Long-Time Customer (time for a change?)

Question

I have been a Verizon customer since 2004.  I have watched as my bill has steadily gone up and up and up.  Which I suppose is to be expected due to cost of living increases over the years.  BUT, are there no "deals" for long-time customers.  Is our dedication worth nothing to Verizon.  After almost 10 years of service from Verizon, I am leaning more and more toward a different carrier.  I just don't know where to go.  My son has an iphone and I just have a "telephone".  My phone is supposed to have all this stuff, but the camera is nasty and I've never been able to access my email (unresolved issue).  I also have one of the slide out keyboards but never use it. The keys are so small that I can never type the words correctly. I forget its there.  All I would really want would be a good phone with a decent camera.  These photos are truly awful.  I don't know what I want anyone on here to do about any of this.  Guess I just wanted to vent.  I may as well ask (if the Verizon Police don't remove this part) if anyone knows of a carrier I could switch to OR if you know of any "deals" Verizon may have.  (yes, I know I could look it up, but I still wouldn't know how much it would REALLY cost me).  I pay approx. $180/mo for current usage.  Does that sound like a good deal?  Thanks!

Answer 1

I too have been a long time customer - about 13 years.  I have never had a problem with VZW until the past year and a half.  I got a Droid 3, based on high recommendations - and I have regretted it ever since.  I have had it replaced THREE times in a year and a half - and considering I had to have a brand new phone replaced within three months with a refurb...that jerks my chain.  Yeah, I know it's in the fine print - but really, it's ridiculous.  So now that I have had four of the same stupid phone that keeps messing up doing the same things (VZW support said there are no known issues - yeah...read for a bit, there are lots) - I put my foot down and asked for a totally different phone.  They sent me a HTC Rhyme which quite honestly, is worse than the Droid.  I can't even run the apps I need on it.  It's useless.  The Droid 3 - their initial solution to the issues - run it in safe mode.  Sure, I paid for a smartphone that I have to use as a regular phone.  What is the point of having a smartphone then??  They didn't even bother to send me a replacement charger for the new phone. 
My upgrade isn't available until July, my contract isn't up until November.  I can upgrade at full price - or hey, I can take my husband's upgrade which he has been hanging on to in order to get an iPhone - it's there, and we'd planned to use it for him.  Why should I have to use his upgrade to correct the problem with the crappy phones they send?  His upgrade is his - that's how it works - I will not use the upgrade he has and is entitled to in order to correct a problem that has been dragging on for a year and a half, that VZW needs to correct once and for all.  Their solution - send another of the same garbage device -
And now they have the $30 upgrade fee. 
Wow, VZW, thanks for appreciating your long time, loyal customers.    I've had it.  I've researched other providers - tmobile coverage isn't good where I live, nor is at&t.  Sprint would be my only other real option - and considering they have the iPhones for HALF of what VZW cost is for upgrade (16 gb for $99 at sprint - $199 here at VZW).  It's all adding up to my saying fix it or I'm out.  This is ridiculous.  There is something to be said for customer loyalty - and I'm sorry, but if you run a business and don't value your customers - well then you deserve to fail.
>> Edited to remove profanity <<
Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator