Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with verizon

Can I use a Smartphone Without a Data Plan on Verizon?

Cheesoning — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:56:17 -0800

Anyone successfully using a smartphone on Verizon Wireless without a data plan? Similar questions have been asked here in the past, but I couldn't find information on how to keep a smartphone from switching to the VzW network if wifi connectivity is lost or whether you can change your plan once you sign up and buy a smartphone.

VzW told me in person and over the phone that the Droid required a data plan. However, if I check options for upgrading my current phone on their site, it shows that the Droid is compatible with my current plan. I'd like to keep my current voice plan and use the Droid for surfing on my wifi network only. Can it be done?

Please help me get my email address back

Ollie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:07:43 -0800

I just moved and canceled my Verizon phone and Internet service. Unfortunately, in the stress of moving, it didn't occur to me that my Verizon email account would also be canceled. Eek! As of today, Ollie_lastname@verizon.net is gone--along with years of contacts and emails. Verizon says there's nothing they can do. Am I out of luck?

Have I found a way to get out of my early termination fee with AT&T?

TurkishGolds — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:39:21 -0800

Switching to Verizon, buying a Droid, paying AT&Ts early termination fee, and then selling my 16GB iPhone 3Gs on Ebay to cover my costs and break even (or better) seems like it's too easy. Am I missing something? So I've had my iPhone for a few months now, and I am getting more and more frustrated with AT&T. Spotty service, missed and dropped calls, etc.

A Droid will cost me $199 new from Verizon.
The Early Termination fee from AT&T will be approx. $175.
People are selling the iPhone 3Gs 16GB in like-new condition on Ebay for between $400-$600.

It seems like it'd be easy for me to switch to Verizon and break even.

Am I missing something? This seems to easy.

I've got a syncing feeling this may not be possible.

dan g. — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:19:33 -0800

Are there any verizon non-smart phones out there that could syc via bluetooth (or some other non-internet way) with a google calendar? Wife and I are looking at replacing our very old school verizon phones with new non-smart phones. we don't want any data plan or internet function on the phone but would like to be able to sync up the calendars on the phone with a google calendar we share.
Has anyone else tried to do something like this?
I'm not opposed to a hack of some sort to get it working, but the day to day syncing would need to be pretty straightforward or I think it would become an annoying burden.

Any and all advice welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks!

Verizon wont give me what I orderd or let me quit.

digividal — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:03:17 -0800

How can I make Verizon Wireless treat me better? They changed my plan without my consent. I have actually been pretty happy Verizon Wireless until very recently.

I have one regular cell phone line with Verizon, and one of those nice little usb broadband modems. I have had both since about 2005.
The great thing was that I had the unlimited broadband plan on my modem. They do not offer it anymore so I was proud of being able to keep my unlimited broadband plan.
Earlier this year, my wife and I got divorced. Among the thousands of matters to attend to, was to split our Verizon account into his and hers.
I called up Verizon and explained that I needed to remove her from the account and have the account only in my name.

The rep said this was no problem, and it was quick to do. I asked him specifically to ensure there was no changes to account, and if the broadband account would
remain the same. He ensured me that this would be the case, and even commented on how cool it was that I had the Unlimited plan.
He told me I needed to make sure I kept it. Wise words.

I kept getting bills in the expected amount so I did not verify further at that point. This month I did read my bill, and I notice that my broadband plan has changed from Unlimited as expected to their new 5GB plan.
This was clearly an error so I call up VZW to have them correct the error. I spoke at that time to rep number. 322590.
She assured me that she would put in a request to have my account updated back to the grandfathered plan and I would get a call back the next day.

3 days passed and I received no notification so I called VZW back. This time I spoke to rep 319729, who was a supervisor she said.
She looked at my account, and said that VZW had refused to put the unlimited plan back on my account, and there was nothing they could do.
I requested that because they had failed to provide me with what I was contractually entitled to, that they should release me from the termination
charges on the account and allow me to close the account.

Rep 319729 said that it was impossible for VZW to give me the plan and I wanted, and it was impossible for Verizon to release me from my early termination. Now they are charging me $59.99 per/month for a service I did not sign up for, and do not want.

Rep 319729 said that there was a website that listed the terms and conditions that apply when VZW makes a change to the account, and it was my duty to read this mythical piece to understand what they were allowed to do, when they make changes to the account. Rep 319729 did not say what the Url for this document was.

What can I do? They took advantage of me, in a very trying time in my life, and they refuse to fix it, and they even rub my face in it, with this mythical website I am supposed
to have read before calling to change my account.

I know I never agreed to the change, and that I never signed any documents about the change? How can they do this?

