Verizon Wireless Misinformation help.?

Question

OK. So, I have the NationWide Select FamilyShare Plan, and we are supposed to get "unlimited" messaging. Well, we only have 700 minutes but that has never been a problem, until now. Supposedly when sending and receiving a picture/video message, airtime is used?.. Well, this goes against their "unlimited" messaging claim, because you are limited to the number of minutes you have on your account. I have searched through the customer agreement, and the plan details of the Select family plan, and no where in there does it state that airtime is used for picture/video messages. So what can I say to them about this? Does anyone agree with me that this is wrong: using airtime to send messages when you have an unlimited messaging plan?

Answer 1

That is so wrong and you can fight it. A phone sends a text message on the GSM network, same network used to place calls. But it's a separate action. Sending any kind of text, picture or video, is part of your messaging plan and shouldn't use your minutes. If they are deducting your minutes because of this and never outlined that certain text messages will use airtime minutes then you can actually get out of your contract cause they have breached the terms of theirs with you. Basically they are billing you for something that should be covered under the unlimited plan and that is wrong.  

Answer 2

They consider picture and video message usage of the internet and air time usage because they have to use the internet to carry and deliver the message. To Verizon messaging is limited to just a text message, anything above text they say uses their network and "degrades" their network. They are steering people to their Vcast package which would give you unlimited use of their mobile web and then you wont be charged for pic and video messaging. The problem is the average user considers pic and video messaging the same as a regular text message when it's obvious that Verizon doesn't.