SMS text taken out of PCS Vision Premium Pack??

[tronicart]

Hello, I have had the $10 PCS Vision Premium Pack on my plan for a while and was able to keep it after recently purchasing a Samsung A900. I've now started using SMS Text messaging (instead of Shortmail on my old Sanyo which was covered by the Vision web usage).

The thing is that I am now being charged 10¢ for every SMS text message sent/received. This description on the Sprint web site specifically states that 100 SMS text messages are included in the Vision Premium Pack:

http://www.sprintpcs.com/common/popups/pop-premiumPack.html

Contacting E-Care about this issue resulted in the following..
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Certain changes were done on July 07, 2005, regarding the features of
PCS Vision Premium Pack. With the changes, the PCS Vision Premium Pack
included:

- Unlimited Vision Access;
- Up to $5.00 credit towards the downloads of premium services.

The 100 free text messages were not offered in the new pack.

The PCS Vision Premium Pack was added on your service plan as of July
19, 2005.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Does anyone else have the Vision Premium Pack added after this date with no SMS Text? It's written right there on the site, but they are telling me it's not included! Don't know what to do.

E-Care said I would have to pay $5 a month for 100 SMS text messages. I just feel like I'm being jacked around.

Thanks so much for your help,
-Daniel

[tronicart]

Has anyone run into this issue? Any suggestions on what I might be able to do?

Thanks,
-Daniel

[James2012]

I'm assuming your old vision is what I know as the grandfathered vision? If not, then I don't know if this will apply to you. When they updated my plan, I lost it (even though I specifically requested that I don't lose it) and I saw a charge for SMS'ing. If you've been with them for a long time and have a plan that isn't a cheapie (like $30-50), you might be able to get retentions to give SMS for free (which will likely result in a 2-yr renewal). Otherwise, pay the $5 and find other options for a discount (ie: Credit union 10% discount) to offset it. Otherwise, try printing out the agreement and the description of the vision w/ the 100 texts and take it to the store you got the phone from. Maybe the person might have changed your vision plan?

[symplemind]

ok, the A900 phone is a power vision phone which it will not work under the old vision premium plan. you will have to purchase the text seperate now. power vision with pic is like 20 isn't it, and now with the text.. its...... 100 - 4 - $5 : 500 - 4 - $8 : unlimited - 4 - $15.00 + that power vision either its 15 or 20.00 i can't remember...

[Jus2ReCap]

Has anyone run into this issue? Any suggestions on what I might be able to do?

Thanks,
-Daniel

Well, if you were using shortmail during that time, you wouldn't have known that you
didnt get the free SMS messages with that Vision package.

[tronicart]

Well, if you were using shortmail during that time, you wouldn't have known that you
didnt get the free SMS messages with that Vision package.


Yeah, I might not have had SMS that whole time and not known it, but I thought it was on there based on that description, so I just started texting away when I got my A900 ..then came the bill.

Wondering if I can say that the description has always shown 100 text messages (even when I would click on it on my acct page) and that I thought that was what I was paying for this whole time ..and that it would work when I got an SMS capable phone. We'll see if they give me any slack. And I don't want to go through E-Care again since they're the ones that told me it's not included, so guess I'll be calling.

Also, I'm now seeing a description for the Vision Pictures Pack on my account page that includes web, unlimited pics and 100 SMS text messages a month. I thought this pack was gone but it looks like they're offering it to me as an upgrade on my account page under Plan Details. Probably another "glitch" that needs to be updated. :indiff:

[aich75013]

Before I got my a900, I e-mailed ecare and asked if my Vision plan included SMS. It said it included unlimited text messaging. I was told by ecare that it did account for SMS as well as Web messaging (I didn't have SMS prior on my phone.) When I got my new phone, I kept my old Vision plan and have not had any charges for SMS. When I look online I see how many messages I have used, and it says unlimited under the included/remaining sections.

I also called to make sure I wasn't being charged for any SMS messages.
I am about to complete my second billing cycle.

I should also note that Rep took off my Vision plan when I got my phone. Even though I made him assure me he hadn't made any changes. I had to call CS to get my plan reinstated, which was not an easy task.

[tronicart]

AARRRGGGHHH!!! :frustrate Just got off phone with CS and they told me my Premium Pack has no SMS Text included. Said they couldn't give me any credit for it either. This blows! Guess I've gotta fork over the $5 a month for 100 text messages after all. Oh well at least I'm only paying $10 for web access and getting a $5 credit for downloads.

Can't believe I'm the only person with Vision Premium Pack and no SMS Text!!

[steveinca]

No new PowerVision package comes included with SMS messages. The 100/$5 package was the standard offer(which BTW is increasing per another thread this week). There is plenty of threads discussing either grandfathering your existing unlimited Vision w/ SMS and doing ONLY a ESN swap to your new hadset, but it was hit and miss based on the competence of your CS person. I tried this and was forced to upgrade to a new PV package. Fortunately, I did retain my unlimited SMS, but had to switch to a family plan to get it. So, in short, you are getting what Sprint is listing in there services. Pay more, get less...

[Moogle]

ok, the A900 phone is a power vision phone which it will not work under the old vision premium plan. you will have to purchase the text seperate now. power vision with pic is like 20 isn't it, and now with the text.. its...... 100 - 4 - $5 : 500 - 4 - $8 : unlimited - 4 - $15.00 + that power vision either its 15 or 20.00 i can't remember...

Actually, contrary to popular belief..... there are several people on the forums that ARE using their old plans with new powervision phones............

[steveinca]

Very true, but it really seems to depend on how helpful your particular CS is transfering your ESN; if they stick to the books, chances are they will simply see that your new handset is PV and request upgrade. Most people that had successful transfers did it over the phone. In person CS almost always ended up in a new PV plan. Regardless, it seems that Sprint is doing internal account audits anyways so if your getting PV service on a GF V plan, you might have to upgrade down the road. I was worried the plans would rise, so jumped on board with the initial plans...Just like the good old $10 UL Vision days! I was able to maintain my UL SMS by connecting my wifes line into one family plan. Just a thought for others in the same boat.

[tomcat36]

One strange aspect of this issue is that unlimited PictureMail is included with the Power Vision Plus Pack. You can include a message with the picture, so they are basically making you pay for a text only message but the text + pic message is free.

that logic makes zero sense except for the idea that Sprint knows they will make big bucks from the fee based text messages.

[tronicart]

GREAT! Spoke with CS again and asked for the 100 SMS plan for $5 a month and they said "no can do" ...since I have a PV phone and an old Vision plan, they would have to take out my old Vision and put me on a new Power Vision plan before they could add the $5 SMS deal. It's black mail! :bang: "Oh, I could give you 100 SMS for five bucks, but not without upgrading your whole plan!"

Anyone added the $5 SMS plan to thier PV phone without having a PV plan?

[tronicart]

UPDATE: went back to E-care and was able to add the 100 SMS $5 option to my GF Vision plan without upgrading to Power Vision. Man, it's all about who you talk to.. heck, they were happy to do it. Also added Picture Mail.

Now to see if I can get credit for the 70 SMS messages I got charged for before I added the $5 100 SMS option. Anyone had success getting credit for messages in this regard?

Thanks