Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

bournemouth

Sep 6, 2005, 2:46 PM

Post #1 of 6 (5909 views)

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Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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Should anyone be thinking of transferring to the Verizon North American plan for a trip to Mexico, please think twice. We just spent 10 weeks in Mexico and transferred on to the plan as we left the US - we are Verizon customers. On our return yesterday, in the accumulated mail was a letter from Verizon informing me that I had taken up a promotional offer and am now bound to a new 2 year contract, having previously been a month to month customer. I have called and protested that I did not receive the letter and thus could not opt out of the "contract" and was informed that no matter, the mere fact that I used the service implied my acceptance. The battle has only just begun but unless you want to be a Verizon customer for life, then forget about using their plan. Better that you find a more consumer friendly wireless company, if there is such an animal. And if you find one, then please let us know.

sfmacaws

Sep 6, 2005, 7:06 PM

Post #2 of 6 (5885 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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Ouch! Sorry you were surprised by this. It's true though, that ANY time you change your plan you start your contract over again. Doesn't bother me as I will probably be with Verizon for life so I swap plans twice a year. The endless contract! Actually you can get out of it but you have to pay. I paid recently to get Mimi out of a Cingular contract that she does not remember agreeing to. It was when they bought ATT and switched her plan. It was expensive but we didn't want to pay for non-existant phone service anymore. I don't think you can win with the cell companies, they are as bad to deal with as insurance companies.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

johanson / Moderator

Sep 6, 2005, 8:33 PM

Post #3 of 6 (5877 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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I was on the phone today for 40 minutes talking to the folks at Verizon trying to learn about their wireless internet service which apparently gives coverage to 1/3 of the US population.

Once finish, I discussed what I had read here on the forum about the North America Plan. What the guy told me was that when one signs up for a plan, it usually includes a cell phone and that the cell phone is often discounted to way below cost, and that the remainder of the cost is amortized over the 12 or 24 month contract. He further stated that one can convert the plan once one gets back to the states, but that what ever is done, one has to pay for the cost of the phone that was sold at a discount.

What he said made sense. Often I have seen a certain model of a cell phone for sale offered by the carriers. The price always seems to be much lower than what I would be charged if I were just to buy that phone and bring it back with me to Mexico to be used with my TelCel account.

I have a friend who lives in Ajijic, but goes back to Florida quite often and loves the Verizon North America Plan. Most of the people who phone him on this line are from the US. He plans to use it for at least the year contract that he has. I know others who have lived in Mexico for years who have no use for this plan. WHY? Because most of the folks who would be calling them are in Mexico and if these Mexican residents wished to phone their friend on his Verizon cell phone, even though they might be 100 meters from each other, one would have to dial a US phone number, and it would be an expensive long distance call from Mexico.

sfmacaws

Sep 6, 2005, 9:17 PM

Post #4 of 6 (5873 views)

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Re: [johanson] Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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You're right that it isn't any good for people in Mexico calling you, you need a local cell phone for that. It is great though for all other calls, inbound from the US and outbound to the US or to Mexico or Canada. I was very pleased with it last year, I switched back to the America's Choice plan when we got back in the US as that plan gives you unlimited nights and weekends. I use the cell phone for high speed internet fairly often when we are up here. I'll switch back to the NA plan this October and our nights and weekends will go down to 1000. Since I can't use it for data from Mexico, that isn't really a problem there. It is the cheapest way to call long distance within Mexico as well, there's no difference between calling GDL and calling San Francisco, it all comes out of your minutes without any additional charge.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

bournemouth

Sep 7, 2005, 6:53 AM

Post #5 of 6 (5856 views)

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Re: [johanson] Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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The end of my personal saga is that, finally, last night I was called back by a manager (or so he said) who said that the "promotion" I was given and that brought about the 2 year contract, was the 1000 free night and weekend minutes. I had no interest in those anyway - the 450 minutes a month in the plan was more than enough - and as it was not explained to me and, I think, because I had said when I called originally to switch plans that I would not accept any contract, they have reinstated me on the month to month relationship that I was on before. I am using the Star TAC phone that I have had for years (and bought used at an estate sale) so no new phone was involved. Frankly, you can't extend a contract that doesn't exist. Unless people have a hangup on getting a new phone every year or so, being on a month to month deal makes things a lot simpler if you want to get a new carrier.

HHERRINGTON

Sep 7, 2005, 8:22 AM

Post #6 of 6 (5849 views)

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Re: [bournemouth] Verizon North American plan - a warning.

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Recently on the Clark Howard Personal Finance Radio show, Clark reported that according a survey by Consumers Report the most "disliked and least trusted" business in the US is cell phone companies. The primary cause of the dislike is the multiple year contracts that cell phone companies try so hard to force people into.
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