dispute - The Latremie Post

Another “free” phone deal proves too good to be true

**Verizon vs. AT&T: The Truth Behind the “Free” Google Pixel 10 Pro Ad**

A recent dispute between telecom giants Verizon and AT&T shines a light on the confusing tactics often used in carrier advertising. Verizon faced criticism from AT&T over a “free” Google Pixel 10 Pro commercial that wasn’t entirely accurate. In response, Verizon quietly pulled the ad before any formal ruling was made, effectively ending the controversy.

### What’s the Deal with This “Free” Phone Ad?

Anyone who’s shopped for a new phone knows that carrier deals can be complicated—especially when they throw around the word “free.” This time, Verizon found itself caught in the crossfire.

AT&T filed a challenge with the National Advertising Division (NAD) over Verizon’s commercial for the Google Pixel 10 Pro. According to AT&T, the ad implied you could get the latest Pixel for free on any Verizon plan. The catch? That wasn’t true. The offer was actually only available to customers signing up for Verizon’s most expensive plan—the Unlimited Ultimate tier.

Before the NAD, an advertising watchdog, could evaluate the complaint, Verizon notified them that the commercial was permanently discontinued. As a result, the NAD closed the case, which, for compliance purposes, carries the same weight as a ruling against Verizon.

Although the ad is now officially pulled, for now, you can still watch the commercial [here](#).

### Why This Carrier Spat Matters to You

This isn’t just about two telecom behemoths bickering; it’s a prime example of why you need to be cautious with carrier promotions.

The word “free” almost always comes with a hefty asterisk.

While AT&T stepped in as the “hero” calling out a competitor, the truth is—they run very similar promotions themselves. These “free phone” deals usually work by applying monthly bill credits over a 24 or 36-month contract. You’re required to remain on a specific, often premium, unlimited plan throughout the entire period.

If you switch carriers or downgrade your plan early, you will owe the remaining balance on the “free” phone. It’s a classic lock-in strategy used by all major carriers to keep customers on their most profitable plans.

So, while Verizon’s ad may have been misleading in its vagueness, the practice itself is standard across the industry.

### Do Wireless Carriers Need a Watchdog Like the NAD?

– Yes, otherwise they’d go rogue taking advantage of consumers
– No, it should be up to consumers to catch false claims

### Always Read the Fine Print

This kind of situation is just another typical day in the wireless industry. Carrier advertising is often designed to be just enticing enough to reel you in, leaving critical details buried in the fine print.

Verizon pulling the ad was the right move, but it’s unfortunate it took a legal challenge from a direct competitor to push it through.

### Our Take

My personal advice? Treat every “free” phone offer with a healthy dose of skepticism. Before signing any contract, calculate the total cost over the entire period—including the expensive monthly plan you’re committing to.

Many times, buying the phone outright (unlocked) and finding a more affordable plan actually saves you money long-term.

This incident serves as a reminder: when it comes to carrier deals, you have to be your own best advocate.

—

### Related Stories

– **“Iconic Phones” is Coming This Fall!**
Relive the most iconic and unforgettable phones from the past 20 years! *Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips* is a beautifully illustrated coffee table book set to launch in just a couple of months. Featuring the stories of more than 20 beloved devices, it takes you on a nostalgic journey through the mobile revolution that transformed our world. Don’t miss out—[sign up today](#) to lock in your early-bird discount!

– **Buy 3 Months, Get 3 Free with Visible+ Pro**
Save up to $135 on Verizon’s fastest 5G plan. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase. [Check Out The Offer](#)

– **FCC Approves Cingular’s Purchase of AT&T Wireless**
Stay tuned for updates on this significant industry development.

—

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https://www.phonearena.com/news/another-free-phone-deal-proves-too-good-to-be-true_id174935

Priya Sachdev ‘destroyed’ Karisma-Sunjay’s marriage, claims his sister

By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025 | 11:15 am

**The Ongoing Kapur Family Dispute: A Closer Look at the Late Industrialist’s 30,000 Crore Estate**

The ongoing dispute over the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s massive 30,000 crore estate has taken a dramatic turn. Mandira Kapur Smith, Sunjay Kapur’s sister, has made allegations regarding his third wife, Priya Sachdev, accusing her of contributing to the breakdown of Kapur’s marriage with actress Karisma Kapoor.

### Family’s Opposition to the Relationship

In an exclusive interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Mandira revealed that she had known about Sunjay and Priya Sachdev’s relationship since they met on a flight and was deeply unhappy about it.

“You don’t break up a happy marriage,” said Kapur Smith.
“Lolo (Karisma Kapoor) and Sunjay, my brother, were in a good place. I think for another woman to not care about a woman who’s just had a child is in bad taste. You don’t destroy a marriage. Even a happy marriage deserves to be respected. Lolo was also working very hard to make this marriage work.”

