Related
Just when it appeared that Sprint was finally pulling their head out the sand, they finally have good (rather, great!) devices, they are rolling out the fastest network available in many cities, they fumble, pathetically. Kinda like handing it off on the 1 yard line, running back jumps over the pile and ball gets knocked loose, game over, you lose.
Effective now, if you are getting ANY employee discount, they are discontinuing it on every line after the first two:
"Discount Policy Change Notice
Effective 8/27/10, discounts will no longer apply to the monthly recurring charge for Add-a-Phone lines beyond the first two lines on family or share plans."
And if that weren't enough, if you have any add-ons (regardless of if it is first, second, or 5th line) your discount is gone too.
Discount Policy Change Reminder
"As a reminder, effective 8/1/10, employee/member discounts no longer apply to add-on services with a monthly recurring charge of $29.99 or less. Examples include, but are not limited to, Messaging Add-Ons, Data Packs, Data Premier."
Pathetic.
Anyone who wants to tell me "well if you don't like it, you can go somewhere else" save yourself the time, I plan on it.
That's quite the misleading thread title to get us to look at old news.
derrickj said:
Just when it appeared that Sprint was finally pulling their head out the sand, they finally have good (rather, great!) devices, they are rolling out the fastest network available in many cities, they fumble, pathetically. Kinda like handing it off on the 1 yard line, running back jumps over the pile and ball gets knocked loose, game over, you lose.
Effective now, if you are getting ANY employee discount, they are discontinuing it on every line after the first two:
"Discount Policy Change Notice
Effective 8/27/10, discounts will no longer apply to the monthly recurring charge for Add-a-Phone lines beyond the first two lines on family or share plans."
And if that weren't enough, if you have any add-ons (regardless of if it is first, second, or 5th line) your discount is gone too.
Discount Policy Change Reminder
"As a reminder, effective 8/1/10, employee/member discounts no longer apply to add-on services with a monthly recurring charge of $29.99 or less. Examples include, but are not limited to, Messaging Add-Ons, Data Packs, Data Premier."
Pathetic.
Anyone who wants to tell me "well if you don't like it, you can go somewhere else" save yourself the time, I plan on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what? If not getting discounts that MOST people don't get anyway, is a deal breaker for you ("waaah, I'm no longer in the special club"), then buh-bye.
If it's a matter of not being able to afford the STANDARD rates... then I say, learn how to manage your damn $$.
Such a sense of entitlement in America these days. C'mon people, the biggest hurdle in a lot of people's lives is their own ego.
Good luck finding what Sprint offers for cheaper even without the discount.
Yeah.. old news man
Your thread title suggests they are discontinuing ALL discounts, not just on the added lines. Considering my 27% discount only saves me ~$5 on my $20 added line I'm not sweating it. Not to mention (and I could be mistaken) I believe this applies to FUTURE lines, not current.. My discount is still there for my 3rd line.. guess we'll see when my next bill drops..
Jye75 said:
So what? If not getting discounts that MOST people don't get anyway, is a deal breaker for you ("waaah, I'm no longer in the special club"), then buh-bye.
If it's a matter of not being able to afford the STANDARD rates... then I say, learn how to manage your damn $$.
Such a sense of entitlement in America these days. C'mon people, the biggest hurdle in a lot of people's lives is their own ego.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple of tips for you:
1) Read original post, already mentioned I was leaving, has nothing to do with being in a "special club" rather Sprint, not me, Sprint, changed their terms. I made my decision.
2) I would be willing to compare W-2's with you, I can assure you that my money is a) being managed far more effectively than yours and 2) there is more of it to manage.
3) Learn definition of entitlement. Why do you think anyone offers discounts? As an "entitlement"?!!? I think the word you are looking for is "incentive" and I have lost mine with Sprint.
nebenezer said:
Yeah.. old news man
Your thread title suggests they are discontinuing ALL discounts, not just on the added lines. Considering my 27% discount only saves me ~$5 on my $20 added line I'm not sweating it. Not to mention (and I could be mistaken) I believe this applies to FUTURE lines, not current.. My discount is still there for my 3rd line.. guess we'll see when my next bill drops..
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Click to collapse
I edited the title. This is definitely for existing lines, I already had the discussion. It is also new news to me because I have electronic billing and you have to click a hyperlink to see it. Seriously, you have to click a hyperlink. All the other text is printed and a major change is announced and you have to click a hyperlink, I'm just saying.
derrickj said:
I would edit the title but it won't let me. This is definitely for existing lines, I already had the discussion. It is also new news to me because I have electronic billing and you have to click a hyperlink to see it. Seriously, you have to click a hyperlink. All the other text is printed and a major change is announced and you have to click a hyperlink, I'm just saying.
