| Author |
Message |
captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:31 am: | |
Yesterday I went to Verizon to find out why my last 2 months bills were $300.00 and $400.00 instead of the contract of $100.00 with taxes.
I was told I went over my minutes by 600 one month and 300 another. Thats a 50% overage in minutes. In the 5 or 6 years I've been with them I have never went over my plan by more than 30 minutes and increased my plan then very considerably. I also have an office connectivity kit and access the internet VIA my cell phone, I was told when I bought my first kit 4 years ago that I would only be charged minutes and no data fees, and was noted on my account. I just found out I am being charged for data transfers and was told I have to buy a package for $56.00 a month to use this feature or they would actualy turn off my service. The overages on my minutes was caused by a disfunctional phone that would not shut off after call was completed or would not quit ringing and could not be answered at times, even when I finished using the net I wouls sillshow packet data on me phone face when I went to use it an hour later. They are "looking" into it. So be careful about internet usage with your office connectivity kit. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:44 am: | |
"Verizon wireless rip off
The overages on my minutes was caused by a disfunctional
phone that would not shut off after call was completed or
would not quit ringing and could not be answered at times,
even when I finished using the net I wouls sillshow packet
data on me phone face when I went to use it an hour later. "
Where's the "rip-off"? If you had a bus that wouldn't shut
down and ran 24/7 without your knowledge, would you
blame the fuel station for the increased consumption?
Jeesh, man... |
Mark Scott
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:49 am: | |
Ron, sign up for the broadband access/national access PC card. I've been using it. It works fine. Reasonably fast connections, unlimited use, works in many areas. I think its $55./mo.
Works for me. Mark Scott |
captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:51 am: | |
The ripp off part is the fact they are charging me for intenet usage when we had an agreement to just use minutes up and not charge packet data fees, Geeez |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:28 am: | |
Ron...
The biggest problem with Verizon, is the information they give
you isn't always correct.
You can still use your phone with the PC cord, and connect
to either VZW, or your own ISP, just as you always have,
and for the same minutes you use for any voice connection.
They have no technology in place, to determine if it's voice
or data with every call that's made. It's digital transmissions,
so all calls are "data".
When a subscriber asks about "data calls", or using the phone
for "Internet access", they are giving out the prices for the
newer phones that produce the web page on the phone's
screen. Those calls are timed differently, since there's a
bit of "broadband" technology involved. Even my older LG 4400
can do some WAP web sites, but I'd be paying extra for that.
And If I were to call and ask about the "web", they'd tell
me what they told you.
It just ain't so. Get a new phone asap. What the hell were
you thinkin', to keep that POS? It didn't drop the call when
you hung up? And it ain't in a pond by now? Man... |
David (Davidinwilmnc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 2:04 pm: | |
John, I'm not sure about not differentiating between data and voice. I have a Motorola phone with Cingular. It has a USB connector and I've connected it to my notebook. I called Cingular and they also quote a minutes usage as well as a data usage. I was also told that if I tried to use this phone for data without a data plan, they would terminate my service. I don't have a dial-up ISP to test it, but I'll 'borrow' a friends account, connect for a few minutes, and check my next bill. They'll do anything to make a buck these days. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 8:57 pm: | |
With the newest cell phones that can send live digital video,
the plan usually has to upgraded ($$). It's the amount of
bandwidth that's of concern... or was...
I've been using the phone for Internet connections, and there
hasn't been any difference. I called and asked about a plan
to allow me to do that, and the girl quoted more $$$ than
what I pay. Like I said.... if you ask, you'll get an answer.
It may not be the right answer, but you'll get one. Ask ten
reps twice, and you'll get twenty different answers.
Verizon Wireless offers the Mobile Office Kit (MOK),
and when used on their 1XRTT network, it is essentially
"free", or part of the cell package/plan. Their higher speed
data connections will cost more to use (need a plan for it).
