WTF Verizon?!?!?!?

[pontifex]

I was just checking my account for Verizon Wireless and I see that I am eligible for a new phone via the New Every 2 deal. I click the link to see what phones I can get.

EVERY SINGLE PHONE ON THE LIST IS A SMARTPHONE AND REQUIRES A DATA PLAN OF $29.99 OR HIGHER!

WTF? I don't even get regular cell signal at my house, how the hell am I going to use a data plan? I do get signal like a mile or so down the road though and at work, but I don't need a data plan - I barely use my phone as it is! I might use my cell more if I did have signal here at home, but that would be just to make long distance calls.

Is this the way cell phone companies are going? Forcing people into paying more for stuff they don't need?


Edit: nevermind, i completely missed the tabs that show the other phones. they changed it since i was the last.

 

[MDE]

Look at the top of the window. There's tabs up there. Use them to find the cheaper phones.

EDIT: You want the "Feature Phones" selection.

 

[randomlinh]

well, he'll still be pissed if he picks a phone that has one too many features, like a "full" html browser. in which, he will be forced to pay the $10 data plan. I get it for smartphones, but dumbphones that have a crappy browser? I should have the option to force data off.

 

[rh71]

yes there's options on the left menu that let you choose dumb phones. And you can call and have all data blocked "just in case". You don't HAVE TO pay a data plan with those... None of the 3 recent dumb phones I got for my family have it.

What I actually miss is a smartphone that has wifi-only and no data plan requirement - like this old HTC Titan (Verizon XV6800). At one point none of the Palm phones they had required data either.

 

[rudeguy]

You might want to check out the Jitterbug. Its good for technology challenged people.

 

[pontifex]

You might want to check out the Jitterbug. Its good for technology challenged people.

I have no problem with technology. I just don't have need for all that extra shit in a device I rarely use, and why should I be forced to pay for service that I wouldn't use? maybe you're dumb enough to pay for stuff you don't use, but I'm not.

I have a computer to browse the web and access email (i don't do anything that requires immediate contact or think I'm so important that I need immediate contact), i don't text, I'm not so vain that i need to post every second of my life on websites like facebook or twitter, i have an mp3 player to play music, i don't watch videos on the go (my mp3 player could do that also), and i don't need a shitty camera. All i require from my phone is that it can make and receive phone calls.

 

[pontifex]

well, he'll still be pissed if he picks a phone that has one too many features, like a "full" html browser. in which, he will be forced to pay the $10 data plan. I get it for smartphones, but dumbphones that have a crappy browser? I should have the option to force data off.

I did find the tabs for the other "dumb" phones that don't require a data plan. some of the "dumb" phones apparently require a data plan too, but it specifically says so under the description.

 

[rudeguy]

I was giving you a hard time for not being able to use their website.

Chill out chief.

 

[AstroManLuca]

A couple of the "3G multimedia phones" also don't require a $10 data plan. The Motorola Entice and Rival. Otherwise you have to look in the Simple Feature Phones list.

 

[boomhower]

If you rarely use your phone why are you with VZW to start with? Why not go with something like straight talk? $30 a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts, and still uses VZW towers. I don't know what your VZW bill is but I am betting it's more than that.

 

[QueBert]

If you rarely use your phone why are you with VZW to start with? Why not go with something like straight talk? $30 a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts, and still uses VZW towers. I don't know what your VZW bill is but I am betting it's more than that.

ST is great, but the only let you use their phones, which they don't have a good selection at all. PagePlus lets you use 99% of Verizon phones and is cheap, I hardly use my phone so I buy $10/100 minute cards and they last me about a month now. Verizon was too expensive, ST or P+ would be a great deal for OP especially since he doesn't want a smart phone or data.

 

[pontifex]

If you rarely use your phone why are you with VZW to start with? Why not go with something like straight talk? $30 a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts, and still uses VZW towers. I don't know what your VZW bill is but I am betting it's more than that.

because I've never heard of it before. Maybe its not even available in my area? I'll check it out. I am on the $39.99/month plan but I get a 19% discount through my employer, so the total per month is about $40 with all the taxes and shit.

