Help Please! What plans are available to legacy Alltel customers?

[Grammom]

I have spoken to more than a dozen reps and supervisors in this 5 week battle and am getting frazzled! I have the Family National Freedom Plan -900 minutes shared on 5 lines - for $59.99 + $9.99 for each additional line. I had the Connect 3 Pack with unlimited text and data for $19.99 on my grandson's LG Scoop. His phone broke so I called Verizon to see what phones would work with the same unlimited text and data feature. I was told by xxxxx in Greenville, SC that any Alltel smartphone would work.

I bought an Alltel Motorola on ebay that same night and activated it upon receipt. Days later, my grandson received a message from Verizon so I called Verizon again to learn the details. I was told the phone is not compatible with the Connect 3 feature and was given some credit for misinformation and a few weeks to make another change.

Back on the phone to Verizon, I was told by by xxxxx that I cannot use the Connect 3 plan for Alltel smart phones. But, she said, I could use any Alltel smart phone for the same $19.99 with unlimited text and data using the Access Plan, even a Blackberry, without losing any of the features of Connect 3. I told her I was using a Verizon Blackberry 8330 and paying $29.99 and $5 for limited texting and we agreed that getting an Alltel Balckberry would save me $15/month.

Back to ebay for 2 Alltel Blackberry 8330s, activated them upon receipt, only to learn about two weeks later (Christmas Eve) that Verizon added $45 to each line in addition to the $19.99! So...that INCREASED my bill instead of decreasing it! Got some credits, again for the misinformation, but only for the last billing cycle - not the current one.

Adding to my bewilderment is the fact that "the system" "dropped" the Connect 3 feature from my grandson's line when I first activated the Motorola and I have been told by the countless reps "truly sorry but there isn't anything we can do". (I find this terribly unfair since I was given incorrect information and acting on it caused the "drop".)

I have been offered a number of alternative plans but have 1,850 non-expiring bonus minutes which I do not want to lose by changing plans. Verizon reps just don't want to hear it - it's like they are mechanically programmed to, as one rep admitted, "weed out" the Alltel plans since Verizon cannot compete with them.

My questions: Do I have rights here? What can or can't a legacy Alltel customer do in this situation? I am contemplating small claims court...opinions?

[WaltA]

I went thru something that parallels your story. I got some misinformation from CS reps, and made some bad purchases because of it. And like you, I lost a service type that is no longer offered and therefore cannot be added back (it isn't even offered on the CS rep's screen). Eventually got a $100 credit toward any VZW phone (used it when I bought my TouchPro).

However, I have to be blunt and say that Alltel is dead. Gone. And any reasonable transitional period is long over. True you are "grandfathered" but that is only really true as long as you make no changes, including switching to new phones with different requirements. In other words, your really only option for the broken LG Scoop, was another Scoop (not a Motorola or Blackberry).

Changing phones, changes features, and start to change features, and you are no longer "grandfathered".

Plus, I have found that if you go out on your own, and buy a phone off of eBay (or anywhere else for that matter), you are really on your own. Don't expect VZW to support your choice.

Yea, sorry, I know this isn't what you wanted to read. But I think an alternative perspective needed to bought out.

[Grammom]

Thank you, Walt, for your thoughts. Can you tell me more about the grandfathering of Alltel customers? Is it published anywhere how Alltel customers were to fare in the merger?

[sealark]

I don't agree with the part about phones. I have the very same plan from Alltel 900 min. with only 2 lines. I haven't changed anything on the plan since the merger and only use the two phones as a phone only. I have updated and renewed my contract on both lines and gotten 2 Verizon Barrage phones with the renew. However I want a Droid and have been told that I can renew early but MUST change to a higher priced contract of Verizon which costs about 20 dollars more a month plus the Data And I will loose two of my friends and family numbers. I have been with them for over 10 years. I know quit crying and bite the bullet, Yes that is what I will do when I make the change unless someone knows something I could do!!

[gbynum]

I empathize. I have the same plan, 2 lines, both non-contract. I have Connect Pack 1 on a Touch (WinMo smartphone). That was technically not supposed to have been, but Alltel systems allowed it. They really didn't have any scheme to recover costs on contract phones except their Smart plans ... nor does Verizon. So purchasing from eBay (as I did) and getting (unlimited) data for 9.99 was just accepted as a realistic and fair option. The Connect Packs were intended for phones that did not have full browsers.

The Verizon phone issue is slightly different. I had a Razr V3a for my wife. It showed being eligible for Connect Pack 1 or 3. I bought a Samsung Intensity for her about 3 weeks ago ... some interest in text, no data ... and added the $4.99 for 200 messages text plan. Those have both disappeared as options, confirmed as of today ... 250 for $5.00, no Connect Packs as my selections. I still show Connect Pack 1 selected, and 200 messages optional on MY line. ... don't know what would happen if I selected the text. I never use text ...

What I'm 99.44% sure ... really 99.999% sure ... is that I cannot, by any method, put a smartphone of any form, from whatever source, even an identical replacement, on my line. I'm about 60% confident that I could put a feature phone on ... but don't know why I would.

[budone]

Heck I updated 13 months into my Alltel contract to an Incredible and was allowed to use my NE2, so yes you can keep your plan. Have you tried online???

