Why the March bill was so much higher than April's

Account 874348770-00001 · Allison & Ted Pearlman

Last updated: June 11, 2026

The short version: Nothing went wrong. March was a “moving month.”

In late February the account was rebuilt — three old lines were dropped and three lines got brand-new phones and plans. That one-time shuffle (activation fees, overlapping part-month charges, only partial credit for the dropped lines) piled onto the March bill.

April is the first normal month. Same plans, none of the one-time stuff. The underlying plan price barely changed — Verizon’s own “fixed monthly plan charge” was $226.24 in March vs $225.00 in April. The whole ~$120 swing was one-time transition charges, not a rate hike.

March bill (Feb 13 – Mar 12) — moving month
$392.02
April bill (Mar 13 – Apr 12) — first normal month
$272.37
Typical going forward (paid on time)
~$322

April was actually a little low — two phones got a double device credit that month. The normal steady-state lands around $322.

The thorough version

What changed in March

Around Feb 20 the account was restructured. March shows 6 lines; April shows only the 3 that survived.

March lineWhat happenedAmount
Allison — 720-537-4510new plan + new device+$210.87
Allison — 720-688-3287plan removed−$75.15
Allison — 720-696-5117plan removed−$75.15
Allison — 720-726-0717service disconnected−$48.94
Ted — 720-728-9494new plan added+$177.88
Allison — 913-645-2294new plan added+$174.57
March total$392.02

The three active lines were hit with a stack of one-time transition charges:

The new device charges (the financed iPhones)

The phones were financed over 36 months instead of paid upfront. Each month has a full installment offset by a promotional credit:

LinePhonePaymentCreditNet/mo
720-537-4510iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB$38.88−$30.33+$8.55
720-728-9494 (Ted)iPhone 17 Pro Max 512GB$38.88−$30.33+$8.55
913-645-2294iPhone 17 Pro 512GB$36.11−$30.55+$5.56
Net device cost per month~$22.66

You’re on payment 3 of 36 (~3 years). Roughly $1,283 remains on each Pro Max and $1,192 on the Pro. The promo credit only continues while the line and plan stay active — cancel a line early and that credit stops, leaving the remaining device balance owed.

What a normal month looks like (~$322, paid on time)

ItemAmount
3 × Unlimited Ultimate plans ($75 each)+$225.00
National discount (3+ lines)−$20.00
Mobile Protect (3-line)+$57.00
Device installments, net (one credit each)+$22.66
Surcharges (~$6.11 × 3)+$18.33
Taxes & gov fees+$19.84
Typical total (on time)~$322.83
Why April was only $272.37: two lines received a double device credit that month (“Credit 2 of 36” and “Credit 3 of 36” together) — a one-time catch-up worth about −$60. Once that stops, monthly bills settle near $322, plus ~$10 if a payment is late.

FAQ & common objections

Did Verizon overcharge us in March?

No. The high March total is one-time proration from rebuilding the account mid-cycle — activation fees and overlapping part-month plan charges — minus only partial credits for the dropped lines. Verizon’s own “fixed monthly plan charge” line confirms the recurring price barely moved: $226.24 in March, $225.00 in April.

Why are there 6 lines on March but only 3 on April?

Three old lines (720-688-3287, 720-696-5117, 720-726-0717) were removed or disconnected around Feb 20, and the account moved to three active lines on new phones and plans. March still shows the old lines because they were live for part of that billing period and had to be credited back.

Is the bill going to keep going down to $272?

No — April was unusually low. Two phones got a double device credit that month (about −$60 of one-time catch-up). Normal months land near $322 when paid on time.

What’s the “new device charge” I keep seeing?

It’s the monthly installment on each financed iPhone — about $38.88 or $36.11 — offset by a promotional credit of roughly −$30, so the net is about $5–$9 per phone per month. It runs for 36 months.

Why is there a late fee on both bills?

Payment wasn’t received by the due date, so Verizon added a late fee (5% of the unpaid balance, minimum charge): $8.51 in March, $10.42 in April. Paying on time removes this. Note: effective May 18, 2026, the minimum late fee rises to $10/month.

Can we lower the bill?

A few levers: enroll in Auto Pay + paperfree billing with a bank account or Verizon Visa to save up to $10/line/month on Unlimited Ultimate; pay on time to drop the late fee; and review whether the Mobile Protect ($57/mo) insurance is still wanted on all lines. The plan price and device installments are largely fixed.

What happens if we cancel a line?

The phone’s promotional credit stops immediately, and the remaining device balance (~$1,200–$1,300 per phone right now) becomes due. So cancelling early usually costs more than it saves until the phone is paid off.

What are all the surcharges and taxes?

Surcharges (~$6.11/line) are Verizon charges — Federal Universal Service, Regulatory, and Admin & Telco Recovery. Taxes & gov fees (~$6.50–$6.69/line) are government-imposed: CO/Denver 911 & 988 surcharges, state and local sales taxes. These are normal and recur every month.