Hey folks,
As per the title I am looking to add lines to my account to keep unlimited data and get the upgrade discount. Anyone out there have any luck or solid info on this matter? Here's my details:
- Old style talk plan with 700 minutes
- 2 lines each with Unlimited Data $30 a month
- Both phones need to be upgraded, so assuming 2 additional lines will be added
Is this still possible to do? Or will there be any problems with adding a data plan to the new lines? My biggest fear is them screwing with my account and losing unlimited for good.
Please advise! Thanks!
Update: Spoke with a Verizon rep on the website and here's the log:
Please hold for a Verizon Wireless sales representative, we appreciate your patience. Your current estimated wait time is 0 min 22 secs.
Add a tablet to the Share Everything plan for only $10/mo ? no contract commitment - data only plans starting at $30 monthly access! Ask me how.
Your RealTime session ID is #########.
You are now chatting with 'VZW Rep'
VZW Rep: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. May I help you with your order today?
Me: Yes hello I have a question about upgrading both lines on my account to newer devices
VZW Rep: I will be more than happy to assist you with this today!.
Me: Great! I am currently paying month to month as my contract ended back in July I believe. I still have unlimited data on both my lines and am looking to upgrade the phones and keep my unlimited data. A friend of mine suggested that I can add two new lines with tiered data plans, buy the new phones at a discounted price and then active a basic phone on them so I can transfer the smartphones to my primary lines.
Me: Is this possible? Because I would like to keep my unlimited data and get the phones at discounted pricing.
VZW Rep: I see. You would be able to add 2 new lines to your account and purchase smartphones for these lines. Then you would be able to switch the smartphones to your main line and add your current phones to the new lines.
Me: Well the main principle is to put some basic phones on the new lines to pay the $9.99 monthly access fee and not a data package. Otherwise it would be more costly than buying the phones for their full retail price out right.
Me: Our current phones are HTC Thunderbolts with data plans
VZW Rep: I definitely understand.With these basic phones on the new line, this would knock out that $30 data plan requirement for the smartphones and you would just pay the $9.99/month fee for having an extra line on your account. This would allow you to have the new smartphones on your current lines and keep the unlimited data plan.
Me: That is exactly it! I would like to do just that. How would I go about doing that on the site?
VZW Rep: We can get these 2 lines added to your account online today and once you receive the phones, you would just switch them over to your current lines and add the basic phones to the new lines. Which phones are you looking to purchase for your current lines today?
Me: I am looking to purchase 2 Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphones for the primary lines. However I am still in need of a second basic phone to replace them when they arrive. I will need 2 unique basic non-data package requiring phones to continue, correct?
VZW Rep: Correct.
Me: That's a slight problem for me at the moment. I only have one available at the current moment and will be looking for a second one. But I will be looking to do this very soon. Thank you very much for helping me clear that matter up, I look forward to placing my order soon
VZW Rep: You would not have to actually add the basic phones to your account until you activate the new phones. You would have until January 15th to activate your new phones.
Me: Oh so you mean I can order the 2 phones today, receive them by say Tuesday the 4th, and as long as I replace them on the new lines by January 15th I won't be charged the $30 per line for data?
VZW Rep: Correct.
VZW Rep: You would need to have the basic phones ready to replace these smartphones once you activate them.
Me: Ah I only have one basic phone ready at the moment. I would need a second one still. I have one, I just need to find it somewhere around my home.
Me: I would feel more comfortable having both basic phones on hand however before I commit to anything, I'd just like to be prepared.
VZW Rep: You would have until January 15th to do so. This is when you would have to activate the new phones. I defiently understand.
Me: Thank you for understanding. And thank you for helping me today. I believe that's about all the information I was looking for.
VZW Rep: Have a great weekend! Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Me: That is all, thank you enjoy your weekend as well !
So there you have it. You can still do this procedure as of 11/30/2012 to get a phone at discount and pay 50% of the retail cost up front. Ultimately however you will still need a basic phone to replace the new smart phone on the added line so that you can remove the data plan and pay $9.99 a month + tax/charges which will come out to about $15 a month. This in addition to the upgrade cost ($30) means you are saving $10 after all is said and done after 24 months of service vs buying the phone in full retail price. But that price is cut in half and staggered over those 24 months which is much more preferable for me personally.
Update 2: Went ahead and ordered two new lines each with a Note 2 at subsidized pricing. Got them both for $299 plus activation fees. Strapped the 2GB tiered data plans on them, and still have my unlimited data plans on my primary lines. Well the phones came in today, I activated them, set them up all is well, then I went ahead and activated two very old Samsung flip phones that don't require a data plan, onto the new lines. Verizon's website even suggested I remove the data plans lol so took the monthly charges for each line down from $40 to $10. Excellent.
Now the final step remains. Take these two deactivated Note 2's and get them to replace my Thunderbolts on the primary lines. I did a lot of reading and it seems the new Verizon SIM's can go into whats called an Aged Status and after 24 hours of being in this mode, they become AD, Authorized,Deactivated. So I might be able to simply re-use them to swap out the Thunderbolts. Time will tell.
