Verizon Disability Policy

Question

My son is legally blind.   When we went to the Verizon store  to replace his VX9100 (the enV) we were told that the new model required a data plan.  Since my son is blind he would have been unable to use the internet feature of the phone.  
We asked if the existing model of the phone was available and we were told that it was not.
We then asked he sales person if the data plan would be required if we obtained the same enV model.   We were told that a data plan would not be required.
When we went to activate the replacement phone Verizon Wireless told us we would incur a $9.95 data plan usage charge.
It seems to me unethical to charge a blind cell phone user a fee for service which he cannot possible user.  
I'm hoping that someone at Verizon will allow my son to go back to his old plan without the data usage.

Answer 1

freedomsearcher wrote:
seriously though, they can't require a person that is blind to pay for something they litterally CAN'T use.  I would take this to a manager< I happen to know that with a full data plan you can remove required plan.  This generally stops picture messages.  But I think it will work in your situation.  The full data block, and a data plan cannot exist together it will auto remove the pkg.
Definitely call a manager, but know that people here have been told that the full data block (called a Nationwide Access block) will NOT remove the mandatory data charge on 3GMM phones that require it.
Should exceptions be made for people with disabilities?  Probably.  Will Verizon do it?  Probably not without a lot of fighting on your end.  If they can require people who never use data to purchase it, that's absolutely no different than requiring a blind person who never uses data to purchase it.  After all, you could use your 25MB/month to listen to some music, couldn't you?
Good luck, and try to get your issue escalated past the basic CSRs at *611, try for a regional manager, I know some folks with mandatory data issues have had success at that level.