yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
prove phone is junk,do the jump thru hoops thing

This process is long and tedious being under tec/tep they will keep sending phones until

A.run out and sub to diff phone

B.you buy new phone

Good luck
[Thunderbolt General] gcantrell:
:) Congrats and welcome to the club!
[Thunderbolt General] mbrown3460:
Damn this going be the longest weekend:laugh:

they only carry the 32 gig model right? I forgot to ask I was too excited lol.
[Thunderbolt General] sorullo_xgrx:
Lucky youuuuuu just got off the phone with Verizon they are sending me another TB... Did you guys just refuse to be sent another thunderbolt, or they just offer send other phone

---------- Post added at 11:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------

They actually offer me an early upgrade which it's due til December. But my wallet its not fat enough right now :(
[Thunderbolt General] mbrown3460:
I refused. They first offered me the bionic but I had to pay for the battery and cover. Then I asked to speak to a supervisor and he ran down a list of phones I can choose from.
[Thunderbolt General] gchase23:
Talked with VZW - My phone is 5 months out of Warranty - went to 2nd tier could not help me

That's what I get for buying the phone the day it came out.

I am having random restarts and poor 4G (90dbm) in NYC.

All she could do was tell me I could buy a retail or factory pre-owned phone, or offered to give my HTC's line directly.

I have a November update day, may have to go against my better judgement and upgrade and lose unlimited data.

Here's hoping for ICS end of month so we can use GoogleNow
[Thunderbolt General] mbrown3460:
Ask to speak to a supervisor. I had four replacements but for some reason they had extended my warranty on one of em.
[Thunderbolt General] thebigthn:
Same here, got told the same thing. I think if we are out of warrenty, then we're screwed. A new sim card seemed to help with the data drops though.
[Thunderbolt General] AceBlade258:
The last 'bolt I had was running Liquid Smooth when the screen stopped working. (Restoring that to stock was a huge pain in the ass!) I loved it! Great battery life (~18 hours on stock battery with average usage. GPS and 4G enabled.), everything worked - all the time, and it played my music.

The replacement had a bad headphone jack, and a blown earpiece. Heh, "certified like-new", right...

Just got off the phone, the rep origionally offered me the Samsung Stratosphere (really?) or a Droid Bionic (meh). I politely explained why those wouldn't work for me (Stupid keyboard, and Motoblur, respectively) and asked for a gnex. After a bit of talk I got moved to a teir two, and my gnex will be here Monday! However, the battery and back panel won't be here till Friday...

Whatever, I just got a Galaxy Nexus for free!

---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

Call tech support, ask for Tier Two, and then ask them to check if your PRL is up to date. Don't use *228 on a 4G phone, I remember reading that it could damage your SIM card.
[Thunderbolt General] disconnecktie:
Using *228 is a very bad idea. Someone did that to my phone and it took me over a week to fix it. I had to do a master reset over the phone with a tier 2 tech.
[Thunderbolt General] gcantrell:
I believe so. That's what I was given

---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 PM ----------

Welcome to the club!
[Thunderbolt General] otto888:
Anyone got some tips on how to get escalated or know some names of good reps? Got escalated twice, and each rep did not offer the Nexus. Only the Charge/Revolution. I tried to explain how they are even worse than the TB from a user and developer(No ICS/JB AFAIK) POV with each one. Even told them that I know that other users are getting Nexus devices. Went ahead and got another replacement TB, number 6 I believe, and when, not if, this one has a stuck power button/broken speaker, I'm going to try again.
[Thunderbolt General] npro1464:
So... you NEED to have the phone covered under insurance, right? I never insured the phone, got it last May, so I'm screwed right? I can't do this?...
[Thunderbolt General] ryclegman:
It has to be under the 1 year manufactures warranty... insurance has to deal if you get it stolen, dropped in water, or like destroyed
[Thunderbolt General] AceBlade258:
I'm afraid so.

If you have TEP (Total Equipment Protection), which is totally worth it on Verizon, you get a warranty that lasts the lifetime of your phone (until you get a new one).

:D I'm freaking thrilled!

