Verizon Gift Card Trade in Program is a SCAM!!!!

My family and I have been a VZ customers since we purchased our first cell phones over 12 years ago. We always buy in to the upgrade program and purchase new phones and all the goodies that come with them like good little consumers. I have converted numerous AT&T friends and family members to Verizon and this is how I get repaid for my loyalty...
We upgraded to the new Droid in August and received these email in September.
Your trade-in information — KEEP FOR REFERENCE
Submission ID: 5268135
Device Model: Dare
Appraised Value: $100
Your trade-in information — KEEP FOR REFERENCE
Submission ID: 5483216
Device Model: Dare
Appraised Value: $100
I received this email then end of September for only “one” of the phones?
..."We have determined that the value of your device matches your appraised value. You will receive your Verizon Wireless Gift Card in the mail within the next three weeks." I received the card in December!
Now this is the scam/run around I am getting in regard to my second phone we returned... (remember this all started in August 2011!)
I never received an email, phone, letter or any other correspondence from Verizon regarding the 2nd phone we sent in so I started calling them.
First call 12/5/11:Verizon… haven’t received phone yet. I gave them the tracking number as I was tracking it online myself. It was delivered in September! Apology for the delay it will be processed and mailed to you tomorrow 12/6/11.           NO CARD, NO EMAIL, NO PHONE CALL.
Second call 1/11/12 Verizon: it went to the wrong department but we will submit the request and have it mailed out to you with in the next 24 to 48 hours.           NO CARD, NO EMAIL, NO PHONE CALL.
Third call 1/17/12 Verizon: (this is now the 5th person I have talked to) I get transferred to “STERLING” a so called “supervisor” in the Trade In Department in Nashville. I am, again, told the phone was sent to our donation department and so we can not send you the $100 Gift Card! THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!
I asked to speak his supervisor, Sterling told me he was the supervisor. I asked to speak to his superior. (which I have done on each and every call only to be told some one will call me back with the next 24 to 48 hours and not once did I get a call back from any one at Verizon!) This self-righteous jerk told me it wouldn’t matter who I talked to I won’t get my $100 Gift Card.
I have had 4 people tell me they are they were sorry for the delay and confusion and one person, named Megan in Nashville, told me that the phone did get sent to the donation department in error but they would honor the $100 gift card anyway. Ironically the last phone call I made to Verizon on 1/11/12 when I spoke to Megan isn’t on record…hummmm, sounds a little fishy to me. I get my hands on that recording and ever other one and we’ll just see how “SUPERIOR” Mr. Sterling really is.
Now, is it just me or did I get totally screwed here? Believe me, it won’t end here.
I WILL GET MY $100 GIFT CARD IF I HAVE TO FLY TO NASHVILLE TO GET IT!!!!!

this is the lates news. In a fit of anger I sent 4 emails one right after the other to the "Contact Us" email on their website:
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:52:26 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Other (WFM86708538)
Good evening Jody ,
My name is Monica, and I am sorry for the delayed response, due to the overwhelming emails we are currently behind our 24-hour response time.(No kidding? As we both well know...we are not alone in this ridiculousness) I apologize for any inconvenience, this may have caused. I attempted to contact you today 1/20/2012 at approximately 8:45 pm MDT at the provided contact number and unfortunately missed speaking to you directly. I hope you receive my voicemail message. I am sorry to learn you did not receive the $100.00 Verizon Wireless gift card. I can definitely assist you with your inquiry regards to the $100.00 Verizon Wireless Gift card.
In tracking the status on the Trade in Website (Submission ID: 5268135 ), the incorrect envelope might have been used when returning the device to our Trade in Department. Which is why the device was received in our Central warehouse and not the Trade in Department. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I can apply the credit of $100.00 to your wireless account for the second phone that was mailed to the incorrect Department.
Please contact me on my direct line, my name again is Monica. My direct line is 505-999-5300 extension 6998. I am in the office Monday -Friday. My office hours are as follows:
Monday through Friday 2:00 pm -11:00 pm (Mountain Time)
Jody, please contact me so that I may resolve your issue. Thank you for being a loyal customer since 1998! We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless. Should you have additional questions or feel your concerns are not resolved, please reply to this e-mail or contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Monica
Verizon Wireless, Customer Service
Internet Response Team
Hello Monica,
I am very sorry I missed your call on Friday. By the time I checked my email you were gone.
I left you a VM at 12:03pm today forgetting about the time change and your hours.
I will be available to take your call until 5:00pm Pacific Time today and will expecting your call.
Just so you understand and I to make myself perfectly clear Monica, I absolutely DO NOT want you to reiterate Verizon’s excuse as to why this entire situation occurred. I have wasted enough of my precious time on this ridiculousness. I just want you to tell me you have credited my account the $100.00 and give me a conformation number.
After seeing the outpour of other Verizon Wireless customers posting the same anger and frustration at the lack of customer service and dissatisfaction with your Trade In Program I just hope that someone in charge of this whole debacle will take responsibility for the abuse your loyal customers have gone through and fix it!!!!
As I said, I will look forward to your call and the resolution.
Sincerely,
Jody Price