[CellKrazeDude]

Try and see if you can get on that promotional plan Verizon has going on. I know a lot of Alltel customers who have gotten it.

[Downtown]

Your Alltel Motorola should keep the same plan and features as your Alltel Scoop. No need for a feature change with that esn change, although in cases I recall the feature code had to change change. There is still a version of Connect Pack 3 available for Alltel phones on Alltel plans and for VZW phones on Alltel plans. You should be able to keep your National Freedom 900 family plan, although if you are on an older plan code, that may need to be updated to the latest plan code (same deal, different code, it's complicated, lol)

The Alltel Blackberrys have never worked on CP3, to my knowledge. Nothing you can do about that. However, you got put on the wrong BB plan. Should be on the $29.99 BB plan plus texting. Once in a while an Alltel PDA seems to sneak through and not have a PDA plan, not sure why or even how to duplicate it. When we have tried it has not let us do it.

The problem here is two-fold.
1. Some reps simply do not understand the Alltel plans/features and the transitional processes. In all honesty it is rather complex even for those of us who do it for a living.
2. Reps seem to be incentivized (particularly at upgrade time)to take the preferable Alltel plans away from the consumers. This encourages shall we say, intentional misinformation.

As far as the comment that the transition time "is long since over" - that is in some way true, but in another way flat out ridiculous. The last market to transition was the Midwest in October 2009. As most people are under 2 year contract, the last people to complete their Alltel service agreements will not do so for another 10 months. Those signing up under an Alltel service agreement have every right to expect that, within reason, things will remain pretty much the same for the duration of the contract even with an esn change along the way.

Sometimes you have to call more than once to get the right person to fix things.

[Downtown]

I don't agree with the part about phones. I have the very same plan from Alltel 900 min. with only 2 lines. I haven't changed anything on the plan since the merger and only use the two phones as a phone only. I have updated and renewed my contract on both lines and gotten 2 Verizon Barrage phones with the renew. However I want a Droid and have been told that I can renew early but MUST change to a higher priced contract of Verizon which costs about 20 dollars more a month plus the Data And I will loose two of my friends and family numbers. I have been with them for over 10 years. I know quit crying and bite the bullet, Yes that is what I will do when I make the change unless someone knows something I could do!!

Transition Class 101 - Lesson One.
1. "You do not have to change plans when you do an upgrade."
2 "When you have an VZW phone you can use it on a VZW or Alltel plan. Alltel phone must be on Alltel plan."
3. "Alltel phone use Alltel features. VZW phones use VZW features."

How many reps these days would fail a test on this elementary information, especially #1?

BTW, in this thread the info from Walt contains key inaccuracies and the info from budone and gybnum is spot on.

[_KC_]

You mixed your #2 up.

[JL]

You mixed your #2 up.

yes he did, atleast the last part

[phlack]

I am on the 1000 minutes Alltel plan with 1000 texts/line, and two lines with 11 My Circle numbers. I don't recall how much that base plan costs, but it's whatever it was under Alltel.

I recently used NE2 to upgrade both lines to HTC Incredibles. Had to buy the $29.99 unlimited data plan of course. But my plan didn't change otherwise. Just got more expensive thanks to the data plan on both lines. It was no problem to do that.

-Mike

[Grammom]

I appreciate the input thusfar.

To Downtown:
You say that "Your Alltel Motorola should keep the same plan and features as your Alltel Scoop. No need for a feature change with that esn change" and that was what I was led to believe at the beginning of this fiasco. My grandson's line, with the LG Scoop, had CP3 with unlimited texting and data and the bills clearly reveal that he was using a good bit of data (you know these kids and Facebook!). Prior to my Blackberry I, too, had the CP3 with a smartphone, the Palm Treo - again with unlimited texting and data.

What is it that you know that they do not? Why would the system drop the CP3 and start charging $39.99 for data and $19.99 for text when I activated the Motorola? In addition to the rep's error, was there a "system" error as well?

I know they pulled my case for a training class, evidently becasue so few understand what Alltel plan holders are entitled to have but that does not help me get back the $19.99 unlimited plan we lost due to misinformation received.

Turns out that the recording with XXXX in Greenville, SC was pulled and it was clear that I was told I can get an Alltel smartphone and get the CP3 $19.99 unlimited text and data...I got an apology...not enough...

Ideas?

[Grammom]

Big Question:
If a Verizon representatives give a customer information which the customer then acts upon, is the customer supposed to just accept that the rep was in error and pay the extra $80/month? That is what I am being told -that is - if I do not choose to accept the more costly alternatives I have been offered.

[quint101]

Wow...

I can only speak for prepaid services. But as far as I can tell, my features stayed the same when I went from an LG AX4270 to an LG Accolade. Even my roaming rate is stuck at $0.59/min LOL. On the OLAM, I am able to choose between Alltel and Verizon plans; I decided to stick with the Alltel plan out of fear of losing it if I moved to the VZ plans. Just for kicks, I tried to activate a LG enV Touch and I was prompted to select a monthly plan plus data (since data is required for this phone). I know one other person with an Alltel prepaid plan w/ an Samsung SCH A645. Only thing I can suggest is run away from the store if you're not willing to move to Verizon features/plans.

I know a few ex-Alltel contract users who transitioned to Verizon devices and kept their Alltel plans; if one went from Alltel plain phoines to Verizon plain devices, there weren't any issues.