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Any way to keep unlimited data plan

I

infrasonictom

Newbie
Is there a way to keep my current unlimited data plan with Verizon?

Assuming G'nex is eventually made available the way it was explained to me when I begin a new contract/phone my existing data plan goes away and I get the data capped version.

Is there a way to game that system?
 
speede541 said:
At this point, if you have unlimited data, you keep it with your new contract. There is talk of unlimited not carrying over to new contracts beginning sometime next year, but for now, you're safe.
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I have heard no such talk and it's completely contrary to what I've heard about unlimited data. IF this is the case, and IF unlimited gets canned at the next contract upgrade, then you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll set aside money every month for however long it takes, buy full retail and simply remain month to month for the rest of eternity :)

But everything I have hear points to keeping your unlimited data through upgrades.
 
As of right now, you keep unlimited data on Verizon and AT&T even if you get upgrade pricing. I sell these phones everyday and do the upgrades and haven't seen anyone lose unlimited data. Also, haven't heard anything about people not being grandfathered in.
 
Ill be Sprint's newest customer if they ever try and take my unlimited data away. I rarely even use more than 2 GB of data but its the principle of Verizon always trying to F%^& with us....Id be gone and on my way to the sprint store in a heartbeat.
 
The_Chief said:
I have heard no such talk and it's completely contrary to what I've heard about unlimited data...
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Well, maybe I should have left that second part out since it only muddies the waters and is purely unvetted internet conjecture.

So yes, in the here and now, Verizon's unlimited data is retained as long as a smartphone contract is maintained, and this is a well-established fact per any in-store and most phone reps.

Nevertheless, I wouldn't expect anything to be "Forever" with VZW. How I did love my New Every Two credit. Tsk tsk.
 
As long as Sprint is offering unlimited data, Verizon and AT&T will allow users of unlimited to grandfather in. They're not about to feed a competitor and close that gap. However, once Sprint does get rid of unlimited, you can expect the duopoly to start phasing out their grandfather clauses.

Also, the big-2 are supposed to have family plans for data starting by mid-2012 based on most speculation. I think that will also be a precursor to the end of unlimited plans.
 
SBCT said:
Ill be Sprint's newest customer if they ever try and take my unlimited data away. I rarely even use more than 2 GB of data but its the principle of Verizon always trying to F%^& with us....Id be gone and on my way to the sprint store in a heartbeat.
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Sprint's going to kill their unlimited data at some point as well. And both VZW and ATT will eventually kill off grandfathered accounts too. The carriers aren't going to keep unlimited data forever, and since there's only 4 of them (3 and a half?), all they have to do is follow each other's gameplan. I'm fine with tiered data I just wish the plans were more reasonable. Verizon's current "double data" deal is what I think their regular plans should look like - 4gb for $30, 10 gb for $50, etc.
 
The_Chief said:
I have heard no such talk and it's completely contrary to what I've heard about unlimited data. IF this is the case, and IF unlimited gets canned at the next contract upgrade, then you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll set aside money every month for however long it takes, buy full retail and simply remain month to month for the rest of eternity :)

But everything I have hear points to keeping your unlimited data through upgrades.
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Indeed. If someone is going to start spreading obscure rumors like this, at least link to where you read them (but only if it's a reputable news site :p).

For the foreseeable future, you are able to keep your unlimited data plans upon contract re-newal.

Androidcurious said:
Sprint's going to kill their unlimited data at some point as well. And both VZW and ATT will eventually kill off grandfathered accounts too. The carriers aren't going to keep unlimited data forever, and since there's only 4 of them (3 and a half?), all they have to do is follow each other's gameplan. I'm fine with tiered data I just wish the plans were more reasonable. Verizon's current "double data" deal is what I think their regular plans should look like - 4gb for $30, 10 gb for $50, etc.
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I agree with everyone (Sprint) eventually killing unlimited data plans, but I'm not sure about them not letting people keep their grandfathered plans. I've seen people keep their 6+ year old unlimited talk/text plans and rates from Cingular and Alltel when they got bought out from AT&T and Verizon (respectively).

So while they could kill unlimited data altogether if they wanted to, history hasn't shown them to force people out of their existing plans. If they do decide to do that mid-contract though, then they give their customers an option to defect to another carrier ETF free.
 
Alltel is an interesting point. I came from an Alltel type regional cellular carrier called Surewest with whom I had a $33 a month unlimited plan. Verizon bought them out about 7 years ago and took over all of their accounts. Verizon grand fathered me in on my then current plan to Verizon service and 7 years later I'm still paying Verizon $33/month for unlimited talk and text. They have never tried to force me to a current plan each time I have upgraded and never even bring it up to try and sell my something else to get me out of it.

