Upgrade on a different account need some help

**yoshi351** · 12-12-2011, 10:16 PM

I don't know if theres a thread for this but I need some help.

I want to get to get the Galaxy Nexus(whenever its released) but I dont have an upgrade right now on my account. But my dads account has an upgrade already. Can I buy the phone from his account and then transfer it to my account or that not possible? I really don't want to pay the off-contract price but will if this doesn't work.

I want to get rid of my droid bionic its garbage and want get some ice cream sandwich!

**mechapathy** · 12-12-2011, 10:29 PM

It's possible. You'd have to activate the GN on his line first, then reactivate his phone. Then you can activate the GN on your line. Dunzo.

**hanano17** · 12-12-2011, 10:38 PM

Not even sure you have to have it activated on his line at all? I'm doing the same thing with my moms line, wouldn't allowing them to activate it lock up the sim card? I don't see why you can't buy it and not have them activate it and take it home then do it on your line?

**sutrebla15** · 12-12-2011, 10:57 PM

Thread hijack!

Do you need the primary account holder to be with you to buy a new phone? I have a dumb phone so I would be adding a data plan as well if that matters.

**mechapathy** · 12-12-2011, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by hanano17

Not even sure you have to have it activated on his line at all? I'm doing the same thing with my moms line, wouldn't allowing them to activate it lock up the sim card? I don't see why you can't buy it and not have them activate it and take it home then do it on your line?

I've never had experience doing this with LTE phones, but you might have to go to the store and request a new SIM. Not sure. I've done this a few times with non-LTE phones, and the whole activate/reactivate deal was the procedure every time.

Originally Posted by sutrebla15

Thread hijack!

Do you need the primary account holder to be with you to buy a new phone? I have a dumb phone so I would be adding a data plan as well if that matters.

You need to be authorized to make changes to the account. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to be the account owner, but you do need to be a custodian on the account.

EDIT: If you're neither the owner nor a custodian on the account, you do need someone who can make account changes present. Some stores will accept confirmation over the phone, if you call the account owner.

**hanano17** · 12-12-2011, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by mechapathy

I've never had experience doing this with LTE phones, but you might have to go to the store and request a new SIM. Not sure. I've done this a few times with non-LTE phones, and the whole activate/reactivate deal was the procedure every time.

You need to be authorized to make changes to the account. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to be the account owner, but you do need to be a custodian on the account.

EDIT: If you're neither the owner nor a custodian on the account, you do need someone who can make account changes present. Some stores will accept confirmation over the phone, if you call the account owner.

I suppose thats not a big deal, but getting a new sim might be. I tried to ask for one when I gave my dad my Charge, and they refused to give me one. Still have the sim from that, but its not micro...might have to do some cutting >.<

**mozzarella72** · 12-12-2011, 11:38 PM

You can do it online, theres an option to transfer upgrade from one line to another online. Id assume once you specify what line you're transferring the upgrade to, they'll send you the phone with the sim card all good to go. This is what I'm doing

**Phadunkin** · 12-12-2011, 11:38 PM

My girlfriend and I are using her mothers plan [paying our own half] and along with us.. her sister and brother are also on the plan.. we use each others upgrades all the time. [thankfully most of us added lines at different times]

so yes.. you can without issue. just get the upgrade, get it shipped to your house, and activate it by calling their support line.

**GTvert90** · 12-12-2011, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by hanano17

I suppose thats not a big deal, but getting a new sim might be. I tried to ask for one when I gave my dad my Charge, and they refused to give me one. Still have the sim from that, but its not micro...might have to do some cutting >.<

has there been another phone on your account? Sim is probably deactivated and garbage now... If you other the phone through CS the Sim will come programmed for his line and will be garbage. You'll need to go get you one for your number

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

**mechapathy** · 12-12-2011, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by hanano17

I suppose thats not a big deal, but getting a new sim might be. I tried to ask for one when I gave my dad my Charge, and they refused to give me one. Still have the sim from that, but its not micro...might have to do some cutting >.<

Hmm. Yeah, like I said I've never done it with an LTE phone. Best bet might be to call *611 and ask customer service how to do it. It's allowed, so they should tell you.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

**mechapathy** · 12-12-2011, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by mozzarella72

You can do it online, theres an option to transfer upgrade from one line to another online. Id assume once you specify what line you're transferring the upgrade to, they'll send you the phone with the sim card all good to go. This is what I'm doing

I've seen this not work for one reason or another. I believe it involved transferring the owner's upgrade to another line. Not sure though. But not a bad place to start.

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**hanano17** · 12-13-2011, 12:34 AM

As far as I know, LTE sims don't 'expire' for 90 days of no use. Mines only been in limbo for 2-3 weeks. Don't think I can tell them to give it to me and put it on my account, our accounts aren't linked...i'm just jacking her upgrade

No biggie either way, if my sim doesn't work or they don't give me a new one...i'll amazon one like I did last time lol.

**Sentrix** · 12-13-2011, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by mozzarella72

You can do it online, theres an option to transfer upgrade from one line to another online. Id assume once you specify what line you're transferring the upgrade to, they'll send you the phone with the sim card all good to go. This is what I'm doing

That's called an alternate upgrade. And it works when two lines are on the same account.
But it will not work in this scenario; upgrades can't be transferred between two different accounts.

OP: Bring your Dad or an authorized user (if possible) with you on launch morning. Use the upgrade for the line on your Dad's account. Then have the VZW rep immediately switch that line back to the old phone that was on there. Then you'll need an entirely new SIM, which will go into the Nexus and be activated on your line. Your upgrade date will remain as it is now, while your Dad's line that was used won't be eligible for another 20 months. The GN will now be active on your line.

Sound good?

**mozzarella72** · 12-13-2011, 02:03 AM

Originally Posted by Sentrix

That's called an alternate upgrade. And it works when two lines are on the same account.
But it will not work in this scenario; upgrades can't be transferred between two different accounts.

OP: Bring your Dad or an authorized user (if possible) with you on launch morning. Use the upgrade for the line on your Dad's account. Then have the VZW rep immediately switch that line back to the old phone that was on there. Then you'll need an entirely new SIM, which will go into the Nexus and be activated on your line. Your upgrade date will remain as it is now, while your Dad's line that was used won't be eligible for another 20 months. The GN will now be active on your line.

Sound good?

I assumed his dad's line was on the same family plan (account) as his? In which case he could do it online like I said. Is that not right?

**Sentrix** · 12-13-2011, 02:06 AM

Originally Posted by mozzarella72

I assumed his dad's line was on the same family plan (account) as his? In which case he could do it online like I said. Is that not right?

Different accounts, as stated in the original post:

Originally Posted by yoshi351

I want to get to get the Galaxy Nexus(whenever its released) but I dont have an upgrade right now on my account. But my dads account has an upgrade already. Can I buy the phone from his account and then transfer it to my account or that not possible?

He can still do it though, just a hardware swap. Requires a SIM being wasted, but Verizon probably won't mind that.