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Click to collapse
Interesting about the link..
And you cant edit the title of the thread? I've never had that problem before..
When you hit edit on the OP the thread title shows as the title of the OP.. cool
derrickj said:
Couple of tips for you:
1) Read original post, already mentioned I was leaving, has nothing to do with being in a "special club" rather Sprint, not me, Sprint, changed their terms. I made my decision.
2) I would be willing to compare W-2's with you, I can assure you that my money is a) being managed far more effectively than yours and 2) there is more of it to manage.
3) Learn definition of entitlement. Why do you think anyone offers discounts? As an "entitlement"?!!? I think the word you are looking for is "incentive" and I have lost mine with Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) I did read, and said, "Buh-bye". So why are you still here?
2) What are you, 5? I manage my money just fine, and something tells me that if you are so up in arms about losing discounts that don't amount to much over the course of a year, then a) your money ISN'T being managed better than mine, not that it matters either way. b) WTF makes you believe you know where my 6 figure annual salary lies?
3) I know the definition of entitlement, and you are displaying a sense of it with your words. Boo-hoo, you don't get a discount anymore, so you're going to stomp away mad like a child and go elsewhere. Discounts aren't incentives, they're perks. The incentive with Sprint is that you still get better rates than any other major carrier, and an awesome phone.
Now shut up and color.
/buh-bye, don't care, hate Sprint more.
there are other .. providers that might be cheaper..
Try metroPCS or similar companies in your area. the only thing is that their service is limited to local area and you pay for roaming.
but for the big 4... it will be hard to get a cheaper plan.
....
PS.. that does suck that sprint did that. They should at least grandfather the current users and plans.
Dan330 said:
there are other .. providers that might be cheaper..
Try metroPCS or similar companies in your area. the only thing is that their service is limited to local area and you pay for roaming.
but for the big 4... it will be hard to get a cheaper plan.
....
PS.. that does suck that sprint did that. They should at least grandfather the current users and plans.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.
derrickj said:
I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? In what advertisement campaign, might I ask, did you see this as a selling point to the general public?
I don't really care if you don't like Sprint, to each his own. However, you're leaving over a matter of a few dollars a month that was never promised to you to begin with... and it's Sprint's poor business decision?
Take this for example, I spent 14 years in the Air Force, and over that time, many stores and companies offered various levels of military discounts. Many of them stopped for one reason or another, and there were some military members who complained, "Lowe's (or whatever store) doesn't do military discounts anymore, I'm not going there." But most of us knew it was originally something that the chain did to show appreciation, and it simply came to a conclusion as things do, and we would then pay full price for purchases like everyone else.
Jye75 said:
Really? In what advertisement campaign, might I ask, did you see this as a selling point to the general public?
I don't really care if you don't like Sprint, to each his own. However, you're leaving over a matter of a few dollars a month that was never promised to you to begin with... and it's Sprint's poor business decision?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was never promised to me? How do you think I got it? Magic? Did I ever say it was offered to the General Public or in advertising campaign? I said it was offered as an incentive to get people who would otherwise not use their service to use their service. Do you think they would offer it if they didn't have to?
Sprint's poor business decision?
If I have to explain that, I will just leave you wondering.
derrickj said:
It was never promised to me? How do you think I got it? Magic? Did I ever say it was offered to the General Public or in advertising campaign? I said it was offered as an incentive to get people who would otherwise not use their service to use their service. Do you think they would offer it if they didn't have to?
Sprint's poor business decision?
If I have to explain that, I will just leave you wondering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously, they DON'T have to, which is why they terminated those discounts.
Discounts are the exception, not the standard. It's not a poor business decision to charge people the amount that is stated in the standard rates. If I have to explain THAT to you, then well...
I'm contemplating words that start with the letter "M"... moron.
derrickj said:
I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.[/QUOTE
Being new to the board I can honeslty say there are some real ****-heads on here. Then you have the people who may come off in the wrong way. Still take stuff with a gain of salt when in a fourm online.
As for the discount I have not seen or heard of anything about it, not saying I don't care. I truely do. I have worked for Sprint when it was the PCS network. One thing that my manager said that has proven time and time again is that Sprint is the LEADER in the celluar busniess. When they make a move to do something all the other cell phone compaines follow. interesting when sprint announce the Everything Plan I was expecting chaos. I have a 23% discount. My bill is $160 right now. Without it its $190. $30 is the difference with 2 phones. Even with one phone on AT&T or any other network I would not have the same thing. Plan to Plan and Add-ons ..Etc. I would be paying close to the money I pay now.
my opinion - if its 1 user 2 phones. Drop the other phone and pay a cheaper rate. If it's 2 users 2 phones. get that other person to pay there half of the bill. You might already know this, so lets move forward.
