Verizon wireless - Advice - Verizon Canceling SR Great Lakes Mid-Contract

Author

Advice - Verizon Canceling SR Great Lakes Mid-Contract

XNet

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Anyone else? I still have one year left on current "contract" - whatever
"contract" means to Verizon...

On Jun 16, letter from Verizon - Schaumburg, IL - dated June 9 - new billing
system means effective July, my SingleRate Great Lakes plan is no longer
available.

As of July billing, they are moving me automatically to "AC FamilyShare
Primary 1000 Any". With domestic roaming at $0.69 per minute.

Fine print says I can exit "contract" without penalty within 30 days.

Needless to say - I don't approve of *any* changes.

Upon receipt of this letter:

6-16: I call CS Rep Stella, "Verizon won't do that"

6-16: I call CS Rep Alysia (after asking "Supervisor"), "Verizon won't do
that. Please fax us the letter" - which I did - never heard back.

6-16: Verizon company store in Schaumburg, IL. "Verizon will never do
that. We'll add note to your record that you do not approve of any changes"

My billing period ends on the 28, so yesterday I call:

6-28: CS Rep A - "Verizon won't do that. I'll call you back in the morning
to confirm"

6-29: CS Rep A calls me - "See. You're still on the plan. But I *did*
learn this morning that Verizon is canceling old plans and forcing people to
new plans".

Obviously, I don't think CS has a clue - and Accounting has their finger on
all the computer buttons. And I suspect that sometime in July, I'll log on
to my Verizon Account page and see that I have a new plan against my express
wishes.

Advice please to pre-empt this action by Verizon - or at least deal myself
into an old National SingleRate - and "roaming" plan that doesn't incur
premuim charges.

Thanks in advance.

12-year customer through Ameritech > Verizon...

Evan Platt

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 23:38:30 -0500, "XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote:

>Anyone else? I still have one year left on current "contract" - whatever
>"contract" means to Verizon...
>
>On Jun 16, letter from Verizon - Schaumburg, IL - dated June 9 - new billing
>system means effective July, my SingleRate Great Lakes plan is no longer
>available.
>
>As of July billing, they are moving me automatically to "AC FamilyShare
>Primary 1000 Any". With domestic roaming at $0.69 per minute.
>
>Fine print says I can exit "contract" without penalty within 30 days.

Did you read HOW it says you need to cancel? Generally, it says in
writing.

Frankster

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

> On Jun 16, letter from Verizon - Schaumburg, IL - dated June 9 - new
> billing system means effective July, my SingleRate Great Lakes plan is no
> longer available.

Looks pretty straight forward to me. You either pick a new plan that is
available, terminate your service (any fee should be waived) or you allow
them to pick a new plan for you. Straight forward.

Trying to "keep" your old plan is never going to work because they
undoubtedly have already made corporate decisions that will result in the
loss of your present service, both in VZW hardware and/or roaming agreements
with other carriers.

The small print on a VZW contract always says they can change it at any
time. Them's the breaks.

-Frank

KLINK

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

SMS

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Frankster wrote:
>
> Looks pretty straight forward to me. You either pick a new plan that is
> available, terminate your service (any fee should be waived) or you allow
> them to pick a new plan for you. Straight forward.
>
> Trying to "keep" your old plan is never going to work because they
> undoubtedly have already made corporate decisions that will result in the
> loss of your present service, both in VZW hardware and/or roaming agreements
> with other carriers.
>
> The small print on a VZW contract always says they can change it at any
> time. Them's the breaks.

Yes, I'm waiting for them to demand that I change to AC2 from AC. I'll
probably move to Sprint at that time, if they've improved their coverage
in my area.

Frankster

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:44a59f61$0$9697
8$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Frankster wrote:
>
> Yes, I'm waiting for them to demand that I change to AC2 from AC. I'll
> probably move to Sprint at that time, if they've improved their coverage
> in my area.

Yeah, understand. Really, it's all about coverage in the area you need.
Unfortunately for me, none of the carriers around my place provide coverage
good enough for me to use my phone in my house (metal siding too!) without
an external antenna. I do use an external antenna and get reliable service.
But it's a pain in the XXX to be tethered. Just the choices you have to make
though.

I changed from the older National Single Rate plan to my current ACII Family
plan on purpose about 2 years ago. I've been with VZW (Airtouch before that)
for over 10 years. I was getting 400 minutes each on two individual phones
at the time (total 800hrs - although one was underused and the other one
often resulted in overrun charges). I changed to the family share plan,
ACII, about two years ago, and now I get 2100 minutes on two phones, never
overrun, and it is cheaper! Also, I have not experienced any situations
where I missed the National Single Rate plan at all. And I do travel a fair
amount. Also, I live out West. In today's digital world of phones and
services, the National Single Rate plans aren't really much good anymore
anyway, IMHO.

