Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

SirEagle · Jun 2, 2012

substring said:
AT&T is talking about "Toll-Free" Data Plan. They will push the streaming cost to the content providers like NetFlix. It makes a whole lot of sense. And it will ease the concern of the consumers on streaming video and music. I think Verizon should follow.

AT&T Users Could See "Toll-Free" Data Plans In The Next 12 Months, Says CEO Randall Stephenson

Haven't read this article yet but did read an article in a newspaper that the CEO of AT&T said he expects one of the big wireless companies to come out with data only plans in the next year or two. In these plans calls and text would be charged as data also.

POC3442 · Jun 4, 2012

I just want to make clear that I understand everything so far:
1. We do not yet know the exact date when Verizon will no longer allow people to update their plans (either renew 4g device or upgrade from 3g to 4g and allow them to stay grandfathered with unlimited data)
2. We do not yet know the exact date in which the tiered data-plans will start.
3. We do not yet know the cost or amount of data offered in these tiered data-plans.

Wizard Prang · Jun 4, 2012

POC3442 said:
I just want to make clear that I understand everything so far:
1. We do not yet know the exact date when Verizon will no longer allow people to update their plans (either renew 4g device or upgrade from 3g to 4g and allow them to stay grandfathered with unlimited data)
2. We do not yet know the exact date in which the tiered data-plans will start.
3. We do not yet know the cost or amount of data offered in these tiered data-plans.

I want to make clear that I understand everything so far:

I understood that the subsidized phone was paid for by the contract rate + data plan; this appears to not be the case.
I understood that when Verizon offered me an "unlimited Data" plan they actually intended for me to have and keep one; this appears to not be the case.
I understood that Shared Data Plans had absolutely nothing to do with individual unlimited plans; this appears to not be the case.
I understood that innovation involved continually offering customers something better; this appears to not be the case.
I understood that Verizon prized loyal customers and wanted to hold on to them; this appears to not be the case.

I've not seen such a firestorm over such a bone-headed move by bone-headed management since Netflix jacked their rates last year... and lost nearly a million users.

MrB206 · Jun 4, 2012

substring said:
AT&T is talking about "Toll-Free" Data Plan. They will push the streaming cost to the content providers like NetFlix. It makes a whole lot of sense. And it will ease the concern of the consumers on streaming video and music. I think Verizon should follow.

AT&T Users Could See "Toll-Free" Data Plans In The Next 12 Months, Says CEO Randall Stephenson

... And then NetFlix raises the streaming only package, so there's no savings for the consumer, just more revenue for the telco because they can demand higher transmission rates to a provider than from a consumer. Usually, that's not the case, but cell carriers are only as effective as their phones and perks.

Will Google have to pay for us to stream music from our music accts? Will Sirius have to pay for people like me that use the app for music? It'll be interesting to see what providers are affected.

WA_Bob · Jun 4, 2012

Wizard Prang said:
I've not seen such a firestorm over such a bone-headed move by bone-headed management since Netflix jacked their rates last year... and lost nearly a million users.

Well, it was kind of expected so no one was really blindsided by the idea that they would do this. But the way they let this cat out of the bag (over a CFO call about earnings) should have made their PR department cringe. If they'd crafted a way to let people know what was going on and get them used to the idea, things would have gone allot better I believe.

On the plus side, at least Verizon didn't do a massive "b*tch slap" like AT&T did to it's grandfathered customers when they started to throttle data on their "unlimited" data plans without letting anyone know what they were throttled at.

ChuckvB · Jun 6, 2012

As I pre-ordered my Samsung S3 today, the choice to keep the Unlimited data plan was there. Thus I think we can expect the policy to not go into effect until after July 9th. Who knows how much longer it will have after that, I do not know? Hopefully until Aug1 so I can get my wife's phone replace too.

Unforgiven · Jun 6, 2012

^^^good to know

ylexot · Jun 6, 2012

ChuckvB said:
As I pre-ordered my Samsung S3 today, the choice to keep the Unlimited data plan was there. Thus I think we can expect the policy to not go into effect until after July 9th. Who knows how much longer it will have after that, I do not know? Hopefully until Aug1 so I can get my wife's phone replace too.

