Verizon Introducing $20 Fee to Upgrade Your Smartphone

[BeSweeet]

Businesses have to make money, yes, but this isn't the nicest way of doing so. Then again, why should they care how people feel? All that matters is the money.

If they really cared, they would spend money on new towers (not upgrading old towers) so I could actually use T-Mobile .

Slowly but surely.

 

[iapplelove]

Thankfully my employee discount not only saves me money on my AT&T bill but waves all upgrade and or activation fees.

 

[dannyyankou]

It's so dumb that they charge a $40 upgrade fee on a 2 year contract. I guess you still save money, but still.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

So they used the "no upgrade fee" promise to pull people away from contracts and into installment plans. This made things more transparent regarding the cost of the phone and the cost of the service. Then the carriers realized they needed to recoup their random "fee" for nothing so they put it back to pad revenue and profit. Makes sense.

 

[Branskins]

Why is there a fee if you buy through the iPhone upgrade program ??

 

[leesweet]

Honestly I'm ok with this because it used to be $30 for the activation fee

*That* was my question... where did *this* go?!

 

[aajeevlin]

Buying from Verizon's online site or in their stores, if you buy your phone at full price, or use their device payment program you'll pay a $20 upgrade free. If you use a 2-year contract upgrade you'll pay $40. At the Apple store, if you use Apple's completely separate iPhone upgrade program, you will pay a $20 upgrade free. If you buy the phone at full price, you won't have an upgrade fee.

Thanks for the explanation. This does sounds like they are trying to push people into paying full for their phone.

 

[Fafafoooey]

F Verizon. More reason to stay with T-Mobile and another reason on my list to never sign up with Verizon.

 

[kiantech]

so if i pull the sim card out of my phone, and put it in a new phone that i paid for 100% retail price. they charge me $20?

 

[nviz22]

Can't wait for John Leglere to call out Verizon and AT&T again.

 

[auriconis]

so if i pull the sim card out of my phone, and put it in a new phone that i paid for 100% retail price. they charge me $20?

It seems like that depends on where you buy the phone. If you buy said phone from Verizon, then yes, they still do. Even if you pay them full price. Yet another reason I got rid of them. Plus I got sick of paying the "we are Verizon" tax.

 

[pat500000]

Just say NO to drugs.

 

[oneMadRssn]

So you'd rather have another monthly regulatory compliance recovery fee? I don't think we can win other than jumping between carriers.

While not perfect, the government was able to regulate what fees credit cards and prepaid cards were able to charge, and it helped. Not perfect, but it did get rid of a lot of cards and fees that were objectively bad for consumers. Clearly the telecom companies are incapable of policing themselves and giving us strait-forward and transparent prices, maybe the government should step in. I doubt it would be perfect, but it's better than nothing.

 

[boshii]

With all the carrier competition I'm surprised any carrier would be bold enough to add a nonsensical fee.

 

[ephemeralreason]

I can't wait to leave Verizon. This is reason #38494.

 

[yaxomoxay]

And that's why I have been a T-Mobile customer since I don't even remember when.

 

[knemonic]

This infuriates me. We're already paying sales tax on phones that if you turn them in early, say after 1 year, you're paying sales tax on the entire retail cost, but if you turn it in for a new phone, you pay sales tax on that new phone but don't get a credit for the previous portion of sales tax You didn't pay on the remainder of the retail you owe. Now they want $20 on top of that.

I've been a firm beleiver we should pay sales tax on the monthly payment instead of all upfront cause who knows when you'll turn the phone in. This is why I pay the phone off and sell it on eBay or some third party so I get what the phone is worth back, and pocket that cash rather than just give Verizon what I paid for already. It's silly to turn it in, when it's so easy to just pay it off. I get more money back than what I owe every time, usually enough to pay for the sales tax and now this stupid fee.

 

[Fusion79]

So what are their support costs when I buy the phone myself and activate it myself with no rep involvement? I mean maybe charge the fee if it is done in a store (still BS), but to customers that do everything themselves, it's just a money grab.

Too bad T-Mobile is not an option where I live.

 

[ScubaCinci]

One more way to rape your wallet. Next year it will be something else.

 

[xraydoc]

At least they're not charging the fee for "customer supplied equipment." So perhaps those who buy the phone at retail in an Apple Store then go home to swap SIM cards won't be charged the $20 fee.

But this is making me really think about T-Mobile. I worry about diminished coverage which is why I tend to stick with Verizon, but with the availablility of wifi calling on T-Mobile, perhaps this is less of an issue...

 

[seecoolguy]

It seems they should charge the fee, when you call in if you've never paid it. but if you are simply swapping out a sim from your old phone to your new phone should not cause an upgrade fee.

 

[sundog925]

Buying from Verizon's online site or in their stores, if you buy your phone at full price, or use their device payment program you'll pay a $20 upgrade free. If you use a 2-year contract upgrade you'll pay $40. At the Apple store, if you use Apple's completely separate iPhone upgrade program, you will pay a $20 upgrade free. If you buy the phone at full price, you won't have an upgrade fee.

Did you not read the post? Full retail=$20.

 

[Dirtyharry50]

Hmm... I checked recently and T-Mobile coverage in my area is just as good as anybody else. I guess I need to visit their site before buying my iPhone SE tomorrow. I have never cared much for being ripped off. Some companies just never learn I guess.

 

[yaxomoxay]

I can see John Legere initiating a new $15 cashback program if you upgrade from your current Verizon phone to a new T-Mobile phone.
[doublepost=1459442898][/doublepost]

I have never cared much for being ripped off. Some companies just never learn I guess.

The law of demand will make them learn.

 

[ScubaCinci]

I remember when ATM's were free to use because it saved the banks money because they didn't have to pay a teller (proper vernacular for that time) to perform the transaction. Now the banks charge fees on ATM use for the same reason airlines keep jacking up their rates and Verizon is adding this fee - because they can. Until people stop buying their products (won't happen), it will continue.

I also agree with what someone said above...T-Mobile has no fee but I can't trust to have service when I travel because their coverage is lame.