Thinking of giving up Verizon Unlimited

[boomhower]

I've posted my thoughts in a few threads but figured I'd start my own. Right now I have three lines on Verizon with two unlimited and one on a 2GB plan. In total we typically use around 6GB's a month with me using 5 and my wife 1 or less. The no upgrading without changing plans is finally getting to us. We simply can't afford $700+ for a phone, no less two. If we changed to AT&T our bill would go up ~$20 using 18 month Next on a 10GB plan. (I won't switch to tiered Verizon just on principle.)

Coverage wise they are both good in my area. Verizon has vastly superior data speeds at up north of 50mbps with the lowest at around 15. AT&T is still rolling out LTE but has solid 4G. I tested out mifis for my employer as we are transitioning from Alltel's and typically got around 7-9, to me that's plenty for a cell phone. But they are actively rolling out LTE so that will improve as well. As long as I can stream Netflix and Spotify I'm good.

I swore I would never give up unlimited but it's gotten to the point I would rather have newer phones than unlimited data I don't really use. Yes, I know data use will likely go up. I could easily tone down my usage by using my work provided mifi but just haven't because my phone was much much faster. My wife really wants a 6+ and you know how that goes, happy wife happy life. Am I crazy?

 

[MrSquished]

I've posted my thoughts in a few threads but figured I'd start my own. Right now I have three lines on Verizon with two unlimited and one on a 2GB plan. In total we typically use around 6GB's a month with me using 5 and my wife 1 or less. The no upgrading without changing plans is finally getting to us. We simply can't afford $700+ for a phone, no less two. If we changed to AT&T our bill would go up ~$20 using 18 month Next on a 10GB plan. (I won't switch to tiered Verizon just on principle.)

Coverage wise they are both good in my area. Verizon has vastly superior data speeds at up north of 50mbps with the lowest at around 15. AT&T is still rolling out LTE but has solid 4G. I tested out mifis for my employer as we are transitioning from Alltel's and typically got around 7-9, to me that's plenty for a cell phone. But they are actively rolling out LTE so that will improve as well. As long as I can stream Netflix and Spotify I'm good.

I swore I would never give up unlimited but it's gotten to the point I would rather have newer phones than unlimited data I don't really use. Yes, I know data use will likely go up. I could easily tone down my usage by using my work provided mifi but just haven't because my phone was much much faster. My wife really wants a 6+ and you know how that goes, happy wife happy life. Am I crazy?

I find $130 for 2 lines unlimited talk, text and 10GB shared mobile data on AT&T to be a reasonable deal in this area (NY Metro) based upon service and cost at $65 per line. I now tether my laptop to my phone as a realtor and use it to show clients listings right on the spot if needed or photos or what not, without worrying about data usage. It's a fair price I think. Although I will be checking out T-Mobile next year after seeing how they fair in the NY Metro area with all these new subscribers and their network stability/coverage here.

I have a couple who had an offer accepted on a condo out here shortly before vacation to Australia. They have free text and data in Australia (TMobile has a presence there) as part of their plans. Just a little perk for my folks potentially who head to Europe once to twice a year.

 

[boomhower]

I find $130 for 2 lines unlimited talk, text and 10GB shared mobile data on AT&T to be a reasonable deal in this area (NY Metro) based upon service and cost at $65 per line. I now tether my laptop to my phone as a realtor and use it to show clients listings right on the spot if needed or photos or what not, without worrying about data usage. It's a fair price I think. Although I will be checking out T-Mobile next year after seeing how they fair in the NY Metro area with all these new subscribers and their network stability/coverage here.

I have a couple who had an offer accepted on a condo out here shortly before vacation to Australia. They have free text and data in Australia (TMobile has a presence there) as part of their plans. Just a little perk for my folks potentially who head to Europe once to twice a year.

Tethering is something else that I would like to have. It's not something I would use a lot but there have been a lot of times that I would have liked to have. Same with voice/data at the same time. (we use iPhones so it doesn't work on Verizon) I would be looking at around $200/month for the three lines with two of them being 18 month Next and also after a company discount. I'd pass down my iPhone 5 to my stepson. Paying about $175ish before taxes now.

 

[CA19100]

I bit the bullet two years ago, dropping the unlimited data for a phone subsidy. Honestly, no regrets. We have two lines on Verizon, and usage similar to yours; maybe slightly less.

I've done 3 phone upgrades now, with a fourth one probably coming next month. For all four of those phones, the difference between unsubsidized and subsidized was $450 apiece, meaning it would have cost me $1800 in upgrade costs so far to keep that unlimited data.

I liked the idea of unlimited data, but the reality is that $450 savings per phone (per 2-year contract) would buy a hell of a lot more data than I would have used during the contract periods.