Just call make up an issue with the next one if you have to, you aren't costing anybody any money (except maybe Verizon, but they price gouge anyway). Be firm with the fact that you were never satisfied with the device and that you paid for a premium device when you bought it. Neither of those devices are/were premium/flagship devices.
[Thunderbolt General] baronmxc:
Seeing how one of the call centers is within walking distance from my house, I wonder if I can "escalate" the problem myself if I walk in and start flipping over desks and computers lol

On a serious note, as stated above, it's really not that hard to have Verizon escalate your issue. You just have to know what to say. Be smarter than them. Don't be like some of those customers who are ready to cuss out the first rep they get and/or get a brain fart once they get connected. Write everything you have to say on a piece of paper if you have to. Use it as your script since Verizon gives scripts to the reps that tell them what to say and what not to say. Play their game and play it well.

sent from my phone.
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
yep could not of said it better

Flash freaks return to stock rom before attempting

Note call from another phone

Round 1

I have hard reset device still having problems phone still virgin have not installed any app other then (bloatware) now im here talking to you please help me get to tier support 2

Leave attitude out

Sometimes they want u to hard reset with them over the phone

Just do it if asked

Phone broke they will send out another phone
[Thunderbolt General] jimmyco2008:
Oddly enough, *228 has never screwed up my SIM card or phone....I do it for fun sometimes lol
[Thunderbolt General] bigd5783:
well I called and they said they wanted to replace my sim card first. so I guess I will get it and see if it helps the data issue Im having and if not I will be calling back and nicely request a Galaxy Nexus.
[Thunderbolt General] baronmxc:
If you want the process to be faster, you can always say that you have already done all the troubleshooting they will surely ask you to do. While I do realize the SIM card can be a legitimate excuse for Verizon to not send out a replacement phone, I rarely ever hear of the SIM being faulty other than something being physically done to it (exposure to extreme heat, touching the contacts, bending, etc). I've been using SIM cards for almost 10 years and never had issues with the originals I was given. I'm still on my original SIM provided with my t-bolt since launch. Not saying yours is not faulty, it very well may be. But not likely, I don't think. If the replacement does work, then VZW did their job to fix your problem.

Side note: Again, with my experience with CSRs, as long as you explain to them you have done all the troubleshooting they ask you to do and provide them the software and baseband info from the latest .19 release from VZW (they will ask), they will escalate your call afterwards. Once escalated, you have to repeat the process until you get what you want. Be firm. And as a last resort, tell them you will cancel your service unless they satisfy you.

sent from my phone.
[Thunderbolt General] bigd5783:
yeah the CSR said that he has seen some problems with the original sim cards. I told him it would be worth a try and I would try anything to get the Thunderbolt working correctly. Now on the other hand in a couple days when and if this doesnt work then I will be placing another call and kindly but firmly explain that I paid for a premium device and I want a premium device that works. I explained that a friend of mine had received a Nexus as a replacmenet for his trouble with his thunderbolt and I would like the same treatment as I spend over 300 a month with the company. I will be more than likely upgrading my phone within the next 6 months anyway so its not like they are losing a customer. I want whatever the next nexus device will be.
[Thunderbolt General] staveandor:
I posted either in this thread or another like it a week or so ago.... but I'm now ready to flash stock and call CS to try to get a replacement since my headphone jack is shot.

The problem I'm having is that I can't seem to find the most current stock firmware. I'm just confused by the version numbers anymore... it's been almost a year since running Sense. Would using something like Revolution help? Or do I need to manually flash the firmware? And would anyone PLEASE be nice enough to link me to it?
[Thunderbolt General] donnyp1:
Use tbolt dev tool, it will get u back to stock, then an update will come up
[Thunderbolt General] BULLIT22:
Droid Razr does'nt sound too bad.
[Thunderbolt General] dbornack:
Hopefully this is the case, as I just cracked my screen :(
[Thunderbolt General] teddyastuffed:
Whoa just saw this thread cuz i got a broken tbolt for like $30 that ima fix the digitizer on n give to my girl but the reason I haven't seen it is cuz i got sent a nexus about a month ago for a CLNR on my tbolt I called in.