As you can see Cell Phones are not Analog anymore!! So chances are as we move forward they are going to require more and more data or coverage.
I feel your pain. We live in the US, so by proxy we are going to get screwed when big corps. like this make these desicions. I hope I wasn't rude or being a douche but stop crying about $30 or less discount or plan changes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also can you provide the hyperlink. I would like to see this.
Wallabe said:
Also can you provide the hyperlink. I would like to see this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The hyperlink is on a secured link. I actually have to be logged into my account but here is a screen shot. Seems like there are people who don't know that the "Employee Discount" doesn't mean you are a Sprint employee, just means you have a job, which many are clearly (and understandably) lacking.
Jye75 said:
Obviously, they DON'T have to, which is why they terminated those discounts.
Discounts are the exception, not the standard. It's not a poor business decision to charge people the amount that is stated in the standard rates. If I have to explain THAT to you, then well...
I'm contemplating words that start with the letter "M"... moron.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you take a business class someday, perhaps it will be clearer. I have neither the time nor the inclination to shed the light on this for you and I doubt you have the ability to comprehend.
I love these threads. Boo Hoo, they are taking away my discount. I heard that they are creating a new cell phone providor called crymeariver, you might want to check them out.
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
SInce you already took the time to write this post. I would suggest you sending the story to The Consumerist website also.
These companies don't like the bad publicity they get from organizations like Consumer Reports. I'm suggesting this as a way to alert potential consumers about the risk and not to use it as a way to get revenge.
Good Luck
Wow!!!!
You posted all of that on your Xoom? I thought it kind of weird that we would have to pay full price AND still have to activate (get a # from Verizon) myself. But on launch day I decided to go ahead anyway since it wasn't really a lock-in type of plan. However, I began to experience an uneasy feeling about the whole thing after playing around with the Xoom, remembering what it cost as I went along, remembering how things usually worked (in the past anyway) in relation to price of these types of things, you know, FULL PRICE = no having to deal with a wireless provider..etc, and decided pretty darn quickly (I had the device for a total of 3 hours) that I didn't want to continue with the current setup. I therefore took the device back to BB where I purchased it. They accepted the return and called VZW to deactivate everything, which they did, but I still recieved a bill for $38.27. I was told that that was for activating the device...etc., during my call to them to try and get a refund since I had the device for only 3 fricking hours. The rep I got was pretty nice and understanding and said that she could cancel the bill and I would owe nothing. I left it at that and a couple of days later, I recieved a bill for that same amount in my mailbox, so I called again to talk them about it. Well, by the time I got done with that phone call, I was told that I owed $3.27 and that that amount was the taxes that was on the bill to begin with. I thought, and said to the rep., HUH!!!, and she told me that their system has no way of reversing taxes. Rather than argueing over $3.27, I told her that I would just send them a money order. Does this sound plausible to anybody? Does anyone else think that their system is incapable of reversing taxes and that the money is actually going to be paid on the taxes? Just all so weird to me.
Oh yea, AND a couple of days later I went back to BB to see if the activation crap with Verizon was still going on (I thought I'd at least check things out) and sure enough it wasn't. I guess it was only a launch day thing. I ended up getting another Xoom WITHOUT having to deal with Verizon's crap.
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
ixobelle said:
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a bet that says this asshole isn't from the United States or has any idea what a person in the military means to the average american like myself. We have the liberties and rights because they fight for them. Go Troll somewhere Gollum
VegUnited said:
Go Troll somewhere Gollum
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What You Said
They are a former Marine just so'you know
OP: I would for starters file with the BBB in your area
ixobelle said:
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
androidlurker said:
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, you gave them all your information for them to be able to bill you and now are complaining. I paid full price @ Best Buy and my information was not needed. Why would it be if i'm paying full price? If they would of asked for all my info I would of called V the next day to make sure I didn't have a paying cycle as it just depends on the rep.
But you my friend failed and are blaiming Verizon.
I think the most important point that he said was missed... his gf picked it up for him. need I say more?
/thread
also, all these threads that do not belong on the board, or are viewed as trolling should be voted on. I gave this a 1 star rating.
Verizon cancelled my data on day 1 and warned of the bill. Once it came in they told me to call and it would be cleared out. Bill went from 37 to 0.
Curious how can you be billed for a data bill you declined? You must sign the contract and submit your social security for credit checks before activation.
