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Cellular forums Home > Archive > Verizon wireless > September 2007 > sub $40 retention plan?
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sub $40 retention plan?
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| Eric Edwards 2007-09-20, 3:33 pm |
| Has anyone succeeded in squeezing a sub $40 plan out of Verizon? I'm on
an old digital choice local plan. $30/month for 300 minutes + 1000
and weekends. I rarely use more than 100 minutes. I would like to go
to a national plan but Verizon no longer offers anything smaller than
$40/month for 450 minutes. Not officially, anyway. Anyone know if
there is a way, unofficially?
--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org
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| ese002@news9.exile.org (Eric Edwards) wrote:
> Has anyone succeeded in squeezing a sub $40 plan out of Verizon?
> I'm on an old digital choice local plan. $30/month for 300
> minutes + 1000 and weekends. I rarely use more than 100 minutes.
> I would like to go to a national plan but Verizon no longer
> offers anything smaller than $40/month for 450 minutes. Not
> officially, anyway. Anyone know if there is a way, unofficially?
I have the National Single Rate plan, it's $35/month* for 150
minutes/mo. which is about 130 minutes more than I've ever used.
I don't see it as currently being offered and I'm almost positive it's
no longer available but you might go to the website and search for
Single Rate or call them and ask.
I just renewed on my "new every two" so I'm good for two more years but
I can only hope the plan will be there next time.
*Of course that doesn't include the in taxes, fees, charges, surcharges
and "We just thought we'd add this on charges", etc. so I'm actually
paying $40+ each month.
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
| |
|
| XS11E wrote:
> I just renewed on my "new every two" so I'm good for two more years but
> I can only hope the plan will be there next time.
They seem to let you continue on your current plan long after it's no
longer offered. I'm at $35 less an 18% discount, and after various fees
it's around $30. Plus it's still got 8:01 pm off-peak, and more coverage
than the currently offered plans.
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| Eric Edwards 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:56:44 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>They seem to let you continue on your current plan long after it's no
>longer offered. I'm at $35 less an 18% discount, and after various fees
>it's around $30. Plus it's still got 8:01 pm off-peak, and more coverage
>than the currently offered plans.
Where did the 18% discount come from?
--
Photos and travelogues from Africa and Southeast Asia: http://www.exile.org
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| Todd Allcock 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| At 20 Sep 2007 13:26:31 -0700 XS11E wrote:
> I have the National Single Rate plan, it's $35/month* for 150
> minutes/mo. which is about 130 minutes more than I've ever used.
Just curious- why don't you go prepaid with PagePlus? Same coverage,
but much lower cost.
--
"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003
| |
| XS11E 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| Todd Allcock < elecconnec@AmericaOn
Line.com> wrote:
> At 20 Sep 2007 13:26:31 -0700 XS11E wrote:
>
>
>
> Just curious- why don't you go prepaid with PagePlus? Same coverage,
> but much lower cost.
Maybe because I read their service contract? No thanks.
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
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| Todd Allcock 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| At 20 Sep 2007 17:24:03 -0700 XS11E wrote:
coverage,[color=dark
red]
>
> Maybe because I read their service contract? No thanks.
What didn't you like? I'm thinking of adding PagePlus as a backup
for my not-so-great coverage GSM line. It seems to be ideal for low-
use/excellent coverage, even factoring in the extra charges for
roaming. If you have a good reason not to use them, I'd love to hear
it before I sign up!
Thanks!
--
"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003
| |
| catalpa 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
|
"XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:Xns99B1B1032E0F
2xs11emailinatorcom@
69.28.173.184...
> Todd Allcock < elecconnec@AmericaOn
Line.com> wrote:
>
>
> Maybe because I read their service contract? No thanks.
>
What is wrong with the service contract ? If you only use 20 minutes a
month then Page Plus would only cost you about $3.00 a month (12 cents a
minute plus 50 cents monthly service charge). Major savings from $35/month
down to $3/month. I've had Page Plus for 6 months without any problems.
| |
| XS11E 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| Todd Allcock < elecconnec@AmericaOn
Line.com> wrote:
> At 20 Sep 2007 17:24:03 -0700 XS11E wrote:
>
>
> What didn't you like?