As for tethering, the metered plans let you use it at no extra charge. It just uses the same pool of data usage, whether it's going to your phone or through it to another device. It's very handy.


One last data point: I've heard folks say you can't lose the unlimited data because you're grandfathered in. That's not exactly true. Once your contract is up, Verizon is absolutely free to change the terms of the service. Unlimited data can disappear overnight at Verizon's discretion. Your only recourse would be to cancel service, or agree to the new terms. And it would really stink to pass on the subsidy, only to end up paying the same rates as those who got a subsidized phone! It's a gamble either way, I suppose, but as I said, I still come out well ahead taking the subsidized phone and paying by the gigabyte.

 

[bearxor]

I've posted my thoughts in a few threads but figured I'd start my own. Right now I have three lines on Verizon with two unlimited and one on a 2GB plan. In total we typically use around 6GB's a month with me using 5 and my wife 1 or less. The no upgrading without changing plans is finally getting to us. We simply can't afford $700+ for a phone, no less two. If we changed to AT&T our bill would go up ~$20 using 18 month Next on a 10GB plan. (I won't switch to tiered Verizon just on principle.)

Coverage wise they are both good in my area. Verizon has vastly superior data speeds at up north of 50mbps with the lowest at around 15. AT&T is still rolling out LTE but has solid 4G. I tested out mifis for my employer as we are transitioning from Alltel's and typically got around 7-9, to me that's plenty for a cell phone. But they are actively rolling out LTE so that will improve as well. As long as I can stream Netflix and Spotify I'm good.

I swore I would never give up unlimited but it's gotten to the point I would rather have newer phones than unlimited data I don't really use. Yes, I know data use will likely go up. I could easily tone down my usage by using my work provided mifi but just haven't because my phone was much much faster. My wife really wants a 6+ and you know how that goes, happy wife happy life. Am I crazy?

So have you considered doing the Verizon device financing plan? Not the Edge plan but VZW will let you finance a device over 12 payments with a $2/mo finance fee. It does not extend your contract and you do not have to give up your unlimited data plan.

Also, if you just want to do the Edge program, don't forget about the Verizon Max plans. $30/mo for 6GB and $50/mo for 8GB with tethering.

 

[boomhower]

So have you considered doing the Verizon device financing plan? Not the Edge plan but VZW will let you finance a device over 12 payments with a $2/mo finance fee. It does not extend your contract and you do not have to give up your unlimited data plan.



Also, if you just want to do the Edge program, don't forget about the Verizon Max plans. $30/mo for 6GB and $50/mo for 8GB with tethering.

I'd do the max plans but that's only for single lines, they would fit the bill perfectly. Thought about the 12 month financing but that'd be busting the budget pretty hard as well, be around $125/month pushing the bill to $300.

 

[Bateluer]

I dropped Verizon Unlimited last year for T-Mobile unlimited, and about 30 less per month. Magenta have no coverage near you at all?

 

[RockinZ28]

Can't you just transfer upgrades from the unlimited lines to the 2gb line? 2gb line should also be able to upgrade without changing the plan.

 

[Red Storm]

I would only drop unlimited on Verizon if I was going to another, more affordable carrier (which is what I did, T-Mobile). If you're staying on Verizon I would keep the unlimited as long as possible, but that's just me.

 

[s44]

Can't you just transfer upgrades from the unlimited lines to the 2gb line? 2gb line should also be able to upgrade without changing the plan.

They closed that loophole last month.

It probably won't convice OP or his wife, but their real problem is frankly the Apple tax. Mobile tech has been pretty stagnant over the last year, and only the previous reluctance of Apple to offer reasonably-sized screens makes the i6/i6+ look like big steps. Folks on the Android side could just get G2s and forget about it.

 

[boomhower]

Can't you just transfer upgrades from the unlimited lines to the 2gb line? 2gb line should also be able to upgrade without changing the plan.

Still trying to figure that out. Some say yes and some say no. If it would work the issue would be solved for two years at least since I have two upgrades available, one on the 2GB line and one an unlimited line. I've read that I can transfer the unlimited upgrade and keep unlimited and also the opposite.

I would only drop unlimited on Verizon if I was going to another, more affordable carrier (which is what I did, T-Mobile). If you're staying on Verizon I would keep the unlimited as long as possible, but that's just me.

I won't be staying with Verizon if I give up unlimited. I'll go to AT&T on principle. Cost will be similar.

They closed that loophole last month.

It probably won't convice OP or his wife, but their real problem is frankly the Apple tax. Mobile tech has been pretty stagnant over the last year, and only the previous reluctance of Apple to offer reasonably-sized screens makes the i6/i6+ look like big steps. Folks on the Android side could just get G2s and forget about it.