-Frank

Chip

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"KLINK" <KLINK@nyob.com> wrote in message
news:XsqdncAvU- Gw3DjZnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ
2d@comcast.com...
>
> "XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message news:e829s6$3me$1@ne
w7.xnet.com...
> billing
>
>
> I have the same plan. My contract ran out at least 3 years ago. At the
> time
> they said my plan would continue on a month to month basis until *I*
> changed
> the plan. A year ago my Startac died and when I got a new phone I had to
> sign up for two years. They gave me a choice to keep my Great Lakes Plan
> or
> change to a current plan. I kept the GL plan. So far I have not received a
> letter about a change.
>

Perhaps they won't force me to change after all - but the letter is pretty
clear - and CS is clueless.

Seems to be unprecedented to force plan changes - particularly mid-contract.
Prime motivation for renewing the contract instead of staying month-to-month
was to keep me locked into the plan. I believe there are still many on the
National SR as well - not to mention the other regional SR plans. And was
wondering if they will be forced to switch.

There were two "flavors" of the SR GL plans - I am on the first flavor. The
second edition, as I recall, had a slightly different line-up in the states.
Do you recall which edition you had?

Many areas I visit in northern Wisonsin would get no joy at all under AC2 -
and the AC1 plan they want to put me in would cost roaming charges (not to
mention a substantial increase in the overage rate - though I don't go over
anyway).

Chip

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

> I changed from the older National Single Rate plan to my current ACII
> Family
> plan on purpose about 2 years ago. I've been with VZW (Airtouch before
> that) for over 10 years. I was getting 400 minutes each on two individual
> phones at the time (total 800hrs - although one was underused and the
> other one often resulted in overrun charges). I changed to the family
> share plan, ACII, about two years ago, and now I get 2100 minutes on two
> phones, never overrun, and it is cheaper! Also, I have not experienced any
> situations where I missed the National Single Rate plan at all. And I do
> travel a fair amount. Also, I live out West. In today's digital world of
> phones and services, the National Single Rate plans aren't really much
> good anymore anyway, IMHO.
>
> -Frank
>

That may be fine for you. But AC2 would lock out cell service at my summer
home. So I need the SR GL (or the Nat SR) plan.

I'm not a penny pincher - sure I can get many more minutes for the same
price I pay today. But when I press send - I expect to be able to make a
call - from all my likely hideouts. And I'll pay for that level of service.
The SR GL plan lets me do that - and lets me budget appropriately.

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote in news:e829s6$3me$1@ne
w7.xnet.com:

> Advice please to pre-empt this action by Verizon

Number portability works. Sorry Alltel doesn't do business there.

> 12-year customer through Ameritech > Verizon...

Obviously, this means nothing to them. I was the 6th cellular customer on
Cellular One of Charleston > GTE Wireless > Verizon Wireless. They didn't
care here, either.

I can't imagine Verizon having a customer appreciation cookout like
Cellular One used to do, with everyone bringing their bagphones for a free
checkout while we ate the burgers/fries/Cokes by the big charcoal grill.

The Other Funk

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message news:e829s6$3me$1@ne
w7.xnet.com...
> Anyone else? I still have one year left on current "contract" - whatever
> "contract" means to Verizon...
>
> On Jun 16, letter from Verizon - Schaumburg, IL - dated June 9 - new
> billing system means effective July, my SingleRate Great Lakes plan is no
> longer available.
>
> As of July billing, they are moving me automatically to "AC FamilyShare
> Primary 1000 Any". With domestic roaming at $0.69 per minute.
>
> Fine print says I can exit "contract" without penalty within 30 days.
>
> Needless to say - I don't approve of *any* changes.
>
> Upon receipt of this letter:
>
> 6-16: I call CS Rep Stella, "Verizon won't do that"
>
> 6-16: I call CS Rep Alysia (after asking "Supervisor"), "Verizon won't do
> that. Please fax us the letter" - which I did - never heard back.
>
> 6-16: Verizon company store in Schaumburg, IL. "Verizon will never do
> that. We'll add note to your record that you do not approve of any
> changes"
>
> My billing period ends on the 28, so yesterday I call:
>
> 6-28: CS Rep A - "Verizon won't do that. I'll call you back in the
> morning to confirm"
>
> 6-29: CS Rep A calls me - "See. You're still on the plan. But I *did*
> learn this morning that Verizon is canceling old plans and forcing people
> to new plans".
>
>
> Obviously, I don't think CS has a clue - and Accounting has their finger
> on all the computer buttons. And I suspect that sometime in July, I'll
> log on to my Verizon Account page and see that I have a new plan against
> my express wishes.
>
>
> Advice please to pre-empt this action by Verizon - or at least deal myself
> into an old National SingleRate - and "roaming" plan that doesn't incur
> premuim charges.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> 12-year customer through Ameritech > Verizon...

