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FCC Not Satisfied with Verizon's ETF Explanation

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VZW_insider

Dec 24, 2009, 12:31 AM

Good and Bad

It's not a horrible thing the FCC is starting to take a strong look at private companies. They have every right to request a "reasonable" explanation from Verizon regarding the ETF's. They also have every right to ask for further explanation if they feel the initial response was not adequate.

At this point the burden falls back on Verizon, to now prove their point in terms of acquisition costs, handset costs, advertising cost, etc.

The sad part of all of this, is that the FCC is only bringing the heat because they themselves are being fired upon for not regulating enough of the wireless industry. As is common practice with today's politicians, divert the attention away from their own issues and problems and champion the cause of some...
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The answer to the $1.99 MB thing is unfortunate for VZW...they're going to have to give it away. Perhaps only charge if a customer exceeds .5MB or worse a full MB. There would still be some who claim that they are repeatedly "accidentally" using dat...
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patrickrlewis

Dec 24, 2009, 4:35 PM

Let me see if I understand this...

Verizon is letting people know, up front and before they sign up for the service, what the fee will be for breaking the contract early. They are telling people what their bill will be for the service, and how long they will be under contract.

And somehow, they are doing something wrong?

It's called personal responsibility people, look it up!! If you don't agree with the fee, then find another company, but Verizon has EVERY right to charge whatever it wants, just as you have every right to say no and go to a competitor.
The problem is that the carriers have created this marketplace that results in customers not understanding the true cost of the phones they are buying. I don't think its unfair that the ETF is higher for more expensive phones, but I'm not surprised th...
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bluecoyote

Dec 23, 2009, 11:20 PM

Did Verizon even proofread their response?

You'd think that for all of the money-grubbing, nickel-and-diming, and customer-shakedowns Verizon does they'd be able to hire someone intelligent to proofread their own response to the FCC, and fix things such as....

1) Stating they lost $120.00 if a client cancels within 23 months when many smartphone plans don't even gross that much per month

2) Stating that they cover marketing expenses with handset subsidies. Seriously Verizon, we know you're dumb, THAT dumb? That's basically admitting to charging customers for things they don't pay for.


But apparently they got Ralph De La Vega's speech writer to write it. I don't know when intelligent people started working for the FCC, but this is going to be good.
Iff yu pay, yoo tawk. Goh onlyne, serf tha intarweb on yur fohn. Itz gud. Giv oss munny.

🤣

I didn't know Corky from Life Goes On ran the company.
1. I'll have to go back and re-read it, but I thought they just said it was possible for them to lose money on a 23rd month cancellation, not any amount listed. But I do agree 120 is kinda excessive.

2. Customer's don't need to know about new pr...
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suicide

Dec 24, 2009, 7:39 AM

I believe the only true fix

is to make the etf a changeable number depending on the phone. Say the customer gets a $450.00 phone for $50.00 make the etf start $400.00 then go down in increments per month that amount can be changed per type of phone. Pda/rim to a regular cell. This is the only way I see both sides winning.
besides for the customer service people who have to deal with customers calling in complaining that they got a phone 5 months ago and had an etf of.. 250, and their friend just got the same phone and had an ETF of 200. (retail prices do change)
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bluecoyote

Dec 24, 2009, 12:46 PM

Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg

If you know his history this should explain it all. GREEDY GREEDY.

http://gizmodo.com/5320173/prankster-gets-verizons-c ... »
Clyons

Dec 24, 2009, 8:07 AM

Heres what is the real reason is...

people will go in a add a line to their account and say buy a droid or a blackberry (advanced device) before the ETF was rasied for a rebate price and then cancel that line after a month after the rebate is back. so your looking at like 200 for a phone and then 175 for the cancel, $375. then go on ebay and sell that said phone for anywhere from $400-$600 dollars for someone who wants the phone but not the contract. i think its a sneaky move but a good move by Verizon
That may be true, but to be honest I think it's more then that.

I work as a Sprint Retailer, and one of the easiest ways to sell a phone here and now is to show a customer where and when they are going to make the money back from their ETF. 200 ...
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Cellenator

Dec 24, 2009, 1:23 AM

Told you

ppl are being BENT over on those 1.99 charges they're literally charing you to turn your damn phone on!
First thing I used to do for people who got phones from me was offer to program those shortcuts to what they thought they would need the most.

The real crime is that cell phone sales are so quota/volume driven, that most reps can't slow down to exp...
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info411

Dec 24, 2009, 6:46 AM

Verizon Wireless is afraid of Unions, I don't like unions but ...

I am not a big fan of unions, but what you see is true if you mention about union they will terminate you like the movie "The International"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mACB0s6nfJY »

Don't believe me goto a CORE store and ask a rep about it they will hide like a plague.
muchdrama

Dec 23, 2009, 11:57 PM

Sic em'!

Don't let Verizon get away with its lame "we don't charge customers $1.99 if they accidentally hit their web button" explanation...all you have to do is hit it once, for one friggin' second, and POOF! That'll be $1.99, please.
I tested this on my moms phone and she was not charged for any data as long as she never went past the landing page when launching the mobile web. The problem is that people like to look arounf in Get It Now and they go past the landing page on the w...
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YUP! Damn straight!
mycool

Dec 23, 2009, 11:40 PM

Pleaseeeeeee

I hope the FCC doesn't make Blackberry BOGO go away!
 
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