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Verizon iPad 2 may require activation fee

buzzy.i.am said:
I emailed Verizon support about activation/reactivation policy, here is what they just sent me:


Thank you for choosing to contact Verizon Wireless. My name is Lauren and I received your e-mail regarding your inquiry as to what would happen if you suspended or cancel service with the iPad 2 and if you would be billed another $35.00.



I understand your concerns related to the iPad 2 and you just want to know up front what you are dealing with.



I have to correct the information that the prior coordinator had given you. Our database information has been updated and I do not believe what was given is accurate. For the iPad 2, when activating service, if you are going with the pre-paid service using a debit or credit card, there is no $35.00 activation fee and you will be billed month-to-month. If you stop using the service with pre-paid, say after the first month, you will pay the activation fee ($35.00) whenever you use the pre-paid service again outside of the monthly pre-paid options.



You can still replenish your pre-paid plan with the different data options. Keep in mind, that if you suspend your line on the pre-paid option, you will lose out on the remainder of your monthly pre-paid plan. If you have suspended service with the pre-paid option, you can still replenish your amount, before the monthly access is up, to avoid paying the $35.00 activation fee. Remember, you have 14 days to return or cancel the service and there is a $70.00 restocking fee, that will be billed to your account.



If you outright cancel service, there is no penalty since you would be purchasing the iPad 2 at full retail price. If you were to re-initiate service on month to month after canceling, you would pay the $35.00 activation fee. The special promotion for customers getting the pay-as-you-go, month to month service from the iPad 2 launch, is that with a debit or credit card, there is no activation fee. Not the same if service is cancelled or activated later after having the month-to-month pay-as-you-go plan.



In the event you need to contact me on my phone, you can call me directly at 240-568-2199 extension 7745.

I am here Monday through Friday and my hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.



I hope that the information I have provided has been helpful.



We appreciate your business and thank you for using Verizon Wireless products and services. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please reply to this e-mail or contact Customer Service via their toll free number at 1-800-922-0204. You can also dial 611 send, from your cell phone to reach them at no additional charge. Hours are from 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sunday - Saturday.



Sincerely,



Lauren

Verizon Wireless

Customer Service
Click to expand...

That is kind of confusing. So the first time you activate there is no activation fee but if you cancel and come back there is? This really needs to be cleared up. I want a Verizon iPad but not if they are gonna play these stupid games regard their fees.
 
Agreed

eff pc said:
That is kind of confusing. So the first time you activate there is no activation fee but if you cancel and come back there is? This really needs to be cleared up. I want a Verizon iPad but not if they are gonna play these stupid games regard their fees.
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Looks like no activation at first, but if you stop service, $35 to re-activate. BS AT&T you can come an go as you like. Casual users beware!
 
buzzy.i.am said:
you will pay the activation fee ($35.00) whenever you use the pre-paid service again outside of the monthly pre-paid options.
Click to expand...

However this sentence makes it seem there may be more options outside of the monthly pre-paid (maybe a contract plan for cheaper?). You will pay if you activate outside of the monthly pre-paid options meaning if you use the pre-paid options there is never an activation fee? I don't know you can take this email both ways.
 
The latest response fills in the gap, and fits everything posted so far, including from VZW twitterer.

Buy the VZW iPad. No activation fee on 3G with initial sign up. As long as you pay for it every month, no unexpected fees.

But stop paying, discontinue your 3G for a month, and theres an activation fee when you start service again.
 
DaveF said:
The latest response fills in the gap, and fits everything posted so far, including from VZW twitterer.

Buy the VZW iPad. No activation fee on 3G with initial sign up. As long as you pay for it every month, no unexpected fees.

But stop paying, discontinue your 3G for a month, and theres an activation fee when you start service again.
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That's the way I read it. Free at first, Free at First!
 
And $70 restocking fee? I hope they mean this is for an iPad bought through verizon. I don't see how there can be a restocking fee for a service!! Especially a service that isn't $70.
 
eff pc said:
And $70 restocking fee? I hope they mean this is for an iPad bought through verizon. I don't see how there can be a restocking fee for a service!! Especially a service that isn't $70.
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I have to pass this onto Verizon...

