Any Repercussions If You Add a Line to Get a Subsidized Phone then Cancel Before 14 Days?

[WannaBeYou]

Some others are suggesting this route as a way to save a few dollars. For instance, if you buy an iPhone 5 from Walmart for $127 and then cancel before 14 days you get charged $400 if you don't return the phone, but with the iPhone 5 it retails for $650, so you would still save $123.

Also, I think as long as you cancel before 14 days there is no ETF or activation fee charged by VZW, but maybe that is 3 days, not sure.

Anyhow, it seems like a lot of work to me to save $123 still I am sure there are others who would do it. Are there any downsides to doing this - for instance, does VZW block you from adding a line in the future?

It seems to me if there aren't repercussions for doing this then people will try it to save the $123 so I am guessing there must be some downside to doing this.

 

[anon(3653)]

According to the Walmart Wireless website you may be charged FULL RETAIL PRICE if you do not return the phone within 7 days of canceling the line during the 14 day window. So, canceling to get the device cheaper will not work.

http://wireless.walmart.com/content/returns_and_exchanges/

Sent from my second brain.. Okay it is the only one working.

 

[diesteldorf]

According to the Walmart Wireless website you may be charged FULL RETAIL PRICE if you do not return the phone within 7 days of canceling the line during the 14 day window. So, canceling to get the device cheaper will not work.

Electronics: Cell Phones with Plans Returns and Exchanges



Sent from my second brain.. Okay it is the only one working.

I think you could still do it if you bought the phone on a 3rd line, switched the Iphone to a basic phone on the 3rd line, activated the Iphone on the line with a smartphone and canceled the 3rd line after the 2 week period, though the process could be kind of a hassle.

 

[anon(3653)]

I think you could still do it if you bought the phone on a 3rd line, switched the Iphone to a basic phone on the 3rd line, activated the Iphone on the line with a smartphone and canceled the 3rd line after the 2 week period, though the process could be kind of a hassle.

That will not work either. If you cancel the line after 14 days and before 181 days you pay the ETF to Verizon ($350) and a fee to Walmart ($400). Definitely not worth it.

If you just move the phone to a different line you could pay Walmart $400 if done before 181 days of service.

http://wireless.walmart.com/help/te...308&originpage=/campaignroute.aspx&viewmode=1

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[afranko22]

That will not work either. If you cancel the line after 14 days and before 181 days you pay the ETF to Verizon ($350) and a fee to Walmart ($400). Definitely not worth it.

If you just move the phone to a different line you could pay Walmart $400 if done before 181 days of service.

http://wireless.walmart.com/help/te...308&originpage=/campaignroute.aspx&viewmode=1

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I work for the big W selling phones. Since i started 4 years ago, we have had customers upgrade lines and switch devices, even minutes after activation. Years of experience says Walmart won't charge you for switching devices. Now "Let's Talk", the company that does the online wireless portion will. You pay them with a credit card do they have your info. If you go into an actual Walmart, pay cash, they have no way to charge you after the fact. Verizon doesn't care what you do with the phone, as long a you are paying for the service. One customer successfully "sold" an upgrade to another customer's account. Everyone wins, Verizon gets you to pay another 2 years, Walmart gets commission and the customers get a new phone/money.

In short, dealing with customer care from Verizon, they don't care what device is on the line as long as they get paid.

Sent from my Verizon Droid Razr Maxx

 

[afranko22]

Some others are suggesting this route as a way to save a few dollars. For instance, if you buy an iPhone 5 from Walmart for $127 and then cancel before 14 days you get charged $400 if you don't return the phone, but with the iPhone 5 it retails for $650, so you would still save $123.

Also, I think as long as you cancel before 14 days there is no ETF or activation fee charged by VZW, but maybe that is 3 days, not sure.

Anyhow, it seems like a lot of work to me to save $123 still I am sure there are others who would do it. Are there any downsides to doing this - for instance, does VZW block you from adding a line in the future?

It seems to me if there aren't repercussions for doing this then people will try it to save the $123 so I am guessing there must be some downside to doing this.

I'm fairly certain in dealing with fraud at Walmart, if you go into a physical store to do it, they will charge you the full retail of the phone if its not returned. I'm not 100% certain when etf picks up but i have seen fraud bills doing just what you described and its not during the initial 14 days.

Normally phones done that way are ESN locked, not sure if they have the ability to do that to iPhones or not.

Sent from my Verizon Droid Razr Maxx

 

[WannaBeYou]

If you go into an actual Walmart, pay cash, they have no way to charge you after the fact. Verizon doesn't care what you do with the phone, as long a you are paying for the service. One customer successfully "sold" an upgrade to another customer's account. Everyone wins, Verizon gets you to pay another 2 years, Walmart gets commission and the customers get a new phone/money.

Right, but I was talking about if the person cancelled the new line.

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I'm fairly certain in dealing with fraud at Walmart, if you go into a physical store to do it, they will charge you the full retail of the phone if its not returned. I'm not 100% certain when etf picks up but i have seen fraud bills doing just what you described and its not during the initial 14 days.

Normally phones done that way are ESN locked, not sure if they have the ability to do that to iPhones or not.

That makes sense. Otherwise, people would do this all the time. There must be some way to prevent it.