Verizon Lying

leftfooter — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:38:32 -0800

Are Verizon lying to my face? What is the best strategy to adopt in order to defend myself? I recently changed service providers for my cell phone account from Verizon to AT&T due to the purchase of an iPhone. I had been with Verizon since 1998.
Iniatially, to open the account, they required a $200 deposit which I paid. The balance on my account is around $200 and I instructed them to apply my deposit towards that.
The first person I spoke to 2 months ago told me they had no record of my deposit. I spoke to another CSR yesterday & they've now informed me that they credited my account back in 2002, but are unwilling or unable to provide me with documentation to prove this. I know I never received any documentation regarding the return of this deposit.
I really want to fight this but am I wasting my time?? They're threatening me with sending my account to a collection agency if I don't pay. I have yet to speak to a supervisor & was wondering what is the best strategy to adopt in order to defend myself?

All input truly welcome!

This is what I switched to AVOID!

InsanePenguin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:42:13 -0800

Is Verizon lying to me? After fighting tooth and nail with Verizon, I FINALLY had FiOS installed today. Great. Awesome. Loving it. I got the 25/15 Mbps package, but speedtest.net seems to be struggling to get to 3 Mbps. Verizon's own speedtest utility tells me that I'm getting the right speed-ish.

What gives? Is Verizon lying to me about my speed, or is speedtest inaccurate for some reason?

FWIW, browsing has felt noticably snappier than with my 15Mbps Comcast connection, but I haven't had any large downloads or torrents to really test it out on.

It's just weirding me out.

I Envy the EnV (Yeah, I just wrote that. sigh)

47triple2 — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:10:10 -0800

I have T-Mobile. I want an Lg EnV3. Suggestions? I was messing with one of the Lg EnV3's inside a Verizon store today and I love the keyboard and interface. I cannot switch to Verizon. What is a phone comparable to the EnV3 that is available on T-Mobile's network? Is it possible to get the EnV3 on T-Mobile's network? (Yes, I realize the whole CDMA vs. GSM thing.)

Thanks!

Is the excuse Verizon just gave me for why we keep losing dial tone plausible?

ook — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:51:43 -0800

Three times this month: we lose dial tone. We call to complain. Their automated system runs an automated "line test," which fixes the problem. Is the excuse Verizon just gave me for why we this keeps happening plausible? Their customer service representative claims this is because "there's a short in one of your telephones that knocks out the line" and recommends we go through a debugging process of removing them one at a time every time the line goes out to see which it is.

I don't know enough about how the phone system works to be able to judge whether this is a reasonable thing to suggest, or if they've sent me on a long goose-chase just to get me off the support line.

Do any of you?

Getting the run around from Verizon and collections

grablife365 — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:04:14 -0800

Who do I speak to at Verizon to deal with a charged off account? I keep getting sent from the collection agency then to Verizon and back. In 2007, I was asked by my mom to be a cosigner for a verizon wireless phone. I had no idea it would mess up my credit. I don't have any information on the account and what actually happened other than I assume, no payment and still none. I was 20,21 and didn't know how dumb that was.

Now I'm trying to raise my score in order to get a mortgage. It's the only thing on my credit that would hold me back from gaining a few points. (I'm at a 612 and need a 620-640 at least) If I can get a letter from Verizon saying I can just pay this off and it will be gone then I'll be in business. I heard its hard but not that its highly unlikely. Who do I talk to about this? The debt is now with AlliedInterstate who says pay us now then go to Verizon then try to work it out. Verizon keeps sending me to Allied through an automated machine at the recovery dept. I was told not to pay collections so I don't want to make that mistake.

Verizon is reporting on my report monthly so I figured that's who I would have to deal with yet they keep sending me back to Allied. I don't plan to pay them but they mentioned that my debt would be going back to Verizon by the 5th of this month which would then be sold to a debt buyer, I wouldn't be able to pay a settled amount (I was offered half payment) and it would be on my credit for 7 years. I don't know much about this but I would like to not have to go through this much longer.

Is it possible to get this taken care of quickly, like by the middle of September? My living situation is becoming unstable and I'm hoping to try for my own place asap. It wouldn't be the end of the world if I can't but I would really like to since everything else is in line and my other option is moving in with my mom. I can do rapid rescore with my lender just need the paperwork and this taken care of.

I was told I could get settlement paperwork through fax, is that smart or should it all be done through snail mail?

I'm at a loss. My only other option would be to call and ask Citicorp to remove a paid off debt but I don't see that happening. I also posted this on creditboards but wanted to check information on both sides.
Any advice is needed. Thank you.

