I know the Sprint Surcharges are just fees Sprint wants to charge their customers because they are too greedy to pay it on their own as a benefit to their customers. But I am curious as to what the Federal-Univ Serv Assess Non-LD is because I have not been able to find any exact information on it. I tried chatting with a Rep but she could not give me any real answer on what it is other than a blanket statement saying its based on taxes Sprint has to pay. Im paying $7.21 for something I have no idea about.
Under the Government Fees & Taxes, I also see a California State-Univ Lifeline Serv Charge for $1.21. I need answers
I also need answers too. Every month the "Federal Taxes" are high and high.
I also have my employee discount and when change the $130.00 for two line to $110.00 first line and $19.99 the second my bill go high again.
When I get my phone the bill was $141.90 now $151.50. Yes $10!!!
Im starting to hate Sprint, but they are the only with unlimited data.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk 2
Does no one really care about this?
call your congressman...
it is a federally asses fee. although sprint is the one to choose to pass this along to you, it is because it is assesed to them. would you feel better if they just said that your plan is actually 139.99 instead and still put it toward paying this fee?
30 seconds with google came up with this government page that explains what these fees are:
http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/phonebills/samplePhonebill.html
As far as whether sprint should pay it for you, if they did that, who's money would they use to pay it? They'd have to get it from somewhere, so it would come from money they charge you for you service. So, instead of burying the costs they incur, they list it.
They could pull it out of the pure profit $10/mo data fee they charge, among all the other fees they charge to double the advertised price. Straight Talk and Cricket seem to do just fine under $70/mo without all the bogus fees. Perhaps they should ask these companies how they can afford to do it at half the price.
wingbat said:
They could pull it out of the pure profit $10/mo data fee they charge, among all the other fees they charge to double the advertised price.
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Trolololwut? Sprint has been operating at a net LOSS of hundreds of millions of dollars for 5 years now. I don't know where you get the idea that Sprint is hoarding a bunch of "profits." Even AT&T and Verizon, with all their luxurious capital (and often $20-30/month higher average bills, might I add) are still burning through it to build their own completely spectrum-segregated LTE networks on top of maintaining and improving their 3G networks. That cost billions upon billions every year, and Sprint is a very distant 3rd. Then you have to factor in the money that they have to give back to Lightsquared for backing out of their deal to buy LTE spectrum using satellite coverage (basically the spectrum satellites were interfering with some GPS devices and satellites, so the FCC denied them approval). Oh, and don't forget the $4 Billion that Sprint had to pay Apple to get the iPhone for the next 3 years.
wingbat said:
Straight Talk and Cricket seem to do just fine under $70/mo without all the bogus fees. Perhaps they should ask these companies how they can afford to do it at half the price.
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Click to collapse
Oh, I guess you didn't know that Cricket and Straight Talk don't actually own their network infrastructure. They rent out the towers from those with the resources to build them, as in AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and SPRINT. That's why the cheapo carriers can afford to offer those low prices, they just thrown the major carriers some money. Of course, the trade-off is that service sucks outside of the major cities, so good luck actually making calls in between. Sprint, however, doesn't have the luxury of bumming off of Verizon's towers, you know, because they're direct competitors on a national scale.
Honestly, how the hell do you think this phone company can afford to charge me $85/month for unlimited EVERYTHING and still build/maintain a fast and consistent 3G and 4G network? If you want to pick a fight, pick it with AT&T and Verizon, but since you're on the one US carrier with a couple BILLIONS of dollars of debt, you'd best sit down and appreciate your relatively cheap bill.
I pick a fight with Sprint because they offer unlimited everything, on a 1x connection that's slower than dialup, and then charge an additional $10/mo for that luxury because I have an Android phone. It takes less time to call someone than for the email to send after I hit send. They can afford to offer unlimited everything for $85/mo because they charge $130/mo for it, and are not capable of providing what they sell.
At least when I had Verizon, they warned me that 3g may not work in my area. But it did, and still does, as well as their recently rolled out LTE. Sprint? Nothing planned in the next 6 months. Perhaps Sprint should consider leasing tower space if they want to remain relevant over the next 10 years. Right now, they can't compete on coverage nor connectivity.
Thread moved
Please post all ??? in Q&A
Thanks
FNM
Dante of the Inferno said:
Trolololwut? Sprint has been operating at a net LOSS of hundreds of millions of dollars for 5 years now. I don't know where you get the idea that Sprint is hoarding a bunch of "profits." Even AT&T and Verizon, with all their luxurious capital (and often $20-30/month higher average bills, might I add) are still burning through it to build their own completely spectrum-segregated LTE networks on top of maintaining and improving their 3G networks.
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Click to collapse
Im sorry but that's bull. If Sprint was doing so badly, they wouldnt be here for this long and they wouldnt be adding LTE or spending money on the Iphone or anything like that. You know they are profiting or else why would they continue to run their business?
Also, At&T and Verizon may be spending billions on the LTE network but they are also making billions on top of knowing LTE will bring in more customers.
Dante of the Inferno said:
Oh, and don't forget the $4 Billion that Sprint had to pay Apple to get the iPhone for the next 3 years.
