Verizon not honoring 50% discount on mobile hotspot plans with BYOD

[greynolds]

Apologies for this being a long post…

I purchased a MOFI4500 mobile hotspot back in May and activated it on my Verizon account. To activate it, I went to the Verizon BYOD page, selected other, and put in the IMEI number for my device. It came back with a green result of "It looks like your device is compatible" along with the brand name and model of the device. It also presented me with a choice of mobile hotspot plans to choose from, including the options that are supposed to be 50% and can only be selected with phone on the account with the Do More Unlimited plan. I selected a plan, the order went through, and Verizon shipped the SIM card to me. After the SIM card arrived, the MOFI4500 activated just fine and has been working just fine all this time - so far so good.

However, when I checked my bill, I noticed I wasn't getting the expected 50% discount on the mobile hotspot plan. I contacted support numerous times and got all sorts of different answers. Among other things, they claimed that my device ID wasn't showing up in their system (it showed up on my end when I looked at the device through My Verizon), so I played ball and gave them the IMEI number. I went through several rounds of this and finally ran into an extremely rude rep last week. This prompted me to send an email to a member of the executive team last weekend explaining the problem and requesting they get me in touch with someone who can resolve the issue.

I received a call on Monday from someone who works in the executive office who initially seemed to be helpful. However, after doing some research, he called me back on Wednesday and said that my device shows up on their end as something other than a mobile hotspot (some sort of device that's intended for low data usage, such as for remote weather station reporting) AND that it should not even be allowed on their network. I asked the obvious question of why the BYOD page says my device is compatible, gives me a choice of mobile hotspot plans, AND even gives me the choices that are 50% off (and can only be selected if there's a phone on the account on the Do More plan). He couldn't give me an answer. I then asked if he could give me the brand name and model of at least one third party product that is certified for use on the mobile hotspot plans (I mentioned Peplink seemed likely as they claim to have a number of Verizon certified products). He told me there are no such devices. He said the best he could do is offer me a credit on my account that would represent a 50% discount on the mobile hotspot plan for the next 6 months. I declined as that would just leave me back where I am now 6 months from now. So I ended up cancelling the line for now and am exploring other options, including switching to AT&T or T-Mobile.

When I first activated the device, they had the Unlimited and Unlimited Plus options at the time; since then there are new choices and I had switched to the new 50GB plan option shortly after it was announced in late July, but with the same problem of not getting the 50% discount.

I'm pretty frustrated with Verizon here, to the point where I'm seriously considering switching carriers for my entire account (5 phones plus the hotspot) after I have fulfilled any current commitments. I feel like I did all the right things to activate a BYOD on my account by confirming that it's compatible with their network BEFORE activating the device on my account. Everything in the activation process I went through indicated to me that my device was allowed and should qualify for the 50% discount on the plan I selected. Since there was nothing to suggest otherwise, how am I supposed to know that my device allegedly isn't allowed, authorized, or approved when their own website says the device is compatible?

Has anyone had success with getting the expected 50% discount on the Verizon mobile hotspot plans that qualify for it with a BYOD mobile hotspot? Has anyone else run into the same problem as me?

Has anyone had any issues using MOFI or Peplink products with AT&T or T-Mobile (such as no connection because the device is blacklisted?)?

I'm willing to purchase a different device, but I don't want to sign up for another plan and/or spend another $300+ on another hotspot evice only to end up in the same situation again.

I need a mobile hotspot that can be hard wired into my vehicle, has at least 1 Ethernet port, and does not have a battery, which pretty much rules out the mobile hotspots that are offered by the major providers.

[Matt193]

I need a mobile hotspot that can be hard wired into my vehicle, has at least 1 Ethernet port, and does not have a battery, which pretty much rules out the mobile hotspots that are offered by the major providers.

I know this is kind of an old post but My AT&T Netgear Nighthawk M1/MR1100 can be hardwired, has a ethernet port, and you can remove the battery from the device and still have the device work fine.

[greynolds]

I know this is kind of an old post but My AT&T Netgear Nighthawk M1/MR1100 can be hardwired, has a ethernet port, and you can remove the battery from the device and still have the device work fine.

Thanks for the response.

To close the loop on this, I switched over to AT&T for the hotspot plan. My Mofi4500 has been working great with the AT&T service, but it's good to know that the Netgear options would most likely work for my application as well.

