Disappointed with Verizon Wireless

[jayally]

My poor 16 yr old son needs a new phone (he has a hand me down Envy2 that is having issues). I promised him a new phone for Christmas and while he would like the Droid I told him no way I was paying $30 data plan when he wouldn't use it too much. I still have not got him a new phone. I have a BB and reluctantly pay the data fee but I use it for work and it is a timesaver for me. DS wanted an Alias 2 as it was the only phone without a data plan requirement so it is frustrating to see it does now.

I hate how verizon and other companies nickel and dime everyone, aren't they making enough already? Everyone has a cell phone now, even my parents who are proud of their basic cell phones but still pay $50 a month and hardly ever have them turned on. How can people afford their phones when they are out of work or on public assistance etc? My friend was struggling financially but refused to give up her family's cell phones with unlimited everything.


I have been a wireless (verizon) customer since the early 90's and have seen the changes that have been made year after year and always waited until I had no choice but to pay more. My son and I barely got unlimited texting and I hardly send any texts. If the $10 a month plan INCLUDED unlimited texting I might consider it but it is in addition to what we already pay.

I already pay them $140+ a month for 2 cell phones plus verizon is the only phone conmpany in the area and has me locked into home internet and phone too and they are constantly bugging me to get FIOS TV which I am refusing to do but that still does not stop them from calling, emailing and sending me "letters" at least once a week.

 

[msmayor]

My poor 16 yr old son needs a new phone (he has a hand me down Envy2 that is having issues). I promised him a new phone for Christmas and while he would like the Droid I told him no way I was paying $30 data plan when he wouldn't use it too much. I still have not got him a new phone. I have a BB and reluctantly pay the data fee but I use it for work and it is a timesaver for me. DS wanted an Alias 2 as it was the only phone without a data plan requirement so it is frustrating to see it does now.

I hate how verizon and other companies nickel and dime everyone, aren't they making enough already? Everyone has a cell phone now, even my parents who are proud of their basic cell phones but still pay $50 a month and hardly ever have them turned on. How can people afford their phones when they are out of work or on public assistance etc? My friend was struggling financially but refused to give up her family's cell phones with unlimited everything.


I have been a wireless (verizon) customer since the early 90's and have seen the changes that have been made year after year and always waited until I had no choice but to pay more. My son and I barely got unlimited texting and I hardly send any texts. If the $10 a month plan INCLUDED unlimited texting I might consider it but it is in addition to what we already pay.

I already pay them $140+ a month for 2 cell phones plus verizon is the only phone conmpany in the area and has me locked into home internet and phone too and they are constantly bugging me to get FIOS TV which I am refusing to do but that still does not stop them from calling, emailing and sending me "letters" at least once a week.

$140 for two?? That does seem like a lot...we have T-Mobile and I pay $130 for FOUR phones with unlimited texting and one of those four with a data plan.

 

[jayally]

$140 for two?? That does seem like a lot...we have T-Mobile and I pay $130 for FOUR phones with unlimited texting and one of those four with a data plan.

$79.99 for 1400 minutes
$29.99 Blackberry plan
$9.99 2nd phone
$15 X 2 unlimited texting
= $149.88 + Taxes. I receive 10% off for a corporate discount which brings it to around $140.

In order to get the unlimited texting I had to change to a minimum1400 minute plan which gave us 10 friends and family and means we hardly use the 1400 minutes. I am going to downgrade my texting plan ( if they will let me) because I hardly send or receive texts. My son had a 500 text plan for $10 but kept going over the limit. I eventually blocked it but gave into the unlimited plan as my daughter has the same thing with her Dad's phone plan on AT&T.

I really adds up and the phone providers don't give you many choices if you have certain phones or need certain features. I am not willing to pay anymore and my son rather have the texting feature instead of the email and internet so he has his old phone for now and verizon keeps suggesting I upgrade to a new every two for him. Verizon makes it so you have to pay for both. I would be willing to have the email/internet blocked. I am locked into a contract with for my BB with verizon until 2012 now.

