Telecommunication companies have invited trouble for themselves due to hidden charges or uncalled-for price hikes sporadically. T-Mobile was earlier legally charged for passing off price increases as mandatory government charges. The companies have been scrutinized for initially offering good deals to entice users and after they are onboard with a plan, users have to face either incremental price increases or unexpected surcharges. The latest reported increase by Verizon is for customers with multi-line plans or shared usage and is expected to be a hike of $15 per month.
Verizon is rumored to raise prices for Verizon family plans, stirring quite the debate online over the continuous rate increase and lack of transparency
Reports about Verizon's potential price increase are shared by someone who claims to be a Verizon supervisor on Reddit via Android Police. As per the post, starting this February 20th, myPlan rates for customers with five or more lines will see an increase in their cost, and the charges for four or more lines will be aligned with the five or more lines. In simpler words, this means that if the report stands true, there would be a $3 increase per line, which could translate to a minimum $15 hike for users with a five-line plan.
Users are already frustrated with the administrative fee increases that, although incremental, end up being more for users with multiple lines. If Verizon goes ahead with the pattern it has established of price hikes every now and then, it will raise concerns among customers regarding pricing transparency. It will be another example of bluffing the users into signing up by painting the plans as affordable or locked-in and then hitting them with sneaky fees or rate adjustments.
Many Verizon users have expressed their dismay about the rumored price increase. Some have even blamed the company for luring them in by suggesting users can save by switching plans and adding subscriptions and then passing off these additional increases without informing users before the increase. Several staff members even shared the increased pressure they would be facing from customers as a result of the price increase. All of this is resulting in some users mentioning moving to T-Mobile instead.
Verizon is not the only company with price hikes, as this seems to be a broader trend in the telecommunications industry. Most companies are steadily opting for price increases and citing these adjustments as operational costs or finding other justification for them. There should be greater transparency and regulatory notice of the ongoing pattern of creeping fees, so consumers do not feel stuck or blindsided by these increases.
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