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Click to collapse
That Sprint chose to pay. They saw a good marketing move when they saw it and sure it cost them a bit more than they wanted (or did it?) but think about how fast they will make that money back with all the transfers to Sprint's unlimited plan?
Dante of the Inferno said:
Honestly, how the hell do you think this phone company can afford to charge me $85/month for unlimited EVERYTHING and still build/maintain a fast and consistent 3G and 4G network?
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Because: 1. Its 2012 and those technologies arent new, and 2. I pay $40 a month for "unlimited" gigabytes of unlimited information, media, news, etc on what is the Internet. No need to pay to connect extra devices, no need to pay extra for certain websites, no need to pay for more than one user.
Whose Money
poit said:
...As far as whether sprint should pay it for you, if they did that, who's money would they use to pay it?
Whose money? Start with Sprint's new CEO Marcelo Claure: "Sprint will pay Claure $1.5 million a year in salary, on top of a $500,000 signing bonus, and provide potential performance-based bonuses that could be twice his salary or larger, according to a company filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He also will receive potential stock and options awards worth $24 million when granted to him, the filing said."
From the Kansas City Star article "Sprint names Brightstar founder CEO, replacing Dan Hesse". I'd provide a link, but as a new member here I'm not allowed. Google the article title to find the full article if interested.
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Click to collapse
Related
Okay, for those of you who haven't fired up your favorite tech-news site yet, AT&T announced that they are doing away with their $30/month unlimited data plan. Instead, we are going to have to pay $25/month for 2GB..... What the %^[email protected]?????? On average, do we consume more than 2GB/month of data on our Rhodiums? Between the browsing, streaming, and navigation programs I use, I'm not sure what my total data uses are. Please, someone calm me down and tell me that I'm going to be okay. ...yeah, but seriously, dang.........this sucks.......
*****UPDATE******
I called AT&T customer support and found out that they are not forcing existing customers off unlimited. You have until June, 7th to get the unlimited plan, after that it is gone forever! Like I said, if you have it now, you're still good.
I saw that this morning too, it's the final straw. When they go to change it I will tell them I've a Customer since 1995 (SWB Wireless) , and I will be changing carriers. I've been unhappy since the merger everything has gone down hill. Also I will inform them since they are violating the contract I signed up for, they shouldn't be charging a breach of contract fee, but even at that, if they do I will gladly pay the $250 and tell them to shove it up their USB port !
AT&T Plan
I read the release. This is only for new customers and current customer will not be forced to move to their new plans. I tried an iPhone earlier this year. If this new plan had been in place, AT&T wouldn't have even been a consideration for me.
Are you kidding me? Not only they are charging me twice now as I used to pay for the same internet because I have a "smart" phone but now they want to kill us with this ?
Time to look for a new carrier....
I have Unlimted Text & Internet for dumbphone on my Fuze (and now my Tmobile TP2) for 30/month (with 5GB cap). My tilt 2 is in the mail. Hopefully when I switch to my tilt 2 they wont add a data plan to my account...
As stated above this change ONLY applies to NEW contracts....if your currently on the unlimited data plan then this will NOT affect you I only hope they're going to use this time that they're trying to buy to improve their data speed and coverage.
My personal opnion is the problems they're having is from all the iphone and ipad sheeple choking down the network with the gazillions of stupid useless apps they're downloading with no clue as to what they do other than "billybob down the street said this is a good ap to have" meanwhile it's got their phone runing as a proxy server for billybob to exploit.
shaolin95 said:
Are you kidding me? Not only they are charging me twice now as I used to pay for the same internet because I have a "smart" phone but now they want to kill us with this ?
Time to look for a new carrier....
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Click to collapse
I know, did the same when I switch from my tilt to the tilt2. Made me upgrade from old $15 unlimited data plan because "All new phone have to go to this." And now this? WT*?! I definitely will pay the money and go t-mobile and get the hd2 anyway else or verizon or sumthg.
I like how they keep screwing the customer and saying it's for the customer's benefit. AT&T is the new Verizon. Looks like it's time to start considering Sprint and T-Mobile now. AT&T is clearly down a path to screw customers while not improving service. They will continue to keep pulling these stunts until it's made very public and they are forced to get defensive about what they are doing.
f'ing bastards.
McHale said:
I like how they keep screwing the customer and saying it's for the customer's benefit. AT&T is the new Verizon. Looks like it's time to start considering Sprint and T-Mobile now. AT&T is clearly down a path to screw customers while not improving service. They will continue to keep pulling these stunts until it's made very public and they are forced to get defensive about what they are doing.
f'ing bastards.
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So I just read that if you still have the plan you are cool at least until you need to upgrade again, is that right?
I've been with them about 10 yrs now, and it seems that way. Alot less and charge you more while only worry bout Apple.
