can VZW legally stop allowing unlimited plans for EVERYBODY in a couple of years?

[nerdydesi]

Likely when the "5G" phones come out, they will say our legacy unlimited plans are just not compatible with those new phones and we would have to move onto the newer, tiered plans. Just as when VZW got the iPhone, they did not let some legacy plans migrate on over to it.

[ShortSxit]

This is 100% false. The VZW contract includes monthly recurring features.

They can, of course, end it at any time during contract, but they have to let the customer out ETF free.

Data isn't a recurring feature unless it's built into the plan (i.e. unlimited text or the old data+voice plans). If data plans were part of the contract, users wouldn't be able to drop the feature without penalty.

[newyork4me]

Data isn't a recurring feature unless it's built into the plan (i.e. unlimited text or the old data+voice plans). If data plans were part of the contract, users wouldn't be able to drop the feature without penalty.

Let's start a cool new trend on HoFo: stopping the spread of "100% false" information.

My Service
Your Service terms and conditions are part of this agreement. Your Plan includes your monthly allowances and features, where you can use them (your "Coverage Area"), and their monthly and pay–per–use charges. You can also subscribe to several Optional Services, like text messaging packages. Together, your Plan and any Optional Services you select are your Service. The terms and conditions for your Service can be found in the brochures that are available when you activate, or online at verizonwireless.com

Can Verizon Wireless Change This Agreement or My Service?
We may change prices or any other term of your Service or this agreement at any time,but we'll provide notice first, including written notice if you have Postpay Service. If you use your Service after the change takes effect, that means you're accepting the change. If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee if we fail to negate the change after you notify us of your objection to it.

You were saying?

[TC_Mits]

can VZW legally stop allowing unlimited plans for EVERYBODY in a couple of years?
(including those who have grandfathered unlimited, as soon as their contracts ends,
even if they buy full-price phones)

What vzw can do legally and what it may do practically are not exactly the same. Both customer reaction and public opinion also matter to some -- limited -- extent.

The idea is to reduce the number of people who would be affected if unlimited data was just yanked. Right now its primary tactic is attrition: just shake the tree and see how many fall off easily. If the numbers shrink dramatically, it will be possible to terminate unlimited service with far less backlash.

If *you* have GF unlimited then it matters to you what other people in that situation do.

To oversimplify: Can it just end unlimited arbitrarily on a whim? Absolutely! Will it do that? The more unlimited data plan users remain, the less likely that is.

I share Walt's vision:

...
Now, my speculation, is that Verizon will not allow the unlimited data plans to move onto the next network, be it 4+G or 5G or LTE-2 or whatever. You can stick with your unlimited data plan, but you'll be left behind as everyone else moves onto the next latest and greatest. Eventually, those people clinging onto their unlimited plans, will steadily drop in numbers such that Verizon will not care much about them anymore.

Perspective instantiates reality.
[From DX by HoFo app.]

[mpossoff]

This is 100% false. The VZW contract includes monthly recurring features.

They can, of course, end it at any time during contract, but they have to let the customer out ETF free.

I think the topic is more about when you renew your contract. As long as you're under contract I agree but what about when it's time to upgrade etc?

[Butthead007]

Features can usually be added or removed at your leisure except where they're required up front (e.g., a smartphone data plan). To say the data plan is part of the contract is silly. Go buy an iPhone, activate it, then remove it and activate a Samsung gusto. Are you still paying $30 for the data plan? No. You can change your service at any time.
Believe me, if there was a legal contractual lock in for a data plan, we'd never hear the end of it when someone removes a smartphone and goes to a basic phone how theyre being raked over the coals by verizon. If you're in contract, they will not remove unless you violate tos. Outside of contract, anything goes. It's bad pr. When sprint moved to tiered data for mobile broadband, nobody got grandfathered in, including those under contract.

I'd conskidlner this matter asked and answered. And yes, I have seen people lose unlimited plans in contract for tos violations.

[PhoneObsessive]

If I have a smart phone and the cost of using it goes up from one month to the next for exactly the same level of use (ie 30GB data before they take away unlimited to 30GB of data after they take away unlimited) there is no way they can stop you from getting out of the contract without etf. It has a material impact on me. Alternatively, they cannot raise the price of the data package to $3,000 per month and require you to pay it on a smart phone without letting you out of contract for that smart phone.

