[Instruction] How to get a new phone and keep (legacy) Unlimited Data on Verizon

[rechvanny]

Re: Double the Data Promotion

Wow. I'm happy to see that this thread is still alive. I'm in a bit of a situation where I'm not on any shared / family plan and I don't have a basic / dummy line either. I'm eligible for an upgrade and would like to get a Galaxy Note 2 (to replace my current Galaxy Nexus -- that I purchased unsubsidized) but don't wanna lose my unlimited data (of course). What's my best course of action?

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: Double the Data Promotion

Wow. I'm happy to see that this thread is still alive. I'm in a bit of a situation where I'm not on any shared / family plan and I don't have a basic / dummy line either. I'm eligible for an upgrade and would like to get a Galaxy Note 2 (to replace my current Galaxy Nexus -- that I purchased unsubsidized) but don't wanna lose my unlimited data (of course). What's my best course of action?

From what I have read, you can't convert a grandfathered individual plan to a grandfathered family plan but you can try by calling and see if you can get anyone to do it. If the codes are still in the system then in theory they can do it, but getting someone to do it in practice may be hard. Of course you would have to be vigilant to ensure that it didn't remove your unlimited data from your original line.

 

[rechvanny]

Re: Double the Data Promotion

That was impressive. Got a response right away. Thanks so much! But is that my only option? That seems almost impossible to get done.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: Double the Data Promotion

That was impressive. Got a response right away. Thanks so much! But is that my only option? That seems almost impossible to get done.

It is the best option and it may not be impossible so it is worth a try.

You can try upgrading at bestbuy.com and when it asks you to pick a data plan, simply don't pick one. It will warn you along the way that you will lose unlimited data. Then keep going through the checkout process and see if it says keep current plan. If you didn't select a plan and it says keep current plan, check out.

Then activate the phone on your unlimited line. It is likely the Verizon system will switch you to 2GB at that point. Call immediately and explain to them you did not pick a 2GB plan and you want your unlimited back. You will get all kinds of weird answers from the rep who will be totally confused. Ask for a supervisor and tell them you are willing to cancel the contract and switch to ATT if you don't get your unlimited back. Don't take no for an answer. Keep calling back if you have to. Explain over and over and over again that you did not pick 2GB and that the bestbuy.com paperwork says keep current plan and that is a binding contract and since your current plan was unlimited data, you want them to honor the contract. This has worked for some people but no guarantees.

If that doesn't work, tell them you are returning the phone to best buy and you want your unlimited data plan back and then return the phone.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: Double the Data Promotion

That was impressive. Got a response right away. Thanks so much! But is that my only option? That seems almost impossible to get done.

Also keep in mind that the reason your options are so limited on an individual account is because if you use the subsidized upgrade on the unlimited data line and activate the new phone on the unlimited data line, Verizon's system will recognize that and boot you off unlimited. The only way that anyone on an individual plan has been successful at using the subsidized upgrade and activating the new phone on the unlimited data line is through the bestbuy.com system because apparently their system, although it tells you that you will lose unlimited data, allows you to continue on in the checkout system without actually picking another plan.

The result is that the paperwork says keep current plan. However, Verizon's system once you activate the phone on the unlimited data line will still detect it as a subsidized upgrade on an unlimited data line and downgrade you to 2GB automatically. This leaves you with arguing with them that they can't do that because your bestbuy.com paperwork says keep current plan and it is a contract issue. Whether or not you can get them to switch you back, idk, but I do know that some people have been successful doing this.

With the family plans you are not actually using and initially activating the upgrade on the unlimited data line. You are using it and initially activating it on a line that either doesn't currently have a data plan or has a tiered data plan. And then you are transferring it to another line having unlimited data.

 

[diesteldorf]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

If you are on a single nationwide plan, you are not required to choose a share everything plan if you are an existing customer and want to add another line.


Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

If you are on a single nationwide plan, you are not required to choose a share everything plan if you are an existing customer and want to add another line.

I have read here otherwise by a guy who works at a third party cellular store but I think it is a worth a try that is what I kept saying to the poster who asked. Theoretically they should be able to do it if the codes are in their system. The codes for the individual plans are different from the family plans.

Has anyone actually done it since Share Everything went into effect?

 

[diesteldorf]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

I wanted to finish what I was saying, but didn't feel like doing it all on a cell phone.....)
If you are on a single nationwide plan, you are not required to choose a share everything plan if you are an existing customer and want to add another line.
However, 3rd Party Retailers don't have the codes and the ability to do it, but they do have the ability to call Verizon on your behalf, at the time of sale, and have them do it.
If you truly want to purchase from a 3rd Party retailer, I would make them take that extra time to do it as a condition of the sale...

