Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I CANNOT BELIEVE How Much of a Rip-off Shared Data Plans Are!
- Thread starter opeepingtomo
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Can I switch to Verizon unlimited data plan? I just switched from AT&T to Verizon on 4GB shared data plan for just my iPhone 5. If I can switch to Verizon unlimited data plan, what is the process? Do I need to just pay the difference of an unsubsidized iPhone 5 or do I have to return the subsidized iPhone 5, get a refund then buy an unsubsidized iPhone 5 from Verizon? And then do I have to cancel my plan or they can just change it? Please advise. Thanks.
No.
You need to be grandfathered into an old iphone unlimited plan with verizon.
You cant sign up to that plan as a new user since that plan doesnt exist any more.
I've been HORRIBLY throttled on Verizon unlimited 3G....I don't have it because I am opposed to a different plan...I have it because it was what came with my iPhone 4. I don't think its fair that I should get punished for a plan I haven't even had for the duration of my contract!!
I will be getting an iPhone 5 as soon as I can find one available and will be switching to a 10GB share plan.
Verizon ticked me off so bad with these new plans I made a very idiotic move on my part and I am still kicking myself. At the time, I weighed the pros and cons regarding my unlimited data and decided to move my line to ATT. My rational was that eventually unlimited data would be gone and I don't use much. I had to change my other line to share everything since there was only one line. $50 for 1 GB was hard to accept.
Unfortunately, ATT was not working in my area only at school which sucked, they even let me out of my contract without an ETF. I switched back to verizon, and thankfully they gave me my old plan back except for my unlimited data-I pay 50 for 5gb now. I have never used more than .5GB in a month, but I was seeing more data usage on ATT's LTE. I wanted to play it safe. The other phone has 2GB of data.
We would save a little with the share everything, but I refuse to give up my 1400 minute family share plan. I know I don't have anything to lose at this point, but in my opinion the prices will continue to rise. This way, maybe I will atleast be grandfathered into this plan.
Quite frankly, they should have kept unlimited data but raised the price on it. Seems more reasonable to me.
Unfortunately, ATT was not working in my area only at school which sucked, they even let me out of my contract without an ETF. I switched back to verizon, and thankfully they gave me my old plan back except for my unlimited data-I pay 50 for 5gb now. I have never used more than .5GB in a month, but I was seeing more data usage on ATT's LTE. I wanted to play it safe. The other phone has 2GB of data.
We would save a little with the share everything, but I refuse to give up my 1400 minute family share plan. I know I don't have anything to lose at this point, but in my opinion the prices will continue to rise. This way, maybe I will atleast be grandfathered into this plan.
Quite frankly, they should have kept unlimited data but raised the price on it. Seems more reasonable to me.
I found that my AT&T bill was less with the standalone data plans.
Current Plan w/ 5 iPhones
My monthly bill with taxes for 5 iPhones, each with a 2GB Data plan, is about $210 on AT&T with a 15% fan discount. The discount doesn't apply to the $9.99 add-a-phone cost, but it applies to all data plans of $25 or more.
FamilyTalk Nation 700Min with Rollover ($51)
1st iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($21.25)
2nd iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
3rd iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
4th iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
5th iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
(Optional: Unlimited messaging and m2m calling on all phones for $30 extra.)
Shared Plan w/ 5 iPhones
10GB Shared Plan ($102)
1st iPhone5 ($30)
2nd iPhone5 ($30)
3rd iPhone5 ($30)
4th iPhone5 ($30)
5th iPhone5 ($30)
The total for the shared plan is near $270 with taxes, or $50+ more per month.
Current Plan w/ 5 iPhones
My monthly bill with taxes for 5 iPhones, each with a 2GB Data plan, is about $210 on AT&T with a 15% fan discount. The discount doesn't apply to the $9.99 add-a-phone cost, but it applies to all data plans of $25 or more.
FamilyTalk Nation 700Min with Rollover ($51)
1st iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($21.25)
2nd iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
3rd iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
4th iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
5th iPhone5 with 2GB Data ($9.99 + $21.25)
(Optional: Unlimited messaging and m2m calling on all phones for $30 extra.)
