existing customers before they announce anything. But one would think they would try to do so as soon as possible.

irishjoeyo · May 23, 2012

I have not seen any confirmation of that either, but I did read Verizon's announcement that said that you can keep your unlimited data package if you pay full price for the phone. It also said that the unlimited data feature only disappears when you upgrade and when it is at the subsidized price. So, even though VZ retains the right to change contract features during the contract, their announcement implies that unlimited data will not be removed during a contract. That also suggests that you could activate a phone that you purchased or obtained from elsewhere and still keep your unlimited data because you wouldn't be upgrading at a subsidized price.

heyeaglefn · May 23, 2012

If it wasn't Steven then people would be calling for the ban hammer to fall.

Yeahha · May 23, 2012

He was just passing on what he heard. No harm in that...I am still hoping there is an official announcement by VZW at some point. Currently I am still of the belief this will go into effect sometime in the next few months.

AntimonyER · May 23, 2012

heyeaglefn said:
If it wasn't Steven then people would be calling for the ban hammer to fall.

Who says Steven gets a pass?

I think I agree with irish, they announced unlimited will stay for those who forgo device subsidies, and that is what Steven was referring to.

admn81 · May 23, 2012

I came across this tonite and hopefully its wrong, but I am contacting Big Red to verify. Basically those of us who had unlimited data plans on a 3G device before they switched to a tiered system were able to continue paying $29.99 per month for unlimited data even on a 4G phone. This is apparently going to come to an end this summer. I am pissed and plan on contacting VZW, and maybe if enough of us do they will reconsider. Slim chance I know as they are all about the money as evidenced by nearly every announcement they make includes more fees etc, but it cant hurt to address our frustrations. The link to the story is as follows: Verizon killing off “grandfathered” unlimited data plans this summer | Android Community.
I will repost their reply.

hollywoods14 · May 23, 2012

I read that the other day. The only thing that hasnt been clarified is the users who are already on 4g devices.

9to5cynic · May 23, 2012

Hey Guys, there's some discussion of this going on in the Verizon forum right here:
http://androidforums.com/verizon/549926-verizon-ending-unlimited-data-grandfathered-users.html

They have a bunch of pages related to this.

AntimonyER · May 23, 2012

Merged with existing thread in VZW forum. Thanks for understanding.

Yeahha · May 23, 2012

For the new folks if you don't want to read the entire thread so far we have a report that they will redact this. VZW did release a statement saying if you buy your devices at full retail or used you will avoid the switch and they have said that they will announce the change in advance so you have time to use upgrades if you have them before the change happens...

Most all this thread is spectulation at this point.

mrmooney · May 24, 2012

Thanks for the cliff notes.
So if I switched from a 3G to 4GLTE at the end of march (2 months ago) i should be good? I am already grandfathered into the unlimited plan.

AntimonyER · May 24, 2012

mrmooney said:
Thanks for the cliff notes.
So if I switched from a 3G to 4GLTE at the end of march (2 months ago) i should be good? I am already grandfathered into the unlimited plan.

Yep, you are guaranteed unlimited until you upgrade your phone.

heyeaglefn · May 24, 2012

Nothing has been confirmed.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

AntimonyER · May 24, 2012

Here is the press release. http://news.verizonwireless.com/news/2012/05/data-pricing.html

Old Man · May 24, 2012

I agree that Steven was apparently just passing on what a Customer Loyalty rep told him, however I have to wonder if there may have been some miscommunication or misunderstanding regarding the rep actually referencing that existing unlimited plans would continue until the shared data plans go into effect and beyond that for some unknown time as long as you did not apply a subsidized upgrade or alter your contract.

There seem to be a number of people, myself included, who are needing or wanting to replace their existing devices fairly soon. The usual approach would be either jump in now or deal with your situation until the device you want is available. Several possible new devices such as the Galaxy S3, Droid RAZR HD/Droid Fighter, Droid Incredible 4G LTE are on the horizon, but these seem to have unusually sparse information in terms of definitive specs or availability. However, the introduction of shared data plans and the associated elimination of unlimited plans for anyone wanting a subsidized upgrade have been announced and put in writing but with the date the date and details being undefined beyond it occurring some time this year and supposedly with some advance notice. That seems to make waiting for new devices to become available much more of a risk than usual.

Even if they don't offer specific dates, I would like to see Verizon identify what, if any, new devices are expected to be available before the data plan changes are effected. Anybody who is going to make an upgrade decision based on maintaining unlimited data will do so whether they make that decision now or later and giving them the information to make an informed decision now seems to potentially benefit all parties.

Yeahha · May 24, 2012

Old Man said:
I agree that Steven was apparently just passing on what a Customer Loyalty rep told him, however I have to wonder if there may have been some miscommunication or misunderstanding regarding the rep actually referencing that existing unlimited plans would continue until the shared data plans go into effect and beyond that for some unknown time as long as you did not apply a subsidized upgrade or alter your contract.

There seem to be a number of people, myself included, who are needing or wanting to replace their existing devices fairly soon. The usual approach would be either jump in now or deal with your situation until the device you want is available. Several possible new devices such as the Galaxy S3, Droid RAZR HD/Droid Fighter, Droid Incredible 4G LTE are on the horizon, but these seem to have unusually sparse information in terms of definitive specs or availability. However, the introduction of shared data plans and the associated elimination of unlimited plans for anyone wanting a subsidized upgrade have been announced and put in writing but with the date the date and details being undefined beyond it occurring some time this year and supposedly with some advance notice. That seems to make waiting for new devices to become available much more of a risk than usual.