23638.strip.gif
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I'm an attorney. That answer was utter nonsense. Either the rep is borderline illiterate, or Verizon is obfuscating because they don't want to come out and say "we are charging a $35 activation fee" because they know it will screw their launch.
 
eff pc said:
And $70 restocking fee? I hope they mean this is for an iPad bought through verizon. I don't see how there can be a restocking fee for a service!! Especially a service that isn't $70.
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I believe the restocking fee refers to the return of the IPAD itself, Apple Stores also have a restocking fee. I have a casual 3G need and wifi is available in most locations I deal with. I think the $35 reactivation fee really stinks. However, this could change in the next hour. They haven't thought this out.....
 
deadwalrus said:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I'm an attorney. That answer was utter nonsense. Either the rep is borderline illiterate, or Verizon is obfuscating because they don't want to come out and say "we are charging a $35 activation fee" because they know it will screw their launch.
Click to expand...

Activation is Free! Re-activations are $35 according to reply.
 
From talking to Verizon reps though I wouldn't trust them as much as the document posted earlier from Verizon corporate regarding the iPad 2. I'm back to debating whether to get the Verizon iPad or not.
 
eff pc said:
From talking to Verizon reps though I wouldn't trust them as much as the document posted earlier from Verizon corporate regarding the iPad 2. I'm back to debating whether to get the Verizon iPad or not.
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I don't see where the document explains re-activations? Did I miss it? Not being smart, just did not see it.. Very confusing to me.
 
buzzy.i.am said:
I don't see where the document explains re-activations? Did I miss it? Not being smart, just did not see it.. Very confusing to me.
Click to expand...

I don't think it mentioned activations/reactivation fees at all which makes me think there are none. If those fees did exist it would have definitely been in that memo. Even if Verizon was trying to hide the fees until after the launch it would be in the internal memo that was sent out and posted on MR.
 
eff pc said:
I don't think it mentioned activations/reactivation fees at all which makes me think there are none. If those fees did exist it would have definitely been in that memo. Even if Verizon was trying to hide the fees until after the launch it would be in the internal memo that was sent out and posted on MR.
Click to expand...

Frustrating! I would like Verizon, but but having a casual need and will just go ATT. IPAD 3 is only 365 away or less, so I will waste more money then...
 
buzzy.i.am said:
Sorry, that article is 6 days old. No mention of activations or re-activation fees. The issue at hand is can you come an go for free with 3G activations on Verizon. My original post from VZW support says free at first, but if you cancel -- $35 if you re-activate.

Tick-Tock No clear answer until launch, even that may be vague...
Click to expand...

It was updated today :)
 
buzzy.i.am said:
Sorry, that article is 6 days old. No mention of activations or re-activation fees. The issue at hand is can you come an go for free with 3G activations on Verizon. My original post from VZW support says free at first, but if you cancel -- $35 if you re-activate.

Tick-Tock No clear answer until launch, even that may be vague...
Click to expand...


If you continue to read until the bottom of the article it says this:

Updated at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday March 10 with confirmation that Verizon will not be charging activation fees for iPad 3G plans

The article also states: Verizon only allows you to pay for data upfront. Verizon's Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Brenda Raney, also confirmed to Macworld that, like AT&T, Verizon will not charge an activation fee to begin service, or even a reactivation fee if you cancel your service and start it up again a few months later.
 
buzzy.i.am said:
Sorry, that article is 6 days old. No mention of activations or re-activation fees. The issue at hand is can you come an go for free with 3G activations on Verizon. My original post from VZW support says free at first, but if you cancel -- $35 if you re-activate.

Tick-Tock No clear answer until launch, even that may be vague...
Click to expand...

At the bottom of the article..."Updated at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday March 10 with confirmation that Verizon will not be charging activation fees for iPad 3G plans."

I think I am going to trust sources like this over sales reps. It could still mean reactivation fees but if there is no information come 4am then I am going to chance it with the Verizon iPad.
 
DrJD said:
It was updated today :)
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I wonder if they used the same source of information this thread did. The Verizon Support Twitter account. Earlier today they said there would be no fee but then later, they changed it to say wait until the iPad launches.
 
al256 said:
I wonder if they used the same source of information this thread did. The Verizon Support Twitter account. Earlier today they said there would be no fee but then later, they changed it to say wait until the iPad launches.
Click to expand...

It says it was some executive at Verizon
 
DrJD said:
It was updated today :)
Click to expand...

I stand corrected, it was updated today. But no mention of Re-activation fee.. Did I miss it?


Updated at 2:46 p.m. on Thursday March 10 with confirmation that Verizon will not be charging activation fees for iPad 3G plans.


My original post, clearly states a re-activation fee if you cancel. From VZW support..........Confusing
 
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