Verizon FiOS TV → How do you downgrade (on their web site) from Triple play

So last week I downgraded my package from Ultimate to Prime and I am saving $50 a month. So now I am thinking of tweaking it again by eliminating the phone, is this possible online or do you have to call them?

Also I seem to remember, you don't save any money by eliminating the phone.

I wish to hell they come up with a basic HD package where I could keep the local sports channels (CSN) and get my bill under $99 a month. I'm at $158 now. I was over $200. It's sic what we have to pay for this stuff.

Not sure if you're getting rid of a landline altogether, or switching to a VOIP service, but we had our FiOS number ported over to Ooma - effectively ending our phone services with Verizon. We didn't have to do anything else. We've been extremely pleased with Ooma fwiw.

I don't understand VOLP. Curious, when you ported it over, did Fios lower your bill?

We all use our cell phones in my family so we have zero need for a phone line.

»computer.howstuffworks.c ··· hony.htm
Hi,
VOIP basically piggybacks over your internet connection to make and receive phone calls. With some of the most popular MagicJack or OOMA, there is a device that connects to your network via ethernet and the device also has a regular phone jack where you connect your phone. As long as your internet is working you should be good to make and receive calls. The costs include the equipment and then some small service fees and taxes. The MagicJack is probably the cheapest. If you just want to use these things to reduce your minute use, and allow you to get messages etc., these will generally get the job done.

By $20 a month, plus whatever taxes and fees were associated with the land line portion. The Ooma hardware cost me $60.00 and the monthly "fee" is about $3.50 in taxes. We need to have a dedicated landline for work purposes, but we don't use it enough to pay that much extra each month by including it with FiOS. My brother lives in Japan and set up Magic Jack to give him a US number on which we can call him and not only is it cheap as all get out, it works great.

If youre in the middle of a contract, you cant cancel any portion of the triple without paying an ETF. Considering youve done eeverything you can to save, I think its safe to say you're also receiving an incentive that comes with a new/renewed 2 year agreement. (and may lose that incentive by removing triple)

Call and ask for retention. They can add discounts to lower your bill.

Good thoughts - I believe you are correct. I have 16 months left on my contract.

We were in the middle of a contract and there was no ETF.

When I asked about this way back I was told an etf would apply if I removed any portion of my triple play while under contract. You can downgrade or upgrade anytime, but not remove a service. If bsangs didn't see an etf I guess it is possible to get around it. I'd say call and see what retention says.

I just did this. I had triple play and am still under contract. I ported to VOIPO. Never called Verizon. It automatically switched to double play, though in their billing system it shows triple play but I don't have any phone service. The contract length was not changed. My bill went down about $30 -- $20 plus taxes.

Many have lost the triple play discount and had their bill go up by a significant amount.

Mine went down $27 and I replaced it with VOIP also (2 lines) and spend about $5 total.

Tapil and elefante72,
Were both of you guys in contract? Did you both just port your number over to a VOIP service without saying anything else to Verizon?
I signed up for the triple play but only because it was cheaper at the time. For a long time I never even plugged in the phone and then decided to use it for long outgoing calls, but frankly it is pretty useless to me and I would love to reduce my costs as I have an OOMA sitting here doing nothing. I just don't want to find myself with an ETF and a higher rate.

I went from 3 to 2 play last and did it online, just un-select the phone option and it will show you the new contract pricing , there has never been a restriction or triggering the ETF before. You will not get big savings as the 3 play has higher discounts than 2 play.

I was not in contract when I did because they didn't really do contracts back in those days (over 4 years ago).

However I looked at the latest T&C, section 6.2 and it clearly states you can discontinue telephony, however it vaguely points to "regular" prices (tariff rates in my state) but if you look at your bill Verizon will heavily weight the cost on TV/Telephone, so if you cut out they just can't make up new pricing. Also for them to charge you an ETF they would have to cancel, and if you are a good payer they would have no reason (economically) to terminate you as a customer. Up until quite recently Verizon had better pricing for 3 play...That is no longer the case. In fact my 2 play is $25 less (and I was 25/25 now 75/75) than when I moved over 4 years ago and I also get HBO.

Link: »www.verizon.com/idc/grou ··· 1614.pdf

\
2.
Changes to your local voice telephony service.
If you change your local telephone
company or discontinue your local telephone service, we may in our discretion either
terminate your Service or continue to provide Broadband Service without local Verizon
voice service at the then
-
current rates, terms and
conditions applicable to your new
Service plan and you agree to pay any new or higher monthly fee that may apply to your
new Service plan. If we elect to terminate your Service under this Section 6.2, then we
reserve the right to charge any ETF and to apply the Equipment return terms under Section
10.5.

I'm not certain you can do this online. I'm at the Create YOUR OWN BUNDLE section and there is no options to un-select the phone. I can only select Internet and TV.

About a year ago I called and asked how much savings I would get by dropping my phone service. They told me my bill would INCREASE by $5/month, so obviously I decided to keep it. I work from home several days a week so the landline comes in handy anyway.