You May Get Out of Verizon Wireless Contract without ETF - check June/July 09 Bill

In my June's Verizon Wireless Bill, they stated that they are increases Administrative Charge. Also, they are increases VA Gross Receipts Surcharge for Virginia Customers. Check your June or July bill for upcoming price increases.

In their original contract term, they stated that if changes have materially adverse effect on you, you can cancel the contract without ETF. (See Original FW Thread Here back in 2008)

From the Original Thread:
So basically you just have to call up and say that these changes have a material adverse effect on you and you would like to leave without an early termination fee.

After 40 minutes of back and forth with a CSR I was able to get the ETF reversed. You just need to stick to your story and say that the definition of material adverse effect is not stated in the contract. The customer therefore has the right to decide what would have a material adverse effect on him or herself.

Note they first offered to cut my ETF in half. I told them that wouldn't be acceptable. The CSR said that is the best they can do and then asked how would I like to proceed. I said it seems like the next step is arbitration according to your contract. She said, well I could provide you the information on how to go that route but let me talk to my supervisor first. After about 10 minutes on hold they agreed to waive all ETF fees.

For those who needs script, Click Here

Smart folks only sign a 1 year deal at a time, so we get a new phone under warranty every year and no need to break contracts. Helps that we get 19% off the bill and some nice discounts on the phones via a corporat discount.

Dennis

Do they have these changes posted online as well?

LvBrknHrt said: any confirmations on this? what would i need to say to Verizon? I have 4 lines with them.

Here is the script about what you need to say. This was created when there was price increase in text messages.
Click Here

Two things to remember. You need to prove that this increase has material adverse effect on you. You can prove this easily in this downturn of economy, you can't afford any price increase (not even 1 cent). Further, tell them increase in terms of percentage not in cents. They increased both prices by more than 10% which is material.

aacharya said: patel99 said: In my June's Verizon Wireless Bill, they stated that they are increases Administrative Charge. Also, they are increases VA Gross Receipts Surcharge for Virginia Customers. Check your June or July bill for upcoming price increases.

OP, you should not fool people concerning the VA surcharge. That has nothing to do with raising fees. [/L]

Aacharya,
You should read the whole section of Virgina Customers in attached picture. They are increases the VA Gross Receipt Surcharge. It is true that it has nothing to do with Administrative Charge Increase. But, they specifically said in the paragraph that VA surcharge is charge by Verizon. It is not a tax and it is subject to change by Verizon.
Peace.

jelifah said: Even if you don't reside in Virginia is the Administrative Charge change, from .85 to .92, enough?

Also, does it help to leverage past increases during the contract period? Something akin to the fact that 'Since I've joined you have increased the rates to +$x and this last one, although minor, is the straw that broke the camels back?' Yes, this would probably help you out even more.

owenscott said: On the script page it says you cannot port a number hat has been canceled. Well, i dunno if you can or not .. better ask somebody smarter than me.Correct, the number must be active to port.

Attention Arizona Customers Effective July 1, 2009, certain localities will increase their transaction privilege tax rates. These increases will directly affect the surcharges on your bill that we use to recover the cost of these taxes. These surcharges appear in the "Verizon Wireless' Surcharges" section of your bill labeled "CITY TRAN PRIV SUR ON TEL" or "CNTY TRAN PRIV SUR ON TEL". These surcharges are Verizon Wireless charges, not taxes, and are subject to change. Please refer to your Customer Agreement for information about changes.

This was on my May bill - is this another flag for Arizona customers? I am hoping to use this to get out of the ETF...

I am switching to AT&T for the iphone on Friday. Should I have AT&T port the numbers and then call that evening to Verizon to cancel for the above reason?

Thanks.

Hi Patel99,

Does this mean that Verizon lost the Class Action Law Suite against them, which was based on ETF? If so, I am going to be receiving big part of the ETF that I had paid back in the day (I had submitted my claim through the law firm that is representing the consumers like myself).

Thanks.

Jaydeep

Patel99,

Did you get out of your contract alone by arguing that the monthly admin charge increase from .85 -> .92 had a adverse effect?

That was the easiest thing I ever did! I pre-ordered the iPhone last week, and it's supposed to come Friday. I've been a Verizon user for 10 years now (they were bell atlantic mobile at the time I first signed up)....I called, followed the simple script, and the CSR I spoke to was great. He put me on hold for 5 minutes (at most), and came back and said I will be free and clear as of July 5 (my billing cycle ends July 4). No $175 fee!!! THANK YOU!

I thanked him for being so cool, it could have gone one of two directions, he was easy, no need to argue, complain, threaten to speak to a supervisor, etc..

I've suffered from iPhone-envy for a few years now!!!

Hmmm... as of my July bill I will no longer be an Alltel customer, and will become a Verizon customer. I'll have to see if I find any price changes on my bill due to the change. If I do, I'll have to see if I can get the heck out of my contract that ends in September.

Verizon customer service is awful! My contract actually ended yesterday and I wanted to port my phone out to a different carrier. I first called to confirm my contract end date and they said yes you are out of contract, but be warned that you are still in the middle of a billing cycle. If I ported out right in the middle of billing cycle, they wanted to charge me for a half month's service on a family plan even though I would have no phone numbers with them anymore. It did not matter that I would have legally ported my 2 numbers over to a different carrier after the termination date of my contract. They wanted to charge me for 2 lines of service where they will no longer own the phone #s for a total cost to me of $50. When I complained, they kept saying tough....including a supervisor who kept quoting obscure definition in customer agreement. One person even hung up the phone on me. Then, fed up, I finally pulled up the customer agreement from the website (which isn't even the same one from the date the contract was signed 2 years ago) and I read the legal wording that they were trying to twist into additional money from the port date to the end of billing cycle date.