You can argue about what is included and what is not all you like but if I am under contract and they make changes that materially affect me, then the contract is over. A phone contract cannot be read to allow a company to drain any more money from your bank account than what you agree to at the time it is signed.

[jamesstarks15]

Here's the customer agreement that we have all accepted one way or another.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...omer-agreement

[jamesstarks15]

"Your Service terms and conditions are part of this agreement. Your Plan includes your monthly allowances and features, where you can use them (your "Coverage Area"), and their monthly and pay–per–use charges. You can also subscribe to several Optional Services, like text messaging packages. Together, your Plan and any Optional Services you select are your Service. The terms and conditions for your Service can be found in the brochures that are available when you activate, or online at verizonwireless.com"


"We may change prices or any other term of your Service or this agreement at any time,but we'll provide notice first, including written notice if you have Postpay Service. If you use your Service after the change takes effect, that means you're accepting the change. If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee if we fail to negate the change after you notify us of your objection to it."

So basically they can change someone's unlimited data feature with written notice, hope they don't notice or say anything for 60 days, and move right along. Even if people do call in about it, they can just put unl data right back on the line and you cannot cancel. If they take it away completely during contract, you have the right to cancel. Keep in mind it says the "plan" includes monthly allowances and features.

[johnhere]

One thing I do know is there is never a sure thing when it comes to wireless. Things can change at the drop of a hat.

[ROLLTIDE]

I wouldn't be shocked if unlimited data was removed from all accounts in August

[veriztd]

I wouldn't be shocked if unlimited data was removed from all accounts in August

I seriously doubt that will happen anyhow.

[Sam73065]

I wouldn't be shocked if unlimited data was removed from all accounts in August

Since something like 3/4 of current data customers have unlimited data, I seriously doubt Verizon would take that risk. It would lead to tremendous dissatisfaction and probably lead to a very high defection rate as topping on the cake. If they removed my unlimited data in August, I'd thank them and move my account ETF free to another provider. I would be grateful for the opportunity to leave and have been given the perfect reason to never do business with Verizon again. Anyway, your comment is slightly shortsighted and doesn't make a lot of sense, although I do understand how you could have thoughts along that path. But Verizon just doesn't have to weather that storm and their ship isn't sinking, rather it's soaring, so there's no reason in the world for them to take such a drastic and even stupid action. It would destroy their customer goodwill.

[taoman54]

I wouldn't be shocked if unlimited data was removed from all accounts in August

Highly unlikely since this is on the VZW homepage (after clicking on Learn More button). It would be a PR nightmare.

You're not required to move to Share Everything but if you do, unlimited data will not be retained on your line. As a Verizon Wireless customer you have choices when you upgrade at discounted pricing. You can choose from a standalone data package starting at $30 for 2GB or a Share Everything Plan. If keeping unlimited is important to you, you can choose to upgrade and pay full retail price for the phone.

[newyork4me]

I think the topic is more about when you renew your contract. As long as you're under contract I agree but what about when it's time to upgrade etc?

I know, and they certainly can remove at end of contract. However, people keep bringing up mid-contract and what is part of that as well.

Features can usually be added or removed at your leisure except where they're required up front (e.g., a smartphone data plan). To say the data plan is part of the contract is silly. Go buy an iPhone, activate it, then remove it and activate a Samsung gusto. Are you still paying $30 for the data plan? No. You can change your service at any time.
Believe me, if there was a legal contractual lock in for a data plan, we'd never hear the end of it when someone removes a smartphone and goes to a basic phone how theyre being raked over the coals by verizon. If you're in contract, they will not remove unless you violate tos. Outside of contract, anything goes. It's bad pr. When sprint moved to tiered data for mobile broadband, nobody got grandfathered in, including those under contract.

I'd conskidlner this matter asked and answered. And yes, I have seen people lose unlimited plans in contract for tos violations.

Oh my gosh. This is still flatly wrong. I quoted and emphasized the relevant parts of the contract just a few post before this. Your data, texting, and other optional services are all part of your Service which Verizon cannot change mid-contract without waving the ETF fee. Just because Verizon allows the end user to alter those features without violating the contract does NOT mean the contract isn't enforceable the other direction.