Shared Plan w/ 5 iPhones
10GB Shared Plan ($102)
1st iPhone5 ($30)
2nd iPhone5 ($30)
3rd iPhone5 ($30)
4th iPhone5 ($30)
5th iPhone5 ($30)
The total for the shared plan is near $270 with taxes, or $50+ more per month.
I just did a price comparison at AT&T (although I have Verizon).
If data is more important to you, you can get 2 individual plans for $149 a month before discounts.
This includes 3GB data each (6GB total/not shared), 450 min/mon, rollover, 5000 nights and weekends, unlimited family messaging. With roller this would be plenty sufficient for users who just want more data.
For the 4GB shared plan, you would pay 150 dollars, however if minutes are more important than data, this would be the better deal as you get unlimited minutes and texts. However, with only two people and rollerover, to me the 6GB (3+3) seems like the better deal.
Does Verizon even offer individual plans anymore? I was looking on their site and couldn't find them.
I really wouldn't mind switching to AT&T so I could tell Verizon I don't want to "share everything", but I consistently get the best signal with them in the majority of the areas I'm in during the work day. AT&T signal isn't bad by any means, but where the people I work with that have AT&T have one or two bars, I will be a full 5 bars.
It just seems kind of dumb that when you are sharing the same pool of data, you pay 40 dollars per additional line (same as before with unlimited data 9.99 + 30.00). It would be a bit more appealing if the old plans were offered, but by going with a share everything plan you could get unlimited minutes, 2GB shared data, and then add additional smartphones for 20 bucks a pop or something.
I am still debating on what to do. I almost pulled the trigger on upgrading and switching to Verizon Share Everything 4GB plan as it would be about the same price as I am paying now except I would lose unlimited data, but I just couldn't stand paying an "Activation fee" that i used to not have to pay in order to "upgrade" to a plan that I do not even want. And they would not waive this fee, which is why I wouldn't mind waving goodbye to them.
Ironically, I pay the same amount for my shared data plan, but get more (AT&T).
Before shared data plan:
2 iPhone 4
250MB data on one
5GB data on the other
1400 minutes with rollover
1000 text messages on each
$160/month
After shared data plan:
1 iPhone 5, 1 iPhone 4
6GB data shared
Unlimited talk
Unlimited text
$160/month
Before shared data plan:
2 iPhone 4
250MB data on one
5GB data on the other
1400 minutes with rollover
1000 text messages on each
$160/month
After shared data plan:
1 iPhone 5, 1 iPhone 4
6GB data shared
Unlimited talk
Unlimited text
$160/month
Avoid Verizon
The only way to avoid these problems is to avoid all Verizon products and services, especially if you don't have Verizon now or would be adding anything or changing plans. You are asking for a $500-$150=$350 bill (includes internet for about a day, home phone that is a bother and iphone used mostly for phone calls) when you change out of your new plan because they have thrown megabites a day of data usage onto your bill, which never in my life have I used. It has taken 3 months to get the bill down to $227+.
But wait, even though the Verizon retail store owner made a call and quoted the amount to pay, which I did, I was charged A $5 late fee because the amount due quoted to him by Verizon on the phone was 90 cents off. That took weeks to correct. ALL totaling months and dozens of phone calls, emails, trips to the store. Verizon is a rich company, making nothing but misery for its customers which can last for months. Warn everyone you can.
The only way to avoid these problems is to avoid all Verizon products and services, especially if you don't have Verizon now or would be adding anything or changing plans. You are asking for a $500-$150=$350 bill (includes internet for about a day, home phone that is a bother and iphone used mostly for phone calls) when you change out of your new plan because they have thrown megabites a day of data usage onto your bill, which never in my life have I used. It has taken 3 months to get the bill down to $227+.
But wait, even though the Verizon retail store owner made a call and quoted the amount to pay, which I did, I was charged A $5 late fee because the amount due quoted to him by Verizon on the phone was 90 cents off. That took weeks to correct. ALL totaling months and dozens of phone calls, emails, trips to the store. Verizon is a rich company, making nothing but misery for its customers which can last for months. Warn everyone you can.