I have been awaiting the July 1 unveiling of the new Verizon Wireless plans for several weeks now, and when I excitedly visited the store yesterday, it was very much a disappointment.
The new America’s Choice “Premium” plan (for both family and individual plans) is nothing more than a ~$20 tacked on fee for your plan that includes (quoted from their press release):
- Mobile E-mail – Customers get their e-mail on-the-go with Verizon Wireless’ new Mobile E-mail application on select Get It Now®-enabled phones. With Mobile E-mail, Verizon Wireless customers can access up to 10 of the world’s most popular e-mail services, including Yahoo!® Mail, Windows Live Hotmail, AOL® Mail, AIM® Mail, Verizon.net accounts and more on their mobile phones.
- VZ Navigator – This location based service from Verizon Wireless gives customers audible turn-by-turn directions and location information to more than 14 million points of interest including restaurants, ATMs and gas stations.
- Messaging – Unlimited text, picture, video and instant messaging to anyone on any network in the U.S. The plans allow customers to send and receive messages to other wireless users and e-mail addresses worry free.
- V CAST Basic Video Clips – Verizon Wireless customers can enjoy video clips of the latest news, sports and entertainment in the palms of their hands.
- Internet – Included with the V CAST VPak, customers have unlimited access to Mobile Web 2.0SM at speeds faster than ever before.
- Network – Verizon Wireless has invested more than $37 billion in the last seven years to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network.
The problem is, you already paid $20 more a month for the unlimited messaging on the America’s Choice “Select” plans, so we are now looking at an extra $40/mo!
So now the plan matrices are as follows (for zip 76039):
Individual Plans
| Basic | Select | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 450 | $39.99 | $59.99 | $79.99 |
| 900 | $59.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 |
| 1350 | $79.99 | $99.99 | $119.99 |
| 2000 | $99.99 | $119.99 | $139.99 |
| 4000 | $149.99 | $169.99 | $189.99 |
| 6000 | $199.99 | $219.99 | $239.99 |
Family Share Plans
| Premium Plan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lines -> | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 700 | $139.99 | $169.98 | $199.97 | $229.96 |
| 1400 | $159.99 | $189.98 | $219.97 | $249.96 |
| 2100 | $179.99 | $209.98 | $239.97 | $269.96 |
| 3000 | $219.99 | $249.98 | $279.97 | $309.96 |
| 4000 | $269.99 | $299.98 | $329.97 | $359.96 |
| 6000 | $369.99 | $399.98 | $429.97 | $459.96 |
I have been with Verizon for 7 years, but it’s looking mighty cloudy in our relationship. This was a huge let down for me personally because I wanted a viable opponent for the iPhone. $20 a month is a bit much for a non-smartphone based device.
To make matters worse, I was due for a phone upgrade after 1 year (which it shows online) , but somehow when I went into the store they said that I wasn’t eligible for the 1 year upgrade until October? Some math is fuzzy there somewhere. Of course the people in the stores aren’t customer service… they are sales people, so I decided not to argue with people that didn’t know what they were talking about, and I walked back outside into the Texas downpour that was happening.
7 years Verizon… I’ll miss ya. I’ve been wanting a Blackberry Pearl anyways…
Loading ...
I have been with Verizon for about 8 years. Can’t wait to go with another phone company. They won’t let me out of “THEIR CONTRACT” – their operator insists that it’s actually “MY CONTRACT – not theirs cause I signed it” …. SO, I’m stuck with them until 2010. They nickle and dime you to death and you end up paying a lot for very little. Then, If someone calls you and threatens you, Verizon won’t give you or the police their hidden number because “it’s their policy” even under a police subpoena. It’s their “policy” to screw over customers. If someone steals your phone they wont use the GPS feature to catch the theif because “it’s their policy”. Better value and more appreciation is to found with ANY OTHER PROVIDER. So I anxiuously look forward to saying adios to Verizon. I may pay the extra 160 dollars just to be RID of them forever early….
Take my advice – STEER CLEAR OF VERIZON or you’ll be sorry.
I got got off a 3 1/2 hour call with Verizon customer service. My high speed internet goes out for minutes to hours on a regular basis. At first they said it was my modem. They swapped it out for me. It seemed to work for a while then more interruptions in service returned.
Ive called back many times and each time they make me do the same hour of unless trouble shooting. The service was down for most of the 3.5 hours I was force to jump through hoops. He gave up and said I could pay for a higher level tech to help me. I told him that the problem was not on my end since I have three computers that use and regain their connections at the same time connected to their modem. I said I may need a new modem again. He said go buy one. Suddenly as it always does it just started working no thanks to any thing they did. I was promptly informed that since it was working there was nothing they could do. I asked if since they did nothing to fix it, when I call back next time can I skip the 3 hour trouble shooting? He told me no I would have to do it all again. They win by making you give up.
I will never use verizon again. On Nov. 11, 2008, at 3:00 pm eastern time, I canceled my verizon account. I spoke with “Michelle” who could not give me an extension number. Upon cancelation, I paid the entire balance due. Actually, I over-payed and I received a check refund for the pro-rated amount left in that month’s billing cycle. One week later, I called verizon again to verify the account being closed and was told again, the account was at zero and paid in full. Now, 5 month later, I get a letter from a collection agency in the amount of $8.73. WTF! What else can I do? How many times must I call after closing a verizon account to verify we are even, square, and paid in full? Why couldn’t they just send me a bill if I did in fact owe money? If I owe money, TELL ME! Verizon repeatedly told me I did not owe anything. Lies, lies and more lies. I will never use verizon again. BOYCOTT VERIZON!
I’m being ripped off by Verizon Wireless.
They are criminal!
I can show you how to get out of a Verizon Wireless contract or show you Verizon Employees sleeping on the job!
Get out while you can! http://www.verizonwirelessliestocustomers.info
Together We Can Put an END to Verizon Wireless, CORPORATE AMERICA taking ADVANTAGE of the WORKING People!
DO NOT purchase the Verizon USB Wireless Airport Card. It is a complete rip. The wireless service is good for about 2-4 hours of airtime per month…which they do not tell you when buying it. Fees start out at $39.99 tax per month. They don’t tell you that the card falls under a two-year contract. They also don’t tell you about the horrid overage charges that incur once you’ve used up the titsy-bitsy amount of airtime service. HUGE, HUGE RIPOFF. SHAME ON YOU VERIZON!
You people are all lame Verizon is much better and you are going to have issues with any carrier.