Does Verizon have a lot of hidden fees?
What Fees Does Verizon Have Free of Charge?
If ever there is a switch to a new cellular phone provider, the first option that comes to mind is Verizon. Given that Verizon has good coverage and high-speed internet, it is logical to consider it for purchase. But, then, one gets to thinking that the price the companies advertise is the right price, or does Verizon add additional charges that essentially add to the monthly bill? In this post, we will examine Verizon fees to assess if the company has many hidden costs.
Upfront Costs
Upon subscribing to Verizon, whether on a month-to-month basis or a longer-term contract, you are likely to be required to pay some initial charges. These may include:
- Activation fee: $35 for the creation of a new line of service.
- Upgrade fee: $35 when transferring to a new phone on an existing line
- SIM card fee: >$10 for each new SIM card
Not hidden but can contribute to your total upfront costs when subscribing to Verizon’s services. All carriers are like this and Verizon is not unique in this regard. If you are aware of them then they cannot come as a surprise to you.
Ongoing Monthly Fees
However, over your regular plan charge, which can be $80 for a single line of an unlimited plan at Verizon, there are some recurring monthly charges. These largely depend on which plan you choose and can include.
- Line access charges: He said this would cost $20 per smartphone line per month.
- Taxes and government fees: They range from 5% to 10% usually
- Premium data charges: $10 per month per line to gain access to 5G networks
These kinds of fees are relatively common and Verizon has them all categorized on your bill and spelled out clearly. They should not come as a huge shock, though taxes and fees do vary by location. Altogether, that would be an additional $30 per smartphone line of the total price when the dust has settled. For the basic unlimited plan, that raises the cost to about $110-$120 a month instead of $80.
Potential Hidden Fees
When it comes to the hidden fees that are not well publicized, Verizon has been rather good in recent years after certain clampdowns on the carrier industry. However, there are still some charges to watch out for.
- Early termination fees: Up to $350 in case of early termination of the contract.
- Restocking fees: Up to $55 for returning a phone after the buyer’s remorse period
- International roaming charges: Ranging from $2-$10 per minute for calls, $2 per text, and $10 per MB for data when on roaming.
Although Verizon lists these fees as additional charges in the small print, customers are often caught off guard when they see them on the bill. Certain circumstances like high international roaming charges when you are on a trip or phone restocking fees do elevate complaints regarding Verizon's hidden fees but bear in mind that these are not very frequent and you shouldn't let them catch you unawear.
The Takeaway on Fees
However, I never heard that Verizon specifically has many complaints about cramming the bill and being full of too many confusing fees like those of other companies in the past. Standard charges such as taxes and line charges are portrayed prominently on the monthly bills and should not be erratic figures. Verizon, for example, introduced new transparency rules in recent years that eradicated the suspect fees such as hidden usage charges, so they improved their billing policy to a significant extent.
However, with carriers such as Verizon, users will pay a higher amount of money per month than the attractive price that they see in the advertisement apart from those carrier fees and device installment plans. But that is the cost of doing business with any major carrier today given the immense infrastructure necessary to support nationwide networks. As long as you know exactly what you are signing up for, Verizon allows you to estimate your actual monthly unlimited cell phone bill quite easily. This way, bill shock will only be experienced in minor cases, and being an informed consumer will be the ultimate result.
Ready to experience blazing-fast internet? Call us today at +1 844-967-4555 and discover the power of Verizon Fios Home Internet! Don’t miss out—get connected now!