This web site provides some info:
(Free) Wireless Internet Via Your 3G Cell Phone |
james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 10:36 pm: | |
I got ripped off by Verizon also. My bill was $200 one month and $400 the next month. So, I stopped the service. But it didn't end there. They continued to charge my AMEX card for 4 months until I got an email that my bill was ready for viewing. What! Those %xz$^(^!@#( are still charging me? I called and called finally I gave up and decided to cancel my AMEX account so they couldn't steal the money anymore! They still have the guts to send me the bill today!!
Needless to say I don't do business with them anymore. I took my number and started service with their competition.
Good thing we have this forum. Other people will Google "verizon" and this text will show up! |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 12:14 am: | |
JD -
Let us know if you hear from them in a positive tone.. |
JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 1:03 am: | |
I've had good luck with Verizon. I switched away from them years ago, to go with Sprint, who was offering data service.
Sprint's data service sucked, but I had a shiney new phone. I stayed with Sprint for a couple years, until they started adding roaming charges to the tune of $300/mo extra.
I switced to Nextel, who was great to me for years. I was completely satisfied with their service. I recommended them to everyone I talked to.
Then Sprint bought Nextel.. A couple months later, I started getting an extra $300/mo tagged on my bills. I called, I bitched, and finally I said "screw you".
I have two Verizon cell phones, and the Verizon data card now. Again, I'm perfectly happy. They bill me exactly what I'm contracted to. I'm sure my plan is over what I'm going to be using, so I don't run into problems with overages.
As always, be *VERY* careful to understand the plan that you're being sold. Just because a sales person says something, doesn't mean that they have a freakin' clue of what they're talking about. You'll find sales people everywhere who don't completely understand the products they're selling. Read and understand the fine print, and don't read anything into the details. Voice service doesn't include data unless it's specified. *YOU* have to be the more educated consumer, or *YOU* will get screwed. |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 1:19 am: | |
You can't believe what Cingular reps tell you now. I have had 4 different contradictory answers to the same question. It seems the idea is try it and see what shows up on the bill.
Also Cingular voice mail has been so bad that a family member could die and I'd miss the funeral before I got the voice mail, if I got it.
I am thinking of changing my message to,"You can leave me a message but don't count on my ever getting it with this company. If it is important, please talk to me directly."
Verizon does seem to be the best national celllular company for the past year or two. Before that it was ATT. |
Doug Dickinson (Dougd470)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 10:15 am: | |
As an employee of a large cellular company, I have to admit that many of our competitors have some "interesting" sales tactics. I won't claim we are faultless since I have heard bad stories about us also. In any event - you need to make absolutely and posatively sure what your plan is and make sure it is in writing. Keep it for reference later. Also, remember that a carrier does not HAVE to grandfather you on an old plan past a contract date unless it says so. Your agtreement probably says they can switch you after a contact period to something else. READ THE FINE PRINT.
Incidently, the network does not know the difference between a phone call to an ISP and a phone call to your mother. If you use minutes to call your ISP, it is minutes you get billed for. Data use is a diferent service and does not involve dialing a number. Data service is usually faster. Make sure you know what you are buying in a data plan.
Also - roaming charges are something you can get hit with any time you are out of a coverage area. Look at the phone to make sure your phone knows where it is logged into.
My $0.02 worth.
Doug
St Louis MC9 |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 20, 2006 - 11:31 am: | |
Well explained, Doug.
I've placed calls to our ISP using the cellphone, and it's
charged no differently than a call for a pizza....
It's the connections to the "VZW" network, that can be
confusing. Verizon insists they charge for the higher speed
connect (VZW), but in reality, there are no added charges.
The charges only apply to their special high speed data
services... and you can't connect to those, without a contract
to do so ($$).
Speaking of "roaming", anyone using a cellphone should
take the time each month to update it's roaming capability.
With Verizon, it's *228 and follow the instructions. Failure
to do so, can result in errant roaming charges... |
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