Verizon: Get $300 for any smartphone trade in towards a new smartphone line

"3 billing cycles" requirement for device trade-in

• I am hoping to reach a consensus about the "3 billing cycles" requirement if you have or plan to trade in ONLY ONE single phone for a new line.
  • Unfortunately this thread has become very hard follow with people doing multiple trade-ins for a new line, during different times, and even different offers (e.g., Comcast). People have talked about waiting 90/91 days, 3 full billing cycles, 5th billing cycle, etc.
  • But the official wording is simply "3 billing cycles"; nowhere does it mention the word "full" ("full" billing cycle is also not defined by Verizon).
  • Reaching a consensus is what will really help many people going forward.
• Requirement: http://www.verizonwireless.com/su...gram-faqs/
  • Under "Promotional Offers", "2. Do I have to keep my new device active for a certain period of time. . .?"

  Quote : Yes, if you received promotional value when trading a device, and/or instant savings towards the purchase of a new device at the time of your trade, then you'll be charged for these values if you don't maintain active service on your new device for 3 billing cycles.

• Definition: http://www.verizonwireless.com/su...y/#terms-B
  

  Quote : Bill Cycle: The monthly start and end dates that determine which charges will appear on your current bill and which charges will appear on the following bill. It primarily refers to the day of the month that your billing period ends.

• Example usage of the term by Verizon when asked about billing cycle: https://community.verizonwireless...ead/704931
  

  Quote : Bottom line is, if you activated on the 25th of October and your billing cycle ended up being the 20th, your first bill would not generate until November 20th . . . .

• Taking the example further, with 11/20 being the first billing cycle, Verizon would then consider 12/20 the second billing cycle, and 1/20 the third billing cycle. So after 1/20 you would have fulfilled the "3 billing cycles" requirement.
• Further based the same example, if you cancel on 1/21, your line would have only been active for 7 + 30 + 31 + 20 = 88 days. So waiting 90/91 days should more than meet the requirement.
• If you have traded in ONLY ONE single phone for a new line, and have met the "3 billing cycles" requirement based on a plain reading of the above (and not anymore, i.e., you did not wait for the 4th billing cycle), could you please share here if Verizon still clawed back your promotion?
  • share here

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I think the best way may be to contact FTC as they clearly show the regulations for gift cards ,etc

Quote :
Problems and Complaints
If you have a problem with a gift card, contact the company that issued the card. If you can't resolve the problem at that level, you may want to file a complaint with the appropriate authorities:

For cards issued by retailers, contact the Federal Trade Commission or call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP. Or you may file a complaint with your state Attorney General (for a list of state offices, visit naag.org).
For cards issued by national banks, contact the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) Customer Assistance Group by calling 800-613-6743 or sending an e-mail to: [email protected]. The OCC charters, regulates, and supervises national banks.
link [ftc.gov]

though they also say to contact them or just go to your state Attorney General (for a list of state offices, visit naag.org).
You can also file iC3 through FBI internet crimes:

http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Also consumer complaints fcc directly

https://consumercomplaints.fcc.go...m_id=39744

"Presidential Appeals" number. This is a number only given out by Verizon reps in the worst case scenarios, however it is a great number to use when you are not getting the desired results through the usual channels:

(800) 483-7988.
800-435-6622

Tradein security email/fettes/#

800.4570864
[email protected]





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email address for verizon's CEO can be found in this [reddit.com] reddit post

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Each person needs to file their own complaint. I would state the facts:

1) I added a new line of service and purchased a 4G LTE device from Verizon on DPP and accepted their offer to trade in any working smartphone (AWS) for $300 TIV;

2) when I activated the new 4G LTE device on the new line of service, Verizon texted me promo codes to trade in additional AWS for $300 TIV and I accepted their offer;

3) Verizon received my AWSs, inspected them, confirmed in writing by email that the devices indeed qualified for the $300 TIV and then sent me eGCs for $300; and

4) subsequently, Verizon cancelled the eGCs before I could use them and said they did that because the trade-ins of the AWSs were not associated with a new line of service, which is false - they texted me the promo codes for the trade-ins to the new line of service after I activated the 4G LTE device I purchased from Verizon on DPP.


You can attach copies of the emails that Verizon sent saying that they received your AWS, inspected it and it qualified for the $300 TIV as well as copies of the eGC emails (with the GC # and PIN blacked out of course) and the GC cancellation emails.