Even if they don't offer specific dates, I would like to see Verizon identify what, if any, new devices are expected to be available before the data plan changes are effected. Anybody who is going to make an upgrade decision based on maintaining unlimited data will do so whether they make that decision now or later and giving them the information to make an informed decision now seems to potentially benefit all parties.

You are safe waiting for now. VZW doesn't have release dates set or a set date for this change to go into effect. After the gnex fiasco they will not give dates unless they are set in stone. Really can't blame them. Quite a few people got rather upset and still talk about being upset with how they handled the gnex release.

AntimonyER · May 24, 2012

Also Verizon has repeatedly said they will give their customers plenty of notice, so they can plan the correct action for their own individual situation. I think you will have time to decide what to do, although whether the phone you want is out or not is another story.

uhohsteveo · May 24, 2012

AntimonyER said:
Yep, you are guaranteed unlimited until you upgrade your phone.

Now what happens in this scenario:

You have unlimited 4G, but your phone breaks, so in the meantime, you reactivate your old 3G smartphone. Once your replacement 4G phone comes in from eBay, you reactivate it... BUT.... on the system, it'll show you are a 3G customer going to a 4G plan....

Do they waive it, or do they give you the Joan Collins special?

AntimonyER · May 24, 2012

uhohsteveo said:
Now what happens in this scenario:

You have unlimited 4G, but your phone breaks, so in the meantime, you reactivate your old 3G smartphone. Once your replacement 4G phone comes in from eBay, you reactivate it... BUT.... on the system, it'll show you are a 3G customer going to a 4G plan....

Do they waive it, or do they give you the Joan Collins special?

Good question. I do know that when they introduced the tiers, there were a few folks who had to switch to a dumbphone for a couple weeks in similar situations, and managed to keep their unlimited then when they re-added data. But they had it all arranged with CSRs prior to putting the dumbphone on the account.

irishjoeyo · May 24, 2012

uhohsteveo said:
Now what happens in this scenario:

You have unlimited 4G, but your phone breaks, so in the meantime, you reactivate your old 3G smartphone. Once your replacement 4G phone comes in from eBay, you reactivate it... BUT.... on the system, it'll show you are a 3G customer going to a 4G plan....

Do they waive it, or do they give you the Joan Collins special?

No one knows what would happen in any given scenario because no official new policy has been officially released, only VZ giving some information about what they're planning on doing.

That said, my interpretation of what Verizon actually said leads me to believe that in the situation you described, you would still keep your unlimited plan because you wouldn't be upgrading your phone at a subsidized price. From my understanding, it appears that that is the only circumstance that would cause a person to automatically lose their unlimited data plan (purchasing a device at a subsidized price).

Yeahha · May 24, 2012

irishjoeyo said:
No one knows what would happen in any given scenario because no official new policy has been officially released, only VZ giving some information about what they're planning on doing.

That said, my interpretation of what Verizon actually said leads me to believe that in the situation you described, you would still keep your unlimited plan because you wouldn't be upgrading your phone at a subsidized price. From my understanding, it appears that that is the only circumstance that would cause a person to automatically lose their unlimited data plan (purchasing a device at a subsidized price).

From what I have read I agree with you, based on them saying as long as when you upgrade you don't get a subsidized phone you will keep unlimited data then you should be able to switch between phones you own and not worry about getting slammed with a data change

cmybliss · May 24, 2012

Yeahha said:
From what I have read I agree with you, based on them saying as long as when you upgrade you don't get a subsidized phone you will keep unlimited data then you should be able to switch between phones you own and not worry about getting slammed with a data change

I should hope so. But not wanting to take any chances, I went ahead and got a used Tbolt off eBay. I figure better safe than sorry. And at thus point I have no desire to pay an etf so I can upgrade to a newer phone through Verizon. They have the best service, heck, they have the only service in some places I go, so I'll stuck with them. But I won't be giving them any more of money than absolutely necessary.

Yeahha · May 24, 2012

cmybliss said:
I should hope so. But not wanting to take any chances, I went ahead and got a used Tbolt off eBay. I figure better safe than sorry. And at thus point I have no desire to pay an etf so I can upgrade to a newer phone through Verizon. They have the best service, heck, they have the only service in some places I go, so I'll stuck with them. But I won't be giving them any more of money than absolutely necessary.

If your current phone uses a microSIM be sure to get an adapter or a punch because the TB uses a normal size SIM most (if not all?) the new LTE phones use microSIM

cmybliss · May 24, 2012

Yeahha said:
If your current phone uses a microSIM be sure to get an adapter or a punch because the TB uses a normal size SIM most (if not all?) the new LTE phones use microSIM

Good to know. I currently have an Inc2, so figured I'd have to go in and get one for the new phone.

Yeahha · May 24, 2012

cmybliss said:
Good to know. I currently have an Inc2, so figured I'd have to go in and get one for the new phone.

If you aren't activating it on it's own line then you can just switch out the SIM if you want to change phones IIRC. I suppose you could go to VZW and try to get a non-activated one. Once an LTE SIM has been deactivated they are trash and you have to get a new one to use a 4G phone again...

Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

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