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Will apple credit to my account gift card for recycling program

will apple credit to my account gift card for recycling program

If you mean the program Apple runs with partner companies to send in some computers and iOS devices, you will get an Apple Store gift card for the value. I don't know what you mean by "credit to your account", but this program has nothing to do with the iTunes Store. Apple explains the program, at least as it's constitued in the US, here:
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If that doesn't answer your question, please post back and clarify.
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Trade-In Program is a SCAM!

I traded in my BRAND NEW 4S to upgrade to a 5S, thus renewing my contract with Verizon, the trade in was appraised at $200.00. I got my envelope, put the old phone in the green bag... the green bag in the envelope... and off it went, via USPS. A month later, I get a notification that they haven't received my device yet. I sent an email requesting more information, which was never responded to. A week later, I called in and was told that my phone was never received, and that my call would be escalated to a supervisor. The guy I talked to couldn't tell me how long it would take to hear from a supervisor "maybe a week?" ... talk about a crappy customer service experience. It's been over a week and I never heard back from a supervisor, however this morning I received an email stating that my trade in was received and I was only getting $36.02 because my device WON'T POWER ON. It was in perfect condition when I mailed it out, and I cleared the history like I was told to via factory reset.
So - lets talk about this for a minute here - and assume that it was damaged in transit for whatever reason. Seeing as it shipped on Verizon's pre-paid account, shouldn't be able to file a shipping claim with USPS? Because it didn't ship on my account, I cannot do that.
Let's also talk about how horrible the response from Verizon customer support is, and how they're now ruined my son's first Christmas. The $200 trade in value for the perfect 4S that I mailed back was put aside for his Christmas presents, which we now cannot purchase because some nobody can't figure out how to turn an iPhone on. Did you try charging it? I'd prefer to have you mail me back my phone, keep your $36, and I want to cancel my verizon contract so that I can go to AT&T. This is NOT the type of service I would expect after 5+ years with Verizon.
I hope you read this, Verizon - THANK YOU FOR RUINING OUR CHRISTMAS with your horrible SCAM. For your viewing pleasure, I've attached a picture of my beautiful baby boy, who's first Christmas you've ruined... I hope that putting a face to the people you screw out of hundred of dollars will help evoke some empathy, but I doubt it.
Sincerely, The Lourinia Family

bri7281 wrote:
Call it what you want. They will give you $20.00 for a phone that they will turn around and sell for $350.00. Sounds like a scam to me. Not for nothing, the credit received is a Verizon gift card. I'm giving them the money right back. I will be looking at Craigslist. I hadn't thought about that right away. I just get upset when these enormous companies have no idea what customer service is and refuse to take care of existing customers.
It's an OPTIONAL program, that Verizon recently put into effect. I still don't understand how you can be upset about this, but I guess people will get upset about anything really. This isn't a "scam" - a scam would have been if you were quoted $150 for your used phone, and they only gave you $20. That's not what happened. I do agree that the amounts they offer for phones is absolutely absurd. I got quoted $8 for my perfect condition EnV3. Seriously? I sold it on Craigslist for $150. Some people have actually used this program to get extra money towards an upgraded phone. I think it's great if you want to trade in an old phone that you'll never use for a little money. I, however, would rather donate most of my old working phones to women's shelters. To each their own.

