I have been a Verizon customer for almost 10 years. Right now I have a family plan. My daughter and I are on it. My daughter loves to text message. I recently checked into the unlimited text messaging Verizon offers. Their unlimited plan for family is $30.00/month. Every other cell phone carrier is charging between $19.95 - $20.00 a month for the same thing. I have contacted Verizon and they say I have raised a good question and told me if I went on their website and sent an e-mail to them I would get a response and that maybe things would change. Well, I never received an e-mail or call back. I have made copies of all other carriers website showing their text messaging pricing and I will be sending it off to Verizon. I am asking all of you to make calls to Verizon about this issue. We are all paying $10.00 a month more than anybody else. If you want, ask them for the address of there main offices and send them a letter with the same information I am sending them. You can call them from your cell at *611 or their 800 number. Please do this and it could save us a lot of money. They say that if they hear from enough people, things could possibly change.
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Text Messaging Plans
- Thread starter Pati
- Start date
I have heard from a reliable source that text messaging costs the phone companies $0.00 for every text message sent or received. They all raised the pay per text rate to .20 cents at the same time.
The way it works is, they piggy back off of the voice mail system to send text messages. So, it really should cost nothing to send or receive a text.
The way it works is, they piggy back off of the voice mail system to send text messages. So, it really should cost nothing to send or receive a text.
no one is pErFeCt
New member
Well, Verizon Wireless IS expensive. It's logical because they have the largest network with the most reliable services available.
They are NOT the only carrier which charges $30 for a family...AT&T also does too. Get Started - | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular
As far as the representative telling you to just email them, this was good advice and does lead to improvements. They do not price match; however. This means just because another carrier charges less...doesn't mean they will...they also won't take pricing concerns into consideration.
They will get back to you. They hope to do it within 24 hours, but due to the Alltel merger, they are overwhelmed...I assure you they'll get back to you.
They are NOT the only carrier which charges $30 for a family...AT&T also does too. Get Started - | Wireless from AT&T, formerly Cingular
As far as the representative telling you to just email them, this was good advice and does lead to improvements. They do not price match; however. This means just because another carrier charges less...doesn't mean they will...they also won't take pricing concerns into consideration.
They will get back to you. They hope to do it within 24 hours, but due to the Alltel merger, they are overwhelmed...I assure you they'll get back to you.
If that is so, it has been the longest 24 hours that I have ever seen. It has been 2 months since I have sent the e-mail. As far as AT&T, they are
$20.00 /month for unlimited messaging on a family plan. I have checked every other carrier and have made copies of their web pages. I have heard all the garbage over the years about the largest network. It may be true, but it is no reason to have text messaging $10.00 more a month than anybody else. You never hear of anybody having problems with text messaging unless it is a problem with their phone.
$20.00 /month for unlimited messaging on a family plan. I have checked every other carrier and have made copies of their web pages. I have heard all the garbage over the years about the largest network. It may be true, but it is no reason to have text messaging $10.00 more a month than anybody else. You never hear of anybody having problems with text messaging unless it is a problem with their phone.
I just provided you a link showing their pricing: $30.
There is what is called a carrier scale. This scale sets up the amount each wireless carrier, based on percentage of U.S. land area covered, can charge. It states the minimum and maximum each carrier can charge. Both carriers are identical as far as pricing (except AT&T has rollover).
Messaging For Families
The above is the link. You will have to enter Zipcode first.
As far as an email you sent them, they probably had no intentions of replying to it. It involved pricing which isn't the carriers place to respond to.
There is what is called a carrier scale. This scale sets up the amount each wireless carrier, based on percentage of U.S. land area covered, can charge. It states the minimum and maximum each carrier can charge. Both carriers are identical as far as pricing (except AT&T has rollover).
Messaging For Families
The above is the link. You will have to enter Zipcode first.
As far as an email you sent them, they probably had no intentions of replying to it. It involved pricing which isn't the carriers place to respond to.
"As far as an email you sent them, they probably had no intentions of replying to it. It involved pricing which isn't the carriers place to respond to."
Nick, above you say it is not the carriers place to respond to pricing. If it is not the carriers place then who's place is it???
Doesn't the carrier make up the pricing??
You're right. I probably should have stated they just won't do it since it's about pricing. The carrier makes up most of the pricing, but are regulated about how they do so. Notice how most (99%) of AT&T's and Verizon's pricing is exactly the same. Then look at Sprint and T-Mobile...also somewhat similar. Then look at Metro PCS and CriKet...once again, all similar. They can charge a minimum amount, as required by the FCC, based on the total value of their network and customer service combined.
Sprint and T-Mobile = similar type networks
Metro PCS and CriKet = similar type networks
AT&T and Verizon = similar type networks
By type I mean value...not actual type (i.e. not GSM vs. CDMA)
Also, keep in mind wireless carriers are not allowed to consider customer feedback as far as marketing...which does kind of include pricing of their plans.
Sprint and T-Mobile = similar type networks
Metro PCS and CriKet = similar type networks
AT&T and Verizon = similar type networks
By type I mean value...not actual type (i.e. not GSM vs. CDMA)
Also, keep in mind wireless carriers are not allowed to consider customer feedback as far as marketing...which does kind of include pricing of their plans.
Good point made there, but again I think Verizon's just taking a step in which others will eventually do as well. They claim it because they have the best network. Most of the carriers have raised per text fees this year, probably hoping it will lead more sign on for monthly text package plans. One more solution could be to switch to another service provider. I was just doing my own analysis yesterday on our bill, one could really benefit from checking cell phone plans to see if we could save money by switching to a plan that better fits our usage patterns.
Just Michellee ...
New member
As much as I would be the first to agree that VZW is on the pricey side, I still believe that they have the best service. I also have a family plan that includes myself, my wife and my son. In the grand scheme of things, I really don't think $30 is that bad for unlimited texting to anyone, on any network.
On the cost of texting
Yes, I heard this as well, that it is under a cent to send a text. I find it greedy and appalling that these companies (I recently switched to Verizon)
are making a fortune at the expense of their customers. I rarely use texting, but I might under some situations. I am peeved at the cost and avoid using it.
I have recently read that the government is looking into this. I am hoping that there will be some intervention on behalf of wireless customers to remedy this. It's just another rip-off!
Please read: The New York Times link.http://http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/28digi.html?scp=1&sq=cost%20of%20text%20messaging&st=cse