The rep that I spoke with on the phone said that they were doing this to satisfy the customers that did not want to pay the $30/month requirement for smartphones. They will have two rates $25/month for 2GB and $15/month for 220MB. This way, one could get a new phone and just pay the $15/month to have a nice, new smartphone. That's my theory anyway.
shaolin95 said:
So I just read that if you still have the plan you are cool at least until you need to upgrade again, is that right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read all of the info, and read AT&T's announcment it says that even at RENEWAL AND UPGRADE old users will be able to keep the unlimited. Also if you look at your account online, it will give you a chart for all of your internet usage since November 2009. You can see how much you use. Many will decide that unlimited is a waste and will "downgrade" to the 2 GB plan and save $5. Heck my wife loves the smart phone, but rarely uses any of the data features except a few emails... now she can get the $15 plan and save quite a bit each month.
Look at your usage, I would bet that you use much, much less than you think you do.
They also have a usage estimator. It is extremely difficult to hit 2 GB unless you a) stream (lots) of music or b) stream video. Normal net surfing and the occasional app download and tons of email fit very comfortably under the cap.
For me, I will be keeping my unlimited plan, but the wifes phone is definitely getting downgraded to the cheaper plan. Thank you AT&T.
boufa said:
If you read all of the info, and read AT&T's announcment it says that even at RENEWAL AND UPGRADE old users will be able to keep the unlimited. Also if you look at your account online, it will give you a chart for all of your internet usage since November 2009. You can see how much you use. Many will decide that unlimited is a waste and will "downgrade" to the 2 GB plan and save $5. Heck my wife loves the smart phone, but rarely uses any of the data features except a few emails... now she can get the $15 plan and save quite a bit each month.
Look at your usage, I would bet that you use much, much less than you think you do.
They also have a usage estimator. It is extremely difficult to hit 2 GB unless you a) stream (lots) of music or b) stream video. Normal net surfing and the occasional app download and tons of email fit very comfortably under the cap.
For me, I will be keeping my unlimited plan, but the wifes phone is definitely getting downgraded to the cheaper plan. Thank you AT&T.
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Click to collapse
I stream video A LOT....going to work and coming back home I am normally watching some youtube old comedies like Unhappily ever after , etc so I may not be going with their lower rate plan.
dressanderc said:
The rep that I spoke with on the phone said that they were doing this to satisfy the customers that did not want to pay the $30/month requirement for smartphones. They will have two rates $25/month for 2GB and $15/month for 220MB. This way, one could get a new phone and just pay the $15/month to have a nice, new smartphone. That's my theory anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which is a bull**** answer because if that were the case, they'd keep the unlimited option and add these to their portfolio.
It has been confirmed that you can keep your unlimited plan but that's until you upgrade your phone or your minute plan. This has always been the case.
F'n greedy ignorant bastards.
-Mc
boufa said:
If you read all of the info, and read AT&T's announcment it says that even at RENEWAL AND UPGRADE old users will be able to keep the unlimited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just renewed my family's 2-year contracts with unlimited data on 3 devices.
From the quote above, after my two year contacts expire, I can do an equipment upgrade and still keep my unlimited data plans. Is that correct?
By the time my 2-year contracts expires, I'm sure there will be alot of changes and other options to consider. Other carriers may be offering iPhones by then (for my wife and son), and I really don't like the direction that Windows Moble is going right now.
For me, a different carrier and a different device may be in order at the end of my current contract.
boufa said:
For me, I will be keeping my unlimited plan, but the wifes phone is definitely getting downgraded to the cheaper plan. Thank you AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought about this a well. I checked my family's data usage.
My son uses a over a gigabyte of data a month on his iPhone.
I come in at just under a gigabyte on my Tilt2, but only because I'm more diligent about using WiFi or other data connections instead of 3G whenever possible.
My wife, on the other hand, averages about 150 to 200Kilobytes per month on her iPhone... which is the threshold for the new basic data plan.
So, will I be switch her to the cheaper plan? Probably not, considering that she has only had her iPhone for a couple of months. Chances are her data usage will only grow as she discovers better and more efficient ways to use her phone.
dressanderc said:
The rep that I spoke with on the phone said that they were doing this to satisfy the customers that did not want to pay the $30/month requirement for smartphones. They will have two rates $25/month for 2GB and $15/month for 220MB. This way, one could get a new phone and just pay the $15/month to have a nice, new smartphone. That's my theory anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, they are doing it because they don't have enough network capacity for all the smartphones they have sold. They are trying to keep people from using the bandwidth by making it expensive.
AT&T has been in a lot of hot water because their service has suffered due to their being the only network that offers the IPhone. From what I read, San Francisco and New York are having major problems with bandwidth.
Verizon started charging 9.95 a month for each smart phone. for a limited amount of data. They only have 4 phones that don't get charged that. We switched from Verizon because it would have cost me an extra 30 a month for my 3 kids who dont even go on the internet to have a decent phone to text. Maybe they are all going this route
if they're trying to save bandwidth, then maybe forcing data plans on people wasn't such a smart idea.
Those idiots can't have it both ways as hard as they lie... I mean TRY.
F'n AT&T morons.
McHale said:
I like how they keep screwing the customer and saying it's for the customer's benefit. AT&T is the new Verizon. Looks like it's time to start considering Sprint and T-Mobile now. AT&T is clearly down a path to screw customers while not improving service. They will continue to keep pulling these stunts until it's made very public and they are forced to get defensive about what they are doing.
f'ing bastards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
McHale said:
which is a bull**** answer because if that were the case, they'd keep the unlimited option and add these to their portfolio.
