Verizon Data Plans

[Skip Talbot]

I just reactivated my Verizon data plan. Last year I was on a $60/mo no contract plan that included 5 GB of data. Last Friday I went to get this plan back, but the Verizon rep on the phone said they no longer offer this plan. Instead I was presented with number of prepay options, a $15 dollar 1-day option, a $30 1-week option, and a $50 1-month option. The monthly option only includes 500 MB of data. I pressed him about the $60 option, but he insisted they no longer offer it. This contradicts what I've heard from other chasers who have reactivated their data under a $60 plan and 5GB. I assume they are under a contract. Anyone have any details on when this change was made? I have unlimited ATT data via my tethered phone, which I was using as a backup, but is now going to become my primary data while on the interstate as I could blow through 500 MB pretty quick. I'll probably look into Millenicom as replacement for Verizon.

 

[Scott Weberpal]

Did you call back and try a different rep?

 

[Skip Talbot]

No, I didn't. Is this $60 no contract plan still alive and well?

 

[Scott Weberpal]

It should still be good, I helped a friend activate a month-to-month $60 data account 3 weeks ago. Call back and try a different rep., and if you get the same response something may have changed in the last 3 weeks.

 

[cedwards]

Verizon's website still lists the 5gb $60 plan

 

[Skip Talbot]

Yeah, but that's only with a contract right? I could get it last year without the contract. That website is completely useless, by the way. When you click the plan details it goes back to their main mobile broadband page.

 

[David Goines]

Don't let them lie to you Skip.
I activated mine a couple of weeks ago and had the same problem that you did with the reps on the phone. I also chatted with someone on Verizon's website with the same luck.
I knew that if I owned my own device that I didn't need a contract so I went to the local Verizon store and talked to the manager. I made sure he understood that I "owned my own broadband card" and that I just want to purchase the $60/month 5gb plan WITHOUT A CONTRACT. He understood and began getting me activated.
And then of course, he went into some long story about how this device was never taken off of the last two plans it was actived on (I bought it on Ebay) and how it wouldn't work. He then wanted me to buy one of their broadband cards (while he told me the price with the 2 year contract to make it sound good). I told him no thank you and asked him to explain to me more why my card wouldn't work. He told me that it was still activated on two separate accounts and I would have to contact the last two people that owned it to get them to take it off. I thought "well, if it was still activated on the first account and the person that had it before me still got it to work, why wouldn't it work if they activated it AGAIN on my account". He said he would try but he couldn't guarantee anything. I left the store, went home, plugged it in, and voila it worked perfectly.
If you do talk to someone (on the phone, chat, or in person) make sure you get through their thick skulls that you OWN YOUR OWN DEVICE so you don't want the contract.
If you don't have a device already, you either have to get a 2yr contract or buy one of their devices and an outrageous price. Their cheapest USB modem is like $140 without a contract. I bought a USB727 on Ebay for $40.
Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Nathan Truninger]

Skip I activated my Verizon card on the 6th right before the chase and had no issues with the gentleman I spoke to on the phone with Verizon. $60 a month for the 5GB cap and he also said there would be no deactivation fee when I was done using it this summer. I even explained what I was using it for.

Make sure you are calling their tele-sales line? 1(800)256-4646.

 

[Ben Holcomb]

Call up Brandon Sullivan and make him activate it for you. I reactivated mine on Saturday, no problem. $60/5GB cap.

I think they are metering up bandwidth this year, though, as I burned through a freaking gig of data in 3 days of chasing.

 

[Scott McPartland]

That is so odd! I recently added the 5GB a month Data plan with Verizon Wireless about a month ago and I pay $49.99 a month for it. I can turn it on, and off when I want...it's all good. I have the Nationwide Family Share plan however, this may be a crucial part of it. I was under the impression that it was 59.99 a month, but nope...he assured me it was 49.99 a month and sure enough, that's what is reflected on my cell phone bill. What gives?

 

[David Goines]

Scott, are you sure that's the 5gb plan and not the 500mb pre-paid plan? Even on the "no contract" 5gb plan you have to pay like a $30 activation fee so it's not free to turn it on and off whenever you want. It is free with the pre-paid plan though. There's not an activation fee with it. Sign in to MyVerizon and check your data usage on that line and see what it says just to make sure.

 

[Scott McPartland]

Yep, double checked to make sure...I get 5GB worth of data a month for 49.99 and I confirmed with VW that I can turn it on and off whenever I want. this may only apply if you have the Family Share Plan however! I have two phones on my account, mine and my girlfriends and we pay 50 bucks each a month for that.

Here's the link to the Verizon Wireless page showing the plan that I have for 49.99 a month:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_connect

Down at the bottom of the page you'll see the 5GB plan..

Scott

 

[David Goines]

So you must tether your cell phone for a connection then? If I understand this right then, the 5gb plan with a broadband card is $60/mo and the 5gb plan with a tethered phone is $50.
It does sound like a cheaper option but a few things to watch out for:
1. The type of phone matters. Tethering only works for "For Mobile Broadband Connect-capable Handsets" per the Verizon website.
2. I'm pretty sure that while tethered, the cell phone is useless for making phone calls. I know for a fact that Verizon cell phones can't surf the web and talk at the same time as AT&T have made that a selling point for them. So I assume it's the same for tethered phones surfing the web via laptop.
3. As far as I know, cells phones don't have external antenna ports or any way to attach an amplifier.

I know I use my phone quite often while out chasing (using a bluetooth device of course) and I also use an external antenna. I really don't even know if my phone is even "connect capable".

This would alsoexplain why it's free for you to turn it off and on whenever you want to. As long as you keep the same voice plan you're not terminating or halting your phone contract. Just as it's free to turn off and on texting. It's about the same.

 

[Jayson Prentice]

Scott,

Do you get charged the $50 once you turn it on for the month, or do you get pro-rated at all? Say if you have it on for one week, then have it off for the rest of the month are you still getting charged the $50 or is it ~$15 or so? If it is pro-rated then it wouldn't be a terrible thing at all as you could save a lot of wasted money on days that you don't use it by turning it off. Just wondering if you could verify that information for me! Thanks

 

[David Goines]

Jayson,
I actually thought about a way to avoid the activation fee for the $60/month plan. I'm not sure how well it would work but it's a thought....

Aaccording to Verizon's policy, you have three days after activation to cancel without being charged the activation fee. So that means if you activate it and deactivate is say in 2 days, you are only charged roughly $4 on the bill for those two days (depending on how much data you spent in those two days). And then the next time you go chasing, reactivate it but be sure to deactivate in two days. It seems to me like a loophole but I'm wondering what they would do if they caught on...