Of course, you could always just buy from Verizon directly, and I probably would in a case like this, since the corporate store will have access to the same codes.

If someone tells you otherwise, just tell them that you are doing it to keep unlimited data on the grandfathered line and don't want to lose it by switching to SHARE EVERYTHING, but still want to open a new line of service with a new 2 year contract etc. That should get their attention since they have a vested interest in making the sale, but if that doesn't work, just ask them to check current policy for current customers on grandfathered NATIONWIDE single plans that wish to start a family plan.

If you are a customer on a single Nationwide plan and wish to take advantage of the loophole, you need a 2nd line on your account...period.

If I was in this situation and wanted to upgrade bad enough, I would open another line of service, either as a single line with SHARE EVERYTHING or by taking my single Nationwide line with UNLIMITED DATA and creating a Nationwide Family plan.

Lets say you create a NATIONWIDE family plan....

One line will have grandfathered unlimited data and the new line will have 2GB\$30. When you open the 2nd line, get whatever smartphone you want. That will lock the new line of service into a 2 year contract and allow you to transfer the upgrade from your UNLIMITED DATA line to the 2nd line on tiered data and exploit the loophole so you can get a 2nd Smartphone and lock your UNLIMITED DATA into another two year contact.

However, now you potentially have an extra line you have no need for. Take the 2nd Smartphone and sell it and hope it comes close to covering the ETF when you cancel the 2nd line.

Another option is to find a friend with an existing family share plan that is willing to let you temporarily move one of their lines over to your account. Preferably, that friend should have at least 3 lines on their account so they can afford to give one up without having it affect their family plan status.

Conceivably, line you are borrowing could've even belonged to a SHARE EVERYTHING plan when it was with your friend's account. However, when it is transferred to you, you can use it to turn your single Nationwide line with unlimited data to a Nationwide family share plan.

Secondly, the line you are going to borrow cannot be eligible for a discount in its own right or have unlimited data.

As an example, lets say you can fine a friend with a line that meets both of the criteria. Have them call in and authorize you to take over the line of service.
Once you take it over, transfer your upgrade from the unlimited data line to the line you just took over and perform the loophole trick.

The unlimited data line will be the line that will get the contract extension and the line you just took over will still have the same contract end date before it was transferred to you.
Now, since it was your friend's line and they actually have a need for it and you don't, wait a few days and call in to give permission for your friend to take it back. Your friend won't really have anything to lose since you'll be covering their line charge while it is part of your account and they could potentially have much to gain....

If the line that you are assuming from your friend has a contract of less than a year, it'll have the same contract end date when you assume it and also when you give it back to them.
However, if the line you are assuming from your friend has more than a year left, it'll automatically be reduced to 12 months when you assume it and will retain the new end date when you give it back to them.

Note: it's better if the line you are borrowing is a basic line since it'll be using little or no data. If you borrow a line that has a smartphone on it, you could potentially get stuck with prorated overages if you keep the line for less than a full month before giving it back to your friend just as they might if they give it to you in the middle of their cycle.

If they are on a 2 GB plan and use 1 GB in the 5 days before you assume the line from your friend, your friend will get stuck paying overage since 5 days of usage on a 2 gb plan should only be around 333 MB. Likewise, if they are on your plan for 5 days and use more than approximately 333 mb, you would get stuck with the overage charges.

 

[krew808]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

just reporting back did this today and it worked out great so far. The dude that helped me out at verizon was a little hesitant because he didnt want me to lose my unlimited but it worked. He told me he did this for a bunch of customers couple months ago and everything was good but didnt know if the system chaged. But some of his co-workers did it for other people and it didnt work out for some of them. Really cool dude, i now have a iphone 5. Been checking my online account and everything been the same. Big thanks to androidluvr2 for answering all my questions.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

If you are on a single nationwide plan, you are not required to choose a share everything plan if you are an existing customer and want to add another line.
However, 3rd Party Retailers don't have the codes and the ability to do it, but they do have the ability to call Verizon on your behalf, at the time of sale, and have them do it.
If you truly want to purchase from a 3rd Party retailer, I would make them take that extra time to do it as a condition of the sale...