See reply to "catalpa".
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
| |
| XS11E 2007-09-20, 10:33 pm |
| "catalpa" <catalpa@entertab.org> wrote:
>
> "XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns99B1B1032E0F
2xs11emailinatorcom@
69.28.173.184...
[color=darkred]
> What is wrong with the service contract ?
Read it:
1. All accounts must replenish at least one Page Plus Cellular prepaid
card within 120 days or cellular number will expire. Once cellular
number has expired, an account must be associated with Page Plus
Cellular prepaid card within 45 days or the cellular phone will be
disconnected.
2. All accounts must have a 4-digit passcode (security code), which is
the last four digits of the cellular number.
3. Only Page Plus Cellular cards can be used with our service and no
other cards can be used.
4. All calls will be rounded to the fullest minute.
5. There are no refunds on Page Plus Cellular prepaid cards.
6. Page Plus Cellular is not responsible for lost, stolen, or
unauthorized use of prepaid cellular cards.
7. Page Plus Cellular reserves the right to disconnect any Page Plus
Cellular phone that stays at a zero balance for 30 days or more.
8. To cancel an account prior to its 165 days minimum term, a $30.00
early termination fee must be paid.
9. A maintenance fee of 50¢ per month will apply to all accounts,
regardless of current balance or active state.
--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://blinkynet.net/comp/uip5.html
| |
| Todd Allcock 2007-09-21, 4:33 am |
| At 20 Sep 2007 19:23:47 -0700 XS11E wrote:
=20
> Read it:
> 1. All accounts must replenish at least one Page Plus Cellular
prepaid =20
> card within 120 days or cellular number will expire.
You're on a monthly plan using a few dozen minutes- you have to
"replenish" your account every 30 days with $30. $10 every 4 months
seems fair. You try not paying Verizon anything for 120 days and see
what happens! ;-)=20
> Once cellular=20
> number has expired, an account must be associated with Page Plus=20
> Cellular prepaid card within 45 days or the cellular phone will be=20
> disconnected.=20
So in 120 days you lose any accumulated airtime if you forget to
replenish (you lose yours every 30!) and you get a 45-day grace
period before your account is terminated and you lose your number-
seems fair.
> 2. All accounts must have a 4-digit passcode (security code), which
is=20
> the last four digits of the cellular number.=20
AFAIK, you can change it to any four digit code after- the default is
the last four. Why is this an issue?
=20
> 3. Only Page Plus Cellular cards can be used with our service and
no=20
> other cards can be used.=20
And? Did you expect Burger King to accept McDonald's gift
certificates?
=20
> 4. All calls will be rounded to the fullest minute.=20
And this is different than your current service how?
=20
> 5. There are no refunds on Page Plus Cellular prepaid cards.=20
So I wouldn't stock up on them. =20
=20
> 6. Page Plus Cellular is not responsible for lost, stolen, or=20
> unauthorized use of prepaid cellular cards.=20
Ok... Agsin, if I don't stock up, what's my risk- the spare $10 or
$20 card in my wallt? No riskier than carrying a $20 bill, and, like
most of us, I walk that tightrope every day...
=20
> 7. Page Plus Cellular reserves the right to disconnect any Page
Plus=20
> Cellular phone that stays at a zero balance for 30 days or more.=20
Ok...
=20
> 8. To cancel an account prior to its 165 days minimum term, a
$30. 00=20
> early termination fee must be paid.=20
First, that's less than you pay every month, and second, there's no
reason to cancel- just put the phone in the glovebox and wait 165
days (120 plus the 45 grace) and it cancels itself. I assume the $30
"fee" is to discourage you from calling and tying up a rep to cancel
an account that the computer will purge on it's own.