It has been confirmed that you can keep your unlimited plan but that's until you upgrade your phone or your minute plan. This has always been the case.
F'n greedy ignorant bastards.
-Mc
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Click to collapse
McHale said:
if they're trying to save bandwidth, then maybe forcing data plans on people wasn't such a smart idea.
hose idiots can't have it both ways as hard as they lie... I mean TRY.
F'n AT&T morons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe that McHale likes AT&T that much
Does this mean I can get out of my 2yr contract w/o any ETF?!
I feel like I could argue with AT&T to get out of it w/o any fees...
I have 2 HTC Evo's and 2 Samsung Moments.
I want out of Sprint. They tried increasing my bill just 3 months into a 2 year contract. I was a victim of bait and switch.
Sprint says I am good to port out and cancel without ETF.
Please please please help me get my phones working on another provider!
I really don't even care if the internet works as I almost always have access to wireless internet via my phones. However; fully functioning phones would be great too?? I guess it depends on what is "do-able"
I am pretty sure the 4G wont work..... but it doesn't work in my area anyway.
I have been reading for the better part of 2 days....
Some say it can be done, some say you need to pay someone to do it...there is so much conflicting information out there....then I found this place.
Sorry but I just got laid off and paying for help is out of the question. I will however; send MANY positive vibes your way.
You guys seem to really know your stuff.
Thanks in advance for your time.
Sorry for the bother.
TF
Not gunna happen dude sorry.... not unless you have another cdma cell compqny like cricket or metropcs. There are roms in the dev section to do that.
They will not work on verizon that i am aware of or ever heard off and att us cellular and most others are gsm.... evo isnt a dual band phone.
Just go sell them and buy new phones.
And explain what "they increased my bill"is.
I am kind of in the same boat i think.
I signed up for 129 + 10 per evo (wife and i have 1 each)
And every single month my bill just gets higher and higher by a few bucks each month.
I was also told i get a 10% discount because of my employer and i have not seen a dime taken off.
Not only that but i dont even get 3g technically until late at night. After 8am until 8-10pm i only get 50-150kbps.
And frankly i am sick of it. I was lied to about the coverage and the network speeds by the retarded sprint store employees and i cant take it anymore.
The only time i cant really use the data on my phone is on wifi. Otherwise its jearly useless.
v_lestat said:
Not gunna happen dude sorry.... not unless you have another cdma cell compqny like cricket or metropcs. There are roms in the dev section to do that.
They will not work on verizon that i am aware of or ever heard off and att us cellular and most others are gsm.... evo isnt a dual band phone.
Just go sell them and buy new phones.
And explain what "they increased my bill"is.
I am kind of in the same boat i think.
I signed up for 129 + 10 per evo (wife and i have 1 each)
And every single month my bill just gets higher and higher by a few bucks each month.
I was also told i get a 10% discount because of my employer and i have not seen a dime taken off.
Not only that but i dont even get 3g technically until late at night. After 8am until 8-10pm i only get 50-150kbps.
And frankly i am sick of it. I was lied to about the coverage and the network speeds by the retarded sprint store employees and i cant take it anymore.
The only time i cant really use the data on my phone is on wifi. Otherwise its jearly useless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response. Really appreciate it.
The thing that REALLY gets me is they were arrogant about it. I spoke with 3 different people from Sprint, with one being corporate, and they all didn't seem to care in the least bit about losing me and my 5-6K over the next couple years??? Bad bad business...Something I will never forget.
It looks like I can have both Metro-Pcs and also Cricket in my area if I want them??
I was reading that in order to get the Sprint phones on Metro, you need to first get a phone(Their Brand) with them, and then add the other phones electronically via their web site??
Didn't read much on Cricket yet.
Also.....I have never flashed a phone before but I can follow directions pretty well...(I'm married)
Which service it better Cricket or Metro? I read that Metro's internet is junk but again that doesn't bother me b/c wireless is pretty readily available.
Thanks
TF
Sorry...here is the low down on them increasing my bill:
I posted this at Hofo too:
I am so disappointed in Sprint. I am cancelling and will never return and also vow to tell everyone that will listen just how underhanded Sprint is.
I was mislead by sales both in store and on the phone with C/S.
In researching phones and service, we kept getting the sales pitch from Store employees and customer service people that "Sprint discounts the ENTIRE bill...not just the first one or two lines." That was a MAJOR selling point in almost every rep we spoke with. Honestly, this is what lead me to pay ETF'S from VZW to come aboard. It also led me to cancel my home phone service, give away my GPS, purchase chargers/skins etc...
I am into Sprint for at least 1K....
Considering we (mostly all) purchased the EVO'S and Samsung 4G's on release dates, we are now 3-4 months into a 2 year contract and Sprint decides to "remind" us that the discounts are no longer valid on lines 3-4.
You can't remind someone about something that was never told to them to begin with. I believe that would be more "informing" than "reminding"??
I have documented this in my series of bills....I was never told....only reminded.
Funny thing is Sprint knew before releasing these 2 phones that they were going to tuck it to their customers.
