Disappointment in New Rate Plan

Question

As a long time Verizon user, I have lived with slow software updates and poor global phone selections,but have stuck with Verizon thruout. Now comes this new rate plan that eliminates the Verizon promise made to me of unlimited data forever (come on, I can keep it if I no longer get subsidized phone, really????). If Verizon's objective was to get me to consider other carriers, they have succeeded. Congratulations Verizon!

Answer 1

Tidbits wrote:
How so?  unless you are on a grandfathered plan beyond and all 4 lines are on a smartphone.
Please break down your bill.  I honestly smell something fishy with what you are saying.
Toyota4x4van wrote:
I, too, am finally done with Verizon.  I used to be one of their biggest supporters, but over the past 2 years they have taken every opportunity to screw longtime customers.  Reduce NE2 allowance.  Eliminate NE2.  Eliminate unlimited data.  Throttle that data for those of us "grandfathered" in.  Add $30 upgrade fee just for the "privilege" of signing up for another 2 years.  End "grandfathering".  Force us onto unlimited talk whether we need it or not.  Price shared data plans so that most families will pay more for less.  Re-structure those plans so that anyone with any kind of discount through their employer will lose most if not all of that discount.  This is the final straw.  I was really hoping that the new family data plans would result in a savings, or at least the same price overall.  Instead, I will end up paying at least $20-30 more monthly, for significantly less on my 4-line family plan.  Bye bye, Verizon!
Nothing fishy at all. 
$80 - 2000 minutes family plan
$30 - unlimited text
$39.96 - 4 lines @ $9.99 (3 smartphone and 1 feature phone)
$99.98 - data (2-unlimited @$29.99, 1-2GB @$30)
$239.94 Total before taxes
Now let's look at the new plan structure.
$120 3-smartphones @$40 ea
$30 1-feature phone @$30
$90 8GB data
$240.00 Total before taxes
Same price for less (I lose unlimited data on 2 lines).  However, I also get a discount through my employer for my primary line, and because of the new structure, that discount will be slashed.  My employee discount is 15% on the primary line & access ($80, $30, & $9.99) which is $18, plus 20% on the primary line data ($29.99) which is $6, for a total discount of $24.
$217.93 Total before taxes after discount.  This is what I currently pay.
Now that discount of 15% will only apply to $40 and the 20% data discount will no longer apply at all because the data is shared rather than being for the "primary" line.  So now my discount is $6 instead of $24.
$235.99 Total before taxes after discount.  That's $18 higher (ok, so I was wrong when I said $20-30), and I lose unlimited data on 2 lines.  I don't want or need unlimited calling or mobile hotspot, so I gain nothing.  I will pay more for less.
On the upside(?), I have been told by email from Verizon that family share plans will not be forced into shared data.  When upgrading a line, you will be able to keep individual tiered data plans for each line, however you will lose the unlimited regardless.