Are you tired of paying Verizon‘s sneaky $35 activation fee every time you get a new phone or tablet? You‘re not alone. According to a recent survey by The Penny Hoarder, 60% of consumers think activation fees are unfair and shouldn‘t exist in the first place.
As a savvy shopper and consumer advocate, I‘m here to help you fight back against unnecessary fees and keep more of your hard-earned cash in your pocket. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into Verizon‘s activation fees and explore every possible tip, trick, and strategy to convince the wireless giant to waive them entirely.
Understanding Verizon Activation Fees
First, let‘s break down exactly what Verizon‘s activation fees are and when they apply. Verizon Wireless, the largest carrier in the U.S., charges a one-time $35 fee whenever you do the following:
- Activate a new line of service with a smartphone, basic phone, tablet, mobile hotspot, or smartwatch
- Upgrade your device on an existing line (even if you‘ve been a loyal customer for years)
- Bring your own unlocked device to Verizon‘s network as a new customer
In Verizon‘s words, the activation fee covers their costs to switch your phone number from another carrier, set up your voicemail and data services, and provide any tech support you may need during the activation process.
However, many consumer advocates argue that activation fees are simply a sneaky way for carriers to wring more money out of customers for something that should be free. After all, your lucrative monthly service charges as a Verizon subscriber should be more than enough to cover their backend expenses.
To put Verizon‘s $35 charge in context, here‘s how it stacks up against the other major carriers‘ activation fees:
| Carrier | Activation Fee |
|---|---|
| Verizon | $35 |
| AT&T | $35 |
| T-Mobile | $40 |
| Sprint | $30 |
As you can see, Verizon‘s fee is actually on the lower end compared to rivals T-Mobile and Sprint. But that doesn‘t make it any less annoying when it shows up on your first bill and ruins your new phone buzz.
Now, you may be wondering if activation fees vary based on the type of device or plan you have with Verizon. The answer is a resounding "yes." Here‘s a more detailed breakdown:
- Smartphones: $35 activation fee
- Basic phones: $35 activation fee
- Tablets: $35 activation fee
- Mobile hotspots: $35 activation fee
- Smartwatches: $10 activation fee (if adding to existing plan)
- Prepaid plans: No activation fee
- Business/corporate plans: Activation fees vary
Curiously, Verizon only charges a $20 activation fee if you purchase a new device online through their website instead of in a retail store or over the phone. They say the extra $15 for in-store or phone activations covers the personalized assistance from a rep.
Seems suspect to me, but what do I know? I‘m just a lowly consumer who thinks a multi-billion dollar telecom company shouldn‘t need to charge a fee for something that takes a few minutes of work on their end. But I digress.
Should You Pay Verizon‘s Activation Fee?
So now that we‘ve established how much Verizon‘s activation fees are and when they‘re charged, the real question is should you even pay them? As a fierce advocate of consumers keeping more money in their pockets, my answer is an emphatic "no."
But don‘t just take my word for it. Let‘s look at some cold, hard data on how many customers have actually gotten Verizon (and other carriers) to waive their activation fees.
In a recent online survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers by The Penny Hoarder, a whopping 73% of respondents said they‘ve gotten a carrier to waive an activation fee at least once. Even more surprising, 31% reported getting activation fees waived multiple times.
When asked about their success with specific carriers, Verizon customers reported the highest success rate at 78%, followed by AT&T (75%), T-Mobile (72%), and Sprint (70%).
What‘s the secret of these fee-dodging ninjas? We‘ll get into specific tips and tactics shortly, but the high-level takeaways are that persistence, politeness, and a willingness to escalate your complaint can work wonders with even the most stubborn carrier reps.
Another interesting data point comes from a joint study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) and Frontier Group. They found that wireless carriers have pocketed over $1.5 billion in activation fees from customers since 2012 alone.
To add insult to injury, the study also revealed that carriers‘ stated reasons for charging activation fees (like technical support and account verification) only cost them $5-10 per customer in most cases. In other words, they‘re marking up these costs by 250-600% and passing them onto you.
If that doesn‘t make your blood boil, I don‘t know what will. The bottom line is that you should absolutely not pay Verizon‘s activation fee without first putting up a fight. Worst case scenario, they say no and you‘re out $35. But as we‘ll see, you have a surprisingly good shot of getting that fee knocked off your bill with the right approach.