Should I stick with my Comcast high-speed internet plan or switch to Verizon FiOS?

lunchbox — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:38:47 -0800

Should I stick with my Comcast high-speed internet plan or switch to Verizon FiOS? I currently have high-speed internet service with Comcast. My monthly plan is:
$74.95/month; 22 Mbps download, up to 30 Mbps with PowerBoost; ~5 Mps upload

When I first signed up for service earlier this year, Comcast was pretty much my only choice. Recently, Verizon FiOS became available in my area. They are offering me:
$69.99/month, 25 Mbps download; 15 Mbps upload; 1 year commitment

My Comcast service has been very flaky recently, and I am considering switching to FiOS. Apart from the 1-year commitment, FiOS appears to be a better deal. Is there anything I should know about either service that might be relevant for when I make this decision?

(Extra info: I use my internet connection for surfing the web, watching videos, etc. I don't play much computer games or use P2P. Also, I am interested in internet-only service; no TV/landline bundles.)

Turn an AT&T laptop connect card into a wi-fi hotspot?

mickmel — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:14:42 -0800

About six months ago, I saw a cool device. You could plug your AT&T USB 3G "laptop connect" into it, and it would generate a local wi-fi hotspot (similar to the Verizon MiFi). I've since purchased the AT&T card, but I can't find the device anywhere. Was I imagining things? Does such a device exist? It'd be very, very useful. Thanks!

Picking a good plan

pulled_levers — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:10:11 -0800

In need of a cheap high speed internet/cable package shared among 7 college girls in MD and not sure where to start. Help! Six other girls and I will be moving into a house in College Park, MD 20740. A friend of mine has looked into Verizon for a plan. Unfortunately, she says that that particular plan only works with flatscreen TVs which we do not have.

I have looked at comcast as well as reviews of comcast saying that they are overpriced with not-so-great customer service.

After looking at some DSL vs Cable sites, it seems that cable is pricier but has faster connection. Because the internet will be shared among seven girls, I wanted to know whether or not paying for cable will become a necessity and if we should go for a package that has a minimum of X MBPS.

I would prefer a high-speed internet service coupled with a fairly basic TV cable plan. I am worried about internet being too slow if shared between so many girls. I am also bringing a wireless router to the house (will the internet company I choose help me install that at all?).

I am feeling slightly overwhelmed because we are moving in in two days and classes start on Monday. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

How to put a new cell service & phone number on a Motorola Razr

cuddles.mcsnuggy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:59:03 -0800

How do I delete old data on a MotoRazr Maxx cell phone which was formerly on Verizon, and set it up as an extra for someone who uses Alltel? My mother uses Alltel as her cellphone service & she's new to having a mobile phone. Mom thinks she's accident-prone, so she has asked if she can have one of our old phones as a backup in case something happens to hers. We have several outdated phones around the house and I'd like to give her my husband's old MotoRazr Maxx. Problem is, we use Verizon, and his old address book and photos & such are still on the phone even though he doesn't use it and it has no active service (we have Blackberries now). My questions are:
- How can I delete all my husband's data from the phone? The manual from Verizon doesn't explain this.
- How to set it up so Mom can use it with Alltel? Can I "install" her phone number on it myself? Or is it easiest just for her to bring it to her Alltel store & have the magical cellphone elves do it there? (is that even possible?)

I've already searched AskMefi & google but didn't really find what I was looking for. Thanks!

Using a Time Capsule to extend a Verizon MiFi's wifi network?

ewagoner — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:23:23 -0800

Is it possible use an Apple Airport Extreme base station or Time Capsule to extend a Verizon MiFi's wireless network? I've got HughesNet satellite service at home, and even paying for a business plan at $179/month, I can't stand it. I've been wanting to flee for years, and for the first time ever, the Verizon MiFi looks like it might be the way out. But, I'd want it to use my existing infrastructure built of Apple's wifi devices instead of getting everything in my home to talk to the MiFi directly.

I've only had it a few days (and love it so far otherwise), but I can't seem to do this. When trying to use the Time Capsule to extend the network, I get a message that "this network is unable to be extended". Is there a way? Has anyone done this?

(I do know about the 5gb bandwidth limit, by the way. I could buy three of them to rotate and still break even, so that's not an issue.)

How to unfxor a Verizon ENV2 cell phone?

de void — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:26:39 -0800

What demon has possessed my girlfriend's Verizon ENV2 (AKA LG VX9011) and reduced it to a mostly deaf and mute state? How do we exorcise this malevolent presence? GF carried her phone and a laptop in a large tote bag while traveling this weekend. When she next used it after taking it out of the tote bag, she found she was unable to hear anything when making calls and callers were unable to hear her. We suspect that the laptop jostled into the cell phone and pressed lots of keys and set the phone into whatever "condition" it is in now.

