Looking for a New Carrier
UAtoUAB
Newbie

I left AT&T in 2003 for Verizon and now I’m leaving Verizon. I put up with other carriers getting the newest equipment first, Verizon’s lack of a month-month balance carryover, even the fact that they force so many third part apps on to my phone with no way to remove them (they have been forced to allow us to deactivate them now).

And I truly thought they would take the hint when so many people got fed up with the removal of the unlimited data. This is the end. I average 2.13GB/month. Some months are up to 3.5 others are 1.5 which means the only way I can avoid paying extra on the high months is to pay for 4GB Every month. On the months I only use 1.5, “Too Bad, Pay for it again next month.”

My contract was up three months ago and I was only waiting until my wife’s was up so I could switch us both and combine them. Her highest month of data was 1.5, which means if I put her on mine here I would have to go up to 6GB to make sure I don’t “over use”.

I know their argument: “Customers use so much more data than they used to, we have to be able to cover our cost.” If Verizon Truly cared about that then they would allow its customers to carry the balance of any data not used to the next month. When I buy a rack of ribs from my BBQ pit they Don’t take the leftovers and throw them away, I get to have it for lunch the next day. How greedy does a company have to be before people start to leave? BlackBerry, Blockbuster, Dell, Kodak, Motorola, and so many others dominated their market and collapsed because they didn’t continue to keep the customer as number 1.

They are now Forcing me to change plans if I want to get a new phone. They gave me the choice of keeping my old phone with my good plan or getting a new phone and losing my plan. I guess they forgot that I am the customer and I have a third option, take my business elsewhere. I’m sure one of the other carriers would like a customer that will stay loyal for over ten years.

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We love loyal customers UAtoUAB and appreciate you being with us for such a long time. We also hear you and all of our customers loud and clear regarding the things you want an need to maintain your happiness with us. The options we currently have do work for alot of customers and I know will start to work for you also. We will not offer carry over data or minutes because we offer our shared plans with unlimited minutes and text. Plus we provide the option to change data plans according to your usage. If you are using more data than usual, simply change your plan in the middle of the cycle to reflect the new amount and once usage goes down change plans for the following bill cycle. Plus we recommend wifi when ever available because it decreases usage on your data plan. You basically paying for what your using. Additionally, we also understand the importance of upgrading because we all want and in most cases need new phones after some time and I think our prices are awesome. Technology is changing and we have to change with it, which means prices, plans, features and options. Of course with these changes we work on improvements to our network so that your speeds are amazing and your coverage is phenomenal. I hope this explanation is helpful because we do not want to lose you with our family. We know you have choices and hope you continue to choose the best, plus good service is always worth the cost. If you currently have unlimited and want to keep it, take a look at this program http://vz.to/ZILXBT . Please let me know if you have any other concerns.

KinquanaH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @vzwsupport

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
Ninthwheeler
Enthusiast - Level 1

I will be leaving Verizon to go back to AT&T or another carrier as soon as my plan is up!!!  I live in the middle of a small city and I have the worst cellular and data coverage!!!!  It has been going downhill for the past two years-progressively getting worse.  I drop more calls at my own house and at my work which is in a highly populated area than out in the middle of the woods at my boyfriend's farm!!!  My internet coverage is HORRIBLE!!!!  I might as well go back to dial up for the speed I'm getting!!!  It claims I'm in a 4G LTE area which is such a farse!!!!  I RARELY get 4G LTE!!!!  I dropped my cable internet and upped my data plan through Verizon and am using my phone as a Hotspot.  BIG MISTAKE!!!!!  I'll have to suck up the installation fees and have cable re-installed and pay the outrageous prices towards that monopoly.  At least I had service with them and wasn't frustrated all the time.

Very disappointed Verizon.  Costs keep going up but service keeps going down.  I'll be taking my chances with another provider as soon as this contract is up.

Re: Looking for a New Carrier
Tidbits
Legend

Why not sell your phone to recoup the cost of the ETF? Most flagship phones up to a year old still sell for around $300. Don't see a point waiting if you really want to leave. The sooner you leave the sooner you save money or get what you expect you are paying for.

Re: Looking for a New Carrier
pherson
Champion - Level 1

Ninthwheeler wrote:

I will be leaving Verizon to go back to AT&T or another carrier as soon as my plan is up!!!  I live in the middle of a small city and I have the worst cellular and data coverage!!!!  It has been going downhill for the past two years-progressively getting worse.  I drop more calls at my own house and at my work which is in a highly populated area than out in the middle of the woods at my boyfriend's farm!!!  My internet coverage is HORRIBLE!!!!  I might as well go back to dial up for the speed I'm getting!!!  It claims I'm in a 4G LTE area which is such a farse!!!!  I RARELY get 4G LTE!!!!  I dropped my cable internet and upped my data plan through Verizon and am using my phone as a Hotspot.  BIG MISTAKE!!!!!  I'll have to suck up the installation fees and have cable re-installed and pay the outrageous prices towards that monopoly.  At least I had service with them and wasn't frustrated all the time.