Top Tips to Get Verizon to Waive Your Activation Fee
Alright, now that you‘re sufficiently fired up to take on Big Red and its dastardly activation fees, let‘s get into the specific tips and tactics you can use to boost your chances of a successful waiver. As a consumer advocate and deal hunter, I‘ve scoured the internet for the most promising strategies and insider secrets.
1. Check for promotions
One of the easiest ways to avoid Verizon‘s activation fee is to wait for a promotion that waives it automatically. Verizon frequently runs deals for new customers and people switching from other carriers that include an activation fee credit, especially around major holidays and iPhone launch events.
Some recent examples:
- In June 2022, Verizon offered $500 Visa gift cards and waived activation fees for customers who switched and brought their own device
- For Black Friday 2021, Verizon waived activation fees on all new lines and phone upgrades
- Verizon‘s 2021 Mother‘s Day deal included a $100 gift card and waived activation fees for new customers
If you‘re not in a huge rush to get a new device, it‘s worth keeping an eye on Verizon‘s promotions page and setting up deal alerts to get notified when they‘re running a fee-free special.
2. Ask Customer Service Nicely
I know, I know. Calling customer service is about as fun as getting a root canal. But it‘s still one of the most effective ways to get your activation fee waived, especially if you‘re a long-time Verizon customer in good standing.
The key is to be extremely polite but firm in your request. Explain that you‘re a loyal customer who always pays their bill on time, but the activation fee is causing you a financial hardship at the moment.
Mention how much you‘ve enjoyed your Verizon service over the years, but that you may need to consider other carriers if they can‘t help you out in waiving the fee as a one-time courtesy.
Here are some word-for-word scripts our readers have used with success:
"Hi there! I‘ve been a happy Verizon customer for [X] years now and I always recommend your service to my friends and family. I‘m really excited to upgrade my phone, but I was surprised to see the $35 activation fee on my order. Is there any way you could waive that as a loyalty courtesy? It would make a big difference for my budget right now and keep me a satisfied customer. I‘d really appreciate any help you can give!"
"Good morning! I‘m reaching out because I just got my latest Verizon bill after upgrading my phone, and I noticed a $35 activation fee that I wasn‘t expecting. I‘ve always been happy with Verizon‘s service, but that extra charge is a real financial burden for me this month. I‘m hoping you can make an exception and waive the fee just this once. It would be a huge relief and show me that Verizon values my business. Is that something you‘d be able to do?"
The goal is to demonstrate your value as a customer and make the rep genuinely want to help you. A little honey goes a long way!
3. Escalate to the Retentions Department
If the regular customer service rep is unable to waive your activation fee, don‘t give up! Politely ask to speak with someone in Verizon‘s retentions department (also known as the "loyalty team").
These specialized reps have much more power to offer discounts, credits, and fee waivers to keep you from canceling your service and switching to a competitor. They‘re also more experienced in handling escalated complaints.
Once you‘re speaking with a retentions rep, reiterate your request for the activation fee waiver with a little more urgency. Mention that you‘ve seen offers from other carriers that don‘t charge activation fees (like Visible or US Mobile) and that you‘re seriously considering switching over the extra $35.
If you have multiple lines on your account or have been with Verizon for many years, this is the time to really emphasize your value as a customer. According to many first-hand reports, retentions reps are much more likely to grant fee waivers to high-value customers to avoid losing their recurring revenue.
4. Try Online Support Channels
If you strike out with phone support, try your luck with Verizon‘s online chat or social media support teams. These reps handle a high volume of requests and may be more willing to waive your fee to avoid a long back-and-forth conversation.
When contacting online support, keep your initial request short and sweet. Something like: "I was very surprised to see a $35 activation fee on my latest bill. Could you please waive that as a courtesy? I‘d really appreciate it!"
If the rep declines your request, reply back and ask if there‘s anyone else you can speak to about getting the fee removed. Sometimes just being a little pushy (while still staying polite) can work wonders.
Here are a few more tips for success with online support:
- Reach out during off-peak hours (like late evening) when reps may be less busy and more likely to acquiesce
- Ask for specific reps by name that other customers have had luck with
- Include a screenshot of your bill with the activation fee circled
- Mention any Verizon website errors or unclear wording that led you to believe the activation fee would be waived
If all else fails, you can try publicly tweeting at Verizon‘s support account (@VerizonSupport) or leaving a comment on their latest Facebook post. Companies hate bad PR, so they may be more willing to help if there‘s an audience watching.
