basically, if your phone supports internet,

you HAVE to pay the $30 (maybe it's $29) for the data package


and if it's your kids phone, and you don't want them on the 'net, you have to call and BLOCK IT.

and, almost all phones have 'net on them now, so you are forced to pay it.


buddy has 3 teenagers, with 5 phones, that will be $150 in data charges.

what are you guys doing to control your family's phone bills?

 

I don't let my kids have cell phones. In terms of the data plan, I believe it's fair. They are spending millions to build out network infrastructure for every single tower. They have to have a way to make that up. I have a Motorola Droid, and I pay the extra money for the smartphone data plan and it's unlimited data usage on that plan. Last month, I used over 2GB of data on that phone. that's a lot. I have no complaints.

 

AT&T tried that with us right after we signed up with them. Amazing how it got their attention when we didn't pay those specific charges for 3 months because we didn't authorize that service on our phones, nor did we want it. Even more amazing how responsive they got when I told them I would love to tie them up in court for years disputing the validity of their charges. Would I win? I doubt it, but seeing as how I have more money than brains I'd do it just for the fun of it. They dropped the charges and credited our account with 2 free months of service for my inconvenience.

 

I can understand why they are charging the $30.00 for the data plan. As Jack mentioned, the structure the cell phone companies are building is amazing. I'm not a big fan of kids having cell phones other than for emergency purposes only. My niece (10 years old) has a cell phone that can only call 3 people and receive phone calls. I think it cost about $20.00 a month?

 

It's one thing to pay for it if you're using the service, but I don't think those of us that have no use for that specific service should have the charges crammed down our throat just because our phones are 'capable' of using it.

 

Normally I would agree with you here but if you have a smart phone, it's pretty clear in the writings of the contract that this charge exists. Why have a smart phone if you can't use it? If that's the case, then buy a phone that doesn't have that capability. just saying... Love you mean it. lol

 

I agree with this. You make a choice when you buy the phone. I have a Blackberry and it has the $30 charge for the data and e-mail service. I could just as easily gotten a more basic phone and would not have even been asked about a data plan to pay for as it just doesn't work that way.

It is normally said "you get what you pay for" but in this case "you pay for what you get".

 

My Bag phone works just fine thank you very much...

 

Verizon does have a non-blackberry smart phone data plan for $10 a month. It's limited but required. I switched to this when I downgraded phones. I had the blackberry then switched to an LG Touch. I got tired of all the emails and messages. And I see enuff internet at work and home, I didn't want it anymore on my side. I never really used it. I'd rather just keep the $30 in the bank.

 

Just get a phone that allows calls only, and get the umlimited text message plan. Kids text message more than they talk now days. They do not need the dataplan...

 

I don't have a smart phone. At least I don't think I do. I know the user ain't that smart, so why have a phone that is?

I can GET text messages, but can't send any. No pictures. No email or internet. I think the phone is capable of getting and doing all those things, but I don't use them so didn't want any of those plans. But I still ended up getting charged for that $30 fee initially.

 

Yup. Why have a phone smarter than the user!! LOL

I also have the Droid. The wife too. I use the net A LOT on it. More than I thought I would. I was traveling last week for work and many places like airports, charge for internet services. I was able to get lots of things done while sitting and waiting for my darn planes by just using the internet on my Droid.

 

Smart phones require the Data package of $29.99 a month due to the features they have that require so much data.

My wife just upgraded to the Droid Devour and has the $29.99 Data package, but she needs the unlimited data due to her work.

I got the enV TOUCH and it only requires the $9.95 Data plan.

My sister has the unlimited Data for her Blackberry on our account

My wife's parents both just have regular service on our account.

It's 129.99 for all five phones unlimited talk and text, wife's and my data included, my sisters data is above that.

Verizon

 

What never quite made sense to me is that when I had my Motorola Razr, I had an unlimited data plan since I could tether my laptop to it for internet access. Unlimited data was $9.95/month and I used a pretty good volume each month while on the road. When I switched over to the 8525 which was classified as a smart phone, I had to move up to their smart phone data plan which was I think $29.95/month or $39.95/month. Not sure why the price difference considering they were both unlimited data over the same network, but it was required for that device. The rep didn't know either, he just knew it was required.

The funny part was that I used less data on the smart phone since the browser went through mobile versions of the sites. So I was really paying more to use less.

 

Had a little ongoing fight with Verizon but they refunded my money. I had made it clear that we just wanted to make phone calls nothing else. We would still wind up getting texts every once in awhile and getting charged for them.

I would not get a cell phone for my kids unless it was set up like cincydiesel described (phone can only call 3 people, no text ect). Kids can communicate with some BAD people through text messages. Hard enough to keep the computer texting safe without throwing a cell phone into the mix.