 

[lupi]

The proliferation of data required phones is becoming the new "text messaging" service to the main carriers. While the OP's current whine may be somewhat incorrect, I don't forsee it as being much longer until it is the truth.

 

[pontifex]

ST is great, but the only let you use their phones, which they don't have a good selection at all. PagePlus lets you use 99% of Verizon phones and is cheap, I hardly use my phone so I buy $10/100 minute cards and they last me about a month now. Verizon was too expensive, ST or P+ would be a great deal for OP especially since he doesn't want a smart phone or data.

pageplus would be the best use for me it seems. Kind of confused how it works though, even after reading the site.

Can I use my existing verizon phone?
Do I keep the same number?
I'm confused about the minutes usages. Is a 100 minute card good for 100 minutes anywhere or is it only good for 100 minutes in a certain area or time frame?

 

[AstroManLuca]

pageplus would be the best use for me it seems. Kind of confused how it works though, even after reading the site.

Can I use my existing verizon phone?
Do I keep the same number?
I'm confused about the minutes usages. Is a 100 minute card good for 100 minutes anywhere or is it only good for 100 minutes in a certain area or time frame?

1. Most Verizon phones do work. Not all of them. There is a compatibility list here.

2. You can keep the same number. The key is to NOT cancel your Verizon line. If you cancel it, your number goes away. Sign up for Page Plus, have them activate your phone on it, and then have them port your Verizon number. Doing so will automatically cancel your Verizon account. So you should make sure you are out of contract and won't incur an ETF.

That link above takes you to a particular topic at the Page Plus forum at HowardForums, but the entire P+ forum there is very helpful. I'd definitely read their stickies to get a better idea of it. It seems Page Plus isn't the easiest way to go, but it's one of the best deals and has some of the best phone flexibility.

 

[Ksyder]

Use a dealer such as Kitty Wireless instead of dealing with Page Plus directly.

Pay as you go minutes are good for 4 months. So if you buy 100 minutes, you have 4 months to use them. The more minutes you buy the cheaper the minutes become. They also have plans that are closer to the traditional cell phone plan, such as 1200 minutes, but the drawback to these is that if you are a light user then you can't just switch back to pay as you go without calling customer service.

Generally speaking, you will not notice the difference between Page Plus and Verizon in terms of service. The main difference is who you pay and how much you are paying. If you go with a 1200 minute plan you get 50 megs data on top of the talk and texting. This is all for the price of the Verizon required data plan alone.

I have switched a few of my friends to page plus and have been using them myself all year so far without any complaints. Its so much cheaper than any other cell phone plan I've had.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Oh, another thing about prepaid minutes. Unless the plan specifically says otherwise, prepaid minutes are always used up for every call. No free nights and weekends. So 1000 or 1200 minutes get used up much more quickly on a prepaid plan than they do on a monthly plan.

 

[QueBert]

pageplus would be the best use for me it seems. Kind of confused how it works though, even after reading the site.

Can I use my existing verizon phone?
Do I keep the same number?
I'm confused about the minutes usages. Is a 100 minute card good for 100 minutes anywhere or is it only good for 100 minutes in a certain area or time frame?

the minutes last 120 days, which is the longest I've seen for a $10 card. While there are some oddball Verizon phones that won't work with P+, just about all of them do. $40 for a year of service damn awesome. Their customer service is sloooooooow according to just about everyone who's had to call. But outside of once I haven't needed to. I ported my number from uhhh T-Mobile, they gave me like $6 in free credit when I did it, I think they dropped it to $2, but 20 free minutes is 20 free minutes. They charge $0 to port a number. And since it's Verizon towers my coverage is sweet

 

[Ksyder]

Also, Page Plus takes $.50 a month out of your balance as a service charge if you are on pay as you go. Effectively you get $8 instead of $10 worth of minutes if you were to make $10 last 4 months. Big deal.

You are basically trading customer service for cheaper pricing. But if you use a dealer such as Kitty you will get great service, all done through email and usually very quickly (esn changes, etc within a half hour or so, things like that)

But it is a risk, overall, and you get the feeling you are dealing with the shady side of the cell phone business. (Wait a minute, on second thought, the whole entire business is shady) To me its well worth it, because the only time I used to call C.S. anyway with a real cell phone company was because of billing issues, which are much less of an issue with prepaid.