Actually I didn't even request a nexus, I actually was having mad reboot problems on the first CLNR they sent me for the same problem on my original tbolt I bought from best buy back in January (kinda got the tbolt a little late lol, I'm cheap -_-) but then they told me they're out of stock on tbolts n said they're sending a nexus instead. Days before my bday too! Lol good luck to anyone trying to get one! Nexus is an amazing alternative! Hope no one has to lie too badly to get one tho :/ bad juju / karma / watever u wanna call it -_- always comes full circle for me been my experience. Take care!

And fk it, I used to lie all the time and get a lot of stuff that way too so justify away if u must! Tbolt has been kinda left in the dust by HTC and Verizon so they probably deserve it anyways lol good luck everyone!
[Thunderbolt General] recDNA:
How's your 3g reception?
[Thunderbolt General] teddyastuffed:
Lol the radio on the nexus is trash, so many call problems, but luckily I'm a user that barely talks to people -_-. Still on the 700 minute family plan between 4 phones my family uses a total of 300-350 monthly out of network. Also the on screen for this phone eats battery power like candy

But yes Samsung radios r absolute trash. Worst call quality ever on any phone I've ever owned. I've been able to minimize problems but just today on 1 phone call I couldn't hear the other person. Called back, after 5 minutes everything got static sounding from his side. This happens FREQUENTLY. If jelly bean and all the development didn't exist for this phone, it would b a really sad alternative to the tbolt.

My 4G is pretty solid, never drops connection. Never use 3g, only 4G or wifi.

And for the record I really loved the tbolt! If it didn't have the worst RIL known to mankind it probably wouldn't have been such a flop for htc, verizon, and especially the customers! But that's y I bought one for my girl, just hope I don't fk up replacing the digitizer. I heard it's not the easiest for this phone ;0
[Thunderbolt General] Tiezane:
I actually bought my bolt from a co-worker who had dropped it and cracked the screen, and wasn't insured. He went out and bought a new one, and I got this one for $25 from him :D

If you get the Digitizer/Glass combo off of Amazon, it's actually pretty easy to replace, just make sure you take your time and heat up the adhesives well before you try to remove them from the screen, as long as they are warm enough they'll practically slide off. Steady hand when placing the new one and there ya go! Replacement was smooth enough that when I called Verizon complaining about data drops, and they eventually replaced the phone, they didn't catch that it had been done :D
[Thunderbolt General] sanjurotsubaki:
My Experience.

Figured I would chime in. Purchased a HTC Thunderbolt, day one and well out of warranty. Spent 45mins on the phone or so with Verizon. Asked for a Galaxy Nexus, had that shipped with the expedited option.

1. The first person I spoke to mentioned they were going to get me a new device. When at the next tier, I harped this to the agent and they quickly obliged.

2. Be proactive. Pick up the extended battery in store for $25 prior to receiving the device. They will not ship the battery with the phone, and I've yet to get the battery. They shipped me a only battery cover a week later.

3. I'm not a fan of cases. Never used one with the Thunderbolt. The weight of this phone is extremely light, and coming from the Thunderbolt the biggest issue. Order this case: I CANNOT POST LINKS. AMAZON > DIZTRONIC MATTE BLACK BLACK. $10 It fits with the extended battery. Very light, matches the phone perfectly. Glossy to match the screen, matte on the back for grip. The logo is a non-issue. The screen protector is junk, not using it.

4. Performance. The radio is not as strong as the HTC. However, there is little difference for me in actual performance. Where I get zero bars with the Nexus, I could make the call with the Thunderbolt and not be able to hear a word and be disconnected. The Nexus will actually wait until the strength is adequate to make the call. YMMV. I haven't had any serious issues to date.

5. Use the widget to keep the screen on low brightness. That will eat the battery more than the Thunderbolt on the higher brightness settings.

