Verizon Wireless price reduction

[MichaelB]

Verizon Wireless just reduced by $10 the monthly rate for data plans. The announcement is here More Options and Even More Value Coming for MORE Everything Customers
The announcement does not make clear that the previous plan and rate continues in force unless you log into your account and change to the new, lower rate plan.

[eytonxav]

Verizon continues to react to Sprint's agressive pricing. I've received several concessions from them over the past 4-5 months, even getting reductions on DW's and my non-smartphones.

[Midpack]

The discounts have reached the point even DW and I signed up with Verizon More Everything a few weeks ago. We got unlimited talk & text with 10GB shared LTE data for $92.40/month ** - and switched to iPhones. Same service was $160/month a year ago. We were paying Net10 $85/month for 2.5GB/ea for cheapo Android phones and horrendous customer service.

** 10GB data @ $62.40/mo (19% DW employer discount + 3% paperless billing discount, from $80/mo list)
+ 2 x $15/mo for line access (promotion from $40/mo published standard line access)

[Corporateburnout]

AT&T is doing the same. They just reduced my monthly data plan price by $10 as well as carryover of any unused data in response to Sprint.

Competition is good.

[athena53]

This is actually a bad deal for me. I've got the cheapest data plan available (250 mb) at $15/month and they say it's no longer available. Since Wi-Fi is available nearly everywhere I use the phone and I don't stream anything, I've never gone over 60/month in the 9 months I've had the phone.


Now the cheapest is 500 mb at $20/month. Fortunately, I'm not on a contract. Time to check out Ting.

[FIYes]

I am shopping for a new cell phone and cell phone plan. I am a light user and have been with Tracfones for years. However, their coverage for smartphones just doesn't cut it in my area. I won't switch for a couple of months, so I am hoping these price reductions will continue. Has anyone used Cricket? That is moving to the top of my list.


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

[Tailgate]

We switched a year ago from AT&T to Consumer Cellular. 2 phones with shared 1,200 minutes phone, 15,000 text and 2.5gig of data = $78 a month, incl fees, taxes, etc... We own our iPhones outright. We were paying $202 a month for similar numbers from AT&T.

Looks like some price wars brewing, but the big guys will still screw you when they get the chance.

[rodi]

I love seeing prices drop. I switched to Ting a while back - and it's still cheaper.
(4 smart phones, but 2 don't have data because I'm a mean mom). My bill is under $90 for the month. Remember this is for four phones. Older son texts a lot. DH talks a lot to his sister and mom (about his mom's care).... but we still aren't heavy users. With four phones were in "large" for minutes and data, and medium for texts... not bad for 4 phones.

[Chuckanut]

Verizon Cuts Rates For Data Plans, But Not Automatically For Existing Customers – Consumerist

Quote:

A rep for Verizon confirms to Consumerist that current Verizon subscribers will not be automatically opted into either of these choices and must let the company know — either by calling customer service or through the Verizon website — when the changes kick in tomorrow, Feb. 5.

[sheehs1]

I saw the article about this a couple of nights ago. Just called Verizon and got $10/mth off my plan. Thanks for posting MichaelB and reminding me it was on my list of things to do!

[bizlady]

hmmm.. and my contract is not up for another 18 months, wonder if I switch if I get hit with penalties. If others find out, please post outcome.

[Katsmeow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Verizon Wireless just reduced by $10 the monthly rate for data plans. The announcement is here More Options and Even More Value Coming for MORE Everything Customers The announcement does not make clear that the previous plan and rate continues in force unless you log into your account and change to the new, lower rate plan.

Here is the concern I have. We paying for the data plan $80 a month for 6 GB of data. We can now get $70 a month for 6 GB of data. Smartphones each cost an additional $40 a month access charge. The announcement says " Additionally, for a limited time customers who choose MORE Everything plans of 6GB or higher can add smartphones on Verizon Edge for only $15 a month after a $25 access discount per line." You can how get 2 of those for $15 a month.

At first, I thought that was good thinking that instead of paying $150 for those 2 phones and our monthly data service (we actually have 4 phones on the line but the discount is on 2) we could instead pay $100 a month. ($70 plus 2 phones at $15 a month each instead of paying $80 plus 2 phones at $40 a month each)

But I see 2 potential problems.

First - we currently are under a promotion for 2 years where for each line on the plan we get an extra GB of shared data usage for no additional charge. So although we are on a 6GB data plan until the end of September 2016 we actually get 10GB of data each month.

I am concerned that if I change from the $80 a month 6GB plan to the $70 a month 6 GB plan I will lose the extra 4 GB of data.

We actually do use that extra data so I don't want to lose it.

If doing this loses it, then what I really have to compare is the cost of a 10GB plan.

That is $100 a month and if 2 of the phones could be $15 a month access instead of $40 that is $130 a month. That is still $20 less than we are paying so would be preferable. But...

Second - It is not at all clear to me you get the $15 a month access for phones that are already on the plan and that discount appears to be limited to Edge accounts. The language above says that for a limited time we can add smartphones on Verizon Edge for $15 a month.

Verizon Edge is where you pay over 24 months the full undiscounted price of the phone and then upgrade more often. Edge is not cost effective to us.

So

My Conclusion - I don't think we get any access charge discount since we don't have phone on Edge and don't want to. So, if we lose the extra 1 GB a month data switching from our current plan to the new cheaper plan, we would pay $10 less a month to get 4 GB less data. If we want to continue getting 10 GB data a month we would need to upgrade to a $100 a month plan in which case it makes more sense to stay with our current plan.

Does anyone know if you lose the extra bonus data you are currently getting (if you are) if you upgrade?

[walkinwood]

I just moved our two single phone plans - unlimited voice & text and 1GB data each - to a family plan with unlimited voice, text and 2GB shared data for the same price. Earlier, it cost more for the family plan for 2 smart phones. That was the only deal available for our usage pattern when I called / researched online.

[audreyh1]

Hmmmmm.

Thanks for the tip! We have some thinking to do.

[Another Reader]

Prices for single line plans appear to be unchanged, at least as of this morning. I did get the reduction to $60 with one GB of data last month when my contract expired. Not exactly competitive, but I will probably need a new phone soon because of battery life issues.

[target2019]

Another tip: make sure you go a genuine company store or the Verizon website before cutting a deal. And confirm everything.

One of my kids got taken advantage of in a "Verizon" store.

[donheff]

Thanks. I just claimed my $10/mth reduction. I didn't see this elsewhere and might have missed it.