First, contract means the agreement between you and Verizon Wireless.
That's why you have a year left.
Verizon Wireless has always had the right to change the terms of the
contract at anytime and you can either agree to the terms by continuing to
use the service or canceling the service.
Now as to why CS wouldn't know that your rate plan was being done away with,
I can't say. But I can't fathom how anyone could add a note to ypur record
that you don't approve any changes. Thats just impossible. Did you really
believe that a note from a clerk in a store could keep you on plan that is
not going to exist.
In the long run you'll continue to use the service and complain that your
plan was changed against your "express wishes". All you have to do is
follow the instructions and cancel your service or pick a Verizon Wireless
calling plan that serves your needs.
Bob
--
Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
www.moondoggiecoffee.com

..

Steve Sobol

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Chip wrote:
> Seems to be unprecedented to force plan changes - particularly mid-contract.

Yes, especially since, in my non-lawyerly opinion, this would be a material
change to customer contracts and they wouldn't even be able to get away
dinging you for an ETF if you cancelled.

My guess: they finally decided that some contracts are costing them more than
the contracts are worth. At that point, letting you cancel without an ETF is
an acceptable cost to them.

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

Steve Sobol

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Larry wrote:

> I can't imagine Verizon having a customer appreciation cookout like
> Cellular One used to do, with everyone bringing their bagphones for a free
> checkout while we ate the burgers/fries/Cokes by the big charcoal grill.

When you're charging upwards of a half a buck per minute for airtime, you can
afford to cook for people. :)

And that price is based on the airtime rates in 1993 when I started using
cell phones. Was undoubtedly much more expensive before that.

The one problem with your comment is that back then, airtime was a premium
item, and these days it's a commodity. I use T-Mobile these days. I don't use
T-Mobile because of price; I use them because their coverage is acceptable to
me and their customer service kicks XXX. The fact that they are neck-and-neck
with Cingular as the least expensive nationwide carrier -- that's just a bonus.

But they are cheap, and so is Cingular, and you can pay a fraction of the
cost per minute that you used to. Even Verizon isn't charging 45c/minute for
airtime these days, unless you go over your monthly allotment or you roam.

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

Chip

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"The Other Funk" <bobbie@moondoggie.com> wrote in message
news:_Kjpg.120$9a3.54@trnddc07...
>
>
> First, contract means the agreement between you and Verizon Wireless.
> That's why you have a year left.
> Verizon Wireless has always had the right to change the terms of the
> contract at anytime and you can either agree to the terms by continuing
> to use the service or canceling the service.
> Now as to why CS wouldn't know that your rate plan was being done away
> with, I can't say. But I can't fathom how anyone could add a note to ypur
> record that you don't approve any changes. Thats just impossible. Did you
> really believe that a note from a clerk in a store could keep you on plan
> that is not going to exist.
> In the long run you'll continue to use the service and complain that your
> plan was changed against your "express wishes". All you have to do is
> follow the instructions and cancel your service or pick a Verizon Wireless
> calling plan that serves your needs.
> Bob
> --
> Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
> www.moondoggiecoffee.com
>
>

Contract apparently doesn't mean anything to Verizon. My motivation to
accept the contract was to lock in the plan for two more years.

Your points are valid. But I had to have notes "on the record" that CS
assured the plan would not change. The letter only gives "30 days from
receipt of May bill" to cancel without penalty. Obviously, with CS (the 800
number CS) insisting there would be no change, I have no reason to cancel.
Only after the change is made. Then, indeed, I have no choice but cancel
and find another service - since current Verizon plans don't even allow
calls (at ANY price) from my summer home. I'll be beyond the 30 days -
assuming the letter is correct (and CS is wrong). So I need those "notes"
to protest any exit fee.

But the real issue for all to consider - and from pretty deep research on my
part - this is the very first time I can find that any Verizon Wireless
customer is being forced off their old plan (when/if it really happens).
All hold-outs of Nat SR and Regional SR plans need to be on notice.

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in news:e84keb$hb6$1
@jamiebaillie.com:

> Was undoubtedly much more expensive before that.
>

Cellular was a real bargain after paying $1.50 to $3.50 for IMTS...(c;

That price sure kept the 4 channels we had clear after the real estate
operators and contractors got off the air at 5-6PM....Noone sat
chitchatting for hours to their girlfriends because the answering service
operator was listening to everything on her radios...

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"Chip" <me@nospam.com> wrote in
news:NuCdnRKmYJyYRDj
ZnZ2dnUVZ_sqdnZ2d@co
mcast.com:

> But the real issue for all to consider - and from pretty deep research
> on my part - this is the very first time I can find that any Verizon
> Wireless customer is being forced off their old plan (when/if it
> really happens). All hold-outs of Nat SR and Regional SR plans need to
> be on notice.
>
>
>

Naw, it has happened many times before. I was forced off a plan that
included free roaming to Sprint PCS and Alltel whenever the phone couldn't
find a signal many years ago. They called it an "upgrade". I called it
denial-of-service....in a lot of areas.