5. File an FCC Complaint
If you‘ve exhausted all your options with Verizon‘s customer service and still can‘t get your activation fee waived, it‘s time to bring out the big guns: filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The FCC is the government agency that regulates the telecom industry, and they take consumer complaints very seriously. Filing a complaint is easy and free, and it puts pressure on Verizon to resolve your issue promptly.
To file a complaint, just head to the FCC‘s Consumer Complaint Center website and select "Phone" as the topic. Then fill out the online form with your contact information and a brief description of your issue (e.g. "Verizon won‘t waive my activation fee even though I‘m a loyal customer").
Once you submit the complaint, the FCC will forward it to Verizon and give them 30 days to provide a written response. In most cases, Verizon will reach out to you directly within a few days to try and resolve the issue (and hopefully waive your activation fee).
While there‘s no guarantee the FCC complaint will work, many customers have reported success with this method after getting nowhere with Verizon‘s regular support channels. And even if it doesn‘t get your fee waived, it‘s still important to hold carriers accountable for unfair practices.
Is Verizon‘s Network Quality Worth the Activation Fee?
At this point, you might be wondering if it‘s even worth jumping through all these hoops to avoid a measly $35 fee. After all, Verizon often brags about having the best network in the biz.
It‘s a fair question, and there‘s no easy answer. On one hand, Verizon‘s network does consistently rank at the top of independent studies for metrics like 4G availability, download speeds, and reliability.
For example, a recent report by OpenSignal found that Verizon users were connected to 4G a whopping 95.9% of the time, compared to 92.1% for AT&T, 91.8% for T-Mobile, and 89.1% for Sprint. Verizon also had the fastest average download speed at 33.3 Mbps.
If you live in a rural area or frequently travel to places with spotty coverage, Verizon‘s superior network might just be worth the occasional activation fee. There‘s nothing worse than paying for service you can‘t even use.
On the flip side, Verizon‘s lead is narrowing every year as competitors like T-Mobile and AT&T aggressively expand and upgrade their networks. T-Mobile has actually surpassed Verizon in 5G coverage, while AT&T was rated the most reliable network in some cities.
And let‘s not forget about the scrappy MVNO carriers like Visible, Mint Mobile, and US Mobile that run on the big networks but charge way less for service. Visible, for example, offers unlimited data on Verizon‘s network for just $40/month – with no activation fees, ever.
So in my expert opinion, it really comes down to your specific needs and budget as a wireless customer. If you‘re willing to pay a bit more for the peace of mind of Verizon‘s network, then the occasional activation fee may be a necessary evil.
But if saving money is your top priority, then you should absolutely try to get those fees waived using the tips we‘ve covered. And if Verizon refuses to play ball, don‘t be afraid to take your business elsewhere. Competition is a wonderful thing.
The Bottom Line on Verizon Activation Fees
Whew, that was a lot of information to take in! Let‘s recap the key takeaways on Verizon‘s activation fees and how to avoid them:
- Verizon charges a $35 activation fee for new lines, phone upgrades, and bringing your own device. The fee is only $20 if you activate online.
- Activation fees are mostly a money grab by carriers and don‘t reflect their actual costs for setting up service. Over 70% of customers have gotten them waived at least once.
- To get your Verizon activation fee waived, try asking Customer Service politely, escalating to the Retentions department, or filing an FCC complaint. Promotions and online support can also help.
- Verizon has an excellent network, but T-Mobile and AT&T are catching up. MVNOs offer cheaper service on the same networks without activation fees. It‘s all about your priorities.
At the end of the day, you shouldn‘t pay activation fees just because a big carrier like Verizon says so. With a little knowledge and a lot of determination, you can keep more of your hard-earned money where it belongs: in your pocket.
I hope this guide has given you the tools and confidence you need to fight back against bogus fees and get the most value for your wireless dollar. Remember, you‘re the customer and you have the power to vote with your wallet.
If you found this information helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and family. Together, we can hold the telecom giants accountable and make cell phone service more affordable for everyone.
Have you ever gotten an activation fee waived by Verizon or another carrier? Let me know in the comments below! I‘d love to hear your success stories and tips.