Verizon Wireless Trade-In Program is a scam!

I recently traded in my iPhone 4s as part of Verizon's Recycling Program. I activated a temporary phone on the line until I received the gift card via email. Having received it, I attempted to purchase a new phone to replace the temporary one, but apparently I can only do so at full retail cost. I was never told that this would be an issue for me. In fact, I expressly asked if this could affect my contract in any way, and was told that it would not. I was given the assurance that all I had to do was perform a Device Swap, much like I did to activate the temporary phone, which by the way was no problem at all - it was a breeze!
Obviously, there are communication problems between the Recycling Program and the rest of VZW. I spoke with multiple representatives at the Recycling Program, who checked my account and never notified me that I would have to pay full retail cost on a new phone. This is absolutely ridiculous! And of course, I cannot get my iPhone back.

Totally true... I sent in my PERFECTLY working phone (VERY VERY (removed) about keeping my phone working 100%) and I received an email saying the phone would not turn on even though my phone worked 100%!!!!! I have a Verizon Wireless employee that inspected my phone before shipping and he will vouch for me. This is complete **, this program is a scam. I have called NUMEROUS times about reaching a solution but NO ONE has helped me.
Comment edited as required by the Terms of Service.
Message was edited by: Admin Moderator

Trade In Program is a Scam - DO NOT USE

I sent in my iPhone 4s 64G, which was in perfect condition (no scratches, dings, cracks, perfect working order, etc.), and I even hand polished my fingerprints off of it prior to putting it into the envelope to send it to Verizon.
I sent in my phone to Verizon October 4, 2013 and have not received my "gift card" to date, so I decided to check the status today December 7, 2013. The current status shows that my phone appraised at $220 was adjusted to $151.01. The Adjustment Reason field is BLANK. Therefore, Verizon dropped $70 off my appraisal for no reason. I feel like Verizon pulled a fast one on me and I feel like a fool for being tricked by this scam. I could have gotten more than $150 if I'd sold it online and I would have received cash and not a gift card.
Verizon has some serious explaining to do if they intend to keep my business going forward. I currently spend almost $400/month on Verizon Services. What bean counter decided that saving $70 was worth losing $400/month in business???

Well it looks like Verizon heard me and I received a gift card for $220.01 the other day. Now I find out I can't apply it to my bill since I have a Onebill account. So frustrating. I tried calling Verizon to see if there is a work around, but they keep dropping my call. Anyone else had any luck using the gift card to pay their Onebill accounts?

Can you use an itunes gift card to purchase your monthly data plan? For example, if I want to turn on verizon data for $20 this month could I use a gift card?

I have this question too

No, that would not work.
Verizon would not accept an Apple iTunes Gift Card for payment on your data plan and Apple would not accept a Verizon Gift Card for payment in the App Store or iTunes.
They are two different vendors that only accept their own gift cards in their own stores.

