Verizon phones on island

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:45 pm

I called verizon today to have my phone put on the international plan for our trip. In the past, we had to do this, and it cost about $70/month. Calls cost $1.00/minute, texts free and pics were something like 50 cents.

Now, and I have this in writing, calls will be 1.99/minute, texts no charge at all, pics no charge at all unless you're sending them out of the united states, and unlimited data - all without having to use whatever international plan they've made up sign up for, every other trip.

Works for me!

samoka · Post by **samoka** » Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:05 pm

Thanks for that info. Was wondering about that.

vav · Post by **vav** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:26 am

Just be carful when you head up the North Shore, you will pick up the BVI towers, and then all bets are off. All new charges take effect.

Caw954s · Post by **Caw954s** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:18 am

That's right mindehankins, I contacted Verizon too and got the same information. I figured we can use the villas landline to make calls and our phones for texts. That'll work!

Happy New Year!

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 8:35 am

That's true, Vav. I've sent pics and texts from Francis and never incurred extra charges, but I've heard of people who have had their bills run high. They also said that they've changed the wording of the "roaming" warnings you receive, to be more specific. I'll report back to say if they were or not.
I had them send me the prices in writing, and plan to contest any extra charges if they occur. They never have before, but just in case.....

Kevino · Post by **Kevino** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:34 am

When you find out what's beyond Jacobs Ladder, you will see that Verizon service is very limited. I went to AT&T go phone because my verizon was not dependable.. I hope verizon customer service for St John cell billing is better than earlier years. Please let us know. I shut down my verizon when landing STT and activate the go-phone.

With all your trips to St. John, I can't believe you never ventured beyond Pine Peace. Have a super trip and adventures.

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 2:21 pm

Minde:

Even though you may have unlimited data & texting, be mindful of any warnings you receive from Verizon on your phone.

I have a Verizon plan identical to yours. This summer, even with unlimited data, I received messages that I had exceeded my plan's limits. I called Verizon International Services immediately, and they told me not to worry about the messages.

But when I returned Stateside, my bill was jacked up a couple of hundred dollars for excess data usage. Turns out that Verizon's system saw me as being in Jamaica (the country) & charged me accordingly. I eventually got the charges reversed, but any time I use my Verizon phone away from Cruz Bay, some weird charges always seem to pop-up.

When not using it, I'd suggest turning off roaming. Its a small PITA, worthwhile. Also, if you receive any strange messages from Verizon, call them immediately, so you're on record with them that you notified them. Its more difficult to resolve an issue w/ them after the fact.

JohnM

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:04 pm

We got those messages in April, too, John! And I also called them immediately and had them post a note to my account to put their answer in writing. I watched the next bills closely, and we made out okay. I'm kind of hyper-aware of Verizon charging you for something they shouldn't, but so far we've been lucky.
I'm leery cause this time, they didn't want me to upgrade to the international data plan, and will be very wary.

vav · Post by **vav** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:53 am

Remember 15, 20 years ago when we didn't have cell phones? How did we go on vacation and enjoy our self's?

KatieH · Post by **KatieH** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:59 am

Minde - we have the same Verizon plan and I too called them about it last week. We got the same story that you got, but they told me that they don't have an international calling plan for the USV I; that there's no agreement for phone plans and it's $1.99 per minute for calling. Text and data are free but beware of the BVI cell tower notices... we got them on Bordeaux a few years ago.

CariBert · Post by **CariBert** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 3:44 pm

Actually, that is the main reason we have AT&T on my phone, and Sprint on Barb's phone....the only two carriers that work well on St. John. I even used mine while eating lunch at Pirate's Bight on Norman Island....picked up St. John's cell and it worked well. I have Verizon Fios at home...internet, phone and TV...but when it comes to going to The Virgins....can't beat AT&T and Sprint......

-Bert

PaminMaine · Post by **PaminMaine** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 4:39 pm

I also called TWICE before our trip last May, and I had them note it both times in my account that we had spoken about my concerns. I still had excess charges on my account that I had to have corrected when I got home..
This year, I have US cellular ( no coverage?) so I may have to get a to go phone. ( is that what they are called?)
I plan to use my tablet at the cabin.

mindehankins · Post by **mindehankins** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 6:40 pm

Katie, they told me no international data plan necessary this trip. It was always necessary before, so I double checked and had them put it in writing.

I made a couple of calls and had them document my concerns in April, but our bill was normal (except we'd added the international data plan) when we got home. It was $1.99/min then, and some small charge per photo sent by text. Sometimes you just get lucky. Or get a go phone

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