He is trying to help the community. Most of you suck anyways. Thanks for the post op.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
androidlurker said:
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
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All you have to do and I have done this before and won against T-mobile is go to the Small Claims Court and open a case against verizon. your case will be heard in 30 days
You'll probably have more luck on the Better Business Bureau website than posting on here. There's nothing any of us can really do about it, unless the Verizon CEO secretly lurks in here.
Good luck!
Silly me for thinking I'd find sympathetic ears here. My bad.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
@lurker these forums are full of haters man. Thanks for your service and good luck with the ordeal.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Well said my good man. Verizon is the devil, I have known this since my dumbphone days They are too big and I am praying for an event that sees them lose so many subscribers that they drop to #3 or #4 and have to change tactics. This won't happen, but I can dream.
monadzback said:
He is trying to help the community. Most of you suck anyways. Thanks for the post op.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
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The only difference between your post and his is you took a lot less words to say nothing.
Thank you for being succinct OP
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
I must say after reading all that I am still not sure what the problem is.. Did they get your GF in a contract instead of month to month you can cancel? Or will they just not cancel your data plan at all??
I had no issue and took 10 minutes on the phone and was told to call back if I did see a charge on my bill and they would remove it..
mjpacheco said:
The only difference between your post and his is you took a lot less words to say nothing.
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Thanks.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Today while reading Dsl reports, I saw that Google has picked Kansas City as its test bed for their 1gbps fiber internet.
And a few people have mentioned that Google could buy Sprint, I think this could be a very good thing IMHO.
But im not at all familiar with stuff like this, so thats why i posted this to see the pro or cons of maybe Google buying Sprint.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Picks-Kansas-City-For-Fiber-to-the-Home-113469
theboz1419 said:
Today while reading Dsl reports, I saw that Google has picked Kansas City as its test bed for their 1gbps fiber internet.
And a few people have mentioned that Google could buy Sprint, I think this could be a very good thing IMHO.
But im not at all familiar with stuff like this, so thats why i posted this to see the pro or cons of maybe Google buying Sprint.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Picks-Kansas-City-For-Fiber-to-the-Home-113469
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Man Ive been talking hard about Sprint/Google merge since AT&T pulled their fast one.
Could such merge happen? I think so this is why,
Sprint & google had to be in discussion for some time knowing what AT&T was up to setting the stage.
Google would be taking a big chance but it would be in both best interest to make such deal happen seeing Googles best friend was T-mobile which will be no more & that Verizon , ATT are iphone happy singing new deals with Apple.
I'm betting Apple/Verizon deal had some strings attached to turn away future google goods , I'm sure V would have no problem with that seeing all Android device currently on their shelf are binged out which has been not giving google freedom needed to truly succeed .
At&T purchases T-mobile puts MAJOR MAJOR dent into Android so were does that leave google? Not in good shape with other carriers Big $$ will be lost.
If google keeps pumping Sprint up with the goods and play well merge would only make sense balls in their court they truly control their future.
Good question. Easy to look at the financials as both companies are public.
Sprint is worth about $14 billion right now. Google has $9 billion in cash and $34 billion in cash and short term investments.
So yes, Google could afford to buy Sprint.
strung said:
Good question. Easy to look at the financials as both companies are public.
Sprint is worth about $14 billion right now. Google has $9 billion in cash and $34 billion in cash and short term investments.
So yes, Google could afford to buy Sprint.
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Well not so fast financials does not determine the value of a company. T-Mobile is selling for 39 billion and Sprint has way more spectrum and customers so Sprint would by my account be worth more.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App from your moms house
jdh10475 said:
Well not so fast financials does not determine the value of a company. T-Mobile is selling for 39 billion and Sprint has way more spectrum and customers so Sprint would by my account be worth more.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App from your moms house
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You are definitely correct. Sprint is worth 14 billion but Sprint also has a ton more cash in hand.
This isn't just high speed fiber, this is a whole new way of delivering the internet with mass hubs/processors, in a mobile capacity, grouped together in any random location, delivering up to a Gigabyte of speed.
Very progressive thinking from Google that started about 12 years ago when they started purchasing the containers to use as the hubs.
One thing I've been saying for years is that we have worked flawlessly to make evberything faster, except the main pipeline, since 1997 when the first cable internet connections started to be offered.
That's 14 years of a 10 mg cap. Glad to see that Google has been wondering the same thing.
The words getting out tomorrow should be interesting
http://www.deadzones.com/2011/03/will-google-eventually-buy-sprint.html
It would probably be a cash + stock + debt deal, if Google was to buy Sprint. Give Sprint shareholders like 1/5 - 1/3 share of Google stock for each Sprint share, plus a few billion in cash, or something like that.