This gives me hope that those with unlimited data wont be forced into other plans down the road. Now the difference may be that "Surewest" had something like 30,000 customers so in the big picture letting that small amount keep their unlimited minutes isnt such a big deal compared to half the company (guessing) currently being on unlimited so there is obviously a lot more at stake for them as far as improving profits when it comes to peoples data...
 
T4rd said:
So while they could kill unlimited data altogether if they wanted to, history hasn't shown them to force people out of their existing plans. If they do decide to do that mid-contract though, then they give their customers an option to defect to another carrier ETF free.
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Exactly. If a company has you by the balls, i.e. you cannot leave the company because you'll lose unlimited data forever, why would they tempt you to leave by taking away your incentive for staying? Doesn't get them any extra money. Bank of America just learned this when they tried to charge for debit cards. Highly doubt grandfather plans ever go away. They will just let them die their natural deaths.

To put it another way, taking away grandfather plans gives us unlimited people a reason to shop around. Those that stay will either pay the same exact amount for the lowest tier as we pay now, or will upgrade a tier or two. The difference in tiers is what, 10 bucks? Meanwhile, they lose anywhere from $100-$200 for every customer that leaves. So you need 10 to 20 people to upgrade tiers for every person that leaves , and that's just to get back to even to before you axed the grandfather plans. Why would you put yourself in that situation when the alternative is securing your market share? It would make no sense.
 
jackdubl said:
Exactly. If a company has you by the balls, i.e. you cannot leave the company because you'll lose unlimited data forever, why would they tempt you to leave by taking away your incentive for staying? Doesn't get them any extra money. Bank of America just learned this when they tried to charge for debit cards. Highly doubt grandfather plans ever go away. They will just let them die their natural deaths.

To put it another way, taking away grandfather plans gives us unlimited people a reason to shop around. Those that stay will either pay the same exact amount for the lowest tier as we pay now, or will upgrade a tier or two. The difference in tiers is what, 10 bucks? Meanwhile, they lose anywhere from $100-$200 for every customer that leaves. So you need 10 to 20 people to upgrade tiers for every person that leaves , and that's just to get back to even to before you axed the grandfather plans. Why would you put yourself in that situation when the alternative is securing your market share? It would make no sense.
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Sure it does. They simply don't have to cater to anyone when all the carriers mirror each others plans. This threat of people leaving isn't realistic. People tend to stay with carriers that give them the coverage they need. They're not going switch to Tmobile from verizon just to teach them a lesson.
 
Androidcurious said:
Sprint's going to kill their unlimited data at some point as well. And both VZW and ATT will eventually kill off grandfathered accounts too. The carriers aren't going to keep unlimited data forever, and since there's only 4 of them (3 and a half?), all they have to do is follow each other's gameplan. I'm fine with tiered data I just wish the plans were more reasonable. Verizon's current "double data" deal is what I think their regular plans should look like - 4gb for $30, 10 gb for $50, etc.
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I agree. I think if they are going to kill off grandfathered they could bump the tiers up some. They are still making a killing off data and especially on their 4g which is cheaper to run and maintain. 4gb should be the lowest tier and at the current $30 price.
 
Androidcurious said:
Sure it does. They simply don't have to cater to anyone when all the carriers mirror each others plans. This threat of people leaving isn't realistic. People tend to stay with carriers that give them the coverage they need. They're not going switch to Tmobile from verizon just to teach them a lesson.
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No, but they might switch because it's cheaper. The big banks thought exactly as you do when they were going to charge for debit cards. The thing is, it isn't all equal, because Verizon is more expensive than the other carriers. People would definitely leave. I would. I was going to leave Bank of America too before they wised up and canceled the charge, just like many thousands of other customers were doing. The fact that people are talking about this before it happens shows that people are already weighing the pricing, so some would definitely shop around at that point. You're telling me that they suddenly decrease your service or increase your price and you don't even take a look at the competition at that point?
 
T4rd said:
Indeed. If someone is going to start spreading obscure rumors like this, at least link to where you read them (but only if it's a reputable news site :p).
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Wel, let's see... if such a "reputable news site" existed with this info, then it wouldn't really be news to any of us. Just responding to rumors posted on XDA and on Reddit, and parroted in the Mega-Thread, which, as we all know, are not necessarily reliable sources. So therefore it should go unspoken? Hmmm...

jackdubl said:
Exactly. If a company has you by the balls, i.e. you cannot leave the company because you'll lose unlimited data forever, why would they tempt you to leave by taking away your incentive for staying?
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be the first time a company did this. Verizon knows they have a superior network. And frankly, I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't switch to Sprint's unlimited data if VZW suddenly cut off mine at the knees. It all depends on how many GBs Verizon is offering for how much $$, what Sprint's network coverage looks like whenever that happens, and of course what my monthly data usage works out to be.