Mmmm...I don't think that is a good indicator.
Pre-order For Verizon’s Galaxy S3 is Live Now, “Ships by July 9″ – Droid Life

And yes, as we also told you on Monday, pre-ordering will lock you into unlimited data. For those not familiar, Verizon

DahDee · Jun 6, 2012

ylexot said:
So, they could make the switch tomorrow and it wouldn't affect people who pre-ordered today because they are already on their new contract with unlimited data.

Yes, my account already shows the new 2-year contract with the same $29.99/month unlimited data plan as before.

heyeaglefn · Jun 6, 2012

DahDee said:
Yes, my account already shows the new 2-year contract with the same $29.99/month unlimited data plan as before.

That is odd, mine shows no changes at all.. Where do you see the changes?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

eipee73 · Jun 6, 2012

I called Verizon yesterday attempting to end my family plan contract 6 months early because the service in my new place is garbage. During the conversation I had mentioned that I was aware that after the change this summer I would be forced into shared data when I purchased a phone at a subsidized price. I was told by a rep and her supervisor that this was not going to be the case as a two year contract for an upgraded phone is an extension of the current terms and they have no right to change grandfathered features or prices.

Needless to say I'm incredibly skeptical as the rest of you are, but I told them I wanted it in writing in my account that I had been assured that upgrading my handset at a subsidized price and extending my contract would not change the terms of my unlimited data.

At the very worst when I go to do my upgrade I will argue until I'm blue in the face about this one as they now have it in writing. If they refuse to extend my unlimited data I will argue for an extremely high shared data tier for the same price. If they still refuse to work with me I will be leaving Verizon without question.

I would suggest calling Verizon about your unlimited data and having them note what they're telling you in your account so you have a foot to stand on when they make the change. Otherwise walk away.

MrB206 · Jun 6, 2012

If you sign a new contract, they can't change your data rate until your contract ends. Period. It's a legally binding contract and not a prepaid plan. Both sides are held tobthe terms for the duration of the contract.

eipee73 · Jun 6, 2012

MrB206 said:
If you sign a new contract, they can't change your data rate until your contract ends. Period. It's a legally binding contract and not a prepaid plan. Both sides are held tobthe terms for the duration of the contract.

Agreed, however in my eyes (and probably how they'll play it) is that purchasing a new phone at subsidized price is a "new" contract. Either way I'll fight them on it and if they won't give they'll lose my business. Not a hard choice for me....HTC One X here I come.

MrB206 · Jun 6, 2012

But it is. When the 2 years are up, you're entering into a new agreement. However, if you do so before their launch of the new rate plan, they can't change your rate, because you both agreed to it. Unlike other contracts and agreements, these are not renegotiated.

eipee73 · Jun 6, 2012

MrB206 said:
But it is. When the 2 years are up, you're entering into a new agreement. However, if you do so before their launch of the new rate plan, they can't change your rate, because you both agreed to it. Unlike other contracts and agreements, these are not renegotiated.

I was told no matter what in the future I will not lose my unlimited data unless I voluntarily make a conscious change to my feature set (such as moving to shared data). I will argue this with them until the end. IMO it's ridiculous that they allowed grandfathering only to take it away a short time later. They should have killed it when they moved to tiered data if this was going to happen. It was poorly done and if they refuse to honor my previous engagements I have no problem leaving them after 7 years.

MrB206 · Jun 6, 2012

Yea, that was a mistake in them saying so, because I was told "grandfathered customers will not be forced to change. There is no end date to the grandfathered accounts". So I knew it wouldn't last forever, but knew I'd have it for a while.

Unfortunately, if you didn't get it in writing, it's not binding, so complaining to them about their error won't do much good. I'm thankful we were grandfathered this long.

eipee73 · Jun 6, 2012

MrB206 said:
Yea, that was a mistake in them saying so, because I was told "grandfathered customers will not be forced to change. There is no end date to the grandfathered accounts". So I knew it wouldn't last forever, but knew I'd have it for a while.