This merger would make LOTS of sense for both parties. And if VZ was really looking to sell their FiOS operations to Google, it would make The Goog a nicely vertically integrated company: fiber, phone, and search/data/apps in the cloud.
Methinks this could go down -- and sooner than we think. Which would be a huge benefit to Sprint subs.
My one concern is, there was lots of fiber laid in the late 90's - early '00s that still dark (anyone remember Global Crossing?) so theres lots of unused capacity out there. How does that impact Google wanting to lay fiber in other areas? Or does Google look to buy some of that unused fiber and become an ISP??? Hmmmm...
This could be great news, especially with companies like HTC potentially locking their phones. This way, we know we'll have some good pure google phones... hopefully.
Well I'm looking very forward to Google mobile hope it happens.
3 major carriers competition remains lots of choice and oh ya , We get some kick butt hardware
I definitely am mixed. On the one hand I hate these big mergers because it means less choice. But I really like both sprint and android.
Sprint is getting the nexus s and google voice so it looks like they are boosting the relationship up a notch.
Sent from my destroyed evo using the xda premium app.
atypical1 said:
I definitely am mixed. On the one hand I hate these big mergers because it means less choice. But I really like both sprint and android.
Sprint is getting the nexus s and google voice so it looks like they are boosting the relationship up a notch.
Sent from my destroyed evo using the xda premium app.
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This merger would leave more choice.
If Google doesn't buy Sprint Verizon will which would be bad for market locking consumer into 2 choices
i think it would be a smart choice for Google and i hope they do it then we can get all there new ideas in the updates and stuff for there phones =]
I've been up to the Google hq in norcal and my uncle is a contractor that is part of the fiber build that is going down with Google and ya its going to be huge if and when Google goes forward with the project super huge speeds
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
It would be a heck of an antitrust court case.
Imagine if Microsoft bought a wireless carrier, that would never get through the ftc.
maybe this would, who knows.
I'm surprised no one mentioned all of Sprints debt. Regardless, if Google bought them they would most likely pay it of to bring their credit rating up.
Another, maybe, coincidence is google's promise to bring 1gigabit speeds to everyone. True 4G is a minimum 1gbit and Sprint is in desperate need of a high speed fiber network for their back haul.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
I was thinking about it and its one of 2 things imo. I think they are using the extra bucks for the future LTE expansion, building towers and whatnot. But most likely they are a bunch of grubby pricks that want to nickel and dime us
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA
I've read through a lot of the huge thread, and a lot of people were saying that t-mobile tends to offer the new, hip device for an outrageous cost for the first few weeks.
If you are a current customer you might have luck calling customer service and passively threatening to switch carriers. Many people here have had luck getting $200 off the phone and a few other perks. The last 10 pages of so of the big thread are full of those stories.
I bought the phone outright. The value plan I'm on is sweet- I'm saving $450 over 2 years.
Lets hope for the first and realize this phone is actually a phone that I might keep for the 2 years for a 1st haha. There is no real reason I don't think except the fact that T-Mobile has the cheaper of the plans when it comes to the competing 3, so the 80$ more that I have to spend to get the phone compared to the 25-50$ a month I save (comparing to my friends who have Verizon and At&t I'm okay with the difference... But still wish it wasn't the case.
I'm rocking the Motorola Cliq. This phone is going to seem so amazingly quick. If I can get 2 1/2 years out of a pos phone like the Cliq I can get 2 years out of this sexy phone.
I'm just happy that I am still out of contract.
mhuckins said:
I'm rocking the Motorola Cliq. This phone is going to seem so amazingly quick. If I can get 2 1/2 years out of a pos phone like the Cliq I can get 2 years out of this sexy phone.
I'm just happy that I am still out of contract.
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GOOOooo should've went to the G1 haha.
mt3g said:
GOOOooo should've went to the G1 haha.
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I almost did! I didn't want to move away from the qwerty keyboard. I've spent so much time on the computer in the last year I couldn't justify another partial upgrade. I was so close to buying an iPhone (they get upgrades, my cliq is like 1.8 or some lousy shiat) and then the SGSIII came along. I haven't slept in weeks. It's like the raspberry pi all over again.
MacTheRipperr said:
I was thinking about it and its one of 2 things imo. I think they are using the extra bucks for the future LTE expansion, building towers and whatnot. But most likely they are a bunch of grubby pricks that want to nickel and dime us
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Spit-balling...
