Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM Promotions

I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
some kind of change.

I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
$15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.

She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.

Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
contract ends?

"Al S" <ict.ks@netzero.com> wrote in message
news:592554d4.0401042215.3e1613c3@posting.google.c om...
> I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
> month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
> some kind of change.
>
> I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
> if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
> $15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
> were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.
>
> She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
> the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.
>
> Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
> contract ends?

It's something sort of new. Promo stuff used to be for the life of the
contract (current or expired) and stayed active and free unless you
cancelled (or changed plans), now they make them for the active life of the
contract (current only).

I had heard a couple years ago that it was illegal in the state of Oregon to
change a persons rate plan after some promotional period... Has anybody
else heard this or was it just my imagination?

-Eric

"Peter Pan" <Marcs1102NOSPAM@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:btb4rh$54k2t$1@ID-190045.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Al S" <ict.ks@netzero.com> wrote in message
> news:592554d4.0401042215.3e1613c3@posting.google.c om...
> > I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
> > month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
> > some kind of change.
> >
> > I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
> > if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
> > $15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
> > were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.
> >
> > She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
> > the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.
> >
> > Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
> > contract ends?
>
> It's something sort of new. Promo stuff used to be for the life of the
> contract (current or expired) and stayed active and free unless you
> cancelled (or changed plans), now they make them for the active life of
the
> contract (current only).
>
>

As far as I recall that was for a currently in effect contract, not an
expired one.


"Eric Rosenberry" <erics@n0-spam.rosenberry.org> wrote in message
news:LMqdnVYlKfM5g2SiRVn-jw@comcast.com...
> I had heard a couple years ago that it was illegal in the state of Oregon
to
> change a persons rate plan after some promotional period... Has anybody
> else heard this or was it just my imagination?
>
> -Eric
>
> "Peter Pan" <Marcs1102NOSPAM@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:btb4rh$54k2t$1@ID-190045.news.uni-berlin.de...
> >
> > "Al S" <ict.ks@netzero.com> wrote in message
> > news:592554d4.0401042215.3e1613c3@posting.google.c om...
> > > I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
> > > month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
> > > some kind of change.
> > >
> > > I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
> > > if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
> > > $15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
> > > were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.
> > >
> > > She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
> > > the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.
> > >
> > > Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
> > > contract ends?
> >
> > It's something sort of new. Promo stuff used to be for the life of the
> > contract (current or expired) and stayed active and free unless you
> > cancelled (or changed plans), now they make them for the active life of
> the
> > contract (current only).
> >
> >
>
>

Peter Pan <Marcs1102NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:

> It's something sort of new. Promo stuff used to be for the life of the
> contract (current or expired) and stayed active and free unless you
> cancelled (or changed plans), now they make them for the active life of the
> contract (current only).

Which would be fine, except that I already pay $100/month for my two phones
and was promised that my promotions would last as long as I stayed on my plan,
and if they've changed that, as mentioned before, I might end up dropping
Verizon, because they can't do that. If they then try to charge me an ETF, I
will happily take them to court and point out to the judge that they changed
the terms of my contract without my consent.


--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services
22674 Motnocab Road * Apple Valley, CA 92307-1950
Steve Sobol, Geek In Charge * 888.480.4NET (4638) * sjsobol@JustThe.net

I know in my area all the training material provided by VZW states something
like this--

"UNLIMITED Night & Weekend Minutes
and
1000 Local MTM Minutes
Per Month For Life"

The Per Month For Life is the key part.....I know your not dead, but your
area maybe has different promos.

ShackAttack

"Al S" <ict.ks@netzero.com> wrote in message
news:592554d4.0401042215.3e1613c3@posting.google.c om...
> I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
> month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
> some kind of change.
>
> I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
> if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
> $15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
> were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.
>
> She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
> the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.
>
> Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
> contract ends?

I heard they use the weasel argument that it has the word "life", they are
pushing it means the "life" of the current contract, not the person.


