Transferring upgrades to keep unlimited data

**phantomog** · 10-08-2012, 02:53 PM

So what is the *exact* procedure to transfer an upgrade to keep unlimited data on an existing line. For instance, I have 3 lines, all with unlimited data. On one line, an upgrade is available right now, and I don't care about losing unlimited on it. I want to use that upgrade to get a new phone for my line and keep unlimited data on my line. I just process the upgrade like normal on the eligible line, but then activate the new phone on my line? Is it that easy? Just pull the sim from my Thunderbolt and put it into the new phone? Do I need to get customer service involved at all?

Also, I've seen some people claiming they get an additional line for the extra upgrade, and then simply activate a dumbphone on that line and drop data. Is this really possible? I thought part of the agreement for the subsidized phone price was subscription to a minimum data plan on *that* line. The reason I ask, the line I'm "stealing" the upgrade phone is a basic flip phone (it does have a web browser I think) and data is not used at all. Can I really take the upgrade and then cancel the data plan completely to save a few more bucks?

**titans30dude** · 10-08-2012, 04:45 PM

As far as i remember unlimeted dumphone data is different then unlimited smartphone data bc in the data discription it did not say smartphone...just a thought not sure tho but u may want to make sure

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**mesocyclonic** · 10-08-2012, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by phantomog

So what is the *exact* procedure to transfer an upgrade to keep unlimited data on an existing line. For instance, I have 3 lines, all with unlimited data. On one line, an upgrade is available right now, and I don't care about losing unlimited on it. I want to use that upgrade to get a new phone for my line and keep unlimited data on my line. I just process the upgrade like normal on the eligible line, but then activate the new phone on my line? Is it that easy? Just pull the sim from my Thunderbolt and put it into the new phone? Do I need to get customer service involved at all?

Also, I've seen some people claiming they get an additional line for the extra upgrade, and then simply activate a dumbphone on that line and drop data. Is this really possible? I thought part of the agreement for the subsidized phone price was subscription to a minimum data plan on *that* line. The reason I ask, the line I'm "stealing" the upgrade phone is a basic flip phone (it does have a web browser I think) and data is not used at all. Can I really take the upgrade and then cancel the data plan completely to save a few more bucks?

1) Yes, it's that easy. Go into a VZW store if possible to make it easier. You simply upgrade that line and tell the CSR that you want to actually activate the phone on the line you're keeping unlimited on. In fact, it's possible you won't be the first one to ask the rep to do this, which should make it quick and painless.

2) Yes, you can drop the data package on the upgrading line as soon as you activate the smartphone on the other line. This is only true if you have a true basic phone on that line though; there are some "media phones" that aren't smart phones but are nonetheless required to have a data plan on Verizon. Most (if not all) flip phones would qualify to go without data, so it shouldn't be an issue.

**Bond32** · 10-09-2012, 07:05 PM

This is almost exactly what I did. My upgrade was up so I transfered it to a line that didn't care about unlimited data, upgraded that line, then activated the new phone on my line.

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**Hector709** · 10-09-2012, 09:41 PM

Thats good to know. I have an upgarde Nov.1st and its on a dumb phone. i would like to use it to get the Galaxy Note 2.

**dragonsamus** · 10-09-2012, 10:50 PM

All you have to do is use the upgrade and buy the phone you want. Then activate the new phone on the appropriate line and immediately turn around and activate it on your line. I've done this before. Its easier if you're in store but you can do it over the phone. The SIM that comes with the new phone will be used to activate it on the line with the upgrade. You will need another SIM to activate it on your line. VZW gives away Sims for free.

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**Bond32** · 10-09-2012, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Hector709

Thats good to know. I have an upgarde Nov.1st and its on a dumb phone. i would like to use it to get the Galaxy Note 2.

Not sure about this, if you don't have a data package on that line they may try to tell you to get the $30 package. You may have to, but you can cancel it after the note 2 is active on your line and you put the dummy phone back.

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**phantomog** · 10-10-2012, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by dragonsamus

Then activate the new phone on the appropriate line and immediately turn around and activate it on your line. I've done this before. Its easier if you're in store but you can do it over the phone. The SIM that comes with the new phone will be used to activate it on the line with the upgrade. You will need another SIM to activate it on your line. VZW gives away Sims for free.