So, here's the current condition:

- Her phone displays, both inside and outside, are fine. All keys/buttons seem to work normally.

- She can make and receive calls, but hears absolutely nothing when either the front or internal speakers (not even rings), and call recipients hear nothing from her phone.

- If she goes into ring settings and asks the phone to play a ringtone, the display will show the ringtone playing, but nothing is audible from the speakers.

- The "speaker" button on the inside of the phone, which normally turns the speakerphone on and off, now does nothing. However, the phone is recognizing that it is being pressed, because the display will light up if it is pressed.

- If she uses the alarm clock function in her phone, the alarm will activate and the alarm *IS AUDIBLE* from the phone, using any ringtone she chooses. So there is apparently nothing wrong with the speakers themselves.

We've navigated through the phone's "Setting" menu tree several times and can't find anything that seems relevant. Verizon tech support via phone call hasn't been able to help us either (the techs just seem to be following a canned flowchart, not applying critical thinking).

We're thinking now that we'll try a "hard reset" on the phone, if we can find a code to do so.

Any other ideas mefites?

Can you hear me now? No? Good!

genial — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:16:52 -0800

Working out a situation where I would have an iPhone on Verizon's data network and wondering if anyone has tried this or is currently doing it. Further details inside As an iPhone user who is not in a 3G area, I have been wishing for over a year that Verizon would get the iPhone. They have not, nor does it seem it will happen in the near future (WWDC was my hope). On top of that it seems if they did I would have to get a new phone anyway since it would likely be CDMA. So I'm screwed on that front. Then I started thinking and realized the iPhone covers so much of what I do with data that I no longer technically need it as a "cell phone". To compound it all I work in a place with no cell phone access at all, so I'm not the person that requires being tethered to a phone at all times of the day anyways (I can't be really). Here are my thoughts:

1. Text Messages - I have Twitter with push notifications. Anyone who doesn't use that doesn't need to get ahold of me via txt.

2. Voicemail - I have a Google Voice account I (assume?) could keep for vm transcriptions to email.

3. Calling - Skype on the iPhone works over wifi. In addition I can open up Google Chat for text conversations that need to happen in real time (if I'm not driving).

So my thought is that all of this combined makes the Verizon Mifi a really compelling product. Sure I have to carry an extra device but if I cancel my cell phone plan (which I know there would be a cost to do) and opt for this, I have a Verizon data cloud surrounding me at all times for $60/month which is less than I'm paying for the iPhone.

Has anyone tried this? Am I missing anything important or any other pros/cons I haven't considered?

Out of the frying pan into the fire

mkb — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 10:19:47 -0800

I am in the process of switching from Comcast cable to Verizon DSL. I am trying to figure out the wireless situation in my house. So Verizon is offering a free netbook to new DSL subscribers, and I don't have any particular affinity for Comcast, so I decided to try it out.

With Comcast (which is actually still running), I have the following setup:
- Motorola cable modem
- Linksys WRT54g v 2.2 running Tomato and boosted output power

I have this unit set to forward BitTorrent, SSH, and icecast ports to one machine at home.

Verizon unexpectedly sent me a modem for my new service that also functions as a wireless access point and a router. It's a Westell 7500. It seems to be almost as configurable as my Linksys, and it looks like there is no need to boost the output power in order to get up to my office. The only missing feature appears to be DynDNS.com updating; the new router uses TSIG authentication which is only available on paid accounts, and I can just punt this to one of my computers.

So, is there anything I am missing that would be worth me keeping the Linksys around? Does this router have any hidden gotchas?

So I dropped my iPhone and the screen shattered. Now what? What should I buy and how does it affect my ATT contract?

decrescendo — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:05:50 -0800

So I dropped my iPhone and the screen shattered. Now what? What should I buy and how does it affect my ATT contract? So I got an iPhone 3G around Thanksgiving of 2008. Yesterday it fell out of my suit jacket and landed on the concrete, shattering the screen. It still works because I was able to back it up/sync the contacts after this happened.

However, what do I do now? Its within a year of purchase but is this covered under anything? I don't think it was insured because I'm pretty sure ATT doesn't let you insure it. Could it be fixed if the glass is totally wrecked and potentially the LCD stuff underneath it?

I really wasn't a massive fan of the thing anyway. The lack of background apps, shitty call quality, and the fact that you type on a piece of glass have had me thinking about getting something else anyway.

