RECENT DECEPTIVE PRICING FOR ADDING PHONE FOR CHILDREN

Question

We recently got a phone for our daughter becauser her dad was informed by the salesperson it only costs $10 a month.  However, her dad doesn't pay the bills and did not realize there was a separate $30 data charge.  So my 10 year old daugther (whom I wouldn't let have a cell phone, but dad thought it was so cheap and went ahead and got her one) now has a $40/month smart phone, while I have a $20/month basic phone.  She only uses it for texting primarily, so you can imagine I was quite irritated when he came home with it. 
One of her friend's mother's was also informed it was "Only $10" to add the phone for her daughter and is also not stuck with the $40/month bill.  I was so thrilled when the month before Verizon modified their pricing and allowed us to separate the data and texting charges (and they lowered the monthly cost of the voice plan), but then it was a moot point and we lost any savings because of this additional phone.  This is happening in Denver.  Are they doing this now in other areas of the country to make up for lost revenue from the new pricing scheme? 
Other than this issue, I've been totally happy wtih Verizon and their service, but this new marketing tactic is leaving a sour taste in my mouth.   I have not bothered contacting them either.  I figured they were protected by some legal speak that her dad was supposed to read or have seen.  If it had been me, I would have know to ask what the data plan cost was. 

Answer 1

it's not a tactic or scheme or anything like that. it was $10 to add a "line." if he had got a basic phone, it would have only increased your bill by $10. he chose a smart phone. smart phones require the data plan. now, the sales rep may not have been clear enough about adding a smart phone, but technically it's $10 to add a line. it's also clearly stated in the contract that he would have had to sign. i know most of us don't read those, but it's actually fairly small (the entire contract fits on a receipt that about a foot long). unfortunately, you only have 14 days to return a phone and i am assuming your past that. what you CAN do, however, is find an old phone (or buy a cheap, basic phone on ebay or craigslist) and activate it on your daughter's line. at that point you are allowed to drop the data plan. you may have to pay $50-100 for a different phone, but it beats $720 ($30/month for 2 years).
this is what my son has and is more than capable for texting, calls, pics, and videos:
http://www.ebay.com/ctg/LG-Octane-VN530-Dark-brown-Verizon-Cellular-Phone-/102379964?_refkw=lg+octane&_pcatid=801&_odkw=verizon+basic+phone&_pcategid=15032&LH_ItemCondition=2000%7C2500&_osacat=0&_dmpt=Cell_Phones
what i would do is buy one of these and activate it on her line and then either sell the new smartphone (and actually come out ahead) or use it as sort of an ipod on wifi only.