If you’re planning on upgrading your iPhone, or other smartphone on Verizon, you’ll want to save 20 bucks by doing it before April 4th. The number one U.S. carrier will begin charging a $20 device upgrade fee, beginning next Monday.
Beginning next Monday, April 4, a new $20 flat rate charge will be applied to smartphones purchased on a Device Payment financing plan, or at full retail price, according to a leaked internal memo obtained by MacRumors.
The $20 surcharge will also apply to customers who make use of Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program. The new charge will be charged at the time of purchase at Verizon locations, while the fee will appear on the customer’s next bill if the device is purchased via a reseller, such as Apple.
Verizon claims “increasing support costs associated with customers switching their devices” is the reason for the new fees. Probably because saying, “because we can,” just isn’t considered good public relations. The new fee will be applied to all consumer accounts, as well as business accounts lacking an ECPD profile. The carrier’s usual $40 upgrade fee paid by customers renewing a two-year contract with a new device remains in effect.
Two out of the other three “big four” carriers also charge similar “upgrade fees.” AT&T hits their customers up for $15 per smartphone added or upgraded on the AT&T Next plan, or “bring your own device” plans. Sprint charges up to $36 per device as an upgrade or activation fee. T-Mobile does not charge any upgrade fees.