If i was on ATT looking for another email-capable, QWERTY keyboard, GPS capable, background app capable, better-camera-than-iPhone type of phone what would it be? Bold or 8900? Are these two all there is on ATT at the moment? When is the 3G new Curve hitting ATT?

Verizon Voicemail callback

l33tpolicywonk — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:22:43 -0800

Verizon voicemail - Is there an option to return the call of the person who left the message? My Verizon phone's voicemail has an option to leave a "reply" for someone who has left a message - basically, give them a voicemail - but it doesn't have an option to just call back the number. Is there a key I'm missing or an option in the menu I'm not using?

Emails Suddenly Rerouted Through Time

EmpressCallipygos — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:40:29 -0800

My friend/business colleague's Verizon emails suddenly now turn up in my Earthlink email in box hours late. Where do we start looking for where the problem lies? This has only been within the past two weeks or so -- it only affects a friend of mine who has his email through Verizon. I have Earthlink. For some reason, his emails to me are now showing up in my inbox anywhere between 6-24 hours late; the timestamp on his end shows that he sent it at 3 pm, but it doesn't appear in my inbox until about 10 pm, say. Or 2 pm the following day.

So far as I can tell, his emails to me are the only ones I'm getting late (I've kept an eye on other people's emails to me, and they're all coming in okay) and I'm the only one suffering a delay (all his other friends seem to be getting his emails in a more timely fashion). Exactly where would he and I begin looking for where the problem lies, and what exactly should we look for?

I'm HOPING that this isn't one of those "just one of those things" situations - he and I were smack bang in the middle of coordinating a theater event WHILE all this was going on, and having emails go late and missing REALLY complicated things. We got through it okay this time, but I'd REALLY like for this not to become a permanent state of affairs.

Lower my monthly bill...

likeapen — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:49:37 -0800

I plan on upgrading to a Blackberry Curve with Verizon and going on their emailing and messaging plan (450 min unlimited). On their website it comes to $99.99 an month. I'm an avid texter, want voice, be able to email, go online and use vzn navigator. I want to lower that monthly bill... What can I disable (that I'll be charged for) on the Blackberry so I won't have to pay $100 a month?

How do I get Verizon to fix my dsl?

geos — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:22:22 -0800

How do I get Verizon to fix my DSL? I have had intermittent connection problems on my dsl line since it was installed. The problem went away for the winter and came back in the spring. So, it took me 4 calls to get a worker out to my house. The guy who came lowered the speed on my connection and said if this didn't work then it was a problem back at the office. Lowering the speed didn't work: how do I get them to fix this?

Calling dsl tech support i get caught it in a loop (don't even get me started on how they refused to talk to me if i admit i'm using linux) doing the same bullshit diagnostic flowchart. Escalating to the supervisor seems to have gotten a guy to come out last time, but that was very trying.... is there some magic word, or easter egg hidden in this nightmare of corporate tech support that will get them to actually make my dsl functional?

The Old Scary Black Wire

nnk — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:48:45 -0800

Is it worth the effort to get Verizon to come out and update the external phone wiring, specifically, I don't have "the gray box" (NID) I've been having problems with my DSL. Service has been very erratic and I've spent lots of time on the phone with Tech assistance. Finally I unplugged my phone (was using a splitter) and plugged the router directly into the jack. So far, everything is working fine.

But, while working through all this, I discovered how scary old the phone wiring is both in and out of my house. I can't even begin to describe the mass of old wires wound around little screws and such inside the house -- but I do know this, there is no gray box on the outside of my house. My phone service comes to my house on a wire, wraps around some kind of a ceramic holder and then down the wall and in through a hole in the masonry by the basement (and wraps around all some grimy fittings and screws on the wall inside).

. . . I am also wondering if I can get them to install the gray box and not charge me (and I kind of wonder if they're at all invested in this kind of stuff what with the advent of Fios and the slow, but coming death of the landline) -- I am really kind of doubting they'll update the interior for free, but I kind of figure the outside is there domain.

I have a very limited budget for this stuff -- So I am trying to figure out what to do.

Verizon capable phone + cheap data plan + useable web browser?

pilibeen — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:42:57 -0800

Which phone (older and cheaper maybe?) has an affordable data plan and an acceptable web browser for use on the Verizon network? I recently upgraded my phone to an LG Env2, with the V Cast V Pack, which gives me unlimited data usage for $15/month. I like the price, but the web browsing experience is painful.

Are there any older phones I could buy on Ebay maybe, which would have a cheap data plan and make web-browsing more enjoyable?

I'm not sure how the whole unlocked phone thing works with Verizon, but I assume there are some older phones which are capable of working on the network...right?

thanks