There is no way that a company of Sprints size could conceive of and implement a policy such as this in a couple months. It had to first be conceived of, second go to legal, third be approved by corporate, employees educated and trained how to handle IRATE customers etc... (Possibly not in this order?). Point being...SPRINT KNEW ABOUT THIS ALL ALONG.
It is not a matter of the 10 or 15 bucks extra a month. I don't want to do business with a company that aggressively sells you on a pricing point, and 3 months into a 2 year contract tries to fleece you for EVEN MORE money. As if the $10.00 premium wasn't enough??
KNOWING full well that people are into them for a lot of money, also knowing it is pretty damned difficult to activate these phones with other providers, and also knowing most people do not look at tiny boxes on page 2 of a bill....They are scum in my book. This was all calculated and down right deceptive....
What good is a contract if one party can make adjustments whenever that want? That is not a contract IMHO...It is a one sided license to steal and SHOULD be illegal. Can I send a letter to my car loan provider and "remind" them that as of next month, I will be paying 10% less? I think not!
Now, I must spend the time researching phones/providers AGAIN....The time and money WASTED on this is absurd....Every time I see a Sprint commercial I cringe...I WAS A BELIEVER...Now I will gop out of my way to stop everyone I know from doing business with these guys.
Let me add that I have no problem with modifying Terms but it needs to be done AFTER the contract is up, not 3 months into a 2 year.
Disgusted....If anyone can tell me how to get 2 EVO's and 2 Samsung Moments going on another provider, I would be forever grateful.
Also...to all of you that say, "Ahhhh it's only 10-15 bucks", You wont be saying that when Sprint implements the pay for data usage plan they are probably working on as I write this.
What they have done would be illegal for 99.9% of the population....Who regulates these guys? Seems like a free for all to me??? They do what they want, make CRAZY money, and pay 5-10% out in legal fees as a result....BAD BAD BAD business.
I'm done...thanks for reading.
you have to talk to Sprint's customer retention department, theyre the ones whose job it is to get stuff done for you. Some people have said they went straight up the chain to the executive in charge of that department and it worked out well for them, just search for his name and number
Forgive me if this is already a known quantity around here, but I only just found out this evening that orders placed through Sprint for new devices can no longer be billed to your account. Apparently we now have to pay by credit or debit card up front when we want a new device.
dead78 said:
Forgive me if this is already a known quantity around here, but I only just found out this evening that orders placed through Sprint for new devices can no longer be billed to your account. Apparently we now have to pay by credit or debit card up front when we want a new device.
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Click to collapse
yup found out a couple of months ...........i believe there should b a couple of threads on it
lballer69 said:
yup found out a couple of months ...........i believe there should b a couple of threads on it
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they're saying it changed it on October 5. yet another way we're taking it in the pants as a result of Sprint getting the iPhone and another reason to never bother ordering a phone from Sprint.
yep blame that on the iphone
apple started this a few years ago, so no cash at all, even in person at the apple stores for iphones, as people were buying them stateside, and selling them overseas for huge markups, since they were not available at the time
gotta love Apple lol
Amd4life said:
yep blame that on the iphone
apple started this a few years ago, so no cash at all, even in person at the apple stores for iphones, as people were buying them stateside, and selling them overseas for huge markups, since they were not available at the time
gotta love Apple lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, you're 100% right.
man, I was on the fence before about upgrading my Epic...there's no way in hell I'll do it now. when you look at everything that's gone lately, Sprint's shown they're willing to screw over their entire customer base for the sake of luring in new customers with this gimmick Apple crap. now they've got their big sales figures and they can all pat each other on the backs for a job well done.
do the other carriers require up front payment for their devices?
Just so you guys know, sprint is actually the last of all the big 4 carriers to get rid of bill to account for new phones. Its a fight against fraud. Cutting costs is necessary to keep providing the unlimited data plans. Saving money by reducing fraudulent purchases is one of the best ways to do this. There is a reason behind every choice the company makes. It may not always sound like the best when you first hear it but the reasons why typically justify the changes. Sprint tries really hard to provide what other carriers no longer do but there at reasons that other carriers have cut things, and with sprints new high end world phone lineup we are running into the same things.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
lookout4theyeti said:
Just so you guys know, sprint is actually the last of all the big 4 carriers to get rid of bill to account for new phones. Its a fight against fraud. Cutting costs is necessary to keep providing the unlimited data plans. Saving money by reducing fraudulent purchases is one of the best ways to do this. There is a reason behind every choice the company makes. It may not always sound like the best when you first hear it but the reasons why typically justify the changes. Sprint tries really hard to provide what other carriers no longer do but there at reasons that other carriers have cut things, and with sprints new high end world phone lineup we are running into the same things.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
frankly, the "we need to do this to keep unlimited data" excuse has lost its appeal. all I'm seeing is a fledgling company pulling back on service in order to accommodate the iPhone and keep itself in business. as it stands now, I live in an area where my data service is horrendous. calls to Sprint are essentially pointless since I'm given an endless string of excuses as to why I can't download faster than .2 Mbps on 3G and why I can't stay connected to 4G for more than a couple of minutes. I've been with Sprint for over 10 years and I've seen all aspects of quality within the company deteriorate considerably in that time. The simple fact is that they're network couldn't accommodate the demand of all the Android devices on it; I can't even imagine what the surge of new iPhones is going to do to service.