This is what I'm talking about. Some people say you have to first activate the new phone on the line that had the upgrade and THEN activate on your desired line. I'm trying to find out if you really need to activate it twice or not. Some people say you can just straight activate it on the other line.

**Notrega** · 10-10-2012, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by phantomog

This is what I'm talking about. Some people say you have to first activate the new phone on the line that had the upgrade and THEN activate on your desired line. I'm trying to find out if you really need to activate it twice or not. Some people say you can just straight activate it on the other line.

I would activate it twice just to eliminate the possibility of then using that to cut your unlimited data. More of a pain but I wouldn't take the chance.

The second "activation" isn't really an activation but what they call an owner initiated equipment exchange.

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**jordo_99** · 10-17-2012, 05:41 PM

So, if I'm understanding this correctly...

Brother - new phone on 10/1/2012 and he lost his unlimited data plan
Me - new phone eligible on 12/3/2013 w/ current unlimited account.

...so I could potentially transfer my upgrade to his account...upgrade and then activate the phone on my account (I've done this manually before...it's easy on android...not sure how simple it is on a iPhone5 though). This all makes 100% sense...but what's the catch?

Would his contract then be extended from 10/1/2014 to 10/1/2016 or would mine take the extension still but just retain the same phone (to their knowledge)?

**Bond32** · 10-17-2012, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by jordo_99

So, if I'm understanding this correctly...

Brother - new phone on 10/1/2012 and he lost his unlimited data plan
Me - new phone eligible on 12/3/2013 w/ current unlimited account.

...so I could potentially transfer my upgrade to his account...upgrade and then activate the phone on my account (I've done this manually before...it's easy on android...not sure how simple it is on a iPhone5 though). This all makes 100% sense...but what's the catch?

Would his contract then be extended from 10/1/2014 to 10/1/2016 or would mine take the extension still but just retain the same phone (to their knowledge)?

Did you mean to say your upgrade was available in 12/3/2012? Don't think you can transfer it till its available. Can only do this now (I think, 75% positive) for people under the same account. So if your brother is on your account and if your upgrade is eligible, you can transfer it to him (which renews your 2 year contract), upgrade a new device on his line, but activate it on your line. In the end your contract will be renewed for 2 years and you will have unlimited. This is what I did but it took the employees a long time to understand what the heck I was saying.

Little tid bit: First time I did this, I transfered my upgrade to a line with an iphone 4. They told me my mother with the iphone would have to go into the store for a new sim. Yes. They are that dumb. I said wtf iphone4 doesn't have a sim... So at my store they are not very smart. Some guy came out of no where and took care of everything and I walked out of the store the first time with a GS3 on my line and actually BOTH lines kept unlimited data. After a week I noticed serious issues with my GS3 so I took it in for a replacement. They got all weird saying the guy who did it the first time made a mistake in the system. However he activated it allowed me to keep unlimited on both lines but this was apparantly a mistake.

**blackberry_hokie** · 11-19-2012, 10:08 AM

Has anyone tried this at Best Buy? I suppose that I could buy the phone at Best Buy, using the upgrade on the phone that doesn't have unlimited data. Then, I could go to Verizon online and transfer the phone to my number. Would that allow me to salvage my precious unlimited data plan? The phone I want is much cheaper at Best Buy than it is at Verizon.

**Christian McCarthy** · 03-01-2013, 02:54 AM

Dude you should have sold your unlimited data plan for $300 or more on eBay then just opened a new line to get the discounted phone. There is even better ways than that but this one is the simplest.

**fofjjsr** · 03-15-2013, 12:51 AM

If you upgrade a phone using another lines upgrade, then the number the phone is activated will lose it's unlimited, not the line that you used the upgrade from. Also if the phone line you are putting the phone on to is eligible for upgrade, and you try and use another phones upgrade to keep unlimited, it won't work. Verizon is cracking down, and technically by finding ways around having to use and upgrade and keep unlimited, you are cheating the system. Yes, it was there to be cheated, but now they are correcting it so you can't it seems.

**fofjjsr** · 03-15-2013, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by Christian McCarthy

Dude you should have sold your unlimited data plan for $300 or more on eBay then just opened a new line to get the discounted phone. There is even better ways than that but this one is the simplest.

