Verizon issue when disconnected phone line and could affect my credit profile

[AzCreditGuy]

I have been with Verizon since 2012, I had opened up a landline with them for my parents and in 2022 decided to ditch that and get them a Iphone to be used as a landline. They had a promo, where you trade in a Iphone 11 and newer and open a new line and get a Iphone 14 pro on them. PS there is nothing free on them. Anyways I was told I would receive $800 in promo credit and a $200 gift card to total the $1k for the Iphone 14 pro. 

I have to say Verizon is shady when it comes to paying off any phone where they provide credits, I was told I could only make 1 pay off payment for the Iphone 14 pro and that would only be the $200 gift card . If I decided to pay more, I would lose the $800 promo credits. 

Tmobile also provides promo credits, but they let you pay off the Iphones at any time and the promo credit will go towards the bill and they will not lose the promo credit

I called in to Verizon to remove the Disney+ bundle as I wasnt using it and wanted to see if I could get a lower data plan and still be within the promo and the Verizon rep changed my plan and stated I would get the promo credits.

Wrong I get an email a month later, stating that I would be losing my promo credits, since I had changed data plans. Called up talked to a supervisor who stated I would need to be put back on the data plan I was on to continue getting the promo credits, I asked why is Verizon forcing its consumers on a higher plan, if they no longer are using the add ons? Of course nothing but than I asked how much would be to buy out my contract, she stated $550 is what I owe for the iphone 14pro and the last bill which would be small. I said ok l want to buy out the iphone and end my contract. I checked on my side and it stated $602 for the full buy out and I aked why it is higher now, she couldnt tell me why but stated I have put it in the notes you only owe $550 for the Iphone 14 pro and the last bill. 

Since the finale buy out price did not reflect what the price she was giving me, I asked her if she could do anything on her end. She tried to do a force buy out and of course had issues, she stated she would put everything in the notes on the account. And the account would end on 10/31/23. 

Nope the line was still active until 11/10/23, when my cyle ended and my last bill is now $802, because they charged back the $200 promo gift card. 

I use to work in the cellular industry a while back, I know how these promo work. I have to say Verizon is complete garbage and shady AF. I have already contacted my legal shield on the matter, due to the trade in iphone 11 I did and they are just trying to bury me on this. 

I have tried to contact them through the Verizon community, forget that, they scrub the posts to make themselves look good. Calling in is useless as the reps dont have the power and when another supervisor is involved they have zero answers on why the bill is so high and to fix it or the request for my Iphone 11 back....Now in my personal credit could be at risk if they decide to do a charge back because of this mess

[CreditCuriosity]

Sorry this happened to you.  This isn't really a personal finance post(w/regards to MF forums)  so will ask for it to be moved to smorgs.  As you mentioned all carriers have their oddities and nothing is free in life as you also echoed especially phones and how their credits / plans work!  I work indirectly with all the carriers including Verizon, ATT, etc.  I hope your legal service whatever it is can help you out, but certainly don't stop paying the bill until it is resolved as would be silly if it went to collections and hurt your credit until it is hopefully worked out and make it more painful than it already is.  Best of luck

[Linnaea]

I had Verizon forever.   I ended up going with another carrier because Verizon didn't care enough to retain me.  With new phones No contact and lots of bells and whistles it was cheaper for me to leave and have new phones by a lot. I ended up getting money per line brought over... i believe it was like $120 cheaper a month.  They didn't send a final bill.  I ended up with a collection bill from them more than my monthly shock came to I believe around $180.  They wouldn't delete.  I left Verizon over 2.5 years.   They email me every couple days... We Want You Back! Is the title for today.   Their plan pricing is reasonable but not the bells and whistles.   It's only temporary pricing no lock in.   

Let me think about this... you wouldn't drop my bill ... you never alert when the price goes down on plan... I was never late in close to 20 years for multi line plan.. you didn't send final bill or call until after I was sent to your internal collection dept a year later.... AND I paid the $180 partial with late fees and Verizon said they don't ever due pay to delete on credit report... AND now you want me back???? 

Yeah I told the reps over and over ... Once I leave I won't come back.  Once my Good Opinion is Lost its Lost Forever. 

 I'm happy with my current carrier. VERIZON has to do more for loyalty and retention. 

Keep us posted on how it all plays out ... but your story is reaffirming to me.  

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

Sorry this happened to you.  This isn't really a personal finance post(w/regards to MF forums)  so will ask for it to be moved to smorgs.  As you mentioned all carriers have their oddities and nothing is free in life as you also echoed especially phones and how their credits / plans work!  I work indirectly with all the carriers including Verizon, ATT, etc.  I hope your legal service whatever it is can help you out, but certainly don't stop paying the bill until it is resolved as would be silly if it went to collections and hurt your credit until it is hopefully worked out and make it more painful than it already is.  Best of luck

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[CreditCuriosity]

Best bet with any carrier you use to to purchase phone up front and don't do financing with them.  Just purchase it use it for 2-4 years as tech isn't increasing where one needs a new phone every year or you are just wasting money.  Don't need to newest Iphoe as 13 is same as 15 and the likes or just get a cheap 200 android phone for cash as will do most of same stuff and well main purpose of phone is to make calls and occasionally text which any phone can do.  Also as sure most know many other carriers that use the big three ATT, VZ, TMOBILE and just buy bandwidth off of them and offer the same service for cheaper just like Xfinity/spectrum, Straight talk etc use VZ towers for cheaper rates and man others do as well just like same applies to ATT towers and TMOBILE towers.  This solves the whole contract issue at a way cheaper price.  

[Linnaea]

I don't have a contract and who I am with my price doesn't go up.  I got my phones elsewhere plusI do travel internationally. So I base the carrier that provides that. Everyones situation is different.  I was only providing my data points. Not saying mine is better but I was empathize with the OP.