US Telco Support > Verizon > Verizon FIOS TV > FIOS prices getting outrageous

reply to Mr X

Re: FIOS prices getting outrageous

Assuming that the 75/35 speed is what has become of your grandfathered 60/35 speed, then the true cost of the 75/35 + Prime + Digital Voice Unlimited bundle minus all the introductory discounts is $129.99 + $6.99 for the SD STB = $136.98/month. But that assumes:

(a) it won't be slightly less 2 years from now because of your grandfathered 60/35
(b) it won't be slightly more 2 years from now assuming your free HD DVR turns out to not include some kind of DVR service fee that will later appear
(c) it won't be appreciably more 2 years from now because of any price hikes between now and then

reply to navyson
The main reason I am so hesitant to make any changes to my services are not the prices but the ridiculous billing that I can never make heads or tails of with the pro rating nonsense that seems to mean that I get 1 huge bill after a change before my normal bills resume. That said the last change I made was last March when my 12 month DVR credit was up. I managed to get that credit back for another year along with bumping my speed from 25/15 to 35/35 and changed the phone to digital voice. No 2 year contract, still month to month for 114.99 (128.00 with taxes etc) per month for:

FIOS HD Extreme with multi room HD DVR
FiOS Digital Voice - Unlimited Plan
FIOS 35/35 internet

reply to navyson
Agreed it's gotten out of hand. It'd be one thing if I could say the value is still there, but it simply isn't. In other words, the service has not changed in-line with the price increases. I'm getting virtually the same product I was 2-3 years ago and paying substantially (I'd guess 15%+ more). That's my opinion. I used to say I would NEVER EVER go back to Comcast, but I'm seriously going to look at other options when this current contract runs out.
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People who don't get good service on average tell 10 others while people who do get good service on average tell 1.

reply to navyson
I recently downgraded from 150/65 with Ultimate to 75/35 with Extreme (both Triple Play with phone service) to reduce the monthly bill. With one multiroom DVR and one regular STB my monthly bill had gone north of $200.

Edit: this includes an a la carte HBO subscription.

With Triple Play, Verizon will only give me the 150/65 internet if I get the Ultimate TV package.

Are there any of you cord cutters out there getting some level of FIOS Quantum internet service without TV or phone? How much is Verizon charging you?
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Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

reply to navyson
The other thing Ive noticed now in the Jersey area is the intro $89.99 triple play pricing is only for PrimeHD,15/5mb along with voice. Last year the $89.99 was for ExtremeHD, 25/25mb and voice. The price difference between those two packages is like $30+ which means a 33% increase in less then a year for their new subscriber packages.

reply to navyson
Price comparisons are tough with so many plans and setups.

The triple bundle price with digital voice, extended HD and 25/25 Internet seems reasonable and I signed up for a year of HBO/Cinemax at half-price. It's the equipment charges plus taxes and fees that has bumped my price up to $147. That's still about $40 less than what I was paying DirecTV a year ago.

I considered switching to TWC to pick up the Pac-12 network college football games. Initial price was tempting but the monthly DVR/set-top box fees are even more outrageous than Verizon's. Besides I still have a year to go on my contract.

reply to navyson
I have to agree. I got 2 increases this year, first one after my new customer promo ended, and the 2nd just 2 months ago. I was okay with the first one since it's what to expect after a promo period. Second one kind of bugged me. Now there was a recent article here that said fios is going to increase even more! I'll probably switch to cable for a month or so until I can get a new customer promo from FIOS.

reply to SixOfNine

reply to Mr X

Re: FIOS prices getting outrageous

reply to navyson
I just got a notice my 2 yr agreement is ending in 29 days. I currently have the double bundle: Ultimate and 35/35 Internet for $114.99 per month. I went into my account page to check the renewal price and was SHOCKED ! My bundle will increase to $134.99 per month, a $20 a month increase plus now they are going to charge me $17+ for (3) of the crappy digital adapters which I have been receiving for free. I originally got the 3 digital adapters when the analog to digital conversion went into effect a few years ago and have been grandfathered (free) into my account. So now my month bill will be going up 33% from $114.95 to $151.99 a month. For this 33% increase I get a small Internet speed bump download from 35 to 50 meg and my upload goes down by 10 meg. I did an online chat and the rep said that was the best deal they could give me. I love FiOS but this is a deal breaker. It pains me but I'll probably have to go back to Comcrap.

When I renewed recently, the free digital adapters remained so. I believe they showed up correctly when I went through the online upgrade. There's not much you can do about the $20 increase, but you can hold the line on the $17 for the DTAs. You'll need to call to clear the confusion, but you'll need to upgrade through the online process to get the best price.

You gotta wonder why VZ makes it hard on themselves by frustrating their customers.

Can you say many-headed Hydra?

reply to marhil0

reply to navyson
If you think FiOS is outrageous, try Cox in Fairfax County.

Cox - Triple Play bundle - Advanced TV Premier, HBO/SHO/Starz, Whole home DVR, HD Receiver, Cable Card, 25/3 internet, telephone (local and domestic long distance) - $190 a month PLUS Taxes and Fees for 12 months, $258 a month PLUS Taxes and Fees after 12 months.

Currently I have DirecTV Choice Plus with HBO/SHO/Starz, 4 outlets (all DVRs, only $6 a month for DVRs 2,3 and 4), Whole Home DVR Service, HD and HD Xtra for $156 a month, FiOS 30/5 for $55 and Vonage for $36 per month - total of $247 so it's cheaper than Cox will be with better internet.

I am having the FiOS Triple Play installed next week - Ultimate HD TV with HBO and the movie completer pack, 35/35 internet and Freedom Essentials, Multi Room DVR, HD STD and a Cable Card. Multi Room DVR and HD STB are free for 18 months. $137 per month plus taxes for a total of $158 per month.

FiOS is still cheaper than Cable or DirecTV. If at the end of the 2 years FiOS wants to raise the prices to an absurd level I'll switch back to what I currently have and get all of the "new customer" perks again.

I've been with DirecTV for over 15 years but the prices have gotten out of hand and I hate it when it rains - I'm tired of the outages.

reply to marhil0

reply to navyson
Do what I did. I bitched and moaned about the high prices until the rep gave me a $15 credit for one year.

reply to navyson
With Verizon stating that there will be further prices increases later on this year, I wouldn't be surprised if they start charging a monthly fee for the router. Most cable companies now are charging a monthly fee for their modems.