And Verizon might wait for network congestion to become unbearable before striking out at unlimited data plans, or might decide that it's less risky to make a move sooner while they do have a coverage / LTE advantage. I can guarantee they're testing the waters right now with their 2x deal, trying to figure out if there's a "sweet spot" that reels in new contracts. Maybe they'll play with price. Maybe they'll delve more heavily into throttling / pay for speed plans. Maybe they'll leave us Unlimited folks alone until we die. (Wonder if I can pass it down to the kids?!?)
 
speede541 said:
Wel, let's see... if such a "reputable news site" existed with this info, then it wouldn't really be news to any of us. Just responding to rumors posted on XDA and on Reddit, and parroted in the Mega-Thread, which, as we all know, are not necessarily reliable sources. So therefore it should go unspoken? Hmmm...



It wouldn't be the first time a company did this. Verizon knows they have a superior network. And frankly, I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't switch to Sprint's unlimited data if VZW suddenly cut off mine at the knees. It all depends on how many GBs Verizon is offering for how much $$, what Sprint's network coverage looks like whenever that happens, and of course what my monthly data usage works out to be.

And Verizon might wait for network congestion to become unbearable before striking out at unlimited data plans, or might decide that it's less risky to make a move sooner while they do have a coverage / LTE advantage. I can guarantee they're testing the waters right now with their 2x deal, trying to figure out if there's a "sweet spot" that reels in new contracts. Maybe they'll play with price. Maybe they'll delve more heavily into throttling / pay for speed plans. Maybe they'll leave us Unlimited folks alone until we die. (Wonder if I can pass it down to the kids?!?)
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Yes they do have a superior network, but the customer service is beyond pathetic and their prices are the highest. I have no problem paying premium prices, but when I do I expect superior customer service. Everywhere I go I have coverage from Sprint on my E4GT (usually 4G) and I have almost as much coverage with T-mobile on my blackberry. Both companies have far better customer service.

In Jan or Feb when I get a 3rd phone I will be getting it on AT&T. I will never pay Verizon again after how bad their customer service was when I was paying them almost $400 a month for my family plan.
 
Wow.

I'd go AT&T if their LTE speeds rival VZW in my area. I don't need the fastest, but I don't want to go back to data in the 3G realm. But I can say with certainty that Sprint has definite dark areas where I work, so they're not an option.

My own experience with Verizon has been nearly all positive. There was one instance a number of years back when they basically booted a phone my wife and I were using off their network. We were able to keep using it while the original phone was alive, but after we bought replacements they wouldn't allow us to activate the new devices on their network. But other than that frustration, they answer our calls quickly, have credited us for billing errors, and are generally quite responsive. I can't say they're better or worse than the others since I haven't used them, but I have nothing to complain about.
 
Im just gonna buy it outright, it will most likely be $649 as all other high end verizon devices are. I will sell my iphone 4 32gb for $300-$325 (already have a few that want it) So it will be just as if i bought it on an upgrade price.
 
Hello
My wife is only mid-way through her current contract but a Verizon rep pulled up her account and told me she is on a grandfathered plan and she could upgrade now for a $20 fee. Does this make sense to anyone? I presume she'd have to move onto one of the new plans.
Thanks
 
chappy16775 said:
Hello
My wife is only mid-way through her current contract but a Verizon rep pulled up her account and told me she is on a grandfathered plan and she could upgrade now for a $20 fee. Does this make sense to anyone? I presume she'd have to move onto one of the new plans.
Thanks
Click to expand...

Grandfather what? Unlimited data?

$20 fee for what?

If she has unlimited data already then what would the fee be for? If she doesn't have unlimited data then she can't get it, so what is grandfathered?

Makes no sense at all...
 
Does Verizon charge for early upgrades? (Honest question -- can't say I've ever heard of this before.)
 
chrlswltrs said:
Grandfather what? Unlimited data?

$20 fee for what?

If she has unlimited data already then what would the fee be for? If she doesn't have unlimited data then she can't get it, so what is grandfathered?

Makes no sense at all...
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Sorry let me explain. She is currently in the middle of a 2 year contract. Normally, if you want to upgrade your phone before your contract has expired Verizon will charge you a hefty termination penalty before you can obtain the "new contract" price of the new device. However, in her case they're saying they will let her get a new device at the new contract price now and only pay a $20 fee (instead of the hefty early termination fee). The guy made it sound like this is because she is on one of the grandfathered plans.

So again, just wondered if this rang a bell with anyone else.
 
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