Cell phones forum: Annoying Verizon smart phone data plans

I have a Verizon family share plan, 5 phones, with unlimited texting. Recently two of the phones were up for free upgrades. I ordered two Verizon XV6900 phones for my kids. I have the phones set up for phone and texting use only with internet acces blocked. I don't need or want them for internet access, etc. I purchased them and then noticed by bill was higher. I checked to see what was going on and noticed the two new phones wer incurring data charges. I called Verizon and was told that the phones incur data charges when sending and receiveing picture or video texting and that I am supposed to have a data plan. I told them that when I purchased the phones I was not advised of this. After a long battle with them the best they could do was to block intenet access which does not allow either of these phones to send or receive videos or pics. I can't wait until my contract expires. Any suggestions as to which other company to go with????

Wow Pedro Pepe, your response is so helpful. Thanks for posting. We are all so grateful for your insight. Muchas gracias.

Now here's a real suggestion:

I have found a company called Page Plus that provides exactly what I need. They use the verizon network-- so great coverage. You can activate any old verizon phone you have(pda's included)-- no stipulations about required data plans. They have a variety of plans to choose from. And the best part-- no retarded 2 year contract!

www.pagepluscellular.com/

Hope this helps someone. If not, well I tried.

WOW! You got them to put the internet block on? That's awesome! How did you do it? That's exactly what I need. So it is possible if you complain enough. ???

Has anyone tried signing up with Verizon for a regular non-data plan with a non-pda/smart phone, and then later asking them to switch your service to a different phone(pda/smart that you bought from somewhere else) with an excuse like your other one broke or something? Just give them the ESN of the new pda phone without telling them what it is. You may even be able to do an ESN swap online.

It's risky to make assumptions w/o first checking at a more specialized site such as Howardforums.com. None of the carriers will let an official upgrade to a smartphone slide w/o adding the data plan. I have not doubts my own loophole will go away by next year ;(.

-P

What's your approach with a used car salesman? Sorry, but that's not going to be the most reliable source for information, let alone a Verizon salesperson. You are a little late to the party. The information you needed at purchase regarding handset upgrade was all written down in the Verizon service contracts if you bothered to read them thoroughly.

So your solutions are:

-"Keep calling", like they'll actually reconsider a policy which was already in place before ATT recently made smartphone data plans mandatory?

-"(Fraudulently, mind you) Say your kids have been sexting so they'll block data" ROTFL. You are right- that is a new angle, but it (likely) won't work since that sort of exception may require a judge's subpoena or other sort of intervention by law enforcement. Keep in mind blocking data doesn't mean you won't (contractually) be bound to continue to pay the data charge per month of a (noted) PDA/smartphone is active on the account.

If *you've* got something unique to contribute here I'm all ears.

Provided that's true, it was likely before or around the time the notices went out last summer to current Verizon customers informing them of the impending mandatory data plans. It pissed a great deal of their long time customers off (some of my friends included), *that* I know for certain. Even a behemoth like Verizon will grandfather some folks up to a certain point. They've conveniently cut off that ability unfortunately.

If you want to start a fresh thread of the 'dangers of sexting', feel free. It has no relevance to this particular thread however. You keep accusing me of not adding anything of substance to the discussion, but perhaps such rants are more akin to the pot calling the kettle black(?)

Check on their web site, maybe there you will find the info you are looking for.

This forum began with someone wanting to know how to "get around that stupid data plan"-- specificly the $30 one that VERIZON requires on new "smart phones".

Granted, AT&T has a similar requirement and can thus similarly frustrate those using their service. But the diffences between these two companies just in regard to hardware(CDMA/GSM) and coverage area(extensive/limited) is so great that those who are looking for solutions pertaining to AT&T would do well to look into an AT&T specific forum.

However for those of you who live in areas where you need the coverage that only VERIZON supplies, don't need "data", and want to use a sophisticated phone, you may want to take a look at a company called Page Plus. Page Plus is a company that offers prepaid service on Verizon's network and lets you use ANY Verizon phone(or Alltel). At first you may think, "Prepaid won't work for me. I use too many minutes." Granted this may be true. However Page Plus's cost per minute is drasticly less than what you might be assuming. Before you dismiss prepaid service as an option, you should calculate how many minutes you actually need each month.

Here's a little math based on a standard Page Plus plan of 6 cents a min. and 8 cents per SMS. You can find more info at www.pagepluscellular.com/Plans If you "port" over an existing number, there's no activation fee and you get 50 free minutes.

The cheapest Verizon individual plan is $40 a month for 450 min.(not including taxes, fees, or any text messages) For that same $40 per month with Page Plus you could talk for 650 min and send 12 text messages or talk for 450 min and send 160 text messages. Of course with Verizon you have free nights and weekends and "in-calling", so you'll need to factor in how many minutes you use there.

There is a way you can cut down on the minutes you use on your cell phone if you make a lot of calls while you're at home and you have a landline. Its called Google Voice. Its a free service you can sign up for that will allow you to make free long distance phone calls anywhere in the US for FREE from your home phone.

For me, the Page Plus/Google Voice combination is a big money saver.

I've experienced the same thing with you, so before you decide to buy it, you better pay attention to cell phone plans can truly meet your needs. You may be able to read more information on http://international-cell-phone-rental.us/best-cell-phone-plans.htm

Spread this around on as many forums as possible. Tell people not to buy a Verizon smartphone! I know it seems really stupid and\or unlikely, but if enough people go long enough without buying ANY Verizon Smartphone, they might take off the data plan requirement. Send complaint Emails to Verizon telling them to repeal the data plan requirement! If enough people send the same Email every day (you can resend Emails on Yahoo mail, not sure about other sites) Verizon might repeal the data-plan rule to stop their inbox from filling up. It's crazy, stupid, and unlikely to work, but it's very easy to do, and after all, why not?

If you guys would take interest in what's happening in D.C. with the big telco lobbyists who throw money at your local congressmen, you might have more say in what these companies can and cannot legally do. That's the only good solution, other than voting with our wallets and not patronizing these services.

Verizon's system will AUTOMATICALLY add a "Smart Phone" data plan of $45 when you ACTIVATE a smart-phone introduced to VZW / manufactured after certain date. You can call and switch to $30 SmartPhone data plan.

It doesn't matter where you get the phone: eBay Craigslist or VZW store etc. VZW System decides based on ESN.

The only way out is to get a phone which was introduced BEFORE the cut-off manufacturing date.
The type of phone (and date of introduction) is determined automatically by ESN (Electronic Serial Number).

Even activating a handset yourself won't let a customer avoid the mandatory data plan for smartphones on Verizon's network.

Verizon's Palm Centro is the last smart phone released by Verizon that does not require a data plan... ...which is exactly why I bought the Palm Centro.

*You can buy the Palm Centro at non Verizon stores online.
* There's a glut of used Centro's available on various websites (although I would just get a new one due to the touch screen). Make sure you buy one that's setup for Verizon (And not Sprint, etc).

My plan is setup as follows-
* Nationwide Talk 450 for $39/mo.
* 500 Text messages for $10. (they offer 5000 text messages for $20/mo)

Verizon also offers cheaper service plans that are not advertised on their site. I once had a "business data plan" that was only $29/mo which included web browsing, phone pics, etc (I dropped it though because I never used the plan).

To setup Palm Centro -Verizon service without the data plan, DO NOT setup service online. Instead, call Verizon directly and have a customer service rep set up service. Also, be sure to ask about any non advertised data plans.