For a while they forced us off AMPS onto CDMA version 0.1 when the Moto 725
came out. We were "encouraged" to go digital with carrots dangling on a
string, but when they didn't work it became more sinister....until the FCC
reminded them that anyone who had AMPS service, ever, was still eligible
for AMPS service. By then, most customers had switched and dumped their
bigger phones. The company got what it wanted...

All the carriers have pulled the same stunt. The contract is on YOU, not
them. The holes are built into the text noone takes the time to read....

Kevin Weaver

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Chip wrote:
> "KLINK" <KLINK@nyob.com> wrote in message
> news:XsqdncAvU- Gw3DjZnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ
2d@comcast.com...
>
>
> Perhaps they won't force me to change after all - but the letter is pretty
> clear - and CS is clueless.
>
> Seems to be unprecedented to force plan changes - particularly mid-contract.
> Prime motivation for renewing the contract instead of staying month-to-month
> was to keep me locked into the plan. I believe there are still many on the
> National SR as well - not to mention the other regional SR plans. And was
> wondering if they will be forced to switch.
>
> There were two "flavors" of the SR GL plans - I am on the first flavor. The
> second edition, as I recall, had a slightly different line-up in the states.
> Do you recall which edition you had?
>
> Many areas I visit in northern Wisonsin would get no joy at all under AC2 -
> and the AC1 plan they want to put me in would cost roaming charges (not to
> mention a substantial increase in the overage rate - though I don't go over
> anyway).
>
>
>
>
The part I don't like is. You buy a phone under a 1yr contract. (Not
much off the price) Then they pull this on you. They should pay the
customer 175.00

Steve Sobol

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Larry wrote:

> Naw, it has happened many times before. I was forced off a plan that
> included free roaming to Sprint PCS and Alltel whenever the phone couldn't
> find a signal many years ago. They called it an "upgrade". I called it
> denial-of-service....in a lot of areas.

But was that because of an equipment upgrade?

It's common practice for carriers to require you to be on a current plan if
you upgrade your phone. I've *never* heard of them dumping plans mid-contract
if you aren't also making account changes on your end.

This iss pretty huge.

> All the carriers have pulled the same stunt. The contract is on YOU, not
> them.

To say that ignores the basic legal truth that a contract requires agreement
between two parties. Now, your cell contract does probably provide that they
can change the rules at any time, but you still have an out, generally - you
can usually cancel without an ETF in that case. And if you are about to get
switched to a plan that sucks for you, why would you want to stay?

--
Steve Sobol, Professional Geek ** Java/VB/VC/PHP/Perl ** Linux/*BSD/Windows
Apple Valley, California PGP:0xE3AE35ED

It's all fun and games until someone starts a bonfire in the living room.

RNess

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Back in the late eighties, a Motorola 8000X was also over $3K and only
the well to do and 'those with ready cash' could afford them.

You bet the carriers were different then. The entire business was.

I was the first EMPLOYEE in the MSA that worked in for years...
I still have the XXX-XXX-0002 number - (I had to give back the 0001 number
when I left)

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message news:Xns97F2C72D13AE
4noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote in news:e829s6$3me$1@ne
w7.xnet.com:
>
>
> Number portability works. Sorry Alltel doesn't do business there.
>
>
> Obviously, this means nothing to them. I was the 6th cellular customer on
> Cellular One of Charleston > GTE Wireless > Verizon Wireless. They didn't
> care here, either.
>
> I can't imagine Verizon having a customer appreciation cookout like
> Cellular One used to do, with everyone bringing their bagphones for a free
> checkout while we ate the burgers/fries/Cokes by the big charcoal grill.
>

John W Montgomery

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Just dial *22802 and you'll see the Sprint signal for a little bit.

Quick

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Kevin Weaver wrote:
> The part I don't like is. You buy a phone under a 1yr
> contract. (Not much off the price) Then they pull this on
> you. They should pay the customer 175.00

What is "Not much off the price"? Unless you got one
that's *really* basic it usually works out to about the
same as the ETF.

-Quick

Quick

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Larry wrote:
>
> Naw, it has happened many times before.

"many"? I don't think so. What you are obfuscating
primarily happened in Michigan/Ohio. VZW had
acquired other small carriers and people were on
the plans they had before the acquisition. Then
when VZW went to a single billing system the
plans weren't in there any more and those customers
had to switch to VZW plans. (but you knew that).

> I was forced off a plan that included free roaming

No you weren't. You still had the same plan.

> to Sprint PCS and Alltel whenever the phone couldn't
> find a signal many years ago. They called it an "upgrade".
> I called it denial-of-service....in a lot of areas.

You upgraded your PRL silly boy. VZW changed their
partners. You still had the same plan. (but you knew
that too didn't you).

I believe Steve is correct. VZW has never forced anyone
off a VZW plan so far.