I hope this helps some of you. Enjoying the phone immensely. $35 out of pocket for a experience with much less hassle.
[Thunderbolt General] mbrown3460:
Yea I am loving this phone man Verizon sent me the battery, cover and the device at the same time. Bought the extended battery the other day.
[Thunderbolt General] thebigthn:
What amazes me is the fact that you're out of warranty. I am also out of warranty, but on my 3rd Thunderbolt. I'm still getting data drops and have called them 3 times now. They sent me a new sim to see if it would fix the issue, but nothing. I asked them what my options were if the sim didn't work, and they said that all I could do was buy a refurbished device or upgrade. There's a trouble ticket out on my issue, and it says it will take 3-5 business days to fix. So it sounds like there's hope of getting a new phone then?
[Thunderbolt General] jimmyco2008:
Man it depends on who you get.. Once I got this guy, all he wanted to do was go by the book, and have me do EVERYTHING possible before shipping out a replacement (this was years ago)... Another, the guy asked the same question twice- "did that fix it?", and well... I started with a CPO Droid X, ended up with a brand-new in-box Droid Incredible.

Looking back, it was a real pain trying to get someone to actually help me, so I wouldn't con Verizon for a new phone, even the GalNex, unless my Thunderbolt actually had a problem.

On a related note, another phone in the family plan was having issues...a Droid X actually haha, and we talked to a rep, since it was out of warranty (obviously) they said we'd have to upgrade or activate a phone we have laying around. This was...last month.

It all depends, some people get lucky!
[Thunderbolt General] klippenstein:
Currently on my 4th or 5th thunderbolt and decided to give this a try.

Called this morning, first lady told me I was SOL. Second lady offered me another Thunderbolt, Bionic, Charge, or Revolution. Told her I hate motorola phones, had the charge before, and the revolution would be a downgrade. Decided to try my luck and take another thunderbolt.

Will keep y'all posted with what phone I actually receive.
[Thunderbolt General] mbrown3460:
ask to speak to a supervisor
[Thunderbolt General] markalyea2:
My 3rd thunderbolt is being shipped to me. The last referb was the worst piece of **** on earth! I'm seriously hoping to get the rezound soon as I can already guess this phone is going to be flawed like a SOAB as well.
[Thunderbolt General] klippenstein:
that will be what I do when i receive this defective thunderbolt.
[Thunderbolt General] sanjurotsubaki:
Just to clarify, I didn't con or call for the sake of a newer device. The Thunderbolt would constantly go to the "HTC white screen" while leaving an app or going back to the main screen. It would reboot as well, not the same as the prior rebooting issue, but would flicker and then power down.

I loved the build of the Thunderbolt, but it just had to be done. I couldn't use the phone consistently since day one. If I had gotten the replacement, it would have been my fourth.
[Thunderbolt General] bladestonez:
ok funny story i have been following this thread since it started or close to it and was like i want to try and get something else, a few days later a about a quarter of my screen stops working for touch. i get a replacement thunderbolt and instantly had data issues with it so called verizon again and they said i would need to call from another phone, i only have my t bolt for a phone so i used the old one for a few days. well today i decided i should try the new phone again or get the data sorted out because i need to send the old one back, and i caled verizon again for the data issue i get an automated message about a data lock and get forwarded straight to tier 2. the tech goes through some stuff and askes if i have everything on in the mobile data part of settings, me being tired and stupid forgetting im running cm7 starts listing the options i say international data and the tech thinks i have a virus and tells me to factory reset, he calls back and i can barely hear him over the static and he says he has no idea whats wrong with my phone and that hes sending me a razr. i guess i lucked out with deective devices and retarded techs on this one.
[Thunderbolt General] thebigthn:
No kidding, I'm not trying to con Verizon out of a new phone either. After being on my third replacement, I thought that this would be my last phone for a while. However, I think it's a bit ridiculous that my Thunderbolt has data drop issues for nearly a month now, while my sister's Razr hold data just fine. From what I read, the Thunderbolt's not the only phone with this issue, but is more prone to it.. It just seems like they're trying to push us off the network, or upgrade to get rid of our unlimited data plan. I certainly can't afford a phone off of eBay, so I'm stuck with data drops.

