Wireless / Mobile → Verizon Wireless > Tips needed to get an extender for no charge

Tips needed to get an extender for no charge

I've read from many places and even from a few friends on social media that they were given the network extenders at no charge. However, in my case, I've tried so many times to get one but they keep insisting that I pay for one, at full price. Even threatening to cancel does nothing.

Back story: Our area finally received LTE not too long ago, and somehow, caused our signal to almost drop to nothing. We're having constant drops in calls, texts not sending/arriving in a timely manner, and non-existent data. I contacted VZW about the issue, they submitted a trouble ticket. The ticket came back and verified our signal issue. However, despite the verification, they STILL want us to pay for the extender at full price.

I can't even have my phone even try to connect to VZW's network since it'll drain my battery in a matter of hours, and at times overheated it. I have to run it in airplane mode, which totally defeats the purpose of having their service (wifi on, so it's turned into a glorified media device).

TL;DR: How did you receive an extender, and what tips can you give me? Thanks?

I had a similar problem, but no where near as severe as yours. In a supposedly 4G area. Could not reliably use my phone in my home office (at the time a Samsung Galaxy Nexus). At least I had some service

Went round and round like what you've done, same results, ended up having to buy Network Extender at full price.

Latest battle was to upgrade phone (turns out GNex not the best reputation in connectivity). Went with a Moto Razr Max HD. Finally, after quite a number of battles, got them to allow me to get phone at upgrade price ($249). They originally wanted to charge me full unsubsidized price. New phone performs much better. Was able to stop using the Network Extender.

Sorry to say, no tip to get a reduced/ no cost Extender from them.

Have them open a NRB ticket (network ticket) thru tier 2 tech support. If you get labeled marginal coverage it gives you options for a network extender or to cancel etf free

Here's an update. I ended up using my upgrade (and losing my unlimited data ) to get a Galaxy S3 to replace my aging Nexus. Unfortunately, it's the same issue with signal. My wife's Note2 also has the same issue, although not quite as severe.

It just seems that VZW doesn't care. I contacted VZW again yesterday after the upgrade and it was the exact same result, even talking to their "management". His response was "I've never given the extenders at no charge to anyone." Their social media team on Twitter ignores me, now. I'd love to switch to a better carrier, such as TMO but they don't cover this area at all except around the highway with Edge. Forget ATT or Sprint as their coverage is as bad or worse than VZW.

I already had a ticket open and was labeled as such. Still, the same response. I had someone reply back to me on Twitter that VZW just offered one to them without question or hassle.

Have you actually had anyone with other carriers come over to see if they work?

Yes. ATT does have some signal here, but has more trouble than VZW. Sprint's even worse. Most of the time there's no signal at all. As I said with TMO, only areas around here that have any signal at all are around the highway 5 miles away. According to a map I found, TMO is suppose to put up a new tower two miles from here, but the permit was applied over 6 years ago. Plus, the location of the would-be tower is now the location of a new home.

Despite having large influx of out-of-staters (and have money, too) in the summer due to the lake, it seems that none of the major carriers really care about this location.