-Quick

The Other Funk

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

--

"Chip" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:NuCdnRKmYJyYRDj
ZnZ2dnUVZ_sqdnZ2d@co
mcast.com...
> Contract apparently doesn't mean anything to Verizon. My motivation to
> accept the contract was to lock in the plan for two more years.
>
> Your points are valid. But I had to have notes "on the record" that CS
> assured the plan would not change. The letter only gives "30 days from
> receipt of May bill" to cancel without penalty. Obviously, with CS (the
> 800 number CS) insisting there would be no change, I have no reason to
> cancel. Only after the change is made. Then, indeed, I have no choice but
> cancel and find another service - since current Verizon plans don't even
> allow calls (at ANY price) from my summer home. I'll be beyond the 30
> days - assuming the letter is correct (and CS is wrong). So I need those
> "notes" to protest any exit fee.
>
> But the real issue for all to consider - and from pretty deep research on
> my part - this is the very first time I can find that any Verizon Wireless
> customer is being forced off their old plan (when/if it really happens).
> All hold-outs of Nat SR and Regional SR plans need to be on notice.
>
I understand your frustration.
Contract means everything to Verizon. It's just not weighted to allow you
to do anything but usr the service under their rules and pay the bill.
Contracts do not have to be even, just agreed apon.
You can never "lock in" anything aboutt your contract. Only VZW can make
changes.
Don't be surprised if there is no note attached to your account. Some CS
agents will say anything to get you off the phone. You have to realize that
they are measured by number of calls an hour more then accuracy. The
chances of them being monitored for giving the correct information is so
slim that it's worth the risk. My wife spent over 10 years as a manager in
call centers and can back me up. Call times are the measure of who keeps
their job verses who gets fired or laid off.
What I don't understand is how you can be blocked from making a call from
your summer home. It may be expensive but why would CZW give up revenue
when they could get you for a premium price?
You may have one chance to sttill get out of your contract with out a
penalty. Since you didn't reciever the letter informing you of the change
untill the 19th, you weren't given 30 days to cancel without an ETF. Call up
one more time and say you are going to cancel, see if you can get something
out of VZW that will work for you.
Bob
--
Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
www.moondoggiecoffee.com

Kevin Weaver

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Quick wrote:
> Kevin Weaver wrote:
>
> What is "Not much off the price"? Unless you got one
> that's *really* basic it usually works out to about the
> same as the ETF.
>
> -Quick
>
>
My last phone, I got nothing off. Paid full price. I was month to month
at the time. Did not want to sign a 2yr, but had to sign a 1yr and they
gave me 25.00 off. The 25.00 was not on the phone itself. It was a
credit for a bat, charger, etc.

George

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Larry wrote:

> I can't imagine Verizon having a customer appreciation cookout like
> Cellular One used to do, with everyone bringing their bagphones for a free
> checkout while we ate the burgers/fries/Cokes by the big charcoal grill.
>

Sure, but that was in the days when an 80 minute plan was $100, long
distance was extra and roaming was frequent. And if half of the
customers showed up a couple bags of buns would have been plenty.

KLINK

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"Chip" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:OKCdnYSaebghNDj
ZnZ2dnUVZ_v-dnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Perhaps they won't force me to change after all - but the letter is pretty
> clear - and CS is clueless.
>
> Seems to be unprecedented to force plan changes - particularly
mid-contract.
> Prime motivation for renewing the contract instead of staying
month-to- month

> was to keep me locked into the plan. I believe there are still many on
the
> National SR as well - not to mention the other regional SR plans. And was
> wondering if they will be forced to switch.
>
> There were two "flavors" of the SR GL plans - I am on the first flavor.
The
> second edition, as I recall, had a slightly different line-up in the
states.
> Do you recall which edition you had?
>
> Many areas I visit in northern Wisonsin would get no joy at all under
AC2 -
> and the AC1 plan they want to put me in would cost roaming charges (not to
> mention a substantial increase in the overage rate - though I don't go
over
> anyway).
>

The only thing I can remember is there are 9 states included.

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in news:e84nnl$iv1$1
@jamiebaillie.com:

> But was that because of an equipment upgrade?
>

No, they just decided they were spending too much money on roaming onto
other carriers in their own markets, the ones they bought up from Cellular
One, GTE Wireless, etc, and made the corporate decision to stop the roaming
and pocket the difference....the customer be damned. I kept the old PRL
for the longest time as it would roam and they didn't seem to have any way
to push the old phones to stop it, until, finally, I kept being told by the
other carriers they were no longer honoring the roaming in the dead
zones...probably because they were not being paid in a timely manner...(c;

They didn't really change the "plan", which didn't say anything concrete
about in-market roaming when their system was tits up, they just changed
the backdoor PRLs to EXCLUDE roaming with their always longer list of
exclusions in all markets.