Mandira expressed strong disapproval toward the way the marriage ended and criticized Sachdev’s role in it.

### Family Feud and Disapproval of Marriage

Mandira also revealed that the entire Kapur family, including their late father, was against Sunjay Kapur’s relationship with Priya Sachdev.

“He can never marry her. I don’t ever want to see her face. And they can’t have children,” she recalled as her father’s harsh words.

She added, “Nobody stood by them getting married. They should have made it work. Karisma should have been allowed to have her husband.”

### Wedding Absence

Mandira and her sister were noticeably absent at the 2017 wedding of Sunjay Kapur and Priya Sachdev. She explained, “We were very clear that we could not support this because the only thing Dad said to him was: ‘Do not get married and do not have kids.’ If he was here, Priya won’t be a part of this family.”

### Regrets and Reflections

When asked if Karisma Kapoor had reached out during the turbulent period, Mandira admitted there had been silence between them.

“We weren’t actually talking in that time frame. I feel bad because she was my best friend. I wish I’d taken more of a stand for her. I should have stood up for her. I don’t know what I could have done differently, honestly.”

### Legacy and the Inheritance Battle

Sunjay Kapur tragically passed away in June 2025 following a freak accident at a polo match. He is survived by his wife Priya Sachdev and their son, Azarias.

Sunjay and Karisma Kapoor were married from 2003 to 2016. Their children, Samaira and Kiaan, were born in 2005 and 2011, respectively.

Following Kapur’s death, a fierce inheritance battle has erupted between Priya Sachdev and Sunjay’s children from his marriage with Karisma Kapoor, further complicating the Kapur family saga.

—

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/sunjay-kapur-s-sister-accuses-priya-of-ruining-karisma-s-marriage/story

Priya Sachdev ‘destroyed’ Karisma-Sunjay’s marriage, claims his sister

**The Ongoing Dispute Over Sunjay Kapur’s 30,000 Crore Estate Takes a New Turn**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025 | 11:15 am*

The ongoing dispute over the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s massive ₹30,000 crore estate has taken a new turn. Kapur’s sister, Mandira Kapur Smith, has made startling allegations regarding the circumstances that led to the breakdown of his marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor.

In an exclusive interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Mandira claimed that Kapur’s third wife, Priya Sachdev, played a significant role in the dissolution of his marriage with Kapoor. She revealed that she had known about Kapur and Sachdev’s relationship since the two met on a flight, and expressed her unhappiness with how it affected the family.

### Family’s Opposition: “You Don’t Break Up a Happy Marriage”
Mandira Kapur Smith said, “Lolo (Karisma Kapoor) and Sunjay, my brother, were in a good place. I think for another woman to not care about a woman who’s just had a child is in bad taste. You don’t destroy a marriage. And Lolo did not deserve that.”

She continued, “Not even a happy marriage—you don’t break up a marriage that is trying to work on keeping a family together. Lolo was also working very hard to make this marriage work.”

### Family Feud: “Nobody Stood By Them Getting Married”
Mandira revealed that their entire family, including their late father, was strongly opposed to Kapur’s relationship with Sachdev.

“He can never marry her. I don’t ever want to see her face. And they can’t have children,” she recalled their father’s stern words.

“Nobody stood by them getting married. They should have made it work. She (Karisma Kapoor) should have been allowed to have her husband,” Mandira added, emphasizing the family’s disapproval.

### Wedding Absence: “We Didn’t Attend Their Wedding”
Mandira and her sister notably did not attend Kapur and Sachdev’s 2017 wedding.

“We were very clear that we could not support this because the only thing Dad said to him was: ‘Do not get married and do not have kids,’” she said.

“If he was here, Priya won’t be a part of this family,” she concluded.

### Regret: “There Was Silence Between Us”
When asked whether Karisma Kapoor had reached out to her during the fallout, Mandira revealed a period of silence between them.

### Legacy: Kapur’s Death and the Inheritance Battle
Sunjay Kapur passed away in June 2025 after a freak accident during a polo match. He is survived by his wife, Priya Sachdev, and their son, Azarias.

Kapur was previously married to Karisma Kapoor from 2003 to 2016. Together, they had two children: Samaira (born 2005) and Kiaan (born 2011).

The late industrialist’s untimely death has left behind not only a vast fortune but also a bitter inheritance battle between Priya Sachdev and Kapur’s children from his marriage with Karisma Kapoor. The family feud surrounding the estate shows no signs of settling anytime soon.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/sunjay-kapur-s-sister-accuses-priya-of-ruining-karisma-s-marriage/story

Priya Sachdev ‘destroyed’ Karisma-Sunjay’s marriage, claims his sister

By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 04, 2025 | 11:15 AM

**What’s the story?**

The ongoing dispute over the late industrialist Sunjay Kapur’s massive ₹30,000 crore estate has taken a new turn. Kapur’s sister, Mandira Kapur Smith, has alleged that his third wife, Priya Sachdev, contributed to the breakdown of his marriage with actor Karisma Kapoor.