[CellularCowboy]

Apologies for this being a long post…

I purchased a MOFI4500 mobile hotspot back in May and activated it on my Verizon account. To activate it, I went to the Verizon BYOD page, selected other, and put in the IMEI number for my device. It came back with a green result of "It looks like your device is compatible" along with the brand name and model of the device. It also presented me with a choice of mobile hotspot plans to choose from, including the options that are supposed to be 50% and can only be selected with phone on the account with the Do More Unlimited plan. I selected a plan, the order went through, and Verizon shipped the SIM card to me. After the SIM card arrived, the MOFI4500 activated just fine and has been working just fine all this time - so far so good.

However, when I checked my bill, I noticed I wasn't getting the expected 50% discount on the mobile hotspot plan. I contacted support numerous times and got all sorts of different answers. Among other things, they claimed that my device ID wasn't showing up in their system (it showed up on my end when I looked at the device through My Verizon), so I played ball and gave them the IMEI number. I went through several rounds of this and finally ran into an extremely rude rep last week. This prompted me to send an email to a member of the executive team last weekend explaining the problem and requesting they get me in touch with someone who can resolve the issue.

I received a call on Monday from someone who works in the executive office who initially seemed to be helpful. However, after doing some research, he called me back on Wednesday and said that my device shows up on their end as something other than a mobile hotspot (some sort of device that's intended for low data usage, such as for remote weather station reporting) AND that it should not even be allowed on their network. I asked the obvious question of why the BYOD page says my device is compatible, gives me a choice of mobile hotspot plans, AND even gives me the choices that are 50% off (and can only be selected if there's a phone on the account on the Do More plan). He couldn't give me an answer. I then asked if he could give me the brand name and model of at least one third party product that is certified for use on the mobile hotspot plans (I mentioned Peplink seemed likely as they claim to have a number of Verizon certified products). He told me there are no such devices. He said the best he could do is offer me a credit on my account that would represent a 50% discount on the mobile hotspot plan for the next 6 months. I declined as that would just leave me back where I am now 6 months from now. So I ended up cancelling the line for now and am exploring other options, including switching to AT&T or T-Mobile.

When I first activated the device, they had the Unlimited and Unlimited Plus options at the time; since then there are new choices and I had switched to the new 50GB plan option shortly after it was announced in late July, but with the same problem of not getting the 50% discount.

I'm pretty frustrated with Verizon here, to the point where I'm seriously considering switching carriers for my entire account (5 phones plus the hotspot) after I have fulfilled any current commitments. I feel like I did all the right things to activate a BYOD on my account by confirming that it's compatible with their network BEFORE activating the device on my account. Everything in the activation process I went through indicated to me that my device was allowed and should qualify for the 50% discount on the plan I selected. Since there was nothing to suggest otherwise, how am I supposed to know that my device allegedly isn't allowed, authorized, or approved when their own website says the device is compatible?

Has anyone had success with getting the expected 50% discount on the Verizon mobile hotspot plans that qualify for it with a BYOD mobile hotspot? Has anyone else run into the same problem as me?

Has anyone had any issues using MOFI or Peplink products with AT&T or T-Mobile (such as no connection because the device is blacklisted?)?

I'm willing to purchase a different device, but I don't want to sign up for another plan and/or spend another $300+ on another hotspot evice only to end up in the same situation again.

I need a mobile hotspot that can be hard wired into my vehicle, has at least 1 Ethernet port, and does not have a battery, which pretty much rules out the mobile hotspots that are offered by the major providers.

Unless things have changed since I left last year, only the Essential and Plus plans get the 50% off with a Do More Or Get More plan. If you have a mobile hotspot plan with a higher data amount, it doesn't qualify. Other than that, the Mofi should have been deemed a hotspot. Weird

[greynolds]

Unless things have changed since I left last year, only the Essential and Plus plans get the 50% off with a Do More Or Get More plan. If you have a mobile hotspot plan with a higher data amount, it doesn't qualify. Other than that, the Mofi should have been deemed a hotspot. Weird

At the time, the plan I had qualified for the discount. The problem was that even though the Bring Your Own Device page gave the Mofi a thumbs up when I entered the IMEI number, their system ultimately refused to allow it once I got the SIM card. AT&T ended up getting my business for the mobile hotspot service.

[Serial Port]

Unless things have changed since I left last year, only the Essential and Plus plans get the 50% off with a Do More Or Get More plan. If you have a mobile hotspot plan with a higher data amount, it doesn't qualify. Other than that, the Mofi should have been deemed a hotspot. Weird

The OP posted the original thread in 2021, little late to the party. This thread is now closed. If anyone has further inquiries, please start a new thread instead of adding to old threads.