meanwhile, we're told that every courtesy we received is being taken away in order to assure a high level of service. that would be fine except there is no longer a high level of service to maintain. I've actually had Sprint tell me that their changes aren't so bad because they're simply doing what all the other carriers do; therein lies the crux of why having 3.5 carriers dominate a nation of roughly 400 million people isn't good for anyone. a struggling company in that setting has no incentive to do anything but keep its doors open. they've lost the will to differentiate because they no longer have to; their sole concern is to avoid being subsumed by one of their competitors. most investors (myself included) doubt Sprint's ability to sustain itself beyond the next couple of years because they're a poorly managed company who've become notorious for making extremely poor decisions - this recent backpedaling from WiMax is one of the worst.
so yeah, great we get unlimited data. we'll see how well that unlimited data that Sprint's stripped away all incentives for holds up when an already super-saturated capacity is unable to withstand the demand from this gadget they've bet the farm on.
I am usually on the side of the consumer but, this time, I think if you don't have the money to pay for it, why are you upgrading? Wait a month and get it when you have the money. I don't see why it was ever an option to begin with.
The only reason I am still on Sprint is becaue they have the number one best plan for my situation. If I didn't want unlimited data, or the best cutomer service, or the coolest new phones, I would go with MetroPCS. They have the best plan for someone like that. Shop around. Get what is best for you. I'm not preaching. I just want every customer out there to be as happy as can be.
It is probably better this way. When you charge to credit card, they don't add the weird few dollars here and there taxes in the taxes and surcharges sections (this is in addition to the tax they charged on the phone purchase itself) I probably got another $5-$6 in random taxes I had to complain about to get back.
I agree that data speeds on Sprints unlimited plan sucks. I will contest to that. Sprint's network simply is being overwhelmed from all the traffic they get from all the smartphones out there. So Sprint came up with a plan. The plan is going to cost $10b over time I think it was. To come up with the money Sprint has to cut cost and create more revenue. To cut cost Sprint got rid of certain luxuries we were receiving as consumers. To create more revenue Sprint fought to get the Iphone on board (Sprint announce this was their biggest sales day ever). Simple economics. Remember Sprint is a far 3rd behind the top two cash cows we know as AT&T and Verizon. Sprint is not financially stable right now but, making these necessary moves will help us as consumer in the long run. I know you pay now, and, you want it now, but, all we can really do is wait till Sprint finish's with their $10B project in your area.
Seriously? You all look at this as "exploiting the customer"? What they got rid of was effectively an interest free credit card that people were abusing. No, doesn't make any business sense at all, certainly not.
True exploitation would be them deciding to charge interest on your balance.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
buggerritt said:
I am usually on the side of the consumer but, this time, I think if you don't have the money to pay for it, why are you upgrading? Wait a month and get it when you have the money. I don't see why it was ever an option to begin with.
The only reason I am still on Sprint is becaue they have the number one best plan for my situation. If I didn't want unlimited data, or the best cutomer service, or the coolest new phones, I would go with MetroPCS. They have the best plan for someone like that. Shop around. Get what is best for you. I'm not preaching. I just want every customer out there to be as happy as can be.
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Ive been doing bta for years without problems from sprint. The problem was me, with the subject the post is about. Im pretty impulsive at times. More that once ive had financial department calling me wanting money because im past due. I couldnt pay the price of the phone (usually full price because i was in mid contract) and my bill up to date in a month or less. I kept telling myself, after i would get my account completely paid up to date, that i wouldnt do this again and would only get another phone if i had the money in hand to pay for the phone. Sometimes financial emergencies happen that are unforseen and they can really put a person behind for awhile and its a struggle to get caught up. Thats one of my character defects, i admit it (for the first time). Its not sprint's fault for this, its mine for being impulsive and irresponsible when it comes to finances.
I dont know why i felt the need to say this, but it had something to do with the subject and i shared my experience (and foolishness) with you guys.
Shame on me, i know!
I'm right there with you man! I sold a Dell Venue Pro so I could get my Epic Touch and I still have an Atrix on At&t and am looking at over $500 if I leave At&t. All that so I could get a 1/2 inch bigger screen and a slightly faster phone. Oh well at least I got a good one, no Los or any other issues thus far.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
I just paid my Sprint bill the other day. With activation, the phone, and my normal bill, it was $578.06. No more bta? Who cares. If you don't have the money, you probably shouldn't buy the phone anyway.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Verizon still allows billing to your account. This last carrier nonsense isn't true
heygrl said:
Verizon still allows billing to your account. This last carrier nonsense isn't true
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that's what I thought. quite frankly, this argument that deadbeats have ruined the bta is a bunch of b.s. because that would be a punitive major and not something supposedly introduced to insure a high level of future service. the reason why bta is a solid option is that it means not having to rely on Sprint to refund your money in the event you decide to return a recently purchased phone. what this new move does is allow Sprint access to the customer's money immediately, which is actually a better move from an accounting standpoint since funds collected can be immediately invested. however, my biggest beef with this change of policy is that like all the other changes we've endured in recent weeks, they're all being done to accommodate the iPhone. like many others, I'm not remotely convinced of Sprint's able to even stay in business long enough to see all these supposed service improvements take place, so right now (and for the immediate future) all that's happening is Sprint is pulling back on customer services to pander to the iPhone.