T-Mobile's Value plan is supposed to encourage customer's to avoid the recent spate of aggressive phone upgrades, and they are realizing that smartphone users are unaffected by the economic argument as the situation stands.
The phones actually are more expensive than we tend to think, and even "no-commitment" pricing has been subsidized.
The worldwide currency shifts have affected the cost of phones, and most carriers have been reluctant to reflect reality in a highly competitive market.
High demand and low supply resulted in either a money-grab or an attempt to prevent people from buying up the limited supply and selling on eBay (the latter being, admittedly, unlikely given the nature of the mobile market).
Executives have started to notice that the "free phone" weekends have been eating into profits and T-Mobile is attempting to capitalize on eager buyers that clearly aren't willing to wait until the inevitable deal comes along.
The unusual modem and/or overall lower volume of T-Mobile's sales meant that they weren't able to negotiate a deal as aggressive as the larger players.
T-Mobile has an interest in seeing HTC succeed and are attempting to subtly curb the Goliath that is Samsung in an attempt to keep their leverage going.
Pricing is not related to anything other than an attempt to place devices into tiers (with the S2 at $550, the One S at $600, and the S3 as the perceived-best phone), and they didn't expect a backlash against the better phones costing more money.
T-Mobile is attempting to expand its image as the "value" service by leaving room for negotiation so that bargain-conscious customers talk them up.
Don't take any of the above too seriously. It is kind of late, I haven't put much thought into it, and I've had a lot to drink.
In any case, relative value is relative value. I don't care that Redbox is losing money renting to me for $0.70, it makes me unwilling to pay for Blockbuster Express at $3. I don't care that an album costs $7 at my preferred service of Amazon MP3, I am unwilling to buy because Google Music has it $4. At the end of the day, the (vocal) minority of us that hang it forums like this will sweat the price difference because we spend all of our time comparing like items.
It isn't even remotely fair to T-Mobile (or whomever), but it is human.
Voltage Spike said:
Spit-balling...
T-Mobile's Value plan is supposed to encourage customer's to avoid the recent spate of aggressive phone upgrades, and they are realizing that smartphone users are unaffected by the economic argument as the situation stands.
The phones actually are more expensive than we tend to think, and even "no-commitment" pricing has been subsidized.
The worldwide currency shifts have affected the cost of phones, and most carriers have been reluctant to reflect reality in a highly competitive market.
High demand and low supply resulted in either a money-grab or an attempt to prevent people from buying up the limited supply and selling on eBay (the latter being, admittedly, unlikely given the nature of the mobile market).
Executives have started to notice that the "free phone" weekends have been eating into profits and T-Mobile is attempting to capitalize on eager buyers that clearly aren't willing to wait until the inevitable deal comes along.
The unusual modem and/or overall lower volume of T-Mobile's sales meant that they weren't able to negotiate a deal as aggressive as the larger players.
T-Mobile has an interest in seeing HTC succeed and are attempting to subtly curb the Goliath that is Samsung in an attempt to keep their leverage going.
Pricing is not related to anything other than an attempt to place devices into tiers (with the S2 at $550, the One S at $600, and the S3 as the perceived-best phone), and they didn't expect a backlash against the better phones costing more money.
T-Mobile is attempting to expand its image as the "value" service by leaving room for negotiation so that bargain-conscious customers talk them up.
Don't take any of the above too seriously. It is kind of late, I haven't put much thought into it, and I've had a lot to drink.
In any case, relative value is relative value. I don't care that Redbox is losing money renting to me for $0.70, it makes me unwilling to pay for Blockbuster Express at $3. I don't care that an album costs $7 at my preferred service of Amazon MP3, I am unwilling to buy because Google Music has it $4. At the end of the day, the (vocal) minority of us that hang it forums like this will sweat the price difference because we spend all of our time comparing like items.
It isn't even remotely fair to T-Mobile (or whomever), but it is human.
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I wish I could write so eloquently when drunk. What's your fark handle?
It's sort of amazing to see people complaining about the "high" price without factoring in the total price of the contract or looking at the ETF. Worrisome.
Last year the GS2 and Amaze 4G were priced in the mid $200s so this seems pretty normal for T-mobile. T-mobile has also mused about contract pricing and how it is affecting their competitiveness and bottomline. Since the phone is untouched mostly there were probably other concessions that T-mobile wanted with Samsung on pricing. Then of course this phone is even more feature packed than the last, and you can't remove components once you place it in your previous flagship model (the GS2) so they are getting more and more expensive.
I don't think ETF factors much, unless you are some crazy person who likes to break contracts all the time and can't wait out the 2 years. T-mobile contract prices are lower, sure, but not by much.
