05-31-2010, 09:11 AM
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#2748
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Infamous Member
How Do You Identify?: Femme
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Yesterday I took my phone over to Verizon for a troubleshoot. They downloaded some new software and hopefully that will take care of all the BS...we shall see.
My original Alias2 was nothing but trouble - losing signal and falling apart. So they sent me a replacement phone - "Certified Like New" aka someone else's problem. (They replaced the phone because things fell off of it not because it was losing signal and dropping calls.) They assured me that this phone had been checked out and was up to like new factory specs - you know, the same standards as my brand new original model....
I was horrified to learn that had I bought (yes, it was not free) my phone a few weeks later I would have had to purchase an additional "data package" at $9.95/month. This would enable me to do things like check email and surf the web (within data usage limits); 2 things I don't need to do from my phone and that my phone does not need in order to function. All because I prefer a QWERTY keyboard for text - my boss communicates with me by text from the courthouse, etc.
According to Verizon I am "grandfathered in" so if I replace this phone again with the same model I don't need to change my plan. But if I change models then I will need to sign up for that additional service if the new model "requires" it. What a rip off! According to the Verizon rep I spoke to over the phone the industry is moving away from phones that happen to have data functions to data devices that happen to have phone functions. (Oh, and if I want to change models they will be more than happy to do that for me with a "Certified Like New" edition of another model at a cost of at least $99. My reply was for another $76 or so I can cancel my plan, change carriers and get a new phone.)
That is silly - it's all about making $$$$$$$$$$. It's only a matter of time before they figure out a way to extort more money from folks with phones that only make calls and send texts.
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