Verizon Wireless Defends Fee-$350 Charge for Breaking Cellphone Contract Is Justifiable

[The Straight Story]

Verizon Wireless Defends Fee
Company Says $350 Charge for Breaking Cellphone Contract Is Justifiable

WASHINGTON—Verizon Wireless said a new $350 fee that it charges some subscribers to break cell-phone contracts is necessary to cover its higher costs and the "risks" of offering high-speed wireless Internet service.

The wireless giant offered up a defense of its new fee—double the fee charged to other subscribers—in response to an inquiry by the Federal Communications Commission.

The fee applies to smart phones, including some BlackBerry models and the new Motorola Droid phone.

"The higher (early termination fee) associated with Advanced Devices reflects the higher costs associated with offering those devices to consumers at attractive prices, the costs and risks of investing in the broadband network to support these devices, and other costs and risks," Verizon wrote in a letter Friday to the FCC.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703523504574604403213404482.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

[yourout]

1. Dropped Verizon a couple of years ago and have never been happier.

[The Straight Story]

3. I feel bad because I worked for them for 6 months this year

And yeah, they know how to screw people over....

[customerserviceguy]

5. Ditto

I've been with T-Mobile, and I recently upgraded to a smartphone. Works great, good network, as far as I'm concerned, Verizon can wither and die.

[fl_dem]

2. the only reason I have verizon

is becuase they bought out Altell, who I was perfectly happy with. I've already had unresolved issues and contemplated breaking my contract. I think I can make it to Aug.

[Kali]

4. me too

although we had them a long time ago - even before they were verizon, but it was a jury rigged account and we weren't actually even in their area at the time. Switched to Alltel and was pretty satisfied. Now in less than two months there have been several "issues" - not especially happy with them.

[customerserviceguy]

6. Make DAMNED good and sure that you're out

I quit Verizon on my last day, they still took a termination fee out of my bank account (stupid of me to let them take the bill payments out of a bank account). Even though they acknowledged that they should have done this, it took THREE bill cycles to pass before they got me a refund of the money.

They can fuck off and die.

[pipoman]

7. A bit off topic

but I find it reprehensible and think the FCC should somehow limit phones that are not water resistant. I find it unbelievable that a $300-500 phone cant be water tight enough to survive a drop in the commode or a little rain. I think they are intentionally made to die with water damage.

[unhappycamper]

8. I have never been a fan of Ivan Siedenberg.

I retired from Verizon in 2002.