Many Verizon customers on older unlimited plans are wondering how their loyalty is rewarded, especially with the rollout of 5G technology. This article explores the experience of a long-term Verizon customer with the Beyond Unlimited plan who received a surprise 5G upgrade and considers how this plan compares to newer offerings.
Recently, a Verizon customer with the Beyond Unlimited plan, initially activated last year, upgraded to the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Shortly after the upgrade, they noticed an unexpected change in their online account. The plan name had been updated to “Beyond Unlimited w/5G Ultra Wideband,” yet the monthly price remained the same. Upon reviewing the latest bill, it was revealed that Verizon had automatically added 5G service, accompanied by a recurring $10 credit to offset any potential charge. This automatic upgrade occurred without requiring any explicit plan change agreement from the customer, leading to the assumption that the 5G service was added permanently at no extra cost.
This unexpected upgrade was a pleasant surprise, especially considering the customer’s desire to remain on their grandfathered Beyond Unlimited plan. There was an initial concern that upgrading to a 5G device would necessitate switching to one of Verizon’s newer, more restrictive unlimited plans. These newer plans often involve trade-offs, such as losing benefits like free Apple Music in favor of access to Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN+, which are typically reserved for higher-tier plans. For users who heavily utilize Apple Music, as in this case, maintaining the Beyond Unlimited plan was preferable to sacrificing this feature for streaming services used less frequently.