What happens when military deploys on edge contract?

[morfusaf]

So, I have been conducting some research.  I found what I believe to be true...

There are 2 options when a military person deploys.  He can suspend his account or he can terminate his account (the terminate requires the member be deployed at least 90+ days).

I am trying to figure out which is better for me and had some questions that my local Verizon store was unable to answer.

I found in the FAQs, that if i suspend my account then the upgrade time is not adjusted, it would remain the same even though I wasn't paying for the phone... Please let me know if this is not correct.  I am concerned about how it was worded because it says the upgrade eligibility is not adjusted... well does that mean you would still be eligible the same month... or at the same point once you have paid off X% of the phone based on the plan? 3

I don't want to deploy for 6  months, and then a new better phone is released but because I wasn't paying the edge fees i am unable to upgrade (without paying more).

So, question 1.)  If I suspend my edge account( or at least 1 line), will i still be able to upgrade the same month that normally would, or just once I pay the required amount  (in other words... either pay a larger sum upfront or have to wait another X months based on the suspension time).

I was also looking into the termination process... i found nothing really.

So question 2.) What is the process for terminating a line/service due to military deployment if on an edge account.  Is the member required to turn in the phone? Does the member get to keep the phone but is charged for the remaining balance? Does the member get to terminate the account and contract with no fees and keep the phone with no additional fees? ... what happens?

Verizon rep, please answer.  Thanks!

[MiiHere]

The Edge contract is finished when the phone is paid off, which results in NO early termination fees because it's not a standard 2-year contract, it's just over when the phone has a $0 balance. Upgrade date depends on how fast you pay off the phone, unless you want to Edge Up, in which case you'd still need to pay off a certain amount in order to upgrade. It is not like a standard 2-year contract.

[MiiHere]

As for suspending service without billing, I imagine if you still owed $450 and suspended for 6 months, when you reconnect you'll still owe that same $450 and once it was paid off you could upgrade.

[rcschnoor]

Military deployment allows you to suspend your SERVICE for a period of time, up to 3 yrs & 90 days I believe, or to terminate your service. I am unsure if military deployment allows you to suspend your Edge payments, though. I don't know if the language of the military suspension has anything in it regarding Edge agreements. Edge is NOT a service agreement, simply a purchasing agreement. Even though your SERVICE is suspended, you may have to continue making Edge payments.

Regardless, upgrade eligibility would not change. Before the most recent Edge changes, Edge upgrade eligibility was anytime after 30 days AND having paid off 75% of your Edge device. THAT would stay the same. IF you are able to suspend your Edge payments, you would still have that method of determining your Edge upgrade eligibility. After your deployment is over, I would assume you ARE more than 30 days into your Edge agreement. The only other eligibility requirement would be to have paid off 75% of your device.

Of course, if you made the purchase after June 1, 2015, you would have to pay off 100% of your device before being able to upgrade. There are also periods of time when the Edge payoff amounts were 50% and 60%. Whichever level of payoff was in effect when you made the purchase would be the level which would pertain to your situation.