You can add in comments you have about how this affected your behavior - e.g., I would have never added a line of service/purchased the device if it weren't for the trade-in offers, their offer induced me to add lines/purchase device - and also your thoughts about why this is wrong - e.g., they took my AWS from me saying I would get $300 for it, now they say I will only get the actual trade-in value for it which is less than what I could have sold it for and they won't return it to me.

In addition, you can make legal arguments if you want, but it is not necessary since lay people aren't expected to know the law. But if you do read up on the law and feel you have a grasp of the legal concepts, you can cite to the statutes, cases.

You also can point out that Verizon considers the trade-in a sale of the device to them by you. In the emails they sent they say this:

"Download a Verizon Resale Tax Form for your records."


And that sentence has a link to this page:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/su...tax-forms/


which states the following (emphasis added):

"Here you'll find a link to a form to document that we purchased your device and intend to resell it. The list below provides links associated with the state where you sold your device to Verizon Wireless."


IMO, this is an important point - you sold your device to Verizon by their own admission, now they are canceling the eGC they gave you to pay for the device they bought from you. They are saying instead of giving you the $300 we offered you when we induced you to send us the device, we unilaterally have decided without your consent to take back the $300 we already gave you and will substitute actual trade-in value AFTER THE SALE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED.

Basically they are saying, we have buyer's remorse. We think we paid too much for your AWS so we are taking back the $300 w/o your consent and giving you a much lower amount instead. They are justifying this by saying the sale was not associated with the activation of a new line of service, which is FALSE. The promo codes came to the new line of service that was opened when you purchased a 4G LTE phone on DPP from Verizon after activation of that device/line of service.

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To really know if there was a causative effect of SIM swapping - i.e., the SIM swap actually caused a code THAT WOULD NOT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN SENT BY THE SYSTEM to be sent - at a minimum you would need to know the algorithm that generated and sent the codes during the relevant time period. As I pointed out, if what some of you claimed you observed did in fact occur, what you all could have been observing was that a code that was going to be sent by the system anyhow was simply sent to a different line than it would have been sent to w/o the SIM swap.

That brings up this issue if you go to court or arbitration with Verizon and they try to use the "affirmative action" SIM swapping defense - YOU WOULD NEED ACCESS TO THE SOFTWARE THEY USED TO GENERATE AND SEND THE CODES DURING THE RELEVANT TIME PERIOD. Depending on what that shows, you may also need access to all of the data that shows what codes were generated and where they were sent.

That opens up a costly issue if Verizon tries to assert that. I would not accept the SIM swapping defense without access to their software algorithms and associated data. I would ask for discovery on the issue if Verizon is going to assert that as a defense.

The problem is that Verizon is going to want to say that the information that you need to properly evaluate their claim is trade secret/business confidential information. But they can't have it both ways. They can't both make a claim about the effect of SIM swapping and then not turn over the very evidence that would prove or disprove whether their claim has any merit.

There are a variety of ways that courts handle trade secrets during discovery and those depend on the jurisdiction. But one way that they can be handled in some jurisdictions is to bring in a Special Master who is impartial and who has the necessary computer skills to analyze Verizon's software and data. That Special Master has to be paid though; they like everyone else don't work for free. And the courts don't pay them. See the special master in US v. Microsoft:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/special_master

I would argue that Verizon would have to shoulder the entire cost of this. I would also argue that Verizon could not unilaterally pick the Special Master - the parties would need to agree on who would be the Special Master or the judge would appoint one if the parties could not agree.


So Verizon is opening up a costly can of worms if they are going to assert that SIM swapping caused codes to be generated by the system that would not otherwise have been generated. I don't believe it is true and I would challenge them if they assert that including demanding discovery on the issue and an impartial Special Master or whatever is available in the venue the litigation/arbitration is taking place, with the entire cost shouldered by Verizon since they are the ones making the claim.

Arbitration Verizon

There's only one sure way to hit Verizon where it hurts them the most.

Submit your dispute to: [email protected] on this form or even without the form.
https://www.verizonwireless.com/d...ispute.pdf

Select Arbitration. Wait 30 days. If you don't get a response, file arbitration at www.adr.org and ask for in-person arbitration.
Verizon is required to pay the cost of arbitration including the filing fee, if you ask for it in writing. Their cost is $3700 per case.
Be sure to ask for some type of "equitable relief" such as you want them to perform the remainder of the contract,
otherwise they'll transfer the case to small claims to avoid paying the arbitration fees.