Well your half right. I'm due to upgrade regardless and I like the latest tech so my cost would be roughly the same, maybe $100 more due to the needed memory upgrade. For my wife this certainly is the case. She's not one for the latest and greatest but the 5.5" size does have her wanting the new one now. She used the iPhone 4 for three years and didn't really want a new one then, just did it to lock into unlimited for two more years at the time.

 

[RockinZ28]

They closed that loophole last month.

It probably won't convice OP or his wife, but their real problem is frankly the Apple tax. Mobile tech has been pretty stagnant over the last year, and only the previous reluctance of Apple to offer reasonably-sized screens makes the i6/i6+ look like big steps. Folks on the Android side could just get G2s and forget about it.

They closed it for people that would transfer to a feature phone, then remove the data plan. Now you must keep a $30+ data plan for the length of the contract. Still works as far as I know if you already have a 2gb plan to transfer to, just tried checking out with an S5 and didn't make me change my plan.

Plan to do it again with the Note 4.

 

[Red Storm]

They closed it for people that would transfer to a feature phone, then remove the data plan. Now you must keep a $30+ data plan for the length of the contract. Still works as far as I know, just tried checking out with an S5 and didn't make me change my plan.

Plan to do it again with the Note 4.

So you have to keep the extra $30/month for two years? Why would you do that over just buying the phone outright?

 

[RockinZ28]

So you have to keep the extra $30/month for two years? Why would you do that over just buying the phone outright?

Because it's not extra. I already pay it.

I have one unlimited line for me, wife has 2gb line.

I'm due for upgrade on my line, just transfer it to hers, get the discount, put my sim in the new phone. Bill remains 125/mo. I keep unlimited.

 

[openwheel]

Buy slightly used phones. Let someone else take the deep depreciation and let yourself try new phones all the time. Works really well for me.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Sell the unlimited lines. I got $400 for my line.

 

[Red Storm]

Because it's not extra. I already pay it.

I have one unlimited line for me, wife has 2gb line.

I'm due for upgrade on my line, just transfer it to hers, get the discount, put my sim in the new phone. Bill remains 125/mo. I keep unlimited.

Ah the other line is a smartphone and needs the data anyway, I see.

 

[MaxDepth]

Funny how quickly the companies shifted from "sharing minutes" to "sharing data" as cost effective solutions for you, as if there was a great burden on everyone in which they sold solutions by tiers.

Are people talking any less than before? Are there less phones? What happened to cell phones and the carriers that this need to charge by the minute went away?

 

[boomhower]

Funny how quickly the companies shifted from "sharing minutes" to "sharing data" as cost effective solutions for you, as if there was a great burden on everyone in which they sold solutions by tiers.

Are people talking any less than before? Are there less phones? What happened to cell phones and the carriers that this need to charge by the minute went away?

From what I see, yes people are talking less. Texting has taken a lot out of actual talking. And data usage has obviously went way up. With VoLTE coming online it's all data anyways and they can make more money by tiering data instead of voice so that's they route they are going.

I forgot that Verizon is going to start throttling next month. That is something else to take into consideration. Their top 5% number is 4.7GB's which is about my average usage.

 

[notposting]

Never give up, never surrender.

 

[boomhower]

Well, gave up the fight. AT&T's 30GB offer was to good to pass up. Placed the order today. The $200 rebate also helps. All in all it was just easier in the end for me. Easier phone upgrades, tethering and no worrying about throttling.

 

[Mursilis]

Sell the unlimited lines. I got $400 for my line.

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you sell a line like that? I've got two (myself and SO) and they're wasted on us - we rarely go over 1GB each.

 

[boomhower]

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you sell a line like that? I've got two (myself and SO) and they're wasted on us - we rarely go over 1GB each.

I plan on selling mine as well. My general understanding is you find a buyer. Use a forum, ebay, craigslist etc. Then you basically do a three way call with Verizon where their credit is checked and then financial responsibility and ownership of the account is taken over by the buyer. I've got a good month wait on the phones so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I plan on selling mine as well. My general understanding is you find a buyer. Use a forum, ebay, craigslist etc. Then you basically do a three way call with Verizon where their credit is checked and then financial responsibility and ownership of the account is taken over by the buyer. I've got a good month wait on the phones so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I met up with the person rather than a 3 way call. Gotta get that cash first.

 

[Blackjack200]

I plan on selling mine as well. My general understanding is you find a buyer. Use a forum, ebay, craigslist etc. Then you basically do a three way call with Verizon where their credit is checked and then financial responsibility and ownership of the account is taken over by the buyer. I've got a good month wait on the phones so I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

PM me when you're ready to sell.