Skip to main content

FCC Questions Verizon’s Early Termination Fees

verizon-protestThe Federal Communications Commission on Friday asked Verizon Wireless why it recently doubled the fees it charges customers when they break their contracts on “smart” phones.

In November, the carrier hiked the maximum early contract termination fee for smartphones to $350 from $175. Like other carriers, Verizon subsidizes the cost of the devices for contract-signing customers, then expects to make that money back in service fees over the term of the contract.

Recommended Videos

“Smartphones quickly became a major part of our business and cost us a whole lot more,” Verizon spokesman Jeffrey Nelson said.

The FCC’s letter to Verizon asks how consumers will know whether the increased fee applies to their phone, and whether it’s spelled out anywhere except in the formal customer agreement.

The FCC is also asking the carrier about $1.99 data access fees that have appeared on the bills of customers who don’t have data plans but accidentally initiate data access by hitting a button on their phones. Verizon says that as of a few months ago, it doesn’t charge when a customer starts a data service then quickly turns it off.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland tapped into a vein of frustration among Verizon customers in columns on the issue in August.

Dena Cassella
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Haole built. O'ahu grown
We just got an early tease for Samsung’s next folding phones
Samsung Galaxy AI on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6.

Samsung, like most other phone manufacturers, sticks to a pretty predictable schedule: a new numbered iteration per model per year. That's why we weren't surprised to hear that a Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 were slated for 2025, but we now have confirmation. Their codenames just leaked, and we also learned of an unexpected third model.

GalaxyClub broke the news after receiving information from Samsung. According to the site, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is code-named B7, while the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is code-named Q7. There's also a third model with the code name Q7M, but it's not clear what this entry actually is. Since it bears a derivative code name, this handset is likely a spinoff of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 — though we don't know what that entails.

Read more
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S24, iPhone and more
Verizon logo on a smartphone screen in a dark room and a finger touching it.

One of the best phones can be made all the more enjoyable with the right carrier, and if you choose to make Verizon your new carrier it can even make a number of brand new phones more affordable. Right now Verizon is one of the best places to land some iPhone deals, Samsung Galaxy S24 deals, Samsung Galaxy S23 deals, and Google Pixel 8 deals, as you’ll find each of these phones significantly discounted, and a couple of models you can take home for free. But in combination with some of the best phone deals and best cell phone plan deals, Verizon also has some of the best cell phone plans you can shop, particularly if you’re a new customer. So if you’re looking for a new carrier and Verizon is on your radar, read onward for all of the best Verizon new customer deals worth considering.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen) -- $0 $430 100% off

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Read more
Verizon is shutting down its popular texting app. Here’s why
Verizon banner splashed across iPhone screen.

RCS messaging is the new hotness, and it's so popular that Verizon is shutting down its popular Verizon Messages and Message Plus apps. According to Verizon's FAQ page, the apps are being shut down because the company wants you to have "the best messaging experience."

In other words, now that RCS messaging is readily available between Android and iOS platforms, there's no need for a third-party application to fill in the gap. Verizon says that Google Messages provides an overall better experience, comes preloaded on all Verizon Android devices, and is able to interact with Apple Messages, too.

Read more