Very disappointed Verizon.  Costs keep going up but service keeps going down.  I'll be taking my chances with another provider as soon as this contract is up.

Cellur data and hotspot service was never meant to be a replacement to landline service. Thats your fault, not Verizons.  End of story.

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
Blondilocks
Enthusiast - Level 1

My reception has become worse and worse over the last 2 years!!  I've been a customer for over 10 years, and have THREE phones with Verizon. The cost keeps going up (over $150/month) and my phone's abilities keep falling down. My phone isn't due for an upgrade for quite awhile, unfortunately!  What's worse is that I am moving where there is very little cell phone reception.  But, as a loyal customer for over a decade, did they offer assistance? NO!!  They offered to SELL me some stupid tower!!  If I don't buy it, I will be paying for NO SERVICE for up to a year. YAY!!  I was told that I can have another carrier buy out my contract, buy a tower thing, or freeze my account (for 3 months at a time, only 2 times). Or, I can just let them continue "hookin' me up"!! 

THIS is not my fault.  I fell for their 2-year-agreement for phone upgrades.

Thanks Verizon!!

Comments edited as required by the Terms of Service.

Message was edited by: Admin Moderator

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hi Ninthwheeler,

Oh my! This explanation absolutely sounds saddening! We want you to have the best service money can buy! We would be happy to review your concerns. Do you mind sharing your zip code? What device are you using? Allow us the opportunity to investigate right away!

MatthewS_VZW
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSUPPORT

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

We value and appreciate you for being with us for so long & you talking of leaving makes us sad.  Due to your upcoming move, there is another option that may work if you don't want the Network Extender.
You can turn the line over to someone who wants Verizon service. This is called an Assumption of Liability (AOL) http://vz.to/1clAYjV. This takes it out of your name.
We also want to address the phone service falling down. What problem are you having with the phone?

TamaraH_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
jonahpk
Newbie

Like you I have been a loyal customer for 10 years or so.  I have paid the increases in costs and locked into contracts and not felt the least bit bad about it.  I choose to live where I live and it isn't Verizon Wireless's fault if the signal comes and goes.  They have always been good to me and treated me fairly with their customer service....until this past Saturday.  I checked into the website Friday evening around 9:30 to see what some of the black Friday deals were.  Wow! Did some of them look good!  I was really interested in the Ellipsis 7 tablet, which was offered for free.  I thought it would be cool to have one and worth the extra amount on my bill.  So I started the checkout process and two or three steps in I was informed that I would have to change my plan to continue.  I have unlimited data on my phone right now and it is eligible for an upgrade but I wasn't thinking of upgrading, just adding it to my bill.  So, I stopped the process and started to do a little research of the actual usage of my "unlimited data" on my phone and the "pay by the gigabite" plan on my portable hotspot (my only source of internet because cable and DSL are not available where I live).  After thinking about it and crunching some numbers I thought I might as well take this opportunity to get the tablet, upgrade my phone, and bite the bullet and change my plan.  The only problem with that was by the time I came to that conclusion, it was Saturday morning and the tablet was no longer free but $150.  I logged into live chat and explained the scenario and "Wanda" recommended I call customer support and explain my dilemma and see if there was any way they would still give me the tablet for free.  So, I called in and spent some time talking with a very nice and respectful person that listened to me and said that she wasn't going to make any promises but would see what she could do and get back to me.  Well, guess who didn't get back to me.  So, today (Tuesday) I stopped by the store and talked to a representative in person and explained that I had been shopping online Friday evening but due to my particular circumstance was not willing to make an impulse buy.  He was sorry that no one got back to me and very politely told me that the sale was specifically for impulse buyers and that there was nothing he could do, and was pretty sure that the company wasn't going to do anything about it either.

Over the last couple hours I have come to the decision that I will now buy my phones outright from some source other than the verizon store and that I am going to cancel my mifi card.  I spend $300 or more a month for my phones and internet through verizon wireless and at least $150 of that is for my hotspot.  Both my wife and I are eligible for upgrades and can cancel at anytime but verizon is the only carrier where we are right now.  So, we will continue to buy used phones, keep our unlimited data plans active on the phones we have, and drop the mifi plan, effectively cutting $150 or more from my monthly bill all because Verizon wouldn't consider extending the "free" tablet offer to a 10+ year customer who just wanted to take some time to crunch the numbers and see how I could afford to fit their new plans into my budget and lifestyle.  They will now lose more in one month than that tablet would have cost them.

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Re: Looking for a New Carrier
flutterfly8497
Specialist - Level 3

If it isn't your fault that you are moving, whose fault is it? You really can't blame Verizon for your decision to move. If it is a marginal/no coverage area, you may be able to have the ETF waived, but you'll have to call customer service. Even if VZW refuses to waive the fee, it is still not their fault you decided to move. I am not sure why you would think it is.

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