=20
> 9. A maintenance fee of 50=A2 per month will apply to all accounts, =
> regardless of current balance or active state.=20
That's probably less than a quarter of the "federal programs recovery
fee" you pay every month, right?=20
Honestly, what terms in there are worse that you have right now? If
you use 20-30 minutes a month as you say, your cellular costs would
drop from $30+ per month to about $4 or $5 with the same coverage you
have today. An 85% savings might be worth a little hassle of
entering a prepaid card number now and then.=20
When I used AT&T prepaid a few years ago as a backup, I used to
program the phone's "wakeup" (the text displayed when you turn it on)
to something like "Refill by Oct. 5th!" to remind me when to top it
off.
--=20
"I don't need my cell phone to play video games or take pictures=20
or double as a Walkie-Talkie; I just need it to work. Thanks for=20
all the bells and whistles, but I could communicate better with=20
ACTUAL bells and whistles." -Bill Maher 9/25/2003=20
| |
| catalpa 2007-09-21, 4:33 am |
|
"XS11E" <xs11e@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:Xns99B1C54FEFF0
Fxs11emailinatorcom@
69.28.173.184...
> "catalpa" <catalpa@entertab.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> Read it:
> 1. All accounts must replenish at least one Page Plus Cellular prepaid
> card within 120 days or cellular number will expire. Once cellular
> number has expired, an account must be associated with Page Plus
> Cellular prepaid card within 45 days or the cellular phone will be
> disconnected.
>
> 2. All accounts must have a 4-digit passcode (security code), which is
> the last four digits of the cellular number.
>
> 3. Only Page Plus Cellular cards can be used with our service and no
> other cards can be used.
>
> 4. All calls will be rounded to the fullest minute.
>
> 5. There are no refunds on Page Plus Cellular prepaid cards.
>
> 6. Page Plus Cellular is not responsible for lost, stolen, or
> unauthorized use of prepaid cellular cards.
>
> 7. Page Plus Cellular reserves the right to disconnect any Page Plus
> Cellular phone that stays at a zero balance for 30 days or more.
>
> 8. To cancel an account prior to its 165 days minimum term, a $30.00
> early termination fee must be paid.
>
> 9. A maintenance fee of 50¢ per month will apply to all accounts,
> regardless of current balance or active state.
>
I read it before I signed up for the service. You did not specify what you
object to. I can quite easily live with all the terms and they appear to be
much less onerous than a regular cell phone contract. Heck, it only costs a
minimum of $30/year to have cell phone service. Number 8 is rather humorous
as they have no idea who their customers are and no way to collect the
$30.00 termination fee. Currently the worst that can happen to me is that I
lose a cheap phone and $10 of airtime, not much of a downside.
| |
|
| Todd Allcock wrote:
> At 20 Sep 2007 13:26:31 -0700 XS11E wrote:
>
>
>
> Just curious- why don't you go prepaid with PagePlus? Same coverage,
> but much lower cost.
The only issue I have with PagePlus is that their is no Canadian
roaming, not even at extra cost (which would be fine with me).
Other than that, XS11E would be much better off on PagePlus.
It's unclear what he thinks is objectionable in the PagePlus terms
(there is no contract).
Certainly the 120 day replenishment is better than most prepaid services
(other then T-Mobile if you're Gold (1 year), or 7-11 SpeakOut (1
year)). The $30 cancellation is somewhat strange, all you do is not use
the phone and it stops working on its own after 120 days or so, and they
have no way of charging you $30.
Maybe it's the 50¢/month fee, but that's lost in the noise due to their
much lower rates than other prepaid services, especially with the
$50/700 minute card.
Anyway, I have two PagePlus accounts for my kids and they've been great.
The coverage is excellent because it's on Verizon, and they have
coverage in all the places where there is no GSM coverage at all yet.
| |
| Seth Goodman 2007-09-21, 10:33 pm |
| In article < 46f3f73f$0$27165$742
ec2ed@news.sonic.net> on Fri, 21 Sep
2007 09:55:43 -0700, SMS wrote:
> The $30 cancellation is somewhat strange, all you do is not use
> the phone and it stops working on its own after 120 days or so, and they
> have no way of charging you $30.
