Verizon Cancellation/New Agreement Time Frame

Once a Verizon contract is cancelled by the user, can the same user open a new Verizon agreement?

The economics of replacing a lost phone through Verizon is the nub of the issue.

Thanks

What? You're kidding... right?

You are willing to pay an early termination fee ($175.00) and then another activation fee ($35.00) and new equipment costs (from $9.99 and up) just to save yourself from paying full retail for a lost phone replacement? Wow... I just don't see the economics there.

Buy a new phone and save yourself the aggravation.

Well, there is the issue of spite I admit, but the economics as quoted were:

"The full retail price for the Samsung 740 is $269.99 plus
tax. The full price of the LG enV is 349.99. Please keep in mind that
retail prices are subject to change without notice."

So the way I saw it was pay those prices, and get a new 2 year agreement.

Wouldn't I be able to walk in off the street and get a better deal?

They are treating me worse than a new customer. Sure I lost the phone. I am paying that price.

But with a 2 year rollover extension, they get the extra pop on the phone with essentially the same revenue they get on a new customer.

Am I missing something?

As a matter of fact, you are missing quite a bit. First of all, when you pay full retail for a phone it does not, I repeat: DOES NOT, extend your existing contract in any way.

Second, if you lost your phone you would qualify for a discount of 25% off full retail, which will restart your 2 year contract.

Finally, the reason you get such a good deal on a phone for signing a new 2 year contract is because Verizon (and any other provider for that matter) expects to make money off of your usage over the 2 years. When you lose your phone, the company loses revenue if they have to replace it for you. Let's all try to remember this little truism, shall we boys and girls; at the end of the day, any business is in business to make money, right?

That having been said, here is some more math for you:

25% off full retail on the enV = $262.49 + $20.00 processing fee = $282.49 + tax.

Cancelling your account = $175.00 + new activation fee = $35.00 + cost of new enV with 2 year contract = $199.99 (-$50.00 mail in rebate) = $359.99 + tax.

Any way you slice it, it just doesn't make any sense to cancel your account and restart it as you have suggested.

Well, thanks for your clarity and POV.

Appears that a baseline is to find a suitable VZ phone for less than 175 + 35, which will not increase my commitment.

And off topic a bit, but since they are interested in making money....I would have gladly paid to have them find the phone by picking up the GPS signal. One day, after-sale service will be of equal importance as the sale itself.

TY again

It is actually not possible, contrary to what you see on television, to track a phone via GPS. (Except in the case of Verizon's Field Force Manager or Chaperone features, both of which have to be installed on the phone prior to being used).

Even if it were possible to do so, it would require 2 major variables. First of all, in order to track a phone it would have to be turned on. Chances are, even if the phone were on when you lost it, the battery has long since failed. Second, since GPS location based services are contingent upon not only the phone being powered, but also in use, when you called to have your number suspended after losing the phone, that would have become impossible.

Maybe in the future your phone will have an automatic "LoJack" type feature, but in the present, it is just not possible.

...on the off-topic...

certainly the timeliness re: the batt. and the number switch would be crucial to recovery....but about the in use feature: the emergency use of the phone to find folks only works when the phone is in use?

TY

E911 is designed to allow Dispatch Officers to locate your phone... and consequently, you, when you use your cell phone to call 911. With Verizon phones, the other setting, "Location On", enables your phone to utilize services like VZNavigator and Chaperone, but not to be "tracked" in the way you are hoping.

Again, perhaps someday in the future, there may be applications for this type of tracking, but right now, I can just hear all the conspiracy theorists crying "foul" in unison!

lol...conspiracy and privacy...of course what an uproar, as if we were untraceable, using our credit cards, ez pass, atms, and phones, but think of the money VZ could make from schmoos like me who lose their phones!

Its a market waiting to happen...

Regards

They actually make more by offering the insurance plans which is a fairly wise addition to your plan if you have a newer phone like the EnV or u740.

Does the 25% discount take into affect if you do not have insurance?