Why doesn't anyone incorporate how much the plans cost prior to complaining about the cost of the phone?
I remember reading somewhere that stated studies show customers are more prone to sign with a carrier based on the price of the phone instead of the rate plan.
Let's wise up, fellas. Don't be a poor consumer.
tmobile is the only company selling the phone at this point, and in limited markets at that. I am wondering if they're selling the phone at such a high price in the beggining because they know they can. Look at the overwhelming demand coupled with such a limited supply. It's an easy cash cow. Im wondering if I should wait out and see if the price will go down in the next few weeks. ATT and Sprint are both selling 32gb at 600 and tmobile is selling them at 670 but like I said before Tmobile is the only one selling them at this point and they're pretty much done in Manhattan (i called a bunch of stores already).
ttngu234 said:
Why doesn't anyone incorporate how much the plans cost prior to complaining about the cost of the phone?
I remember reading somewhere that stated studies show customers are more prone to sign with a carrier based on the price of the phone instead of the rate plan.
Let's wise up, fellas. Don't be a poor consumer.
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The purchase of the phone is the only time they have to fork out a bunch of money so it makes sense that the cost will drive many consumers. For the most part, the rate plan costs are similar across the market. Yes, Verizon is the most expensive but they have a reputation for offering the best network and that allows them to charge a premium.
Sergent D said:
The purchase of the phone is the only time they have to fork out a bunch of money so it makes sense that the cost will drive many consumers. For the most part, the rate plan costs are similar across the market. Yes, Verizon is the most expensive but they have a reputation for offering the best network and that allows them to charge a premium.
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Not really. AT&T and Verizon are both equally expensive, and while Sprint is a bit cheaper (comparable unlimited talk/text plans closest to T-Mobile's 5GB web/tethering in this case), you're still paying a substantially bigger amount over the 2 years even with a cheaper phone.
At $300 for 8GB of storage and $350 for 16 GB of storage, the Nexus 4 is an incredible piece of technology for a very reasonable price. Compare this to the unlocked Galaxy S4 at $650 or the HTC One at $600, also available from Google Play. The hardware differences in the more expensive phones are:
- Super AMOLD LCD (vs. IPS LCD on Nexus 4)
- Polycarbonate body (vs. glass on Nexus 4)
- More built in storage (32 GB on S4, 16 GB on HTC One, although you can get a 16 GB N4 for $50 more)
- Better camera on the S4 (13 megapixels while HTC One and N4 have 8)
- MicroSD slot (no MicroSD slot on N4)
- Stereo speakers on the HTC One
- LTE 4G on S4
I don't see how the above list could explain nearly the nearly double price difference from the Nexus 4 to the S4 or the HTC One. Sure, the MicroSD slot, extra memory, and probably the polycarbonate certainly account for some of the price difference, but not double. I'm also skeptical that any custom software/skins on the S4 or HTC One would make up the difference.
Maybe Google is undercutting the others in its own store to drive customers to its own device. Or maybe Samsung and HTC purposely "enforce" a high retail price to work with carriers who offer subsidized phones with two year contracts. Do all S4 and HTC Ones come with radios for both GSM and CDMA? I can see the radios being an expensive piece of hardware, so maybe only including a GSM radio is helping to keep costs low.
I'm pretty sure that the production cost of these phones are quite similar. Probably around the $200 range.
So is Google taking a loss at selling the N4 at $299/$349? Probably not. They're probably not making much profit per device compared to Samsung or HTC though.
Is LG taking a loss by manufacturing the N4? Definitely not. LG has no reason to effectively give Google a phone to sell at a loss. They definitely have some sort of contract in place such that LG profits from this relationship. Besides, outside of Google Play, the price of the N4 is marked up.
How do we justify the cost of the Google edition S4 and HTC1 versus the N4?
Easy. The prices are simply marked up by Samsung and HTC. They happen to want more profit per device than the N4. So at the end of the day, is the S4 or HTC1 $300 better than the N4? Definitely not. It's just a matter of Samsung and HTC wanting more of your money.
HTC One is now $49 from AT&T with 2 year contracts.
lopri said:
HTC One is now $49 from AT&T with 2 year contracts.
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That's a pretty solid deal for the One. However I don't believe it's Google's stock edition. That can only be found on the play store.
It's really do believe that they are selling it close to a loss, if not at a loss. There's just so much hardware there.
