149 USD - WTF! (Quick calculation, er um thrumnn thats about 100GBP!)
You need to seriously do some research - have you any other providers, can you change plans and may be top up using a pay as you go chip?
Verizon brands themselves as a "premium" carrier due to their reputation for having the best network with the widest available coverage here in the US. That part's true, I've never ever lost a signal. Period. But they charge accordingly. That 149 dollar price includes my 20% discount for service and additional calling features like unlimited data (which is required for the phone I have) All taxes and fees are included in that price as well.
ATT's now slightly less due to their capped data plans but these two are usually neck and neck when it comes to pricing. Sprint and T-Mobile are decidedly cheaper. I wouldn't mind switching to either of the latter two.
I am tantalizingly close to being off contract...well was anyway until my brother's line got added so I'm, in theory, trapped in contract hell for a while. (IIRC September....)
I wanted to switch a long time ago (I wasn't under contract when I signed up for Verizon almost 2 years ago but my Dad broke his phone...so out of the kindness of my heart I let my older brother who works for Verizon transfer my upgrade to my Dad so he wouldn't be phoneless...that locked me in) but since I'm locked now that's not an option. Add in the fact that my brother works for Verizon and any talk of switching providers results in my family giving me the stink eye: "Why would you switch, they have the best network, we're all on it...your brother works there..."
Add in whatever Early Termination Fees I'd have to pay and switching's a royal PITA. If I had enough coin to pay the bill and the ETF's for both lines in one shot, I'd do it.
Because I'm essentially stuck I'm considering switching to a dumbphone.
That would eliminate 30 dollars right there for data. I'd have to find a phone on eBay or CraigsList but I've done that before for several phones including my current one with great success.
I'll have to do some calculations in my head to see whether it would be worthwhile.
I might also go into a verizon wireless store and ask whether they're accounting for all my discounts correctly. I want to ensure that it's taking 20% off both lines.