The $30 cancellation fee is if, within the first six months you're a
customer, you want them to release the ESN immediately, without porting
the phone# out, or doing an ESN swap with another phone.
Discussed at length on Howard Forums:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1207377
--
Seth Goodman
| |
| catalpa 2007-09-21, 10:33 pm |
|
"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:46f3f73f$0$2716
5$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> Todd Allcock wrote:
>
> The only issue I have with PagePlus is that their is no Canadian roaming,
> not even at extra cost (which would be fine with me).
>
> Other than that, XS11E would be much better off on PagePlus.
>
> It's unclear what he thinks is objectionable in the PagePlus terms (there
> is no contract).
>
> Certainly the 120 day replenishment is better than most prepaid services
> (other then T-Mobile if you're Gold (1 year), or 7-11 SpeakOut (1 year)).
> The $30 cancellation is somewhat strange, all you do is not use the phone
> and it stops working on its own after 120 days or so, and they have no way
> of charging you $30.
>
> Maybe it's the 50¢/month fee, but that's lost in the noise due to their
> much lower rates than other prepaid services, especially with the $50/700
> minute card.
>
> Anyway, I have two PagePlus accounts for my kids and they've been great.
> The coverage is excellent because it's on Verizon, and they have coverage
> in all the places where there is no GSM coverage at all yet.
>
For big talkers some resellers have the Page Plus $80/1400 minute card (5.71
cents/minute), but the Page Plus website oddly stops at the $50/700 minute
card.
| |
|
| catalpa wrote:
> For big talkers some resellers have the Page Plus $80/1400 minute card (5.71
> cents/minute), but the Page Plus website oddly stops at the $50/700 minute
> card.
They had the $80 card there for a while but you couldn't add it to your
basket. Maybe they don't want to compete with their resellers.
I see the $80 card at
"http://www.prepaidonline.com/product_wireless.cfm?type_id=23".
When I think of how much it cost me the one time I went over my 300
minutes on Verizon, PagePlus looks a lot safer!
| |
| abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 2007-09-21, 10:33 pm |
|
I was reading info on this web site.
http://www.prepaidreviews.com/pageplus.html
Pageplus has the most ban for the money.
If one does not trust the unknown company, T-Mobil is the next to go, but I
worry about their GSM coverage.
Anyone knows where to get a cheap used Verizon cell phone with good reception
for voice? I care only voice calls.
On Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:56:14 -0700, SMS <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
=>catalpa wrote:
=>
=>> For big talkers some resellers have the Page Plus $80/1400 minute card (5.71
=>> cents/minute), but the Page Plus website oddly stops at the $50/700 minute
=>> card.
=>
=>They had the $80 card there for a while but you couldn't add it to your
=>basket. Maybe they don't want to compete with their resellers.
=>
=>I see the $80 card at
=>"http://www.prepaidonline.com/product_wireless.cfm?type_id=23".
=>
=>When I think of how much it cost me the one time I went over my 300
=>minutes on Verizon, PagePlus looks a lot safer!
| |
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| abcdefghijklmnopqrst
uvwxyz wrote:
> I was reading info on this web site.
> http://www.prepaidreviews.com/pageplus.html
> Pageplus has the most ban for the money.
> If one does not trust the unknown company, T-Mobil is the next to go, but I
> worry about their GSM coverage.
I have no T-Mobile coverage where I live, in a very urban part of
Silicon Valley. I even know why! The next neighborhood over has
successfully prevent a tower (first Cingular now T-Mobile) from being
approved in their neighborhood. T-Mobile has given up on that site. But
in general, all around the U.S., GSM coverage is inferior to CDMA coverage.
> Anyone knows where to get a cheap used Verizon cell phone with good reception
> for voice? I care only voice calls.
In my area it's craigslist or freecycle. You can also buy a new Verizon
prepaid phone and activate it on PagePlus.
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