I'm curious to hear fatwalleter opinion to see if you agree with me. Verizon is claiming the line highlighted below that says 'remain responsible for ETF...fees & charges, through the end of that billing cycle' supports their beef that I need to pay from port date until end of billing cycle even though I am out of contract. I disagree and pointed out that their definition and treatment of porting is the exact same as that of a termination; this is supported by their statement: :If you request your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of porting". That is, the customer agreement itself states that they will treat a port as the SAME as a termination. How is a termination treated when customer is out of contract? Well the first line of the customer agreement below states that customer won't be responsible for any remaining part of monthly billing cycle. In short, it's the last line in the block below from the customer agreement that verizon is trying to twist into extra fees/charges/revenue from port date to end of billing cycle; 'you'll remain responsible for any ETF, and for all fees and charges through end of billing cycle....'. However, I point out to them again the last part of the last sentence: "....JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TERMINATION". So, in two spots in the customer agreement, they have emphasized that a PORT is treated just like any OTHER TERMINATION. Yet they refuse to pro-rate any credit back from the date of port until the end of billing cycle which is a half-month of a family plan for me. Can you believe that??????? I was so upset...we'd been a great customer for 2 years always paying on time, and rarely ever using more than 250 minutes out of 700 in a family plan. After 2 years of being stuck in this brutal contract, we finally wanted to get out and they want to stick it to us on the way out. They even hung up the phone on me!!!!

Fatwalleters, what do you think????

verizon customer agreement said: If you terminate your service as of the end of your minimum term, you won't be responsible for any remaining part of your monthly billing cycle. Otherwise, all terminations by you during a monthly billing cycle become effective on the last day of that billing cycle. You'll remain responsible for all fees and charges incurred until then and won't be entitled to any partial–month credits or refunds. You may be able to take, or "port," your current wireless phone number to another service provider. If you request your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of porting. After the porting is completed, you won't be able to use our service for that number. You'll remain responsible for any Early Termination Fee, and for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other termination.Q]

$220 of ETF credited!

Thanks OP!

My husband is about to call & try. We have been dying to switch to AT&T for iPhones. Will report back. lol

My friend also able to cancel contract on his 4 lines. It took only 10-15 minutes to Cancel.

I live about 80 miles north of NY and commute everyday in Metro North. I currently have iPhone with ATT and I never experienced drop calls or any other signal problems. Verizon might have good signal than ATT in other parts of the country; but I am happy with it.

Everything else is same in terms of price. I know lot of people complaint about data plan charges. ATT charges $30 for unlimited data same charged by Verizon.

Here is the comparison:

ATT
450 minute plan - $39.99 (22% FAN Discount, price dropped to $31.19)
Data plan - $30.00 (22% FAN Discount, price dropped to $23.40)
Add U200 feature code (Minute goes up from 450 to 650)
Plus you get rollover minutes.
Total cost - $54.49 for 650 minutes + rollover

Verizon
450 minute plan - $39.99 (22% Discount, price dropped to $31.19)
Data plan - $30.00 (You don't get discount on data plan)
No bonus minutes
No rollover minutes.
Total cost - $61.19 for 450 minutes

I suggest ATT if you live in Metro area in terms of price - otherwise Verizon is also good.

Sure i could get out if i want but i have a decent plan with free Verizon 2 Verizon because just about everybody else has it around me. Now if the IPHONES open up to any network i will be getting one of those.

kdanderson said: My bill gets posted on the 25th of each month, so I'm still a few days away from receiving my notice. I am, however, preparing myself for "battle". I have a feeling they'll try to put up a fight rather than letting me out easily. That said, I have a quick question:
If I call them to invoke this clause in the contract and they agree, obviously I need to leave the account open and just have it notated to waive ETF since I plan on porting the number. Am I able to leave that account open for a few days while I look for and subscribe to another provider, or will they expect me to port out right away since they are relieving me of my contract?

kdanderson,

My monthly cycle starts on 6th of every month. I called them on 9th June. They can not close the account immediately. I did request to close early, but they told me that it is not possible and suggested me that you need to wait until month ends which is 6th July. They told me that my lines will be active until July 6, and if I want to keep phone numbers, I need to port it before 6th July.

So, If you get your notice in the bill, I suggest that you wait for 3-5 days before you call them. That way you get whole month to port your number. The downside is that you have to pay Verizon for that extra month. I suggest that you sign up for other carrier around 20th of July, until then use Verizon phones.

I THINK IT IS 60 DAYS FROM THE RECEIPT OF YOUR BILL - CHECK YOUR CONTRACT - "YOUR RIGHTS" SECTION.

Verizon has been scamming me for years, I really want the iPhone and I would love to get out of my contract without paying $175 (although I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to charge me $350). I obviously missed the 60-day window and the only monetary change made fell under Taxes, Governmental Surcharges & Fees. HOWEVER, I have NEVER receieved a letter from Verizon informing me of monetary changes that would affect my bill, although I'm not sure how to prove that. Any ideas on how to get out of my contract with these fools?