Like another poster said this is to accommodate fraud. I work for another big name phone company and this is a way to keep people from calling in and ordering multiple phones on an account and having them shipped and once you see that these phones were ordered and you did not order them you call sprint and they have to foot that bill. If there is a credit card used it is tied to the person who used it and fraud is dealt with easier through the CC companies because they have more info. The FCC are coming up with all these rules to help us as consumers. It kinda makes it harder but safer. Anyone who knows your information can order on your account and that is scary. We see people on this forum who call in and tell lies all the time. Fruad is no joke. If it makes it safer why not?
Sent from my hand crippling Epic 4g Touch
Thanks for sharing this. I think you hit the nail on the head and I wish more people were willing to look at their own situation objectively and take some personal responsibility.
Sprint is a business, making business decisions. If they need to make changes to stay viable, then they should make them. If I decide at some point I don't like them, I can go somewhere else. It's the beauty of free enterprise and consumer choice.
oscarthegrouch said:
Ive been doing bta for years without problems from sprint. The problem was me, with the subject the post is about. Im pretty impulsive at times. More that once ive had financial department calling me wanting money because im past due. I couldnt pay the price of the phone (usually full price because i was in mid contract) and my bill up to date in a month or less. I kept telling myself, after i would get my account completely paid up to date, that i wouldnt do this again and would only get another phone if i had the money in hand to pay for the phone. Sometimes financial emergencies happen that are unforseen and they can really put a person behind for awhile and its a struggle to get caught up. Thats one of my character defects, i admit it (for the first time). Its not sprint's fault for this, its mine for being impulsive and irresponsible when it comes to finances.
I dont know why i felt the need to say this, but it had something to do with the subject and i shared my experience (and foolishness) with you guys.
Shame on me, i know!
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Who orders from Sprint anyway? There's always some place cheaper to get the phone of you're eligible for an upgrade. Ordering from places like Amazon or Wirefly at the very least saves you tax.
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My local Best Buy is great about returns and will price match any other vendor that has a unit in stock. I've never ordered from Sprint.
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Verizon will be cutting of all their customers from having Unlimited Data Plans, even if you were grandfathered in.
Verizon has gotten greedy!
Shame on you Shammo! (Fran Shammo Verizon's CFO)
We need to take action! We've done it before we can do it again.
Here is the score:
Won
Verizon Imposes $2 Credit Card processing fee. 50,000 people signed petition on change.org Verizon nixed that plan.
Lost
Verizon Imposes $30 "upgrade fee" for upgrading to a new phone
Verizon has stuck with that plan.
Score Thus far 1:1
Next line up,
Verizon will cut off all existing unlimited data customers from their Unlimited Data plans.
Lets make this a win! Sign the petition and share with everyone you know! Repost this everywhere! Let's get the word out!
Read the Article here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57...r-existing-subscribers/?tag=postrtcol;mostPop
Sign Petition here! http://www.change.org/petitions/sto...unlimited-data-plans-for-existing-subscribers
Signed!
I'll be signing this, everyone should sign.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Signed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
What is actually wrong with them doing this? You sign a contract for two years for unlimited data yea. Then after the two years are up they are not contractually obliged to let you keep it. They have so far as a gesture of good will. Obviously they are being greedy but they aren't doing anything wrong, unless they stop you having unlimited mid contract. If that's the case you would be able to cancel as they have not lived up to there end.
Signed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I'm actually kinda excited to try sprint. I don't use much data I'm on wifi a lot but its crazy to pay $30 a month for internet on a little phone when I pay less for cable internet.
If it limited it better be cheaper if not I'll get sprint or maybe att
Since this breach of contract I should be able to cancel my verizon subscriptions without any penalties. Right????
wedge40 said:
Since this breach of contract I should be able to cancel my verizon subscriptions without any penalties. Right????
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Since what breach of contract? A CFO saying stuff in an article about the future of VZW data plans is perfectly legally.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Signing the petition with your wallets at another carrier will do more harm than letting vzw know you don't like their business model. But the other carriers business models are the same. The big dent is made by dropping data on your service and letting sales reps and tech support know you won't get data back until the data portion of the business model changes.
...of the people, by the people, for the people...
wedge40 said:
Since this breach of contract I should be able to cancel my verizon subscriptions without any penalties. Right????
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It isn't a breach of contract, because right now it is just talk. The CFO is hardly a lawyer, so who knows what this shapes up as.
Then there is this little thing that data is a feature, not a contract plan. Its in writing that features are subject to change. You can change data plans any time and not affect your contract, but you cannot change voice plans because you are contractually obligated.
So it is a grey area, but I would say one of two things happens.