Trade-in Program Experience

Thought I would share my Verizon Trade-in Experience with others after seeing all the past posts about the pains and struggles they've gone through.
I was one of the first to pre-order an iPhone 6 through the Verizon Wireless website. Beforehand I had heard about the 'Free iPhone 6' offer through trade-in of a previous generation of iPhone. I actually contacted Verizon Wireless Customer Support beforehand and asked for clarification on the offer. While most of the information I got from that conversation was valid, I did get the impression initially that this was only for the iPhone 6 16GB and not an offer against any iPhone. I was also told that the iPhone 6 pre-order went live at 12pm EDT and not 12pm PDT. It was also important to note that the customer service rep was a big proponent of using the mail-in method for the Rebate Program and they would send a pre-paid/pre-addressed package to mail my iPhone back to the Verizon Device Recycling Center. He told me that I could still take my phone to a Verizon Wireless store but why would I when the mail-in process was much more convenient.
Nonetheless, I pre-ordered my iPhone 6 16GB on Friday, September 12th without issues and subsequently filed a Trade-In Submission in which I got my device appraised and the shipping materials were then sent out to me. If I had known at that time that the Trade-in Offer was valid for ANY iPhone 6 purchase then I would have pre-ordered the iPhone 6 64GB. But by the time I tried to change my order, it pushed my ship date into mid October so I kept my original order intact. For background information, I was trading in an iPhone 4s and the appraised value was $200. I received both my iPhone 6 16GB and the shipping materials on the same day, Friday, September 19th. Based on my first impressions of the shipping materials, I should have changed my mind and brought in my phone for Trade-In at the Verizon store. The package was equivalent to one of those shipping envelopes with bubble wrap lined on the inside. I would have initially thought that the shipping materials would be something similar to what my iPhone 6 was shipped in, a shipping box with insulation inside. I actually still had my old iPhone original box that I could have put it in as well before putting it into the box which I couldn't with this smaller shipping envelope. Also I noticed there were no tracking numbers on the envelope, just my submission ID printed on the label as well as the trade-date. I actually took photos of the final package so I could reference it later but there was no way to track it in-transit.
Nevertheless, I shipped it anyways to the Verizon Device Recycling Center in Bloomington, IN that following Monday, September 22nd. Over the subsequent weeks, I would periodically check the status and for the next 3 weeks the status was always 'Device not received'. After so many weeks I thought my Device was lost in the mail. Finally one day I saw a status change and it was received! Although my excitement quickly turned into shock when I saw the final trade-in value was $76! I looked over at the adjustment reason and the claim was that the SIM tray was broken or missing. This seemed like a much different description of my iPhone 4s. The iPhone 4s that I mailed in was in mint condition before I put it in the shipping envelope. To top it off the SIM tray couldn't have been broken prior to shipping since I had to remove the SIM card before shipping and was sure to push the tray back in before packaging. I followed all the instructions that were sent with the Shipping Materials from removing all personal date/password to disabling the Find My iPhone feature.
As many customers have mentioned prior, I experienced all the typical emotions based on what I thought was going to be a straight forward and fair process. I was enraged, disappointed, shocked, and confused. I immediately when to the Contact Us tab of the Verizon Device Recycling Program homepage and submitted my feedback and request. I also scoured the web to see if I was the minority and was surprised to see complaints across Verizon for the Trade-in program even much prior to the iPhone 6 offer. At the time, I kicked myself for not checking this out earlier.
Over the past week I've been researching and searching for the best approach to get this resolved. I tried calling the Verizon Device Recycling Program customer support by phone but could never get through, not even to leave a message. There was no easy way to email customer support and I didn't have time to sit on hold during the long queuing times with Customer Support. I thought about my negotiation and complaint tactics, consideration to leave Verizon Wireless after being a customer for over 10 years, demand for proof that my phone was really in the condition stated, sending photos of my phone just days before I shipped working and SIM tray intact.
Then from out of the blue yesterday I received a couple of emails. The first was an email that a courtesy credit was on its way. It informed me that they were sorry I was not satisfied with the program and a courtesy credit will be processed and sent via email. The subsequent email were two gift cards, one for the amount of the final trade-in value which was $76 and the other for the remaining difference of $124.
In summary, I think there is something fundamentally wrong with the Verizon Trade-in process that needs to be fixed. But thank you Verizon Wireless customer support for listening to my complaint, I thought my message through the website was going to go unanswered and that I would have to talk to someone physically on the phone and inevitably talk to multiple tiers of managers to get anything resolved. I am satisfied with the resolution, a little pain staking but the company did the right thing for the customer. I hope everyone who has had similar issues gets a similar resolution, so that even though processes might be broken, customer service is still alive and well.

You are not alone.
Re: Verizon Trade In Program Failure
I mailed a phone in on 25 Nov and on 5 DEC received an email that they received it and nothing since. All the status checks on line and with their trade in Customer Service say they never received it.
Twice I was told all they could do was elevate my issue and I would receive an email status in 72 hours. Neither time I got a response. The last time, they told me I had to wait 2 – 6 weeks for a response to elevation of my issue.
Verizon Customer service response was to tell me there was nothing they could do and contact the trade in customer service - despite me telling them the trade in customer service has been unresponsive.
Verizon and their trade-in subcontractor keeps you powerless to do anything and continue to hold us hostage with no recourse.