 

[GJM]

My DH was due for an upgrade and was going to get the ENV3 (I think) that is one I have, I didn't need the data plan when I got my phone. DH kept saying you need the data plan, I think that is stupid, if you want it fine, but I don't need to pay $9.99 extra per month for 3 phones.

He ended up getting a Samsung phone that didn't need the data plan.

 

[tr-ray]

I upgraded to the Samsung Rogue in September, and I got stuck with the $10 Data Plan.

I have a $10 text plan - the only reason I bought the rogue is the keyboard - not for the net/email, I have a work blackberry for that.

I'm kind of pissed because I rarely, if ever, use the net on my personal phone, and feel like I've been wasting $10/mo.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

We are in the same situation... kinda??

Dh and I had Alltel, and as most know it was bought by verizon. Anywhoo... I was eligible for upgrade in October which I did, and got the nokia twist. Dh isn't eligible until May for upgrade. We went in the other night b/c I found out b/c of my work I am eligible for a 15% discount. After talking to them, I found out that I am not eligible at this time b/c we are still on an alltel plan b/c DH still has an alltel phone. After talking a little bit more talking, come to find out when DH does upgrade is phone, I will have to add the data plan to my phone. I didn't when I got it, but now it's part of the rate increase they had b/c people weren't buying the data plan then get huge bills for useing the internet on their phones, so now it is required for anyphone that has internet access. Anywhoo... (sorry for the rant) We are debating on switching carriers however all of our family and friends have verizon, so we are weighing whether it would be worth it to pay for more minutes or just deal with verizon and their lack of customer service

anyone that was on alltel... have you noticed dropping calls alot since verizon took over. We have alot less consistancy in service then we did with alltel. If you are driving you can't go more then 20 minutes without dropping a call

 

[disney1990]

My kids have an Alias 2 and it has a QWERTY keyboard. That one probably doesn't require data plan but would make it easy for you to text.

Maggie

This is the telephone that we wanted to upgrade to. However, beginning January 18th, you need to sign up for a data plan when you get this telephone. Those people that already own this telephone are not affected. At this point, we have decided to just continue month to month and not get new phones right now.

 

[marlynnp]

I just ran into this issue today at the office.

The only phone right now available as a "simple" phone (no $9.99 data plan needed) that has a qwerty keyboard is the Samsung Intensity.

 

[RachaelA]

We are in the same situation... kinda??

Dh and I had Alltel, and as most know it was bought by verizon. Anywhoo... I was eligible for upgrade in October which I did, and got the nokia twist. Dh isn't eligible until May for upgrade. We went in the other night b/c I found out b/c of my work I am eligible for a 15% discount. After talking to them, I found out that I am not eligible at this time b/c we are still on an alltel plan b/c DH still has an alltel phone. After talking a little bit more talking, come to find out when DH does upgrade is phone, I will have to add the data plan to my phone. I didn't when I got it, but now it's part of the rate increase they had b/c people weren't buying the data plan then get huge bills for useing the internet on their phones, so now it is required for anyphone that has internet access. Anywhoo... (sorry for the rant) We are debating on switching carriers however all of our family and friends have verizon, so we are weighing whether it would be worth it to pay for more minutes or just deal with verizon and their lack of customer service

anyone that was on alltel... have you noticed dropping calls alot since verizon took over. We have alot less consistancy in service then we did with alltel. If you are driving you can't go more then 20 minutes without dropping a call

we've always had verizon. we never had dropped calls until a couple months ago. now its horrible.

 

[The Moonk's Mom]

I just ran into this issue today at the office.

The only phone right now available as a "simple" phone (no $9.99 data plan needed) that has a qwerty keyboard is the Samsung Intensity.

That is the phone I just got...I text DH and was tired of my 4 yo phone. I like this phone and it is an upgrade for me. DH got a BB...we may never figure that thing out! We are tech challenged!

 

[disney1990]

I just ran into this issue today at the office.

The only phone right now available as a "simple" phone (no $9.99 data plan needed) that has a qwerty keyboard is the Samsung Intensity.

