Some Verizon shoppers looking forward to a smooth phone upgrade say they've instead been hit with unexpected charges. Although the carrier advertised that it would cover the difference when customers traded in a device early for a new one, real-world billing has left many confused and frustrated.
According to PhoneArena, the promo was supposed to credit customers within one to two billing cycles (provided they stayed on their current plan) but several users say credits never appeared.
Reddit posters shared billing details showing unexpected charges ranging from $240 to over $500, despite assurances from store reps and documentation that these extra fees wouldn't happen.
One customer, under the handle minivatreni, recounts: “However, my bill shows a $540 charge, which was never disclosed as part of the agreement,” and notes that multiple promises to have the charge removed have gone unfulfilled. Another user described a $240 charge on top of the leftover balance from their old phone—still no credit seen in return.
What’s really behind this billing glitch? Some reports suggest it's not a case of unclear terms or tricky fine print—it may be a systems or software issue. One Verizon employee told Reddit it’s a known problem with the internal system, not individual store reps, calling it “the slimiest situation I’ve seen…and I’ve seen this scenario come back at least 5 times since that promotion launched”.
While a few customers say their credits finally showed up after persistent calls (sometimes needing escalations in-store) others remain stuck with steep charges. Verizon hasn't publicly addressed the issue yet, but one thing is clear: customers should keep an eye on their statements and demand written confirmation of any promo terms.
Source: PhoneArena