They'll try to offer you $500 to go away - if that's close to the amount of lost gift cards, accept it; if not, reject and proceed to a hearing. -my2

Verizon Order via Xfinity to apply multiple GCs


Here is my write up on paying off your DPP through Xfinity.... Please feel free to point out if I missed something Big Grin

Go to xfinity.com/verizonwireless
Select 'Buy Now' and ignore the promo listed as it has expired (but don't worry, more to come about this).
From this point on, make sure every time you make a selection and a new page loads that you see the 'Xfinity/Verizon Wireless' logo is at the top of the page (more on this later). Clicking that 'Buy Now' button should bring you to a log-in page. Enter your Verizon account info and sign in.
Now, select 'Device with Service'. This should bring you to a page showing all of your lines, devices attached and upgrade eligibility.
This is where it might get a little tricky depending on number of DPP's you have and if you have been moving SIM cards around between devices but in any case choose the line you believe the DPP you want to pay off by checking the Upgrade/Upgrade available box below the device and then select the red 'Continue' button.
You should now be on the page offering you the opportunity to 'Own your device and upgrade'. It will show the remaining amount owed for the DPP on that line. If the amount matches what you were expecting to pay then check off the box to select the payoff option and then select the red ' Continue' button.
You will now be sent to a page to select your new device. We have been selecting the 'Droid Mini' as it is the cheapest smartphone available this way ($108 or $4.50/mo for 24 months. You should do the same and then once again 'Continue'
Unless you want a different color than white (red and black are available) simply 'Add to Cart'
Now, just keep 'Continuing' through the various options presented to you such as protection plans. accessories, etc. you will eventually get to the 'Review you Order page' which will show lots of things but the important part is showing 'Device Buyout Pmt' which should be the amount of the DPP you are getting rid of and then the 'Total Due Today' which should be the DPP payout plus the tax due on the new Droid Mini. *** You can attempt to add the 'UPGRADE' promo code on this page. It will accept it but for many it does not reduce the amount for the phone*** If that is correct select the red 'Continue' button.
You now will be agreeing to your new DPP contract, it will show the terms for the mini at $108 spread over 24 months which works out to $4.50/mo. unless the UPGRADE code worked for you then terms will be $8 spread over 24 months which equals $0.33/mo. Check off the ' I have read and agree' box accepting their terms and then the red 'Continue' button.
You are finally at the payment page, look for 'Select payment type' and change to 'Gift Card'. If the amount you are paying off is more than $300 you have to change the payment amount field to $300 (amount available on your gift card) then add the card number and PIN info, check the box agreeing to their terms and then click the red 'Submit' button. You should get a popup saying 'partial payment accepted'.
Now, you should be seeing the same payment page again but with a $300 lesser amount due. Follow the same steps as above, if the amount due is less than $300 then simply enter your second gift cards info. Before you select 'Submit' ***Important*** please make sure you still have the same Xfinity/Verizon Wireless' logo at top of screen. Once you select 'Submit' you are finalizing your order. Reason for watching the logo is that if present you have done the transaction thru Xfinity and qualify for their rebate program. Current terms say you will receive a $50 visa card for an upgrade (which you are doing) though some have received more, even up to $200 back which more than covers the price of the droid mini.

You can check status of the rebate process via this link http://www.card-status.com/vzw-xfinity/status.

Be patient with checking this as it is not even close to being updated regularly, it is showing 'no order found' for me on orders placed 4 days ago and on another they have shipped the card even though I haven't had the phone long enough for it to get to that stage (they wait 14 days before progressing as that is the window for returning the device).
Check your order conformation email, if it lists the 'Location Code' as E184001 then you went through the proper procedure to qualify for the Xfinity gift card. Anything else means the proper referral code was not sent when you placed your order, Xfinity gets nothing and you get nothing Frown
Once you get new phone you need to activate it to complete the rebate process. Seems like a lot of work but now you can pay off the new DPP directly thru the Verizon website without buying a new phone though you will be probably be limited to paying them off one per day per gift card (just got to this point so not positive).

Hope this helps and good luck! -MachVii

For those looking for proof to fight with xfinity for incorrect rebate amount received. Here is image that shows the rebate amount changed to $200 after 2/22/16. I received the postcard in mail. I have attached the image.

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