Trade in program

I am not sure if this is the right area to ask this question but here it goes. I am wanting to switch from ATT to Verizon and was going through the trade in program. I am wondering if there is a way i can trade in multiple phones at the same time or if I have to do the process 1 by 1. Thank you for your help.

Verizon's trade-in progam is basically just a reseller that provides Verizon gift cards in exchange for used phones. As far as I'm aware, you can send in as many used phones as you have.

Rebate Gift Cards Exceed Monthly Invoice Amount?

My wife and I just upgraded to a new iPhone 6 and an iPhone 6 Plus. We traded in our old iPhone 4 phones and received our rebate Verizon Gift Cards. My wife only received $36 because they said the screen was cracked, but we are appealing that since it wasn't cracked when we put it into the mail. I received $200 so as of now we have $236 available on the two gift cards. I would like to credit the entire amounts to our billing but I'm wondering how it will be handled since our monthly bill is only $136. If I credit both gift cards against next month's billing, will it automatically carry the additional $100 forward to the next billing cycle? Also, I have our billing set up on autopay so not sure if/how that will impact anything???

Great questions, Sophieshusband! I hope you enjoy your gift cards. The cards are designed to debit only the amount posted against them. So if you choose to pay $100.00 off one and $5.00 off the other, that's the amount deducted from the balance of each.
As for the Autopay, you can pay whatever amount is due. If there's any balance left, the Autopay service will sweep the rest to leave a zero balance on the account.
DionM_VZW
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/vzwsupport

Gift Card won't apply as payment?

I have a Verizon gift card (device recycling) that I've tried to apply to my statement, but I keep getting an error message to try again later.

We need to get this resolved for you, graygables. Where are you trying to complete your payment? The automated system via the phone(#PMT) or vzw.com? We can take the payment for you if you are still unable to apply the gift card towards your bill.
ChaunceyM_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport.

Please explain why I have not received my $200 iPhone 6 Trade In Promo Gift card. I sent it to Trade In Center in packaging sent to me by Verizon on November 26, 2014. I have called the Trade In Support team 877-835-2024 to check status and receive a di

Please explain why I have not received my $200 iPhone 6 Trade In Promo Gift card. I sent it to Trade In Center in packaging sent to me by Verizon on November 26, 2014. I have called the Trade In Support team 877-835-2024 to check status and receive a different response each time I call. 1)it was received and it takes weeks/months to perform analysis on the device 2) you sent it to the wrong address 3) just wait 4) i will 'expedite' your issue. I've asked to speak with supervisors and the CSR will not let me speak with anyone confirming 'you will just be told the same thing I am telling you'. Well - nothing ever comes of it. Please assist. I have been a Verizon customer for years and am frustrated with the lack of customer care. Like many others I am ready to switch carriers.

I wanted to add my voice to the growing chorus of people complaining about VZW's trade in program. i received the exact same excuse for denying the full value of my perfectly good and DEACTIVATED iphone 4s.
i DID manage to get through to the trade in team, and after explaining the situation, i was told that my problem could be escalated the the tech team. the anonymous trade-in woman transfers me to the normal VZW cust support line... huh?
i wait again and finally get through. unlike the trade-in woman, the cust support rep immediately identifies himself. willie was as helpful as he was allowed to be, but sadly, that wasn't very much. the trade in people and VZW hold all of the cards.
THEY say that the de-activation lock wasn't turned off, i say it was.
there is no way to prove either assertion.
there is no appeal.
they just deny, deny, deny, as evidenced by all of the other complaints posted here and elsewhere.
willie WAS able however, to get me an additional credit for my 'inconvenience'.
while i genuinely appreciate his effort on my behalf, it doesn't absolve the company from the way they handle the trade-in program, whether it's farmed out to a 3rd party or not.
i will be filing complaints with the PSC, BBB, and NYS Att'y General.

