I have just finished talking to Verizon! I jumped the gun slightly, but it was actually okay because I have minor details that I can now relate to you.
Their number is 1-800-711-8300. Enter your 10-digit cell number and then 2 to reach a person.
Verizon suggests you call to set up your Global Phone rental 7 days prior to departure. This is for 2 reasons:
1. Because the phone ships immediately and arrives FedEx, so you should receive it in 2 days (note: it will require a signature, so please be sure someone is home, or be prepared to retrieve it from your local FedEx branch if they leave you a notice).
And,
2. Because the Value Plan, which is the special pricing plan that you can get for Europe, is for a 30-day period. Once you get your phone and activate it, you will have 30 days to use the plan AND RETURN the phone.
Quick Reminders:
* The Value Plan costs $4.99 for the 30 days and is pro-rated for the time you use it. If you use it only 21 days and return the phone in the 30 days, you pay for days used only (roughly 17 cents a day). The cost in the countries we'll visit is $0.99/per minute under this plan, versus $1.29 per minute without the plan. Croatia does cost a little more per minute...$1.29/per minute under the plan.
* Verizon office hours for the Global Services division are Monday thru Friday ONLY....from 5:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time. This allows you plenty of opportunities to reach them, just be sure it's during the week so you don't lose any time with shipment of your order.
* The phones are nice, newer style phones which are feature rich and include a charger and the adaptors you might need.
* The phone does NOT come pre-programmed with your number after all. That was too cumbersome in case folks wanted to change at the last minute. However, once you receive the phone, call the number on the instruction sheet from a LANDLINE phone or cell phone OTHER THAN yours. They will walk you through steps to program your Global phone with your cell number. This takes your phone out of service immediately, so that's why you can't be using the actual phone during the transfer process.
* The process to program the Global phone takes just a few minutes, so if you want to do that even on the way to the airport (and it's during their business hours), you could wait that long. I don't advise that, but it's possible to do.
* When you are in the U.S. your current price plan is still in effect. Once you start “roaming” you will incur the Value Plan pricing.
* One of the other cost saving measures is Texting. Some of us may just want to meet up with each other after various excursions or special "finds". If one knows how to Text, which sadly I have barely tried, they can send a text message to one of their Verizon companions in Europe for a nominal fee. It’s $0.50 to send and only $0.05 is charged to the receiver. Much less expensive than a call, but not necessarily the perfect option. I'm going to practice up punching letters and symbols though.
* To call back to the U.S., one must dial the international codes, BUT there is a short cut for part of it. The PLUS (+) sign on the phone is programmed to dial the country code for the U.S., so one need only dial the Area Code+Number to reach home. Those wishing to call you from the U.S. should use their cell phone and simply dial your number as if you were down the street. (Tip: Hold down the Star key for a few seconds and it becomes a Plus.)
* I am told much of this technical data is on an instruction sheet which comes with the phone. Verizon staff are also available to assist you if you have questions or problems, so I'm trusting that we won't feel "lost in translation".
Bon Voyage Everyone…and Happy Chatting!
Photo provided by Flickr JonJon2k8
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