Verizon just can't seem to help itself. Despite a massive "full reboot" promise from new CEO Dan Schulman, the carrier is once again leaning on the one thing that drives its users absolutely bonkers: the fine print.
If you've opened your bill lately and felt a sharp sting in your wallet, you aren't alone. Verizon customers upset over new fee increases have been flooding Reddit and community forums with a simple question: "Didn't they just promise a price lock?"
Well, technically, they did. But as thousands of people are finding out, a "price lock" in the world of big telecom is often about as solid as a screen door on a submarine.
The $0.30 Nickel-and-Dime Strategy
It sounds like pocket change. Seriously, who cares about thirty cents?
Verizon is banking on the fact that most people won't notice a sub-dollar jump. But when you multiply that by millions of subscribers, it’s a gold mine. In late 2025 and moving into 2026, the carrier ratcheted up two specific surcharges that appear in that "Taxes and Fees" section nobody ever reads.
The Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge—which is basically a fee for the privilege of being a customer—hiked from $3.50 up to $3.78 per voice line. Simultaneously, the Regulatory Charge inched from $0.19 to $0.21.
If you have a family plan with five lines, you’re suddenly paying an extra buck and change every single month for absolutely nothing new. It’s "operational costs," says Verizon publicist Holland Behn. But for the average person, it’s just another "because we can" fee.
Why the "Price Lock" Feels Like a Lie
Many users signed up for the myPlan tiers (Unlimited Welcome, Plus, or Ultimate) specifically for the three-year price guarantee.
Here is the catch: that guarantee explicitly excludes "taxes, fees, and surcharges." By keeping the base plan price the same but sliding the administrative fees upward, Verizon stays legally "truthful" while still taking more of your money. It’s a loophole you could drive a semi-truck through.
Verizon Customers Upset Over New Fee Increases and Lost Perks
It isn't just the pennies adding up. It's the subtractions.
For years, Verizon used "loyalty discounts" to keep long-term users from jumping ship to T-Mobile or Mint. If you stayed for five years, maybe you got $10 or $20 off your monthly bill. In September 2025, Verizon started axing these discounts for a huge chunk of its base.
One Reddit user, "boofsnacks," pointed out that losing a loyalty perk combined with the new fee structure could result in a bill jump of $240 to $1,000 per year depending on how many lines you have. That is a mortgage payment.
The Tablet Tax
If you have an iPad or a Galaxy Tab on your plan, you likely got hit the hardest.
- Tablet line increases: Most data-only plans saw a $5 monthly hike.
- Activation fees: Moving to a new device? That'll be $40 now, up from $35.
- Legacy Plan Surcharges: If you're still clinging to an old "5G Start" or "New Verizon Plan" (the S, M, L, XL, XXL ones), you’re being hit with "access fees" of up to $15 per month just for refusing to switch to a more expensive modern plan.
Basically, they are trying to annoy you into upgrading.
Why Is This Happening Now?
The timing is weird.
Verizon recently admitted they lost nearly 300,000 subscribers in a single quarter because of previous price hikes. You’d think they would stop.
Instead, the company is in a weird transition phase. CEO Dan Schulman, the former PayPal boss who took the reins in late 2025, has been talking about a "customer-first culture." He even admitted that raising rates without adding value doesn't "delight" anyone.
But talk is cheap. While Schulman promises a "scrappier" and "leaner" Verizon, the company is also dealing with 13,000 layoffs and a desperate need to show revenue growth to Wall Street. The result? Users get stuck with the bill for the corporate restructuring.
How to Fight Back (Or Just Leave)
Honestly, if you're tired of the fee creep, you have a few actual moves. You don't have to just sit there and take the $3.78 charge.
1. The "Retention" Hail Mary
Call the 800-number and tell the automated system you want to "cancel." This usually triggers a transfer to the retention department. They have "secret" discounts—sometimes called "Loyalty 2.0" offers—that aren't advertised. Mention that you're looking at T-Mobile’s "Go5G" plans.
2. Audit Your Perks
Verizon loves bundling things like Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. But if you aren't using them, you're paying for "value" you don't need. Switching to the Unlimited Welcome plan and stripping away the perks can often save you $20 a month, even with the new fees.
3. Move to Visible
If you love the Verizon network coverage but hate the Verizon bill, Visible is literally owned by Verizon. They don't have "Administrative Fees." Their $25 or $45 plans are "all-in," meaning taxes and fees are included in the price.
4. Check for Corporate/Student Discounts
Verizon still offers significant discounts for teachers, nurses, military, and certain corporate employees. Most people forget to re-verify these every few years, and they often drop off without notice.
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What to Watch for Next
The "price war" of 2026 is just heating up. Analysts at LightShed Partners are predicting that Verizon might actually lower base plan prices later this year to win back those 300,000 people who left.
If they do, don't jump on the first offer you see. Read the fine print. If the plan is "price locked," ask specifically about the Administrative and Telco Recovery Charge. If they won't lock the fees, the "price lock" isn't worth the paper it’s printed on.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Bill
- Check the "Surcharges" section: See if your Administrative Charge is $3.78. If it's higher, you might be on a legacy plan that’s being penalized.
- Turn on Auto Pay: It’s usually a $10 per line discount. If you haven't switched to using a debit card or bank account (they mostly stopped giving the discount for credit cards), you're leaving money on the table.
- Review your "tablet" lines: If you aren't using cellular data on your tablet, cancel that line. With the $5 hike, it's just a drain on your bank account.
Verizon is a massive machine. It moves slowly. But as a customer, you can move fast. Don't let "fee creep" become your new normal.