This doesn't work anymore. As soon as the liability is changed on the account (also known as assumption of liability) you will lose the unlimited data.

**androidluvr2** · 03-15-2013, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by fofjjsr

This doesn't work anymore. As soon as the liability is changed on the account (also known as assumption of liability) you will lose the unlimited data.

How do you know this?

**kioko91** · 03-15-2013, 01:03 AM

My aunt used my upgrade for her line in December and I lost my unlimited as it was my upgrade she used. I spent two months fighting it since I bought my phone outright in August. They refunded 25 percent of my phones cost to our Verizon account. Yay big red.

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**androidluvr2** · 03-15-2013, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by kioko91

My aunt used my upgrade for her line in December and I lost my unlimited as it was my upgrade she used. I spent two months fighting it since I bought my phone outright in August. They refunded 25 percent of my phones cost to our Verizon account. Yay big red.

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You only have 1 post. So you registered in order to post this post? And why would you have bought your phone outright in august only to give your upgrade to your aunt in december?

**trunks527** · 03-15-2013, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by androidluvr2

You only have 1 post. So you registered in order to post this post? And why would you have bought your phone outright in august only to give your upgrade to your aunt in december?

Actually they registered back in Feb 2011...

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**318sugarhill** · 05-03-2013, 07:31 PM

I spoke to a representative tonight. She told me I could ADD a line to my four line share plan, 2 with unlimited data smartphones, 2 with basic. This will be the 5th line. Ordered the S4. When it arrives, I can transfer the phone to my unlimited line and keep unlimited, and activate an old basic phone on the new line. They are going to change this, but they haven't yet.

**dpham00** · 05-03-2013, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by kioko91

My aunt used my upgrade for her line in December and I lost my unlimited as it was my upgrade she used. I spent two months fighting it since I bought my phone outright in August. They refunded 25 percent of my phones cost to our Verizon account. Yay big red.

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You probably did something wrong...

The only people reporting problems are those with very low post count...

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**androidluvr2** · 05-03-2013, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by 318sugarhill

I spoke to a representative tonight. She told me I could ADD a line to my four line share plan, 2 with unlimited data smartphones, 2 with basic. This will be the 5th line. Ordered the S4. When it arrives, I can transfer the phone to my unlimited line and keep unlimited, and activate an old basic phone on the new line. They are going to change this, but they haven't yet.

Why did you add a line when you had 2 basic lines on the family share plan? Were none of the other lines eligible for an upgrade yet?

**318sugarhill** · 05-04-2013, 09:04 AM

No. The other 2 basic lines had phones 5 years old ( as I was transferring the upgrades to the smartphone lines in the past) well the old phones crapped out, so I used the upgrades last year before they upped the upgrade fee to $30. Adding a line was the only option, but next year when the old basic phones contract ends, you can swap numbers and end the extra line.

**androidluvr2** · 05-05-2013, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by 318sugarhill

but next year when the old basic phones contract ends, you can swap numbers and end the extra line.

How do you swap numbers? Do you mean swap phones?

**318sugarhill** · 05-07-2013, 02:29 PM

When you have a line out of contract, you can cancel the contract, but request to transfer the number to another line on contract. You only have to stop paying them the extra 9.99 a month. It may cost a fee, but it can be done. My brother got an iphone 2 years ago through work on ATT. He no longer needed his personal phone. But he was on a share plan with his phone's contract expired, but the other lines still under contract for several more months and he didn't want to lose his number. So he cancelled his line (the one with the number he wanted to keep) and had them transfer the number to the other phone.

The actual phone numbers don't matter to them. It's the lines under contract. They might be annoyed about it, but they can do it. You just have to force the issue. In the end, I have 4 lines under contract. I will be adding a fifth. At any point when a contract is up, you can cancel it. The rest falls under the rules of porting phone numbers.

So if my 4 lines ended with the numbers 0001,0002,0003,0004, and the new line is 0005. When 0004's contract expires and can cancel it. I don't really want a phone number ending is 0005 so I call VZW when I want to cancel and I say I want to cancel line 0004, but I want to replace 0005's number with 0004. They can do that.