another data plan question...

[jam-ob3]

I have an older family share plan with Verizon (family connect maybe?) anyway, for $10 a month I get unlimted data and email in my current plan. I want to upgrade my phone to a droid but when I got to the Verizon store they told me I would have to switch to a new plan and now pay $30 a month more for unlimited data & email. My question is if I buy a droid as a replacement phone and activate it myself so I don't have to change my plan will it work correctly and will my billing stay the same or will Verizon automatically switch my plan without my consent? I really don't want to renew my contract or change my plan but the phones they are offering are getting pretty limited unless I concede and switch to a more expensive plan.

 

[Clementine_3]

Any smartphone requires the $29.99 data plan on Verizon. As soon as it is activated (either at the store or by you) that will get added, no way around it.
Eventually they may go to tiered data billing so it's possible you could bump down at that point, but right now it's all or nothing.

 

[jam-ob3]

So even though I currently have unlimited data they would bump it? I just want a faster processor and more memory in a phone because my current one is a little slow but my only option is to move to a true smartphone...don't see why the same data plan will now cost my 20 bucks more a month. Even the rep at the Verizon store couldn't believe I have unlimited data & email for only $10.

 

[Clementine_3]

If you sign a new contract/buy a subsidized phone they will most defiantly change your data plan.
If you buy a phone at full retail or ebay/classified and activate it you won't have to sign a new contract but I'm pretty positive it will change your data plan...it's based on the type of phone and automatically done through their system.
You could call/go in and see if they can let you keep the $10 data plan but I honestly don't see it happening that way...

Edit: There may be a promotion or a "special" they can offer you if you are a long time customer, sometimes they will try to work with you to keep you. It's worth a shot to give them a call (not through the store) and see what, if anything, they can offer.

 

[jam-ob3]

Thanks, I was thinking a call to Verizon might be an option. I've had the same account & primary phone with them since 1995 and at this point my plan has 4 lines and broadband (amazing how your famliy grows in 16 years!). I know we already get a 22% discount because of my employer...maybe I'm just being greedy in wanting to get around this extra cost, but I have a hard time paying more all the sudden for a service I've been getting for 5 years. Thanks again for your comments / input.

 

[sonofaresiii]

Thanks, I was thinking a call to Verizon might be an option. I've had the same account & primary phone with them since 1995 and at this point my plan has 4 lines and broadband (amazing how your famliy grows in 16 years!). I know we already get a 22% discount because of my employer...maybe I'm just being greedy in wanting to get around this extra cost, but I have a hard time paying more all the sudden for a service I've been getting for 5 years. Thanks again for your comments / input.

I know it doesn't seem fair but your new phone has the capability to draw much, much more data than your old phone... it's also likely your old phone only used 2g connection while your new one would be on 3g or even 4g.

Now, I know you might be saying "but I don't WANT to use all that extra data!"

Well, it's like how you might find a great phone with a dual-core processor, decide you only need ONE of those processors and complain about having to pay for the extra one even though you don't want it. That's just the way it is; if you want to upgrade, it's going to cost you, fair or not.

But yeah calling Verizon might yield some results. I wouldn't hold my breath but it's worth a try.

 

[OcalaFlGuy]

Reminds me of an old story of the guy who'd just walk up to women and tell them his name and then just say, "Wanna "F"?

The story goes he got slapped alot but he got "F'd" alot too.

Bruce in Ocala, FL

 

[shelland]

I know we already get a 22% discount because of my employer...maybe I'm just being greedy in wanting to get around this extra cost, but I have a hard time paying more all the sudden for a service I've been getting for 5 years.

As already stated, any smartphone requires the $30 data plan - period. No exceptions that I've ever heard.

If you have a 22% corporate discount, then that will also apply to that $30.

And comparing unlimited data between a dumb phone and a smart phone is really apples vs. oranges IMHO. Yes, it's still a data plan, but you can do infinitely more on a smart phone with all of the apps, widgets (for Android), etc.