That is the phone I just got...I text DH and was tired of my 4 yo phone. I like this phone and it is an upgrade for me. DH got a BB...we may never figure that thing out! We are tech challenged!

How do you like your phone? How long have you had it?

 

[MickeyManiac]

I just ran into this issue today at the office.

The only phone right now available as a "simple" phone (no $9.99 data plan needed) that has a qwerty keyboard is the Samsung Intensity.

FWIW I've had this phone since October and really like it.

 

[nexttrip4us]

Just got my new LG ENV3 from Verizon today...not happy about having to have the data plan either but I didn't read great reviews on the phones that didn't need a plan, so I decided to go with the ENV3...would be nice if it included texting, but of course that's another $$. At least for now, I'm the only one in the house whose phone we pay for...none of our kids have phones and my DH has his BB through work. I've been eligible to update since last January and just didn't because my old phone worked fine...grrrr...wish I had done it a few weeks ago!!

 

[disney1990]

Just got my new LG ENV3 from Verizon today...not happy about having to have the data plan either but I didn't read great reviews on the phones that didn't need a plan, so I decided to go with the ENV3...would be nice if it included texting, but of course that's another $$. At least for now, I'm the only one in the house whose phone we pay for...none of our kids have phones and my DH has his BB through work. I've been eligible to update since last January and just didn't because my old phone worked fine...grrrr...wish I had done it a few weeks ago!!

Since DH is retired (Verizon) and I am still unemployed, I just don't want to buy a new phone and not get the ones we want. If I do that, I will be stuck in a contract for 2 years. Hopefully, I will get a job and then I will be able to afford data plans for DH & me. I am kicking myself for us not getting a new phone before this change in requiring a data plan. It sucks.

 

[The Moonk's Mom]

How do you like your phone? How long have you had it?

So far I like it. It seems to have a good battery life....but I haven't called my BFF for one of our long calls yet. Like I said, I had the same phone for 4 years, so anything would be an upgrade for me. The only person I text is DH and now and then my nephew at college. So, it does all I need it to do.

I have only had it for a week.

 

[disney1990]

So far I like it. It seems to have a good battery life....but I haven't called my BFF for one of our long calls yet. Like I said, I had the same phone for 4 years, so anything would be an upgrade for me. The only person I text is DH and now and then my nephew at college. So, it does all I need it to do.

I have only had it for a week.

We have a daughter away at college and texting is about the only way we manage to stay in touch with her. I have gotten pretty good at texting on my existing telephone (lg chocolate). But I really wanted the chocolate touch so that I would have a full keyboard. I think I am just going to sit tight for right now. However, I am going to go by the Verizon store and at least check out your phone. Thanks for the review.

 

[DebMcDonald]

I'm right there with you. We have the Envy Touch and when we bought them they did not require the data plan, but yesterday I called to cancel the internet service that we do not use and we are canceling this because of our teenager and in order to cancel they are making me buy a data plan because my phone now requires one, so in the end it would end up costing me more. I escalated my call to a supervisor, but that didn't do any good either, so I think when I can finally get out of my plan (June 2011 ) they will lose me as a customer.

I think they just make up the rules as they go along.

I will also add that the Envy Touch sucks at being able to surf the web too. so I'm really paying for useless service.

 

[disney1990]

I'm right there with you. We have the Envy Touch and when we bought them they did not require the data plan, but yesterday I called to cancel the internet service that we do not use and we are canceling this because of our teenager and in order to cancel they are making me buy a data plan because my phone now requires one, so in the end it would end up costing me more. I escalated my call to a supervisor, but that didn't do any good either, so I think when I can finally get out of my plan (June 2011 ) they will lose me as a customer.

I think they just make up the rules as they go along.

I will also add that the Envy Touch sucks at being able to surf the web too. so I'm really paying for useless service.

DH retired from Verizon and they have been our only cell service forever. Years ago, I tried AT&T and hated the service. We have everything with Verizon (home phone, internet, FIOS & wireless) so I doubt we are going to be changing. I am happy with everything except this need for a data plan now. DH & my college aged daughter really want the Alias, but everything is on hold for the time being.