1. They wait until your contract is expired. You won't be able to activate any new phone without changing your data plan. This is the most likely course of action.
2. They let you opt-out without paying an ETF. I am not even sure they are required to do this.
Haha at signing the petition. Unlimited data is going away on all carriers. Verizon sees how the other carriers are raking in the profits from tiered data plans.
I wouldn't be that excited......sprint data speeds are HORRID! I'm lucky to break the 500k mark ANYWHERE in California. I've read in many places that the network is just as bad or worse in the rest of the country.
Well it had to come to an end at some point and time. Its sad our mobile internet cost as much or sometimes more than home internet. Tier plans are the wave of what carriers want you go over you pay more. Cash cow. Starbucks makes a killing off coffee sales but no one is signing a petition. I hate how they are acting but it is a free market system. If they chose to end something due to not making enough. As someone else said let your wallet do the talking. I went from att to T-Mobile and have not looked back. Cheaper plans by about 30 dollars a month adds up. That's revenue that the other guy is not getting anymore.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
royale192 said:
Well it had to come to an end at some point and time. Its sad our mobile internet cost as much or sometimes more than home internet. Tier plans are the wave of what carriers want you go over you pay more. Cash cow. Starbucks makes a killing off coffee sales but no one is signing a petition. I hate how they are acting but it is a free market system. If they chose to end something due to not making enough. As someone else said let your wallet do the talking. I went from att to T-Mobile and have not looked back. Cheaper plans by about 30 dollars a month adds up. That's revenue that the other guy is not getting anymore.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
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Starbucks coffee isn't required to use your smartphone Also if you don't like Starbuck's coffee, there is always Folgers.
Verizon users are rightfully upset because they are being told they will pay the same, and get less with no choice of an alternative.
If Starbucks was the only drinkable coffee in town, and they told you they are going to charge venti prices for a tablespoon of coffee while being forced to pay for the tablespoon monthly...I would say that there would be a petition, along with some rioting
This petition is futile, but I understand why it is happening.
Carriers got you hooked on the good stuff for a good price. Now you get samples for full price. Either quit your addiction,find another bigtime supplier or the middle of the road solution, find a local supplier that meets your needs for the right price.
I am having to deal with this myself. The first step to quitting an addiction is admitting you have one. Lol. Petitioning your dealer that prices are too high just lets them know they got you hooked.
...of the people, by the people, for the people...
This won't work. Unlimited data may come back in the future when radios need less and less bandwidth to perform.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
When my contract is up i'm switching to T-Mobile only because their spokesperson is hotter than Verizon's can you hear me now guy.
miketoasty said:
When my contract is up i'm switching to T-Mobile only because their spokesperson is hotter than Verizon's can you hear me now guy.
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he got fired. he's not their spokesperson
http://www.mobiledia.com/news/86973.html
None of the wireless providers are getting rich. VZ's earnings grow at about 4% which is slightly above inflation. Some carriers are losing there a$$ by subsidizing excessively priced smartphones. Over time a few mergers will leave about 3 or so majors.
So I've been with Verizon for years, long before I accepted a job as a Microsoft consultant which many know, provides reduced rates in the form of discounts. The one I happen to have acquired some time back is a $20 "unlimited everything" as a MS employee with Verizon. I also recieve 20% off the top of the total plan as well. When I went from 3g to 4g, they basically grandfathered me on the same discount (as I'm still a MS consultant), but made me purchase a text package because what was previously "unlimited data + messaging" became simply "unlimited data". No biggie, give me the $10 text package and call it good.
Well I just discovered that if you get a Corporate Discount (Amazong/Boeing/Microsoft,etc), chances are you can STILL remain grandfathered under true unlimited. The exception would be for tablets.
Thought this would be worth sharing because as savvy as I thought I was, I had no idea was still the case. So the Galaxy Nex I just bought online wasn't a complete waste, but knowing I can go back and take another upgrade without changing my plan is HUGE, at least for me!
it depends on the corp discount contract vzw has with the company. some may not retain anything except the discount.
only reason i know this, i used to work at vzw :/
Good point, each individual should contact Verizon and find out what Corporate discount they have, and whether it's still being honored. In fact, the gal at Verizon today told me the Boeing one went away (remaining grandfathered), but Microsoft retained theirs. She even advised I could turn my sons dumb phone (2nd line on my plan, currently just call/text) into a smart and get the same $20 deal. The exception, obviously the tablets.
Glad VZW is giving discount to these corporations like Microsoft who so badly need them lol.
They must have taken a card from hospitals, who ruin people lives with more debt than they can possibly pay and then turn around and subsidize costs paid by the insurance companies.
WiredPirate said:
Glad VZW is giving discount to these corporations like Microsoft who so badly need them lol.
They must have taken a card from hospitals, who ruin people lives with more debt than they can possibly pay and then turn around and subsidize costs paid by the insurance companies.
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pro tip from someone who works in the healthcare industry: always ask for the no insurance amount. it might be cheaper than your deductible/co-ins
self pay usually has a stupid high discount as hospitals assume you will not pay.
Yeah well my employer doesn't cover my mobile expenses so what they make and what they deserve only matters to the extent of what it means to me, hence the share.
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