Verizon to Initiate $30 Device Upgrade Fee on April 22

MacRumors · Apr 11, 2012, 10:30 AM

Verizon today announced that as of April 22 it will initiate a $30 upgrade fee for current customers moving to new devices.

Quote:

On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract. This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.

Verizon is the last of the major U.S. carriers to add a device upgrade fee, a secondary revenue stream carriers justify by citing costs associated with setting up new devices and updating account information. Sprint and AT&T previously charged $18 device upgrade fees, but Sprint doubled its fee to $36 last September and AT&T followed suit back in February.

Article Link: Verizon to Initiate $30 Device Upgrade Fee on April 22

Matthew Yohe · Apr 11, 2012, 10:32 AM

Quote:

This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.

Here's an idea, stop these programs, cut the fee, and direct these people to Apple's support.

Dweez · Apr 11, 2012, 10:35 AM

That is such ********.

surf2snow1 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:35 AM

So these upgrade fees aren't charged when you are a new customer? What's the incentive to stay with your current provider then??

bevo · Apr 11, 2012, 10:37 AM

ugh.

we are being nickeled and dimed to death by all these companies...

mrbrown · Apr 11, 2012, 10:37 AM

If the fee is being used to provide service and support in regards to an upgrade, what about the folks who just go to the Verizon or Apple website and purchase a new phone with their credit card? There's no "service and support" involved!

There shouldn't be a fee involved in that circumstance!

webworks415 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:39 AM

We need to go against this. It has been proven that if the people speak up loud and clear, these wireless companies have no choice but to make us happy. This is such BS....it's not like any work goes into upgrading our devices. If anything they should be crediting US for continuing to use their service and extending our contracts.

ArtOfWarfare · Apr 11, 2012, 10:39 AM

Does T-Mobile no longer qualify as a major carrier?

boshii · Apr 11, 2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surf2snow1

So these upgrade fees aren't charged when you are a new customer? What's the incentive to stay with your current provider then??

When you're new they call it an activation fee.

johnparjr · Apr 11, 2012, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surf2snow1

So these upgrade fees aren't charged when you are a new customer? What's the incentive to stay with your current provider then??

Yes they are charged its called the activation fee for new and upgrade fee for current users

tirerim · Apr 11, 2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surf2snow1

So these upgrade fees aren't charged when you are a new customer? What's the incentive to stay with your current provider then??

Not only is there no incentive to stay, there's an extra incentive to leave. Though maybe not enough to be a big factor for most people.

Simon86 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:46 AM

I'm moving to North America in a couple of weeks, and the one thing I'm really not looking forward to is how the mobile carriers seem to rip you off. Especially when compared to what the carriers charge here in the UK.

Some of the carriers charge extra for caller ID, voicemail, etc. All of which are standard in the UK. Plus all the carriers charge these stupid activation/upgrade fees. And then there's the cost of calling plans and data plans...

Not much you can do though, when it seems they have us all by the balls.

Buschmaster · Apr 11, 2012, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtOfWarfare

Does T-Mobile no longer qualify as a major carrier?

Did they ever?

bevo · Apr 11, 2012, 10:47 AM

so I am wondering why the carriers don't cut the monthly fees after our contract is up?

We sign a 2 year contract to make sure that our new fancy phone is subsidized, but once that period is over, shouldn't the subsidy payment be discontinued?

applesith · Apr 11, 2012, 10:48 AM

Maybe I'll switch carriers every 2 years.

nrose101 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:53 AM

Hmm....Glad I have AT&T...never had any issues and they never try these kind of things.

Nothlit · Apr 11, 2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevo

so I am wondering why the carriers don't cut the monthly fees after our contract is up?

We sign a 2 year contract to make sure that our new fancy phone is subsidized, but once that period is over, shouldn't the subsidy payment be discontinued?

The whole thing is a racket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by applesith

Maybe I'll switch carriers every 2 years.

They'll just hit you with a new-customer "activation fee" instead of an existing-customer "upgrade fee." You can't escape it.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrose101

Hmm....Glad I have AT&T...never had any issues and they never try these kind of things.

Uh, AT&T has always charged an upgrade fee. It used to be $18. Now it's $36.

ECUpirate44 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrose101

Hmm....Glad I have AT&T...never had any issues and they never try these kind of things.

You can't be serious

.

nrose101 · Apr 11, 2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECUpirate44

You can't be serious

.

100%. Never had any extra fees tacked on anything..Had AT&T since 1999 and don't ever see leaving them.. Verizon does online bill paying fees, etc..seems they want to nickel and dime you everywhere.

tasset · Apr 11, 2012, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevo

so I am wondering why the carriers don't cut the monthly fees after our contract is up?

We sign a 2 year contract to make sure that our new fancy phone is subsidized, but once that period is over, shouldn't the subsidy payment be discontinued?

LOL as I wipe tear from my eye. That is just even MORE gravy for the carrier at that point if the customer doesn't take advantage of a new upgrade at that time. There is no reduced rates should you continue service, because the carrier wants to lock you in to a long-term commitment. The vicious circle continues on and on!
Vote with your wallet. Just by your device outright and use it on a service that gives you the best price.