"ShackAttack" <shackattack6089@nospam.yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:vvj4veckvlnpd0@corp.supernews.com...
> I know in my area all the training material provided by VZW states
something
> like this--
>
> "UNLIMITED Night & Weekend Minutes
> and
> 1000 Local MTM Minutes
> Per Month For Life"
>
> The Per Month For Life is the key part.....I know your not dead, but your
> area maybe has different promos.
>
> ShackAttack
>
> "Al S" <ict.ks@netzero.com> wrote in message
> news:592554d4.0401042215.3e1613c3@posting.google.c om...
> > I thought when my contract expired I would continue on a month to
> > month basis with the same plan - including promotions - till I made
> > some kind of change.
> >
> > I called *611 in Wichita KS and was told that when my contract expires
> > if I want to keep the Unlimited N/W & 1000 MTM I would have to pay
> > $15.00 for the Unlimited N/W and $4.99 for the 1000 MTM. That they
> > were free ONLY as long as I was under contract.
> >
> > She said I can extend my contract and keep them for free - or - pay
> > the extra charges - or - have them cancelled.
> >
> > Is this a something new - OR - have promotions always ended when your
> > contract ends?
>
>

Steven J Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in message news:<-PSdndpm28H1G2SiRVn-uA@lmi.net>...
> Peter Pan <Marcs1102NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It's something sort of new. Promo stuff used to be for the life of the
> > contract (current or expired) and stayed active and free unless you
> > cancelled (or changed plans), now they make them for the active life of the
> > contract (current only).
>
> Which would be fine, except that I already pay $100/month for my two phones
> and was promised that my promotions would last as long as I stayed on my plan,
> and if they've changed that, as mentioned before, I might end up dropping
> Verizon, because they can't do that. If they then try to charge me an ETF, I
> will happily take them to court and point out to the judge that they changed
> the terms of my contract without my consent.

Not to argue, but you are either under a contract, or you are not. If
the contract has ran out, if they choose, they can do anything. The
question will be; will you accept it.

However, after reading these posts, I called 611, and was advised that
the terms of my promo plan would continue, unless I called to make a
change.

"plane" <plane@usa.com> wrote in message
news:68a9acb2.0401051129.57247e0b@posting.google.c om...

>
> Not to argue, but you are either under a contract, or you are not. If
> the contract has ran out, if they choose, they can do anything. The
> question will be; will you accept it.

You know, I guess I had never thought of it in these terms. And you are
right- once the terms of the contract have been satisfied, they are free to
do as they please. Your recourse is to not accept the modifications, and
either enter into a new contract or terminate service.

>
> However, after reading these posts, I called 611, and was advised that
> the terms of my promo plan would continue, unless I called to make a
> change.

And this, in combination with my previous statement, shows me that they are
more than flexible by allowing promos to extend beyond the contracted time
period. Now, I do realize that this does not happen in all instances, but
it would appear that the great majority of promo plans are allowed to
continue past the contract. A good way to do business.

"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:%ajKb.1762$yW1.1478005@news2.news.adelphia.ne t...
>
> "plane" <plane@usa.com> wrote in message
> news:68a9acb2.0401051129.57247e0b@posting.google.c om...
>
> >
> > Not to argue, but you are either under a contract, or you are not. If
> > the contract has ran out, if they choose, they can do anything. The
> > question will be; will you accept it.
>
> You know, I guess I had never thought of it in these terms. And you are
> right- once the terms of the contract have been satisfied, they are free
to
> do as they please. Your recourse is to not accept the modifications, and
> either enter into a new contract or terminate service.
>
> >
> > However, after reading these posts, I called 611, and was advised that
> > the terms of my promo plan would continue, unless I called to make a
> > change.
>
> And this, in combination with my previous statement, shows me that they
are
> more than flexible by allowing promos to extend beyond the contracted time
> period. Now, I do realize that this does not happen in all instances, but
> it would appear that the great majority of promo plans are allowed to
> continue past the contract. A good way to do business.
>

As far as I know, under the old old plans, once your contract ran out, any
and all promos would also run out. One of my old contracts ended in which I
was getting free N&W. Once the year was up, they began to bill me $5 a
month. The new contracts nowadays state that you get to keep your N&W and
M-M minutes with any contract over $35. So my understanding would be that if
you sign up for the $40 plan, you never have to worry about losing those
freebies as long as you keep paying them the $40 a month.
Personally I like Verizon because their coverage area is so good and the
first incoming minute is always free.

plane <plane@usa.com> wrote:

> Not to argue, but you are either under a contract, or you are not. If
> the contract has ran out, if they choose, they can do anything. The
> question will be; will you accept it.

I am under contract until 06/2004 on both phones. If they've changed the
terms of my contract (including the duration of the promotions), there will
be a major problem.

> However, after reading these posts, I called 611, and was advised that
> the terms of my promo plan would continue, unless I called to make a
> change.

