The nation's largest wireless provider is bleeding subscribers after ja--ing up prices and scaling back on deals.
Verizon lost 289,000 monthly subscribers in the first three months of the year, the company admitted on Tuesday.
It's more than double the losses it suffered this time last year — and far worse than Wall Street expected. Customers fleeing in droves 'reflect the impact of recent pricing actions,' chief financial officer Tony Skiadas admitted on Tuesday's earnings call.
Verizon, the largest wireless provider in the US, has been steadily raising rates in recent years, with another 'sneaky' change to contracts in December particularly annoying customers.
Once known for big holiday promos, Verizon pulled back after Christmas — while T-Mobile and AT&T kept slashing prices. That move backfired as frustrated users ditched the service.
The phone provider market is highly competitive and cash-strapped consumers are willing to swap to another if their monthly bill goes up.
'Gotta talk and walk with your wallet. Give them the boot, they'll get it (or not) when enough people continue to do it,' one disillusioned Verizon customer wrote on Reddit. Now in damage control mode, Verizon is offering a three-year price lock and free phone trade-ins to win customers back.
Still, CEO Hans Vestberg made clear that if Trump's proposed tariffs spike phone prices, Verizon won't be eating the cost — it'll be passing it on to customers.
Customers are also holding on to their devices for longer, shunning expensive upgrades as economic uncertainty continues.
AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are locked in a battle to win subscribers, often competing on rates and deals.
Verizon blamed some of its losses on DOGE's government cutbacks.
'We saw some impact of the new government and their efficiency work,' chief executive officer Hans Vestberg told analysts.
To bring in new subscribers the company has now announced a three-year price fix guarantee.