I contacted the Verizon Customer Rep and was assured that the activation charges would be waived once it was billed.
It is something that I constantly have to do every year.
When calling in or chatting with the customer rep, just be polite, as they aren't the ones making the rules. They will take it off by adding in credits to offset the charge.
While I agree that it is absurd that a telecom as big as Verizon should be nickel-and-diming their customers, I think they get away with it 90% of the time, as customers don't bother checking their bills.
Cell phone bills are often paired with add-ons like phone upgrades, additional lines (Apple Watch), etc., so the activation charge often gets overlooked.