$200 Trade In Gift Card Offer with Verizon Edge

I was informed by two Best Buy associates that I could trade in any working smartphone for a $200 gift card that could be applied toward a purchase of a Galaxy S5 or a Note 4. Both associates told me that the gift card could be used for a two year contract renewal or the Verizon Edge program. If I chose to go with Verizon Edge then the gift card and any cash that I wanted to put toward the retail cost of the phone would be applied before the net difference was spread over a 24 month period and would reduce the monthly amount payable to Verizon for the phone cost. .
I bought a black Note 4 last week and renewed for two years at that time but the Edge program was offered at that time and I was told it would be reduced with the $200 gift card from the trade in. I went back to my local Best Buy store to return it because they now had a white phone in stock which they did not have last week. Also, since last week Verizon has also reduced their data plans and I now have a 10GB plan so wold qualify for the $25 discount per phone line instead of $15 with the 6GB plan. When I went to return the phone I told the representative what I wanted to accomplish and they said it would be no problem to apply the gift card, cash and change to the Edge plan.
When it got to the point to apply the gift card from the return and the cash I had previously paid they told me they could not do that and I would have to either pay the full retail price for the phone or spread the $749.99 cost across 24 months. They showed me on their screen that they did not have the capability to apply the payment.
Why was I told by two other associates that this was possible and was the representative tonight correct in saying it is not possible to apply the reduction. She did say that if I had bad credit and Verizon required a down payment that she could then accept a payment to reduce the cost of the phone but becuase I had good credit she could not do so. She then offered to put the price of the phone on a credit card which I would then have to pay monthly.
Please advise.

Greetings djcarree,
I realize this may not be the answer you were hoping for, but avm5689 is correct: Best Buy gift cards cannot be applied as payment towards devices on Verizon Edge, AT&T Next, or Sprint Easy Pay plans. To apply any gift card to the purchase of a mobile phone, customers must purchase the device as a traditional upgrade (incurring any applicable activation fees) or as a replacement device at its full retail price. Full details on how Verizon Edge plans work can be found here:
Common Questions About Verizon EDGE
That said, it's disappointing to read you may have received misinformation regarding available payment options during your initial visit. We rely on our in-store reps to provide accurate and detailed information on our partner's services and our own policies, so it's disconcerting to learn of situations where that expectation may not have been met.
If you're still in need of assistance and have not already done so, I'd encourage you to return to your local store when the have the chance. As I mentioned above, you'll need to re-purchase your Note 4 as either a replacement device or traditional upgrade in order to apply your trade-in gift cards towards the sale. Please also note that mobile phones can only be returned or exchanged within 14 days of the purchase date, and that additional carrier restrictions may apply.
BestBuy.com > Help Center > Return & Exchange Promise
http://bbyurl.us/RTE
Thank you for your understanding, as well as for taking the time to post.
Aaron|Social Media Specialist | Best Buy® Corporate
Private Message

Just canceled iphone 6, beware of Verizon Trade in program. Regret it all.