Unfortunately, if you didn't get it in writing, it's not binding, so complaining to them about their error won't do much good. I'm thankful we were grandfathered this long.

That's what I'm saying. It's in writing on my Verizon account. They noted it themselves, which is going to end up being their mistake in the end and they'll have to find some way to compensate me for it. That's why I ensured it was written in there.

Wizard Prang · Jun 6, 2012

MrB206 said:
I'm thankful we were grandfathered this long.

Those of us who got in right before they ended unlimited and were told that they were grandfathered in are less than a year into their contract, and are therefore grandfathered into... well, nothing.

The moral here is obvious: when you shake hands with Verizon, remember to count your fingers afterwards.

eipee73 · Jun 6, 2012

Wizard Prang said:
The moral here is obvious: when you shake hands with Verizon, remember to count your fingers afterwards.

Honestly that's unfair to say of Verizon...they only take things that have value such as rings and watches ;-)

antron007 · Jun 6, 2012

I've heard rumors of this. I have a few friends and family who have new boost mobile adroit devices an they run just as good as my Verizon. (Some cases even better signal). So come next April if they don't gf me in I'm gone. I almost went to boost last year but Verizon did gf me so I stayed.

MrB206 · Jun 6, 2012

eipee73 said:
That's what I'm saying. It's in writing on my Verizon account. They noted it themselves, which is going to end up being their mistake in the end and they'll have to find some way to compensate me for it. That's why I ensured it was written in there.

Don't expect too much from an account notation, because it's not an amendment to your contract and therefore not legally binding. Account notations are verification of verbal discussion but it's not hard to argue good faith error and refer to the agreement entered into.

The only thing that matters legally is what's in your agreement/contract. You can try to claim otherwise, bit you'll be incorrect. So complain and get some credit to your account but don't expect verizon to be held to any notation in your account.

euph_22 · Jun 6, 2012

eipee73 said:
I was told no matter what in the future I will not lose my unlimited data unless I voluntarily make a conscious change to my feature set (such as moving to shared data). I will argue this with them until the end. IMO it's ridiculous that they allowed grandfathering only to take it away a short time later. They should have killed it when they moved to tiered data if this was going to happen. It was poorly done and if they refuse to honor my previous engagements I have no problem leaving them after 7 years.

So, you're bitter that they let you have unlimited data for the last year? I really don't get you're point here.

You will need to voluntarily change your data plan if you buy a new phone with a subsidy. If you don't get a subsidized phone you're free to keep unlimited data as long as you want. While I certainly wish I could keep my unlimited data forever and keep getting subsidized upgrades, I really don't see how this situation can be considered Verizon robbing us.

AntimonyER · Jun 6, 2012

euph_22 said:
So, you're bitter that they let you have unlimited data for the last year? I really don't get you're point here.

You will need to voluntarily change your data plan if you buy a new phone with a subsidy. If you don't get a subsidized phone you're free to keep unlimited data as long as you want. While I certainly wish I could keep my unlimited data forever and keep getting subsidized upgrades, I really don't see how this situation can be considered Verizon robbing us.

Yeah, at least they are giving us a choice, however crappy it is... They could make it policy that unlimited ends at contract end.

Yeahha · Jun 6, 2012

eipee73 said:
That's what I'm saying. It's in writing on my Verizon account. They noted it themselves, which is going to end up being their mistake in the end and they'll have to find some way to compensate me for it. That's why I ensured it was written in there.

Hate to say this but a CSR putting a note on your account doesn't mean anything. VZW's customer agreement makes sure of that...

This agreement and the documents it incorporates form the entire agreement between us. You can't rely on any other documents, or on what's said by any sales or customer service representatives, and you have no other rights regarding Service or this agreement.

Clementine_3 · Jun 6, 2012

You can't rely on.....what's said by any sales or customer service representatives because they are, for the most part, clueless and lie.

There, I fixed it for them.

Verizon Ending Unlimited Data for Grandfathered Users

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