Yeah, I just verified the same thing. The 1Y refers to a 1-year contract.
I signed up on a one-year agreement for the second line I added last year.
It doesn't have anything to do with promotions. So... no biggie.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services
22674 Motnocab Road * Apple Valley, CA 92307-1950
Steve Sobol, Geek In Charge * 888.480.4NET (4638) * sjsobol@JustThe.net

Peter Pan <Marcs1102NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I heard they use the weasel argument that it has the word "life", they are
> pushing it means the "life" of the current contract, not the person.

The CSR I talked to just said it was for the life of the plan; in other
words you keep the promotion at end-of-contract, and can keep it forever
unless you cancel service or change plans. She also said that for promotions
that had a limited term -- like the text messaging promotion I'm on now --
they are supposed to specifically tell you how long it lasts. (The TXT
promo lasts until the end of March, I think.)

So if a promo is only supposed to last until your contract ends, the person
signing you up should be informing you of that fact.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services
22674 Motnocab Road * Apple Valley, CA 92307-1950
Steve Sobol, Geek In Charge * 888.480.4NET (4638) * sjsobol@JustThe.net

On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 14:24:40 -0600, Steven J Sobol wrote:

> Peter Pan <Marcs1102NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> I heard they use the weasel argument that it has the word "life", they are
>> pushing it means the "life" of the current contract, not the person.
>
> The CSR I talked to just said it was for the life of the plan; in other
> words you keep the promotion at end-of-contract, and can keep it forever
> unless you cancel service or change plans. She also said that for promotions
> that had a limited term -- like the text messaging promotion I'm on now --
> they are supposed to specifically tell you how long it lasts. (The TXT
> promo lasts until the end of March, I think.)
>
> So if a promo is only supposed to last until your contract ends, the person
> signing you up should be informing you of that fact.

My NSR plan had 3500 free weekend minutes. It expired last January and
I've been going on a month-to-month plan since. I still have the free
weekend minutes.

"Steven J Sobol" <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote
> The CSR I talked to just said it was for the life of the plan; in other
> words you keep the promotion at end-of-contract, and can keep it forever
> unless you cancel service or change plans. She also said that for
promotions
> that had a limited term -- like the text messaging promotion I'm on now --
> they are supposed to specifically tell you how long it lasts. (The TXT
> promo lasts until the end of March, I think.)

Uhhhh. Think about this. You sign a written contract which details
the terms of that contract and you are expecting some *unwritten*
terms to be in effect that extend *past the end of the contract* ??

If it states in the contract that the contract goes month-to-month
after the original term then that is part of the original contract. *If*
this is the case and promos part of the contract do not have a
specified end date then they should continue as long as the contract
is in effect. You may be confusing what is VZWs current policy of
extending service with what is their contractural obligation...

> So if a promo is only supposed to last until your contract ends, the
person
> signing you up should be informing you of that fact.

"Please note that the terms of this contract only last as long as the
contract..."

-Quick

Quick <dhorwitz@nospamcisco.com> wrote:
>
> "Steven J Sobol" <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote
>> The CSR I talked to just said it was for the life of the plan; in other
>> words you keep the promotion at end-of-contract, and can keep it forever
>> unless you cancel service or change plans. She also said that for
> promotions
>> that had a limited term -- like the text messaging promotion I'm on now --
>> they are supposed to specifically tell you how long it lasts. (The TXT
>> promo lasts until the end of March, I think.)
>
> Uhhhh. Think about this. You sign a written contract which details
> the terms of that contract and you are expecting some *unwritten*
> terms to be in effect that extend *past the end of the contract* ??

Since they didn't specifically tell me the promotion ended when the contract
ended, yes. Since they would have been changing the terms when I was still
under contract, I considered that a problem.

> If it states in the contract that the contract goes month-to-month
> after the original term then that is part of the original contract. *If*
> this is the case and promos part of the contract do not have a
> specified end date then they should continue as long as the contract
> is in effect. You may be confusing what is VZWs current policy of
> extending service with what is their contractural obligation...

Perhaps, but it's a moot point now anyhow since I verified that my promos
don't go away. (Except for the unlimited TXT promo which I already know is
only for a few months anyhow.)

>> So if a promo is only supposed to last until your contract ends, the

> "Please note that the terms of this contract only last as long as the
> contract..."

If part of my agreement provides that the promos last past the end of the
life of the contract and they change that, have they not made a material change
to the contract?

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services
22674 Motnocab Road * Apple Valley, CA 92307-1950
Steve Sobol, Geek In Charge * 888.480.4NET (4638) * sjsobol@JustThe.net