In an interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani, Mandira revealed that she had known about Kapur and Sachdev’s relationship since they met on a flight—and she was unhappy about it.

—

**Family’s opposition: “You don’t break up a happy marriage”**

Kapur Smith stated, “Lolo (Karisma Kapoor) and Sunjay, my brother, were in a good place. I think for another woman to not care about a woman who’s just had a child is in bad taste. You don’t destroy a marriage. And Lolo did not deserve that. Not even a happy marriage—you don’t break up a marriage that is trying to work on keeping a family together. Lolo was also working very hard to make this marriage work.”

—

**Family feud: “Nobody stood by them getting married”**

Mandira further revealed that the entire family, including their late father, was against Kapur’s relationship with Sachdev.

“She can never marry her. I don’t ever want to see her face. And they can’t have children,” she recalled their father’s harsh words.

“Nobody stood by them getting married. They should have made it work. She (Karisma) should have been allowed to have her husband.”

—

**Wedding absence: “We didn’t attend their wedding”**

Mandira Kapur Smith and her sister did not attend Kapur and Sachdev’s 2017 wedding.

“We were very clear that we could not support this because the only thing Dad said to him was: ‘Do not get married and do not have kids,’” she said. “If he was here, Priya won’t be a part of this family.”

—

**Regret: “There was silence between us”**

When asked whether Karisma Kapoor had contacted her during this period of family turmoil, Mandira admitted there had been silence.

—

**Legacy: Kapur’s death and the inheritance battle**

Sunjay Kapur passed away in June 2025 after a freak accident at a polo match. He is survived by his wife, Priya Sachdev, and their son, Azarias.

Karisma Kapoor and Kapur were married between 2003 and 2016. Their children, Samaira and Kiaan, were born in 2005 and 2011, respectively.

Kapur’s death has left behind not just a huge fortune but also a bitter inheritance battle between Sachdev and his children from Kapoor. The family feud appears far from over.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/sunjay-kapur-s-sister-accuses-priya-of-ruining-karisma-s-marriage/story

Multiplexes resume bookings for ‘Jolly LLB’; here’s what happened

**Multiplexes Resume Bookings for ‘Jolly LLB 3’; Here’s What Happened**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | Sep 19, 2025, 01:30 PM*

The much-anticipated release of *Jolly LLB 3* faced a significant hurdle when leading multiplex chains PVR and Inox halted the advance booking of shows due to disagreements over the Virtual Print Fee (VPF). Bookings were first stopped on Wednesday evening, briefly resumed on Thursday morning without resolving the issue, and then suspended again on Thursday evening — just hours before the film’s premiere.

The dispute grew notable enough to attract the involvement of superstar Akshay Kumar, highlighting the intensity of the conflict surrounding this release.

### What Led to the Booking Suspension?

The root of the problem lies in the Virtual Print Fee (VPF), a charge imposed by major multiplex chains on producers or distributors to help cover the costs associated with upgrading cinema technology. This fee typically averages around ₹20,000 per screen. While smaller cinema chains and non-2K theaters collect the fee through digital service providers such as UFO, Scrabble, and Qube, major multiplexes like PVR and Inox directly impose the fee on filmmakers.

The *Jolly LLB 3* team challenged this fee, arguing that as a 2025 release, they should be exempted from the ongoing charges.

### Payment Agreement Reached Under Protest

Fearing that the prolonged halt in bookings would severely impact the film’s first-day collections, the producers of *Jolly LLB 3* decided to agree to pay the VPF. However, they made it clear that this payment was made under protest, and discussions around the legitimacy and fairness of the fee would continue.

A multiplex official confirmed that the issue was finally resolved around midnight, and advance bookings resumed, ensuring a smooth release of the film across India.

### Understanding Virtual Print Fee (VPF)

VPF is a recurring point of contention in the Hindi film industry. It is intended to offset the cost multiplexes incur for switching from traditional film prints to digital projection technology. Despite being a standard practice, many producers feel that the fee should not be charged indefinitely.

### The Ongoing Battle Over VPF

The VPF dispute is not new. Back in 2019, producer Ronnie Screwvala took major multiplex chains including PVR, Inox, Cinepolis, and Carnival Cinemas to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over the fee. However, the CCI ruled in favor of the multiplexes.

Despite this, producers continue to argue that the VPF was meant to be a temporary charge and are pushing for its discontinuation or waiver for newer releases.

### *Jolly LLB 3* is Now in Theaters

Following the resolution, *Jolly LLB 3* has hit theaters nationwide. The film’s release was closely watched, not only for its content but for the implications this dispute has on the film distribution and exhibition ecosystem in India.

Stay tuned for more updates and box office reports on *Jolly LLB 3*.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/jolly-llb-3-team-submits-vpf-under-protest/story