Verizon Doubles Early Termination Fee and More 520
An anonymous reader writes "If you buy a smartphone through Verizon, be prepared for an increase in the early termination fee. Verizon is doubling the phone-subsidy to $350. What's more, is that Verizon also actively charges customers for accidental data transmissions of as little as 0.02kb. 'They configure the phones to have multiple easily hit keystrokes to launch 'Get it now' or 'Mobile Web'—usually a single key like an arrow key. [...] The instant you call the function, they charge you the data fee. We cancel these unintended requests as fast as we can hit the End key, but it doesn't matter; they've told me that ANY data--even one kilobyte--is billed as 1MB. The damage is done.'"
They doubled it because... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Wow (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Wow (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Seems reasonable... (Score:5, Interesting)
Is this some kind of hit piece to try and convince people not to use Verizon instead of AT&T? If you use data, it seems reasonable to me to charge a fee even if you just made "a mistake". It's not like international roaming is any more lenient.
I don't have a problem actually paying for data use. If I fire up a web browser and surf around a bit, go ahead and bill me.
The problem I have is that on my phone the web browser is bound to the up direction on the circular directional wheel... With the OK button in the middle. I have frequently hit the up direction accidentally when I meant to press OK. And that launches the web browser. It doesn't ask for confirmation... Just pops up the web browser and immediately starts loading a page.
Obviously I hit another button to cancel the web browser and go back to what I'm doing... But Verizon rounds pretty much any data transfer up to the nearest MB. So I'm billed for at least 1 MB even though I only actually transferred a couple K of data.
This was enough of a nuisance, not just for me but also my wife and son, that I had to block data entirely on our account. It would be nice to have it available if I needed it, but that just isn't possible. It's entirely too easy to wind up with a pile of little charges.
Re:Free market (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Cancel your data service (Score:1, Interesting)
If you disable data services, and accidentally click on a data service button, you will be charged $1.99 for the bandwith it took to send you the 'You do not have this service' message.
Actually no. Like I said if you tell them that you want to block access to all data services then they will in fact disable it. You will no longer have any TCP/IP capability to even return the message 'You do not have this service'. I went from 'unlimited data' to having the service blocked, even when I tried to access websites and initiate email syncronization. I no longer was billed for data services.
I am not saying this because I loved VzW, after my phone died I switched to AT&T and got an iPhone. There was even the pleasant surprise that the ETF was pro-rated so it only cost me $80 to cancel the contract early. So VzW isn't as bad as the article is making them out to be.
maybe nowyou can cancel w/o a fee (Score:2, Interesting)
ORLY? (Score:3, Interesting)
If I buy a smartphone from Verizon and sign a 2-year contract, I'm prepared to keep the phone and service for two years. That's the game and they're setting the rules - if I want to phone and service jump, sure I could prefer not to pay but I can't really find a fault in them wanting me to. Who is this hurting? If you move to a location where you don't get service, they already let you cancel without penalty. How many people actually end up paying the ETF?
Also, I don't know about the data bit either. My old k1m/krzr went to the "mobile web" or get it now if I hit the down arrow. That brought up a launch screen where I could check account settings (for free), purchase a day's worth of mobile browsing, or sign up for mobile web and have it as a recurring payment. I've never been charged for any sort of access for pulling anything down.
Sprint (Score:4, Interesting)
Cheaper than keeping it... (Score:3, Interesting)
Paying $230 to break a 2-year contract after one year is far cheaper than keeping the phone for another year at $120+ per month...just sayin'.
MOD PARENT UP! (Score:3, Interesting)
I am so glad to have T-Moblie service (and Android for over a year). Not because they have great coverage (it is really good in Atlanta but bad other places), because Verizon does. I am so glad because they give the best customer service, in both the stores and on the phone.
I had huge problems with Verizon refurbished phones not working properly (went through 5 phones in 8 weeks). Three of the five didn't work properly out of the store. The other two had either the speaker or LCD mess up within a week. Every time I went to get a replacement I had to call the 800 number, hand the phone to the desk person so they would give me the replacement. PITA. I ended up forwarding my number to a Pre-Paid T-Mobile phone for 5 months before my contract ended (it was cheaper to pay the $10 a month for the family line, than the $175 break fee). I moved my number the day my contract ended. The other 3 family lines got moved within 5 days.
Sorry for the rant. VerizonWireless, and Comcast will never get a dime from me, they both offer nice products (well just Verizon), but their service is not worth the hassle. I also know a Verizon Wireless employee (accounting) that forgoes the discounted rates also 100% due to the fact their customer service sucks.
Re:It's not just a "phone subsidy." (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Wow (Score:4, Interesting)
My 11 month old daughter is able to figure out how to unlock my phone. It's random chance that they figure it out, but once they do, they're pretty good and remembering it and duplicating the results.
Re:new york times (Score:1, Interesting)
I agree highly that VZW sucks. I agree that most of their equipment sucks.
However in my experience AT&T nee Cingular sucks even worse. The old AT&T Wireless from around 2002/2003, those guys I miss.
VZW is still marginally better than AT&T. At least VZW only nickel and dimes one of me. AT&T invented a whole another me to do so, billed me full price on two versions of me for like 6 months and then tried to collect. I told em that I'm only gonna pay once. Fortunately, the 3 major CRAs saw things my way, but it still was a major pain in the rear.
So I'd rather burn in hell than switch back to AT&T. I might consider MetroPCS or T-Mobile.
Re:Droid vs. Android (Score:2, Interesting)
The one Verizon has is a first generation model developed exclusively for Verizon. I think it is funny that Verizon is so worried about future churn from those who sign up for Droid that they had to double the early termination fee to hold onto these customers.
Re:RUN AWAY FROM VERIZON WIRELESS! (Score:1, Interesting)
However, if you ever have a problem and need to get a hold of customer service for any reason, don't count on it being quick. Once you get someone on the line, service isn't so awful. Also, the ability to just go into the store, hand them my busted BlackBerry and walk out with a new one (4 different times) after getting through a queue (which can take a while) is a plus my Fiance has never been able to get with T-Mobile.
All in all: as soon as a phone compelling enough to get me to switch back comes along I will. I have nothing good to say about AT&T, other than they were smart enough to get my business by being the only ones in the US to offer me a phone that provides me the most utility and has forever brought entertainment/infinite reading material to the pooping stall.