Today has been the 2 week mark since I first used Verizon's trade in program. I canceled my sprint ( $100 ETF ) and decided to move over to Verizon since they were offering a $200 Gift Card if I traded in my Iphone 5. Sounded like a great deal, and I went ahead and switched over and got a new Iphone 6 from Verizon.
Fast forward 2 weeks later to today, I noticed an email saying my device had not been received. I decided to go online and chat with a woman who informed me that the email was automated, but I should wait at least 6 weeks. 6 weeks is not an acceptable time frame in my opinion, so I told her I would cancel my service if they can not at least locate my phone. They were unable to locate my phone, and claim is still has not been received.
I looked around the forums here, and low and behold a number of users are claiming they sent in perfectly working devices only to be given a $36 Gift Card because of a cracked screen. They are unable to locate the phones for tons of users, and this really worries me. She also let me know that there is no tracking number whatsoever on the package. As a consumer, I find this completely unacceptable.
Hoping they could offer further help, I went to my local Verizon store here in Battle Creek, MI. I informed the manager Cam that I was planning on returning the phone because I feel that my trade in was being mishandled and pointed him to the forums where users were complaining about the program. While talking with Cam I noticed a couple checking out the Iphones, and the Verizon rep in the store, who was a very nice gentelman was explaining the trade in program. I could not help myself from saying out loud not to trust the brown envelope that they give you since there is no tracking and I believe my phone was possibly lost or stolen and that I would not receive any credits.
Cam immediately told me to leave, threatened to call the police and told me that I was soliciting. I explained to Cam that I was here for a return, not to solicit a sale of any kind and that I too was a Verizon customer and was only sharing information on the trade in from my experience with other fellow Verizon customers. He asked me not to say it again or he would call the police, so I childishly said brown bag a few times before quietly waiting to be helped. The return was processed after this, and I argued the $35 activation fee be removed from my account and I also argued the $35 restocking fee because they did not hold up their end of the trade in deal.
I realize that I am being fairly impatient here, with it only being 2 weeks and I did overreact a little after the police were threatened. I do however lack any sympathy for Verizon not being able to process these trades in a timely manner. They knew well ahead of time that the Iphone 6 was going to cause a ton of trade ins and they could have been more readily prepared.
After I returned home, I got online and spoke to Zach from Verizon who I tried a second time to have the activation and restocking fee returned to me. He told me that it was fair charge and would not be removed so I gave in and agreed that it was my fee to pay. I want to share a few excerpts with my chat with Zach because although he is a Verizon employee, he admited to me the faults of the trade in system.
Visitor: At least just the activation should be waived, since I was paying to activate a phone I had for 2 years, not 2 weeks.
Zach: Well those fees are valid charges so they're not something I can waive. The activation fee is for new line activation and that?s waived if returned within 3 days but your paying for a line of service to be activated.... which it was. As far as the restocking fee goes that charge is to recoup some of the costs that we incur because you've returned that device. That phone can no longer be sold as new because it's been opened and used and since you returned that for a full refund of the purchase amount we end up losing money on that return so that $35 fee is assessed. None of these fees were charged in error. I'm sorry that this was the decision that you felt you had to come to especially when this would have ended up with you getting the credit for that trade in within a couple of weeks.
Zach: We could have helped you research that submission and work with the trade in center to find your device but you made the decision to go ahead and cancel service and return the phone so that limits what we could have done in that case since it's already been cancelled/returned.
Visitor: I see you are all about the money, glad to no longer be a customer then.
Visitor: You are lying on that last post Zach.
Visitor: The trade in submission is a completely seperate process than me buying the iphone and returning it.
Visitor: So you are not willing to help me, because you can't find my phone.
Zach: You're right about that process, and though I can't find your phone we can partner with the trade-in team to work out a solution.
Visitor: I am filing a complaint against Verizon with the Better Business Bureau and I will name you as one of the people who went out of their way to not help me.
Visitor: I can not believe I just read that you could have helped me, but won't since I returned the phone.
Visitor: That was flat out wrong, you deserve to be punished for that misinformation.
Zach: I'm not saying I won't help you. I'm saying that our options are now more limited because you returned that device.
Visitor: That is not an accurate statement.
Visitor: The options are exactly the same as they were.
Visitor: You can search by submission ID, phone number, and email, which provides no results.
Visitor: Your other option, calling the trade in department, is also still available.
Visitor: Those were your 2 options before and after I returned the phone, and those are still the same 2 options you have now. The fact that your company goes out of your way to argue ridiculous points makes me 100% happy I returned my device while I had a chance to.
Visitor: Now I want my phone back.
Visitor: The iphone 5 that is.