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"RNess" <richard@nodamnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in news:s_
6dnXUXQc1wejjZnZ2dnU
VZ_rCdnZ2d@giganews.com:

> Back in the late eighties, a Motorola 8000X was also over $3K and only
> the well to do and 'those with ready cash' could afford them.
>

Ha....I have one! Paid 99 cents for it in a thrift shop, just for old
times sake. I loaned it to someone traveling for an emergency AMPS phone
to call 911. For that, I was rewarded by him breaking the rubber off the
antenna so now the brass spring element inside is exposed. It was a
perfect specimen until then. Great big handset...isn't that the 8000X?

RNess

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

The 8000X had the black face and the deluxe feature set.
The 8000 had the grey face.

"The Brick"....

I may even have a spare antenna or two buried up in the attic somewhere...

"Larry" <noone@home.com> wrote in message news:Xns97F3AD9AC1E8
5noonehomecom@208.49.80.253...
> "RNess" <richard@nodamnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in news:s_
> 6dnXUXQc1wejjZnZ2dnU
VZ_rCdnZ2d@giganews.com:
>
>
> Ha....I have one! Paid 99 cents for it in a thrift shop, just for old
> times sake. I loaned it to someone traveling for an emergency AMPS phone
> to call 911. For that, I was rewarded by him breaking the rubber off the
> antenna so now the brass spring element inside is exposed. It was a
> perfect specimen until then. Great big handset...isn't that the 8000X?
>

Larry

2006-07-02, 3:37 pm

"RNess" <richard@nodamnspam.nessnet.com> wrote in
news:k86dnU_aHZgMYjv
ZnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@gi
ganews.com:

> The 8000X had the black face and the deluxe feature set.
> The 8000 had the grey face.
>
> "The Brick"....
>
> I may even have a spare antenna or two buried up in the attic
> somewhere...
>
>

Yep...mine is the X model. The face of it is black.

The antenna still works fine, but it just doesn't look the same.

I walked into the Alltel main store carrying it and talking into it as if I
was on the phone with someone. The look on their faces? Priceless....(c;

"What? Did I do something wrong?", I questioned looking oh, so innocent.

I think that was the reason I liked hauling the bagphone around so much,
talking to someone for real. Hell, these kids never even SAW a bagphone,
much less one that was actually on the air inside the mall. And, it had a
REAL LIVE speakerphone everyone could hear!...(c;

Chip

2006-07-16, 3:33 pm

As of Friday, 7-14, CS insisted that my plan would not change.

As of today, 7-16, my SR Great Lakes plan was changed to AC FamilyShare Pri
1000 with $0.69 roaming.

Any other SR customers wake up today to a new plan??

"XNet" <me@nospam.com> wrote in message news:e829s6$3me$1@ne
w7.xnet.com...
> Anyone else? I still have one year left on current "contract" - whatever
> "contract" means to Verizon...
>
> On Jun 16, letter from Verizon - Schaumburg, IL - dated June 9 - new
> billing system means effective July, my SingleRate Great Lakes plan is no
> longer available.
>
> As of July billing, they are moving me automatically to "AC FamilyShare
> Primary 1000 Any". With domestic roaming at $0.69 per minute.
>
> Fine print says I can exit "contract" without penalty within 30 days.
>
> Needless to say - I don't approve of *any* changes.
>
> Upon receipt of this letter:
>
> 6-16: I call CS Rep Stella, "Verizon won't do that"
>
> 6-16: I call CS Rep Alysia (after asking "Supervisor"), "Verizon won't do
> that. Please fax us the letter" - which I did - never heard back.
>
> 6-16: Verizon company store in Schaumburg, IL. "Verizon will never do
> that. We'll add note to your record that you do not approve of any
> changes"
>
> My billing period ends on the 28, so yesterday I call:
>
> 6-28: CS Rep A - "Verizon won't do that. I'll call you back in the
> morning to confirm"
>
> 6-29: CS Rep A calls me - "See. You're still on the plan. But I *did*
> learn this morning that Verizon is canceling old plans and forcing people
> to new plans".
>
>
> Obviously, I don't think CS has a clue - and Accounting has their finger
> on all the computer buttons. And I suspect that sometime in July, I'll
> log on to my Verizon Account page and see that I have a new plan against
> my express wishes.
>
>
> Advice please to pre-empt this action by Verizon - or at least deal myself
> into an old National SingleRate - and "roaming" plan that doesn't incur
> premuim charges.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>
> 12-year customer through Ameritech > Verizon...
>

Isaiah Beard

2006-07-20, 3:33 pm

Steve Sobol wrote:
> Larry wrote:
>
>
> When you're charging upwards of a half a buck per minute for airtime, you can
> afford to cook for people. :)
> And that price is based on the airtime rates in 1993 when I started
> using
> cell phones. Was undoubtedly much more expensive before that.