The thing you need to ask yourself is why. Why would Google sell such a great phone for SO cheap? Well, for one, it's not doing it solely for the profits like the other guys so the prices aren't insanely inflated. They do it to promote development on Android, to show what pure AOSP looks like (now the Google Edition phones also do this), and also to bring more end users into the Android environment. Make a high-end, affordable smartphone and more people will be willing to switch OS's. Plus, they don't spend millions upon millions promoting this phone like those other competitors do.
There are many reasons why it's cheaper and why Google continues to sell it. I just hope they continue with the Nexus line. Those new Google Edition phones have me worried about the future of the Nexus line. I hope it's not an indicator that they will stop making Nexii (?) in a few generations.
Economic Yourern
Johmama said:
They do it to promote development on Android, to show what pure AOSP looks like (now the Google Edition phones also do this), and also to bring more end users into the Android environment. Make a high-end, affordable smartphone and more people will be willing to switch OS's. Plus, they don't spend millions upon millions promoting this phone like those other competitors do.
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Agreed! This is what I was thinking about this morning as well. The price is compelling enough to even have iOS fan boys and developers to give it a try. And yeah, their advertising is much less. I probably wouldn't have heard of the Nexus 4 if one of my friends hadn't told me all about it. Google probably isn't taking a loss, but the margin can't be all that great either.
I'm just happy there is an affordable unlocked phone on the market with great hardware. I've never been a fan of the subsidized two-year contract. What other service locks you in for two years? With the affordable yet powerful Nexus 4 and T-Mobile (one of the "Big 4" carriers) doing away with contracts, the other carriers will be forced to adapt sooner or later.
Google doesn't need the money from selling Nexus devices. They can make it back from advertising.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
In demand smart phones have historically garnered lots of money from subsidies. It is the main reason why they are a major cash cow for Samsung and Apple. Their other products have no where near the margins of an iPhone or S3/4. As long as people keep paying $100/month cell phone bills in order to get their next to free flagship phone every two years, I doubt this will change.
Kudos to folks like Google, T-Mobile, and a number of MVNO's that are trying to bring more fair pricing to consumers than the AT&T's and Verizon's of the world, but the reality is that most folks are still paying way too much for devices and service.
Solutions Etcetera said:
In demand smart phones have historically garnered lots of money from subsidies. It is the main reason why they are a major cash cow for Samsung and Apple. Their other products have no where near the margins of an iPhone or S3/4. As long as people keep paying $100/month cell phone bills in order to get their next to free flagship phone every two years, I doubt this will change.
Kudos to folks like Google, T-Mobile, and a number of MVNO's that are trying to bring more fair pricing to consumers than the AT&T's and Verizon's of the world, but the reality is that most folks are still paying way too much for devices and service.
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Is $100/month a genuine possibility or an exaggeration? Either way, the US carrier monopoly is extremely messed up. Over here in the UK you won't find very many carrier exclusive/branded phones at all, and the same goes for most other parts of the world. I feel sorry for anyone who has to carry around a device with a Verizon, AT&T or Sprint logo placed anywhere on their devices. The entire idea of it just seems stupid to me.
Nigeldg said:
Is $100/month a genuine possibility or an exaggeration?
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Heh heh... it is not an exaggeration. Most EU member agencies are far more consumer oriented than the US, who pretty much just lets capitalism reign supreme. The FCC is a joke when it comes to Cable and Cell providers (my cable/internet bill is $160/month... I watch three channels, ESPN, ESPN2, and GOLF from their lineup that I can't get OTA, but to have HD I have to sign for a hundred+ channel package).
Solutions Etcetera said:
Heh heh... it is not an exaggeration. Most EU member agencies are far more consumer oriented than the US, who pretty much just lets capitalism reign supreme. The FCC is a joke when it comes to Cable and Cell providers (my cable/internet bill is $160/month... I watch three channels, ESPN, ESPN2, and GOLF from their lineup that I can't get OTA, but to have HD I have to sign for a hundred+ channel package).
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Wow, $100/month for a phone comes out to twice what it would here in the UK. My dad got a GS3 when it was new for free on a £35/month ($50/month) contract, and even that's a bad deal to me. I'm currently paying £10/month ($15) for 250 mins, unlimited texts and 1GB of data which is pretty damn good compared to what you can get in the US. I'd assume the $100/month contracts at least have unlimited everything right?
Oh and OP sorry for the off-topic
Nigeldg said:
I'd assume the $100/month contracts at least have unlimited everything right?
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Minutes yes, data no (unless you have one of the coveted grandfathered data plans from before the point where the big three decided unlimited was a bad idea). Now a days, "unlimited" data plans mean vague "fair use" policies and throttling once you hit their cap. Sure you have "unlimited" data, but what use is it when they throttle it down to 3G or even 2G once you reach a given point.