As per the title I am looking to add lines to my account to keep unlimited data and get the upgrade discount. Anyone out there have any luck or solid info on this matter? Here's my details:
- Old style talk plan with 700 minutes
- 2 lines each with Unlimited Data $30 a month
- Both phones need to be upgraded, so assuming 2 additional lines will be added
Is this still possible to do? Or will there be any problems with adding a data plan to the new lines? My biggest fear is them screwing with my account and losing unlimited for good.
Please advise! Thanks!
Update: Spoke with a Verizon rep on the website and here's the log:
Please hold for a Verizon Wireless sales representative, we appreciate your patience. Your current estimated wait time is 0 min 22 secs.
Add a tablet to the Share Everything plan for only $10/mo ? no contract commitment - data only plans starting at $30 monthly access! Ask me how.
Your RealTime session ID is #########.
You are now chatting with 'VZW Rep'
VZW Rep: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service. May I help you with your order today?
Me: Yes hello I have a question about upgrading both lines on my account to newer devices
VZW Rep: I will be more than happy to assist you with this today!.
Me: Great! I am currently paying month to month as my contract ended back in July I believe. I still have unlimited data on both my lines and am looking to upgrade the phones and keep my unlimited data. A friend of mine suggested that I can add two new lines with tiered data plans, buy the new phones at a discounted price and then active a basic phone on them so I can transfer the smartphones to my primary lines.
Me: Is this possible? Because I would like to keep my unlimited data and get the phones at discounted pricing.
VZW Rep: I see. You would be able to add 2 new lines to your account and purchase smartphones for these lines. Then you would be able to switch the smartphones to your main line and add your current phones to the new lines.
Me: Well the main principle is to put some basic phones on the new lines to pay the $9.99 monthly access fee and not a data package. Otherwise it would be more costly than buying the phones for their full retail price out right.
Me: Our current phones are HTC Thunderbolts with data plans
VZW Rep: I definitely understand.With these basic phones on the new line, this would knock out that $30 data plan requirement for the smartphones and you would just pay the $9.99/month fee for having an extra line on your account. This would allow you to have the new smartphones on your current lines and keep the unlimited data plan.
Me: That is exactly it! I would like to do just that. How would I go about doing that on the site?
VZW Rep: We can get these 2 lines added to your account online today and once you receive the phones, you would just switch them over to your current lines and add the basic phones to the new lines. Which phones are you looking to purchase for your current lines today?
Me: I am looking to purchase 2 Samsung Galaxy Note 2 smartphones for the primary lines. However I am still in need of a second basic phone to replace them when they arrive. I will need 2 unique basic non-data package requiring phones to continue, correct?
VZW Rep: Correct.
Me: That's a slight problem for me at the moment. I only have one available at the current moment and will be looking for a second one. But I will be looking to do this very soon. Thank you very much for helping me clear that matter up, I look forward to placing my order soon
VZW Rep: You would not have to actually add the basic phones to your account until you activate the new phones. You would have until January 15th to activate your new phones.
Me: Oh so you mean I can order the 2 phones today, receive them by say Tuesday the 4th, and as long as I replace them on the new lines by January 15th I won't be charged the $30 per line for data?
VZW Rep: Correct.
VZW Rep: You would need to have the basic phones ready to replace these smartphones once you activate them.
Me: Ah I only have one basic phone ready at the moment. I would need a second one still. I have one, I just need to find it somewhere around my home.
Me: I would feel more comfortable having both basic phones on hand however before I commit to anything, I'd just like to be prepared.
VZW Rep: You would have until January 15th to do so. This is when you would have to activate the new phones. I defiently understand.
Me: Thank you for understanding. And thank you for helping me today. I believe that's about all the information I was looking for.
VZW Rep: Have a great weekend! Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Me: That is all, thank you enjoy your weekend as well !
So there you have it. You can still do this procedure as of 11/30/2012 to get a phone at discount and pay 50% of the retail cost up front. Ultimately however you will still need a basic phone to replace the new smart phone on the added line so that you can remove the data plan and pay $9.99 a month + tax/charges which will come out to about $15 a month. This in addition to the upgrade cost ($30) means you are saving $10 after all is said and done after 24 months of service vs buying the phone in full retail price. But that price is cut in half and staggered over those 24 months which is much more preferable for me personally.
Update 2: Went ahead and ordered two new lines each with a Note 2 at subsidized pricing. Got them both for $299 plus activation fees. Strapped the 2GB tiered data plans on them, and still have my unlimited data plans on my primary lines. Well the phones came in today, I activated them, set them up all is well, then I went ahead and activated two very old Samsung flip phones that don't require a data plan, onto the new lines. Verizon's website even suggested I remove the data plans lol so took the monthly charges for each line down from $40 to $10. Excellent.
Now the final step remains. Take these two deactivated Note 2's and get them to replace my Thunderbolts on the primary lines. I did a lot of reading and it seems the new Verizon SIM's can go into whats called an Aged Status and after 24 hours of being in this mode, they become AD, Authorized,Deactivated. So I might be able to simply re-use them to swap out the Thunderbolts. Time will tell.
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