You must've had a "Big Spender" (200+ minute) plan. Those of us on the
"it's just for emergencies - because that's all we can afford" plans
paid $30 a month for 30 minutes of peak airtime. Yeah, that's a dollar
a minute, assuming you didn't also have unlimited weekend minutes for
$10 extra (weeknight minutes were often still considered "peak").
Overage was $.69 a minute, however. And LD was $.13 a minute, whether
you were within your "shotglass" (as opposed to bucket) of minutes or
not. Oh, and don't even ask about "extended network" coverage. Back
then it was called the "American Roaming Network." And if you needed to
use it, you'd better hope you had a Visa card with a lot of credit
available on it. :)

While the "customer appreciation" cookouts were nice (as was the free
coffee and doughnuts in the service & repair area), I much prefer
getting a lot more in minutes and services. That way, with the money I
save, I buy my own steaks, coffee and doughnuts. ;)

It's also nice that now I rarely *have* to go get my phone serviced to
begin with, and that periodic tuneups are no longer necessary, either. :)

>
> The one problem with your comment is that back then, airtime was a premium
> item, and these days it's a commodity.

As was the equipment! When it was first released, the Motorola StarTAC
cost well over $1,000. The local GTE cellular store here even had one
on a pesdestal display in a jewelry-style glass case.

Now, wireless carriers are practically giving way RAZRs in cereal boxers.

--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Larry

2006-07-20, 10:33 pm

Isaiah Beard < sacredpoet@sacredpoe
t.com> wrote in
news:12bvltermb6v51a
@corp.supernews.com:

> That way, with the money I
> save, I buy my own steaks, coffee and doughnuts. ;)
>

I still think they can all afford a few CHAIRS.....(c;

--
Welcome to America!
Thank you for calling....
Please choose from the following menu:
Press 1 for English
Press 2 to disconnect until you learn English

Dave

2006-07-21, 12:33 pm

Isaiah Beard wrote:

>
> As was the equipment! When it was first released, the Motorola StarTAC
> cost well over $1,000. The local GTE cellular store here even had one
> on a pesdestal display in a jewelry-style glass case.
>
> Now, wireless carriers are practically giving way RAZRs in cereal boxers.
>
>
>

But I LOVED my StarTACs. Paid $300 for the first one (dual band) and $50
for the second one (tri-band). Best sound quality of ANY cell phone I
have ever used and very comfortable to hold.

Larry

2006-07-21, 3:33 pm

Dave <daves1955@verizon.net> wrote in news:NF6wg.3376$V74.87@trnddc08:

> But I LOVED my StarTACs. Paid $300 for the first one (dual band) and
$50
> for the second one (tri-band). Best sound quality of ANY cell phone I
> have ever used and very comfortable to hold.
>
>

Our local Radio Shack outlet store is closing. This is the last week so
they're dumping stuff really cheap that doesn't sell.

My friend Dave has a nice Startac on Alltel and said his battery wouldn't
stay charged very long.

What a great coincidence. Radio Shack has "$1 cellphone accessories
day" last Sunday afternoon. I loaded up. I have 8 extended batteries
with 4 extended backs for my V60i, 4 new V60i trimode antennas and 2
carrying cases, nice leather ones. For Dave, who's 82 but you can't walk
as far as he does every morning before dawn, I got 6 new Startac
batteries and 2 leather cases.

I made a great deal on what was left of the speaker wire and #8 power
wire in bulk, too. I just bought it all and he threw in the wire
measuring machine. Copper wire is as valuable as diamonds, now. Buy
some and you'll find out. I have enough to wire several PA systems in
churches, extending my profits from this investment.

You're right about Startac. It's not pretty, nothing a teenage girl
market would want, but it's rugged and works great!

--
When you come up to the checkout, ask someone if they saw
the INS agents carrying off 3 people from the store...
See how many illegals you can get to abandon their carts...
moving YOU up in line....(c;

Thomas T. Veldhouse

2006-07-21, 3:33 pm

Larry <noone@home.com> wrote:
>
> What a great coincidence. Radio Shack has "$1 cellphone accessories
> day" last Sunday afternoon. I loaded up. I have 8 extended batteries
> with 4 extended backs for my V60i, 4 new V60i trimode antennas and 2
> carrying cases, nice leather ones. For Dave, who's 82 but you can't walk
> as far as he does every morning before dawn, I got 6 new Startac
> batteries and 2 leather cases.
>

The V60i uses LiIon batteries right? Are you aware that LiIon batteries have
a limitted shelf life? You may find that within two years, that all the
batteries fail to keep a charge for very long.

--
Thomas T. Veldhouse
Key Fingerprint: 2DB9 813F F510 82C2 E1AE 34D0 D69D 1EDC D5EC AED1

Larry

2006-07-21, 10:33 pm

"Thomas T. Veldhouse" <veldy71@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:UtKdnUJQOtjwuFz
ZnZ2dnUVZ_tWdnZ2d@gi
ganews.com:

> The V60i uses LiIon batteries right? Are you aware that LiIon
> batteries have a limitted shelf life? You may find that within two
> years, that all the batteries fail to keep a charge for very long.
>

They all charged up fine and I've run one of them for 3 days. They were
current stock, not old stuff from the warehouse. The store is closing.
Dave has an external charger for the Startac and said they all charged up
fine for him.