Hate to say it, but I kind of rely of my phone quite a bit, especially with Google Maps, email, and banking. If I was just missing out on my facebook, I wouldn't care. But it kinda sucks when I'm out in town and I need to get to a job interview, and then my phone starts acting up.
[Thunderbolt General] npro1464:
I'm planning on leaving when my contract is up in May and going with a pre-paid Nexus. I'm getting so damn impatient, though. I'm tempted to go with Sprint now with their $100 cash back deal going on, but my guts telling me to tough it out. Plus, I really want a Nexus device, and the Galaxy Nexus is 8 months old now, so I'm really waiting for the new one to drop.
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
I think all the thunderbolts out there are f.o.b.a.r.,ive lost count couple charge ports issues 4g dropping out

You know when you have to take (in my case), take otterbox off back cover pull battery slide out sim card and wait a few minutes ,push in sim card reinstall battery reinstall back cover reinstall otterbox on turn on phone

Your phone is #$%ed

Just to get 4g working again

The is starting to really suck all in all I'm out 10+ hours just in setting the phone back up to the way it was before

And to boot I really don't like my wife *****ing me out for her defective thunderbolt

Replacements here tuesday let the fun begin all over again

On the plus side tech 2 noted the account need to get different phone if this last replacement defective
[Thunderbolt General] klippenstein:
How do you check your order number online to see what is coming?
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/secure/orderhistory/viewOrderHistory.action
[Thunderbolt General] klippenstein:
It says I'm getting the usual thunderbolt :(
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
Ya gotta go with the system proving out phone 7 come 11 ya might get lucky

Just set up only needed to get by till next phone

Radio in reman phone junk

Might take a couple days
[Thunderbolt General] markalyea2:
Crap... My 3rd replacement is actually working better then perfect so far. Looks like no free upgrade for me! -_-
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
Give it time something will crap out before the 90 day warranty is up

Odd thing about Verizon is that the company has this oxy moron thing going on won't replace defective phone with different model on 1 year warranty or extended warranty until you prove to them that the next phone is going to be junk and when you explain to the tech that ,come on ___phones later nothing is going to change for the better, then and only then they might make notes in the account stating customer has a proven track record let's see about a different device

That's where I'm at now ,so hang in there its a @#$%&
[Thunderbolt General] Dannar:
It's nearly the end of the month and no ICS. Makes me want to take advantage of this. Who here is jealous of the OP who got a rezound with all the frills out of this? Man, guess you have to act fast.

I'm not sure I have the stomach to go through 3 or 4 bolts to maaaybe get a Gnex.

Duely blundered from my thunderdolt.
[Thunderbolt General] ksheth2130:
I'm in the same boat, and also with my phone being a little over a year old, I'm probably past the replacement time frame.

Just hoping for either an official ICS release or minor fixes to Liquid's ICS ROM to hold me off until my March upgrade.
[Thunderbolt General] Fourstarzzzz:
I got a replacement TB the first time, told them the replacement would not hold a charge. Offered a charge and I said I am used to HTC and Motorola phones. Told me they could send a Rezound. Now I am happy!
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
Finally proved out phone ,network ok sim card ok ,phone radio junk more then a couple phones later same problem.

4g radio in out like a pinball game

Nothing

I reach the top of hill just to get slapped back down as far as phones

900080004009: FREE VZW MSG-DO NOT REPLY: Alternate warranty replacement options: HTC Rezound, LG Revolution or Motorola Razr

Which would u you guys choose

Update:offered anything 4g except s3

Nothing out there that I like

Add need case $$ and other stuff I'm forgetting

Ice cream os might fix data drop?
[Thunderbolt General] Forcefedfun:
Going to get my bolt replaced. I'll see what they sent me tomorrow when the order # posts

Thunderbolt
[Thunderbolt General] scottthreet32:
https://wbillpay.verizonwireless.com:443/vzw/secure/orderhistory/viewOrderHistory.action

Check here log in first
[Thunderbolt General] nrfitchett4:
WOW, guess we are just lucky. Got 2 bolts last june and both are still working. My wife streamed 28gb of netflix last month and no complaints of data drops to me.

This is interesting though since the bolt is getting a little old. Definitely wouldn't take an early upgrade, but a free device... That's why I pay TEP on all my lines.
[Thunderbolt General] gab1972:
Out of curiosity...did any of you have a warranty with your phone? (the extra $6.99 on Verizon) Meaning, can you only complain about your phone and then have them send you a Rezound only if you have the warranty??
[Thunderbolt General] nrfitchett4:
it definitely helps. I have it on all my lines so I can always get a replacement. Standard warranty is only a year.