Verizon upping per-text rates
Verizon has recently told its subscribers to expect a healthy bump in their text messaging rates, going from 15 cents to 20 cents this March for domestic texts to match Sprint's numbers. The change only affects postpaid customers; prepaid dudes and gals soldier on at 2 to 10 cents per, depending on plan. Incoming international texts go up from 15 to 20 cents, too, though the outgoing rate remains unchanged at 25 cents. Whether that'll hold if some random patent holding firm wins bazillions from Big Red, well, that's another matter entirely.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 11:42AM
what an f-ing rip-off.
nerdtalker @ Jan 8th 2008 12:46PM
What's ironic is that SMSing a friend results in less network load than a phone call communicating the same message.
Thank god I have unlimited, because 20 cents is absurd.
Tony C @ Jan 8th 2008 11:46AM
Sooo... The question of the day is... Does this qualify as a golden parachute to get out of your Verizon Wireless contract without penalty...?
ShortFuse @ Jan 8th 2008 11:58AM
If you qualify for the change, it's worth a shot trying to get out. Get a Tilt, best business phone I've ever used. Or iPhone if that's your style.
byaah @ Jan 8th 2008 1:59PM
No. I tried last time, and it didn't work. =/
byaah @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM
Nevermind my last comment, apparently it does. I didn't see Dietcoke's post below.
Ian @ Jan 8th 2008 12:28PM
All the more reason to include a text message package in your Verizon Wireless monthly plan.
Kiwi616 @ Jan 8th 2008 1:45PM
This is just a push to get everyone (me at least) to increase there base rate $5-10 and pay the absurd taxes. I personally will disable text messaging completely before stooping to this level, then potentially make the move to a cheaper carrier.
Dietcoke @ Jan 8th 2008 1:51PM
I Just called and used the script from consumerist website. After 14 minutes I was disconnected without a termination fee.
I said it was unacceptable and I refuse to pay the rate increase. Also it states that in the customer agreement that I have 60 days to refuse and cancel my contract termination fee free. They really didn't argue and did as I asked.
Very happy.
M @ Jan 8th 2008 2:24PM
Dietcoke, I second spincasts suggestion, would you mind linking to the script from consumerist? thanks!
spincast @ Jan 8th 2008 2:05PM
Could you link to the Consumerist script please? That sounds useful.
M @ Jan 8th 2008 2:21PM
Engadget, thanks for posting this. I love being able to get important VZW news in one place.
matt @ Jan 8th 2008 4:32PM
Great I just cancelled my V contract 2 days ago for a cool $175. Ugh. Guess I can't say, "Oops, didn't mean to cancel, Big V," then cancel in a week?
M @ Jan 8th 2008 9:50PM
I think PSM meant to reply to you, but he replied to the post under yours:
"I left Verizon a few months ago and received a letter basically saying, "Are you sure you actually meant to leave? Maybe you left us for another carrier by accident. Pretty please come back to us, and we'll forgive the ETF." I was half tempted to write them back and tell them where to shove it, but in your case perhaps you'll get a similar letter and can rejoin, and then cancel again later. Might look pretty suspicious, though."
icarus @ Jan 8th 2008 7:17PM
of course everyone hates Verizon soooo much that there's no mention of Sprint doing the exact same thing with their text messaging.. typical
PSM @ Jan 8th 2008 7:53PM
I left Verizon a few months ago and received a letter basically saying, "Are you sure you actually meant to leave? Maybe you left us for another carrier by accident. Pretty please come back to us, and we'll forgive the ETF." I was half tempted to write them back and tell them where to shove it, but in your case perhaps you'll get a similar letter and can rejoin, and then cancel again later. Might look pretty suspicious, though.
M @ Jan 8th 2008 11:01PM
Thanks for posting that link!
Krad @ Jan 9th 2008 11:11AM
VZWguy is a moron... the link for the script is above in one of the comments.
I am a wireless network guy and there is only one real reason why people are forced to keep verizon...
" Everyone I know has verizon and the minutes are free from verizon to verizon... I already pay $400 a month for txt message for my kids blah blah "
Everyone hates verizon. They have horrible phones... horrible battery life... they cripple every new feature... and they are the most expensive.
I am glad to get rid of them.
VZWguy @ Jan 9th 2008 11:28AM
I love you guys haha
"verizon is such a rip off, this is absurd, i need out of my contract"
like EVERY company won't be following suit in the following months
as far as contracts go, unless you just complain a lot and they deam it not worth thier time, this is not a get out of jail free card. I loved it last time how people got out of sprint becaus eof text uppage, and they moved to verizon who upped it a few weeks later. expect the same to follow with this uppage as well.
you guys are great comedy gold(the posters) so much disinformation in these replies it is great haha
oh, and i searched verizon, and verizon script, and verizon customer service over at the consumerist and foudn no script...was it a comment by a poster by chance?
kofman @ Jan 9th 2008 1:21PM
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=712366
This is the script to cancel ETF free from verizon enjoy
Allison @ Jan 9th 2008 2:16PM
It does work. And VZWguy is correct. Think about it. It's a business. Every company is going to eventually follow suit, no matter whether it's Verizon, Sprint, or one of the other carriers that does it first. They're all about making money, while trying their hardest to make it seem like they're "looking out for the consumer." Just about every phone company is going to jump on board. And granted, they each have their benefits (i.e. Verizon has the best service where I live...sadly) but each one has equal or greater downfalls as well (i.e. I waited for over a year for a phone to come out on the Verizon network, that was released on other carriers long ago). All in all, the "get outta jail free card" brought up by the upcoming hike in txt rates, will only land you in another institution.