Sabenth · Apr 11, 2012, 10:58 AM

that dose seem like a cheek if your an exsting customer and whats an online workshop

GFLPraxis · Apr 11, 2012, 10:58 AM

Can't this be argued as bait-n-switch? I mean, a lot of people signed up for contracts with the promise of the upgrade after a year, no?

bad03xtreme · Apr 11, 2012, 10:59 AM

It's all a bunch of bullsh!.. My Verizon contract has been up for over a year and I was thinking about upgrading to an iPhone but I just don't want to give any one of these carriers any more money than I have to because they make me sick.

FrauHasSpoken · Apr 11, 2012, 10:59 AM

... and at&T will follow suit.

those two seem to mirror each other.

edit: they already have. smh

mesmurized · Apr 11, 2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bevo

ugh.

we are being nickeled and dimed to death by all these companies...

Yep. IMHO airlines are the worst !!

Apr 11, 2012, 10:35 AM	#3
Dweez macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Down by the river	That is such ********. __________________ sudo make me a sandwich
	15

Apr 11, 2012, 10:37 AM	#5
bevo macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002	ugh. we are being nickeled and dimed to death by all these companies... __________________ 1. Macbook 2.2 C2D 2.5 ram superdrive. 2. Mac Mini C2D 1.66 / 2 gig ram / combo / samsung 19" / ext lite-on 1637S dvd writer
	31

Apr 11, 2012, 10:37 AM	#6
mrbrown macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Springfield, MO	If the fee is being used to provide service and support in regards to an upgrade, what about the folks who just go to the Verizon or Apple website and purchase a new phone with their credit card? There's no "service and support" involved! There shouldn't be a fee involved in that circumstance! __________________ Mr. Brown - www.mrbrown.net
	13

Apr 11, 2012, 10:39 AM	#7
webworks415 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	We need to go against this. It has been proven that if the people speak up loud and clear, these wireless companies have no choice but to make us happy. This is such BS....it's not like any work goes into upgrading our devices. If anything they should be crediting US for continuing to use their service and extending our contracts.
	14

Apr 11, 2012, 10:39 AM	#8
ArtOfWarfare macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2007	Does T-Mobile no longer qualify as a major carrier? __________________ Battery Status - On the Mac App Store The only app that'll estimate when your wireless devices will need their batteries changed. Like it on Facebook!
	6

Apr 11, 2012, 10:35 AM	#4
surf2snow1 macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2008	So these upgrade fees aren't charged when you are a new customer? What's the incentive to stay with your current provider then??
	7

Apr 11, 2012, 10:46 AM	#12
Simon86 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2011	I'm moving to North America in a couple of weeks, and the one thing I'm really not looking forward to is how the mobile carriers seem to rip you off. Especially when compared to what the carriers charge here in the UK. Some of the carriers charge extra for caller ID, voicemail, etc. All of which are standard in the UK. Plus all the carriers charge these stupid activation/upgrade fees. And then there's the cost of calling plans and data plans... Not much you can do though, when it seems they have us all by the balls.
	9

Apr 11, 2012, 10:47 AM	#14
bevo macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2002	so I am wondering why the carriers don't cut the monthly fees after our contract is up? We sign a 2 year contract to make sure that our new fancy phone is subsidized, but once that period is over, shouldn't the subsidy payment be discontinued? __________________ 1. Macbook 2.2 C2D 2.5 ram superdrive. 2. Mac Mini C2D 1.66 / 2 gig ram / combo / samsung 19" / ext lite-on 1637S dvd writer
	13

Apr 11, 2012, 10:48 AM	#15
applesith macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2007	Maybe I'll switch carriers every 2 years.
	13

Apr 11, 2012, 10:53 AM	#16
nrose101 macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Delray Beach, FL	Hmm....Glad I have AT&T...never had any issues and they never try these kind of things.
	-27

Apr 11, 2012, 10:58 AM	#21
Sabenth macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: UK	that dose seem like a cheek if your an exsting customer and whats an online workshop __________________ http://www.icompositions.com/artists/Lapskin/ Yep i am lapskin
	0

Apr 11, 2012, 10:58 AM	#22
GFLPraxis macrumors 604 Join Date: Mar 2004	Can't this be argued as bait-n-switch? I mean, a lot of people signed up for contracts with the promise of the upgrade after a year, no?
	3

Apr 11, 2012, 10:59 AM	#23
bad03xtreme macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northern, VA	It's all a bunch of bullsh!.. My Verizon contract has been up for over a year and I was thinking about upgrading to an iPhone but I just don't want to give any one of these carriers any more money than I have to because they make me sick. __________________ 
	1

Apr 11, 2012, 10:59 AM	#24
FrauHasSpoken macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2010	... and at&T will follow suit. those two seem to mirror each other. edit: they already have. smh
	-3

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