The LiIon batteries for my old Sony Mavica floppy-drive camera are around
10 years old, now.....still work fine taking pictures all day.

What kills LiIon is deep cycling, not float charging. That's why they
have an IC in them to shut them down before going too deep where they
won't recover. In a cellphone that'll run for days before needing a
charge, if you recharge it every night while you sleep, never deep
cycling it anywhere near the IC shutdown point, they last a long time.
They have no NiCd memory and short cycling them doesn't hurt them at all.

I can't wait until the new nanotube technology Li-Ion cells come out.
80% recharge in SIXTY SECONDS! 100% IN 3 MINUTES FLAT! Must have some
gawd-awful current power supply.....(c;

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm
http://www.opensourceenergy.org/C17...lt.aspx?ID=1041
http://www.physorg.com/news2310.html
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003339.html
http://www.physorg.com/news10928.html

Of course, we must find a way to prevent the Illuminati, so deeply
invested in world oil supplies, from burying the technology that may
obsolete the gasoline-powered automobile. You drive up to a recharge
station for a 10,000A, 5 minute recharge of your nanotube battery pack to
drive another hundred miles if you get too far away from the big 230VAC
charger in your garage that "slow" charges it in an hour at only a few
hundred amps. The contacts in the little wall ahead of your car recharge
the car in the office parking garage, like the ones at home, while you're
at work.

So efficient, even in cellphones.

With such a quick capacitor-like charging speed, dynamic braking down a
hill recovers much of the energy now wasted in brake heat and refills the
"tank" for the next climb out of acceleration.

Big oil must already be planning on how to buy the technology and BURY
it, like has been done in the past. Remember the GM EV1 electrics that
WORKED?

Quick

2006-07-21, 10:33 pm

Larry wrote:
> "Thomas T. Veldhouse" <veldy71@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:UtKdnUJQOtjwuFz
ZnZ2dnUVZ_tWdnZ2d@gi
ganews.com:
>
>
> They all charged up fine and I've run one of them for 3
> days.

uhhh... dense? He was questioning the value of buying
a lifetime supply of (new) v60i batteries if you are going
to store them. First battery lasts 2 years. Second battery
lasts a year or 2. The remaining 10 batteries are dead from
sitting on the shelf for 4 years...

Larry is just trying to sound like he still knows something
and impress people.

[snip blathering attempt to display knowledge of whizzy
technology followed by black helicopter conspiracies]

You know Larry, you have a lot in common with those
teenage girls you mention all the time.

-Quick

Larry

2006-07-22, 10:33 am

"Quick" <quick7135-news@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in news:AZfwg.52333
$VE1.43586@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com:

> uhhh... dense? He was questioning the value of buying
> a lifetime supply of (new) v60i batteries if you are going
> to store them. First battery lasts 2 years. Second battery
> lasts a year or 2. The remaining 10 batteries are dead from
> sitting on the shelf for 4 years...
>
>

At the princely sum of $1 each, I can afford it. I'll never have to buy a
battery again for $30-50, will I. The phone won't run that long.

Duhh....??

--
When you come up to the checkout, ask someone if they saw
the INS agents carrying off 3 people from the store...
See how many illegals you can get to abandon their carts...
moving YOU up in line....(c;

The Ghost of General Lee

2006-07-22, 12:33 pm

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:22:24 GMT, "Quick"
<quick7135-news@NOSPAMyahoo.com> wrote:

>Larry wrote:
>
>uhhh... dense? He was questioning the value of buying
>a lifetime supply of (new) v60i batteries if you are going
>to store them. First battery lasts 2 years. Second battery
>lasts a year or 2. The remaining 10 batteries are dead from
>sitting on the shelf for 4 years...
>
>Larry is just trying to sound like he still knows something
>and impress people.

In his defense, the guy he bought the batteries for is 82. I don't
think he's got much shelf life left, either.

clifto

2006-07-24, 3:33 pm

Larry wrote:
> What kills LiIon is deep cycling, not float charging. That's why they
> have an IC in them to shut them down before going too deep where they
> won't recover. In a cellphone that'll run for days before needing a
> charge, if you recharge it every night while you sleep, never deep
> cycling it anywhere near the IC shutdown point, they last a long time.
> They have no NiCd memory and short cycling them doesn't hurt them at all.

You know, that's what the current wisdom says. And yet, my battery which
was faithfully charged every night and never hit "low battery", wouldn't
hold a charge at the end of a year half as well as my wife's, which is
charged when it hits rock bottom (or every two or three days, whichever
is convenient for her).

--
Britney Spears' Guide to Semiconductor Physics
<http://britneyspears.ac/lasers.htm>

Quick

2006-07-24, 3:33 pm

clifto wrote:
> Larry wrote:
>
> You know, that's what the current wisdom says.

No. That's what the laws of physics say.

-Quick

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