Verizon bought out alltel - cell phone credit issue!

[Billssuck]

I think I just got my first case of "Credit Check" problem after filing my CH13.

I went to a local Alltel store today (who we have been with over 6 years) to switch out a phone because my old one broke and I had an old spare phone at home that I could use. I asked about switching to a cheaper plan to save us $80/mo when our commitment period is up and found out that eventually everyone who has an Alltel plan will have to convert to a Verizon plan. And that my friends means: CREDIT CHECK TIME!.

I was able to just tell him today that our plan isn't up until December so I could deter him from wanting to do the check now. But what about then? I think they'll run a credit check and then want the maximum deposit to get a new plan because of the CH13 and I have no idea how big that can be. It's unfair really because I have been a faithful paying customer over those 6 years amounting to more than $10K in fees paid on time. It seems everywhere you turn these days, companies are pulling every stunt to take some more money out of my pocket (what little there is).

Has anyone had any good luck with prepaid services and/or tracfones?

I guess this is just the start of my "Credit Check" journey during my plan. Oh the fun of it....

[bk2009]

I don't think the people in the store are all that great (and we've had Alltel a long time as well). But, I've talked with customer service on the phone and what I was told was that there wouldn't really be any change, our plans would just become verizon plans. That's why verizon started the my circle. I'm not worried about it after talking with CS. They likely don't care about the credit since you already have an account and have been making payments. Technically, if you don't take the new phone credit, you can still ride through on your old plan.

BTW - you should be able to call Alltel and switch to a cheaper plan, they allow that at any time without resetting your contract.

[Billssuck]

The manager of the store at Alltel told me that when I switch to the cheaper plan I will have to switch to a Verizon plan (not Alltel) and that they'll have to run a credit check. The reason I want to switch plans is to save the $80/month...going from a smart phone plan down to a family plan. Smart phone plans have a comittment period just like getting a new phone and they have penalties if you opt out early. You can't just get a lesser plan outside of the smart phone plans without having to pay the $200 early termination fee. He says all of the customers will eventually have to do this when they make changes to their plans to get everyone on Verizon.

[bk2009]

I would still call, I've been lied to and mislead by managers and associates alike in the store. I prefer to do most things on the phone with them now.

Not sure about the smart phone, we're on the family plan and I called to change it a few months ago, only it really wouldn't have saved me any b/c it would have dropped me to only five my circle numbers and then I would have been using more than the monthly allotted minutes.

[Billssuck]

I would still call, I've been lied to and mislead by managers and associates alike in the store. I prefer to do most things on the phone with them now.

Not sure about the smart phone, we're on the family plan and I called to change it a few months ago, only it really wouldn't have saved me any b/c it would have dropped me to only five my circle numbers and then I would have been using more than the monthly allotted minutes.

I agree...I've been lied to on several occasions and I know today that this manager was trying to get me to sign up for 2 more years to get a commission on it (I am eligible to sign up for a new plan in 4 days although my plan isn't up until almost December...they'll let you do it 4 months early).

I too am looking at the overall savings...going from 10 My Circles to none in the smallest family share plan and the Nights and Weekends starting two hours later could cause me some problems with minutes. But I need to cut corners and now that my teenager will be off of our plan, I will be able to monitor me and my husband's usage.

But this person today was so convincing that all customers will have to switch to Verizon and will have to eventually start a new plan (including a credit check). What a way to treat loyal customers, eh?

[lrprn]

Try calling Verizon and find out what will happen to the current Alltel contracts when they are switched over and when that will occur. Might give you a better idea of what to expect when it does happen.

[BNKRPTinNC]

Interesting as I also was an Alltel customer and when I went in to exchange a broken phone under warranty bk was never mentioned and they gave me a federal employee discount on my current service. Guess I will have to wait for the next bill to see if bk becomes an issue.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

I wouldn't worry about it. Once you have the initial contract they just try to accommodate their customer. Just go in and act like your stressed out about the merger and your thinking you should go to AT & T. They will throw you right into the plan you want quicker than they can activate your new phone. Verizon Does not want to lose all those Alltel people.