$20.00 activation fee WHY?
reb0957
Contributor - Level 1

I am currently shopping for a Google Pixel XL 128GB. I am off contract, don't plan on going back to contract, and every phone will slowly be phased to a phone that can move to any carrier.

That being said, I can buy a Pixel XL from Google (same price, cheaper insurance) under the same financing option as Verizon. When I get the phone from Google I can take the SIM out of N6 and pop it in the Pixel Xl and no one is any wiser.

But if I want to buy the phone from Verizon via financing 9 or 2 year contract or just buy the phone) I have to pay a $20.00 upgrade/activation because they are allowing me to take part in a promo if I want ( literally from the sales persons mouth). I would have just ordered a phone if that fee would have been waived. Instead I will wait for my invitation from Google.

Why is that $20.00 necessary and why can't it be waived?

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
mama23dogs
Legend

This coming weekend is an activation, upgrade fee, free weekend.  Wait and buy between the 17-23 of November. 

The fee is $20. It was $40.  It covers paperwork involved in upgrading or activating a new line.  Unless you have an employee discount that includes waived fees, you should be very scepticle  a rep offers to get them waived because you're a loyal customer.  They almost never waive them anymore.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

Verizon Wireless added activation/upgrade fee a couple of years ago. It is for full retail price phones too.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
Xyvis
Specialist - Level 1

Most carriers do this now. However, if you have an account in good standing and make on time payments, odds are you can get them to waive it.

Even when I can't get the store reps to waive it, I just call customer support and they give me an account credit for the fee. I have only paid the "upgrade fee" one time, and that one time likely was because I didn't ask them to waive it. I have not paid an upgrade fee in years though.

Just give them a call and ask nicely if they would be willing waive the fee for you. They have never told me no. Granted, I have been a customer since 2009, have 6 devices on my account and haven't ever really had an issue paying my bill every month, so that may contribute something towards their willingness to waive the fees.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
mama23dogs
Legend

This coming weekend is an activation, upgrade fee, free weekend.  Wait and buy between the 17-23 of November. 

The fee is $20. It was $40.  It covers paperwork involved in upgrading or activating a new line.  Unless you have an employee discount that includes waived fees, you should be very scepticle  a rep offers to get them waived because you're a loyal customer.  They almost never waive them anymore.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
lewisr13
Champion - Level 1

mama23dogs wrote:

They almost never waive them anymore.

I just got the fee waived on 7 of my lines that I upgraded.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
mama23dogs
Legend

I did write ALMOST.  Verizon had a fee free weekend 2 - 3 weeks ago also.  Often it is online only.  I always time my moves on fee free weeks.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
lewisr13
Champion - Level 1

This is the first time I've heard of a fee free weekend. I called ordered and requested they waive it. This was back in September during the week.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
sprmankalel
Champion - Level 3

This is the ONE fee I completely disagree with.

Everything is done through the computer. There is no paperwork to process. It is not like people are going through the papers to make sure it is all in order. There is no man power involved. The computers and the tablets used for processing transactions is a cost of doing business. VZW makes enough of a profit to cover these devices. Plus, I am sure they get a discounted, if not free, product from Apple.

I am sure that the profit margin on the devices has decreased and this is the REAL reason why they are charging this fee. Let's call it what it is.

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
reb0957
Contributor - Level 1

I understand that if I am going go back on contract....But to buy or finance the phone, that is just dumb.

Will they waive the fee on the 17th even if the phone I order isn't in stock and backordered to at least 12-26-16?

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Re: $20.00 activation fee WHY?
mama23dogs
Legend

reb0957 wrote:

I understand that if I am going go back on contract....But to buy or finance the phone, that is just dumb.

Will they waive the fee on the 17th even if the phone I order isn't in stock and backordered to at least 12-26-16?

That I can't answer.  The ad was an 'early black friday' special.  And it may require upgrade with the installment plan as almost all promotions do theses days.  It may also be online or in stores only.  I suggest checking on the 17th.

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