The other thing I like about it is when it says $25, it really means $25. That will work for texting, calling, or data (although data is expensive at $1.20/MB if you are not on a monthly plan) No additional charge like a texting plan or extra taxes and fees on top of that. If you read the sticky over at Howard Forums about cheap places to refill, you can find discount codes to make it a little cheaper. Last month my bill was 29.04 and that is for 1200min/1200 text/50 mb of data on a smartphone. On Verizon it would be probably 2 or 3 times that.

 

[cardiac]

I also have a few phones on PagePlus. No issues at all. My son has the pay by the minute plan, along with the Power Texters $10.99 plan (2000 texts for $10.99). So for about $15 a month, he has a perfect plan for a young teenager....

I have the 1200 minute/1200 texts plan for $29.99. Works for me. I paid $33 a month for 450 minutes and ZERO texts/data at AT&T....

I do all my business with PagePlus through a dealer via the Internet: www.kittywireless.com - gives top-notch service.

I love PagePlus as I can bring my own device (BYOD). I have a great Samsung Omnia and it works flawlessly on PagePlus....My son uses a Motorola Q9c...

Bob

 

[marmasatt]

Yes, welcome. Sprint is doing the exact same thing. And I am in the same boat as you. All the "good" phones (touchscreen and what not) are like literally $49 after rebate, etc for like $499 MSRP phones. But the minimum family plan now is like $130. Huh? I currently pay $60.

 

[pontifex]

I also have a few phones on PagePlus. No issues at all. My son has the pay by the minute plan, along with the Power Texters $10.99 plan (2000 texts for $10.99). So for about $15 a month, he has a perfect plan for a young teenager....

I have the 1200 minute/1200 texts plan for $29.99. Works for me. I paid $33 a month for 450 minutes and ZERO texts/data at AT&T....

I do all my business with PagePlus through a dealer via the Internet: www.kittywireless.com - gives top-notch service.

I love PagePlus as I can bring my own device (BYOD). I have a great Samsung Omnia and it works flawlessly on PagePlus....My son uses a Motorola Q9c...

Bob

I don't get why these places don't have in-between plans. So I can either get a certain amount of minutes with nothing extra or a lot of minutes and a lot of texts and some data. why can't you get like 200 minutes and 50 texts or some sort of mix and match?

oh snap, pageplus has the e815! I had one once, best phone I ever had. too bad it's refurb. oh, all their phones are refurbs except for one, the most expensive one.

 

[cardiac]

I don't get why these places don't have in-between plans. So I can either get a certain amount of minutes with nothing extra or a lot of minutes and a lot of texts and some data. why can't you get like 200 minutes and 50 texts or some sort of mix and match?

oh snap, pageplus has the e815! I had one once, best phone I ever had. too bad it's refurb. oh, all their phones are refurbs except for one, the most expensive one.

Pontifex, the PagePlus dealer that I go through has brand new e815 phones on her website: http://www.kittywireless.com/phones.html And starting today, they are $20 off!!

There was a rumor at one time that PagePlus was going to come out with an intermediate plan, like a 500 min/500 texts/500mb data for $20 a month. I would love that!

Bob

 

[pontifex]

I don't know if I feel comfortable going with a 3rd party for cell phone use. I really don't want to spend much money, and you have to buy their phones at high prices and they have generally shitty phones. I want a new phone but don't want to pay out the ass for it. I don't mind a contract. I've been with verizon for many years now and never had a problem.

Verizon's prepaid plans are ridiculous also.

3.99 a day only if you use it
1.99 a day only if you use it
.99 a day only if you use it

If you used your phone once a day, with either the 1.99 or 3.99 plan, you'd be spending a hell of a lot more than if you went for a contract. does this apply even if someone calls you? I would assume it does.

Even at .99 a day, you're up to $30 if you used it once a day.

and some of these only include mobile to mobile calling, everything else is an extra charge. I don't see how these companies can get away with this crap.

 

[cardiac]

You DO NOT have to buy their phones for PagePlus. You can activate a phone from eBay, Craigslist, or wherever you choose....