Verizon Unlimited Data Fee Increase

[Sajo]

True, but they still don't want 1M users to walk, which would be over $100M in revenues (mostly profit).

I suspect this is just the first change. If not enough users leave, we will DEFINITELY see another price increase down the road. VZW is going to crunch all the numbers until they find just what unlimited data is worth to us.

But the fact I can still get a subsidized phone and may want to have multiple devices on my plan down the road...in addition to using way more data because I can (rather than need)...eventually their shared plans are going to be better value for me, but not yet.

Agreed. I also expect more fee increases, they will make us pay if we want this. It's a personal decision that everyone has to make on their own. If its worth it to you...pay the extra and don't worry too much about it. My bill is already ridiculous. I just left a Verizon store. If I switch to a My Verizon 12GB plan today it will save me $72 every month.

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[Mustang02]

Agreed. I also expect more fee increases, they will make us pay if we want this. It's a personal decision that everyone has to make on their own. If its worth it to you...pay the extra and don't worry too much about it. My bill is already ridiculous. I just left a Verizon store. If I switch to a My Verizon 12GB plan today it will save me $72 every month.

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$72 would make me rethink things. For me I don't use much data but knowing I can helps. The $240 increase won't affect me at all. It's the "Do I really need to pay this much" that is bothering me.

 

[Sajo]

$72 would make me rethink things. For me I don't use much data but knowing I can helps. The $240 increase won't affect me at all. It's the "Do I really need to pay this much" that is bothering me.

I know....I am thinking about it. Don't really want to lose a feature.... But $72 a month is saving a lot on my bill. I will think about while getting some new art done.

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[zinethar]

I'd go with something smaller if your max usage was 4gb. The medium plan is another $15 in savings.

I thought of that but they offered 6 so I took it. I suppose I could change plans mid stream if it ever was an emergency (around here we tend to get power outages during winter where I might need more) and now that I retired I'm hoping to do more travel where it could pay for itself.

 

[Sajo]

I thought of that but they offered 6 so I took it. I suppose I could change plans mid stream if it ever was an emergency (around here we tend to get power outages during winter where I might need more) and now that I retired I'm hoping to do more travel where it could pay for itself.

The way they explained if to me is: if you go over its 1 GB for $15.00. Or....if you know you will go over, call them and switch to the next larger plan for $20.00. So, if you need it you could get 6 extra GB for $20 (switch to the 12 GB plan for that month only) or 1 extra GB for $15. The key is calling and asking to have it switched for only the current month. Seems like an obvious option if I ever need it.

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[kodiak799]

I hadn't seen this - anyone know if this is true?
Verizon Wants to Push Customers Away From Unlimited Plans -- The Motley Fool
"Since unlimited plans were eliminated in 2011, the company had not allowed grandfathered customers to claim discounts when upgrading to a new phone. That will change with the higher prices, and "unlimited Verizon customers will once again be allowed to buy new phones at an upfront discount that customers pay over time," according to CNN Money."

Although it's not clear to me if that isn't just referring to installment plans. Most of us have seen upgrade offers, but we'd lose unlimited data. But if we can start getting subsidized phones and keep our plans, then this is practically a wash and just a new twist on the increased cost we got hit with a few years ago when they took away our subsidized upgrades. That wouldn't make any sense - it must be the case that's it's an installment plan and not a true subsidy.

 

[Sajo]

That's not real clear whether you can buy a phone at a discount price, and keep your current UDP & just agree to a new 2 year contract..... Or if you get the discount phone price when you change to a new plan and give up UD.

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[Jonny Kansas]

That would appear to go against everything they've done with UDPs for years. If check the find print on a deal like that for sure.

Sent from my Nexus 6P

 

[kodiak799]

Or if you get the discount phone price when you change to a new plan and give up UD.

True, and they have already been offering that. But the article seems to indicate something new that will be implemented after the $20 increase. My guess is it's an installment plan, which is kind of how it reads.

Obviously the reporter didn't have UDP or he would have gotten more details!

 

[Sajo]

True, and they have already been offering that. But the article seems to indicate something new that will be implemented after the $20 increase. My guess is it's an installment plan, which is kind of how it reads.

Obviously the reporter didn't have UDP or he would have gotten more details!

That's very possible. Raise your bill $20....now we will let you buy a new phone if you want and pay a another $20 + per month as an installment fee. They make money, I can see that happening. Or...they do let you buy a phone at a discount price as long as you do a new 2 year contract. They are still making money, because those old plans that include UD are more expensive than the newer tiered plans. Either way, Big Red is making more [emoji384] [emoji385]

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[kodiak799]

That's very possible. Raise your bill $20....now we will let you buy a new phone if you want and pay a another $20 + per month as an installment fee. They make money, I can see that happening. Or...they do let you buy a phone at a discount price as long as you do a new 2 year contract. They are still making money, because those old plans that include UD are more expensive than the newer tiered plans. Either way, Big Red is making more [emoji384] [emoji385]

Will find out in a few weeks, I imagine. If it's the old subsidy-type deal, then that's worth almost $400 (to us, about -$250 to VZW) over a 2-yr contract and practically wipes out the $20 increase. But VZW would be giving away like half the $480 increase, so that's why I'm skeptical.

Will be interesting to see what VZW does when people start leaving with this increase. I don't think the goal was to force people to leave, it's to retain those users but get another $20 a month from them. If more than 20% walk, they're going to lose money on this strategy.

 

[cr6]

As with most of these types of articles, it's merely someone else's opinion & speculation on what they THINK Verizon intends to do. I'll take it with a single granual of salt and continue setting my money aside to purchase my next device outright and continue using my UDP unfettered.

S5 tap'n

 

[Sajo]

^^^ And that ^^^ is the right attitude to have, in my opinion. This really comes down to a personal decision. If an UDP is right for you and you want it, you have to pay extra.....there is no way around it right now. And be prepared for more increases in the future...if that's what VZW decides to do. Or switch to a My Verizon plan and lower your bill a little. Everyone affected has to make their own decision and then just run with it.

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[kodiak799]

As with most of these types of articles, it's merely someone else's opinion & speculation on what they THINK Verizon intends to do. I'll take it with a single granual of salt and continue setting my money aside to purchase my next device outright and continue using my UDP unfettered.

It doesn't seem to be speculation or opinion, but a reporter relaying something he was clearly told (but perhaps didn't really understand) by VZW brass. CNN Money, not some cracker-jack blogger making guesses.

I don't know the issues are necessarily related. It could be VZW has been planning to offer installment plans to UDP users for a while, but chose to wait until after the price increase since you'd otherwise be locking-in your current $30 plan.

 

[jackiescivic]

I thought about a month or so ago there was a post saying that Verizon was going to allow UDP users to keep their plan so long as they chose to do Device Payment plans (formerly EDGE).

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