Zach: Well, not exactly. Your trade-in would have been worth $200 with a iPhone 6 purchase, however since that phone has been returned and service has been cancelled then the trade in value may be less. Have you contacted the trade in center at all about the device you shipped to them?
Visitor: No that should be your job, I'm right here on the website that had me use the cheap brown evnvelope in the first place.
Visitor: if you go check the forums on verizon
Visitor: people are straight up trashing the trade in system
Zach: In my experience it takes about 3-4 weeks. 6 tops
Visitor: $36 for broken devices given out to people that sent in working phones
Visitor: other phones never being received
Visitor: it's all over the verizon forums
Visitor: did this worry me? yes
Visitor: and did it have an affect on me returning the phone? absolutely
Visitor: and the reason is that not ONE verizon rep replied with a solution, 1 guy was credited the $200 and they still claim they never got his phone
Visitor: the rest of the people are out of luck, and they will not help them
Visitor: this should be reported to the FCC too
Zach: Can I offer you a personal suggestion?
Visitor: i'm going to talk to a lot of people tomorrow
Zach: Not necessarily the VZW suggestion but from one person to another?
Visitor: sure
Zach: Call the 877-247-3846 number (the trade in program support center) and ask to speak to a manager and escalate the issue through them. Have them give you a timeline on when to expect an answer. If that timeline is not met, then escalate again. I've had to do this, I don't tell a lot of customers that because it doesn't look good but I think it's important in this conversation that you know that I have been through the exact same situation.
Visitor: Alright thank you Zach
Zach: And I was able to get it resolved after about a month from the time I sent it in but it took me having to follow up. I hate that you may have to do the same thing and I hope you have an easier experience than I did... my situation was almost two years ago so I expect that to be better and I hope it is for you
Visitor: I do appreciate the help you've given. Unfortunately I'm out a $35 activation, a $35 restocking fee and a $100 ETF from sprint. It's too little too late, I guess I can pay my wifes bill with the gift card since I no longer have a cell phone.
Zach: You're very welcome, I did add the 1GB of free data and the 50% off your $40 smartphone charge which will be reflected on your bill moving forward as my way of saying sorry for the mess and I know it doesn't fix everything but I hope it at least helps in letting you know that I do care about your experience.
Visitor: I really screwed myself for work, and talking to my family and everhthing. Lost my phone number that I had for the last 8 years.
Zach: Well, I wouldn't give up on the trade in just yet. and that 50% off saves you $240 over the next year. So it's every little bit that I could do.
Zach: Well.... here's this....
Visitor: It doesn't matter, my cell phone number that I had for almost a decade is out in the wild now. It's quite depressing thinking about everything honestly.
Zach: We can reactivate that line of service that you just cancelled
Zach: was that the number you're worried about?
Zach: the 419 number?
Visitor: yeah
Zach: What if we reactivate that and then get you a phone ordered from our system?
And then it hit me, even Verizon admits the faults with the system trade in system. I wish I would have been more patient and I wish I never returned the phone, and I almost wanted to say yes to Zach activating me a new phone. I overreacted in this situation, but I'm just so stubborn sometimes I wouldn't back down. I felt like threatening Verizon with canceling was going to get me farther with figuring out my trade in credit, and at the end of the day it only cost me more money.
So now I'm out of:
$78 Last month bill to Sprint ( Only used 1 week of this month, but they will not prorate since I was under contract )
$100 Early Termination Fee to Sprint
$35 Activation Fee from Verizon
$35 Restocking Fee from Verizon
Out a Total of $248, have no phone at the moment and my Sprint Iphone 5 that I sent in has still supposedly just vanished into thin air. I'm mad at myself for trying to stand up as a consumer and say no, because at the end of the day I was happy with my device. I guess I'm going to go without a phone for awhile and think about my poor choices in this whole situation, if I could go back in time I would have just waited and kept the phone. Hopefully this helps someone else out because I spent a lot of hard earned money and time on this whole ordeal.

They do not know where your phone is yet because it has not had enough time to go through the process yet. I also started to worry when two weeks had passed and my iPhone 5S was still showing not received on the status website. That's when I joined this forum to see if anyone else was having the same problem. What I found out was that some people had been given reduced value for their trade in, but I also found posts from people like myself that were worried that their phone was lost and then came back and posted a week or two later that they had received their gift card.
I decided to chill and give it some time and about a week later my gift card arrived. If it had been for less than the promised amount I would no doubt still be upset and posting about it like the many posts I still see on here on a regular basis.
This is no doubt a popular program for Verizon. I would imagine there have been thousands of phones traded in. There are going to be at least some screw ups in the process. There is no point in getting ahead of yourself and assuming your case will be one of the screw ups unless it already is. Verizon has been consistently posting that it could take 4-6 weeks for processing. You will at some point likely hear the status on your traded-in phone. Patience would not hurt in this case.

Verizon Gift Card Trade in Program is a SCAM!!!!

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