I couldn't agree with you more and don't understand why so many people aren't getting it. Of course companies have the right to make/change their policies as they see fit, but don't forget about your loyal customers and create options for everyone.

For those people who say to instead pick a "simple phone," apparently you haven't looked at them. VW has the WORST selection of all the carriers I've researched. If there was a reasonable option, I wouldn't have been looking at others at all. We have simple needs: phone calls, texting (QWERTY) and camera/video. We do NOT want our children to have unlimited (or any, for that matter) internet access wherever they go. We have strict rules about internet usage in our home and would have no way of keeping our kids safe with Verizon's new mandatory data plans.

By the way, I was told by the VW "customer service" rep (and I use the term loosely) that the phones needed the data plan to work properly, which is why it must be included. When asked if it could be blocked, he said, "yes, but we'll still charge you for it." That was confirmation that this is nothing more than a financial move by Verizon and it offends me as much as the original author.

I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years, including our home phone, FIOS, internet, etc., and they turned their back on me and my family. I don't want something fancy, but also don't want garbage. When you go into the store and ask for a phone that doesn't require the data plan and the sales rep directs you to the far corner of the store and points out three outdated phones, only one having QWERTY, it's more than apparent that someone's being railroaded. Right now we're nursing our old phones until all commitments are up and then will likely walk away . . .and that saddens me.