Thanks for clearing that up. I thought if the codes are in the system they should be able to do it. The posts here saying otherwise were from a guy who works for a 3rd party retailer and that explains why he thought otherwise.

Of course, you could always just buy from Verizon directly, and I probably would in a case like this, since the corporate store will have access to the same codes.

You also can do it over the phone with Verizon, which I find preferable because of how rude the reps are at my local corporate store.

If you are a customer on a single Nationwide plan and wish to take advantage of the loophole, you need a 2nd line on your account...period.

Just wanted to emphasize that for others who may be reading here.

However, now you potentially have an extra line you have no need for. Take the 2nd Smartphone and sell it and hope it comes close to covering the ETF when you cancel the 2nd line.

But don't you have to pay the ETF + the $30 activation fee on the line, too?

Seems easier to just keep the extra line. Where I live, it is about $13 a month extra after taxes and fees to have a dumbphone extra line. For 20 months, that is $260. So the way I look at it is that I get an upgrade on that line every 20 months for the cost of $260. If I pay $200 + the $36 upgrade fee for the latest iPhone on that line it costs about $500 instead of the $650 it costs if you bought it full retail. You could probably sell the latest iPhone for $500 or close to it on swappa and then you would have an extra line, too. What I do with the extra line is keep it in my mother's car. She has an iPhone but she forgets it sometimes and this way she always has a phone in her car.

Now, since it was your friend's line and they actually have a need for it and you don't, wait a few days and call in to give permission for your friend to take it back. Your friend won't really have anything to lose since you'll be covering their line charge while it is part of your account and they could potentially have much to gain....

So they let you switch lines back and forth like that? Well if that is the case, I should just rent out my extra dumbphone line to allow people to transfer their unlimited data lines' upgrades to, lol!

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

just reporting back did this today and it worked out great so far. The dude that helped me out at verizon was a little hesitant because he didnt want me to lose my unlimited but it worked. He told me he did this for a bunch of customers couple months ago and everything was good but didnt know if the system chaged. But some of his co-workers did it for other people and it didnt work out for some of them. Really cool dude, i now have a iphone 5. Been checking my online account and everything been the same. Big thanks to androidluvr2 for answering all my questions.

And thanks for reporting back! Let us know if there are any problems after you have completed a full billing cycle.

 

[rechvanny]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Oh MY GOD! It worked!!!!!!!!! androidluvr2 you are so awesome! I actually went to BestBuy yesterday bought it from their mobile department. Went home from work this morning and called Verizon. First call was unsuccessful even after conversing with the supervisor. So I tried a second time. I didn't even have to talk to a supervisor. All I did was tell the customer service lady about my sob story of being automatically placed on the 2GB plan. She looked at my account and after a minute she said, "Well there you go... You got your unlimited plan back! Consider it an Easter present!" I couldn't believe how easy that was on that second call. THANK YOU!!!!! Oh and Happy Easter to you too! Yay I'm so happy with my shiny new Galaxy Note II.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Oh MY GOD! It worked!!!!!!!!! androidluvr2 you are so awesome! I actually went to BestBuy yesterday bought it from their mobile department. Went home from work this morning and called Verizon. First call was unsuccessful even after conversing with the supervisor. So I tried a second time. I didn't even have to talk to a supervisor. All I did was tell the customer service lady about my sob story of being automatically placed on the 2GB plan. She looked at my account and after a minute she said, "Well there you go... You got your unlimited plan back! Consider it an Easter present!" I couldn't believe how easy that was on that second call. THANK YOU!!!!! Oh and Happy Easter to you too! Yay I'm so happy with my shiny new Galaxy Note II.

Wow, you are one lucky dude! I have never heard of that happening when you buy in store, only when you buy from bestbuy.com because from bestbuy.com you get a receipt that says "keep current plan" and you can base your argument on that.

I have had much better luck with Verizon reps over the phone than in the stores, but that is pretty amazing customer service you got from the rep, lol!

 

[dpham00]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Oh MY GOD! It worked!!!!!!!!! androidluvr2 you are so awesome! I actually went to BestBuy yesterday bought it from their mobile department. Went home from work this morning and called Verizon. First call was unsuccessful even after conversing with the supervisor. So I tried a second time. I didn't even have to talk to a supervisor. All I did was tell the customer service lady about my sob story of being automatically placed on the 2GB plan. She looked at my account and after a minute she said, "Well there you go... You got your unlimited plan back! Consider it an Easter present!" I couldn't believe how easy that was on that second call. THANK YOU!!!!! Oh and Happy Easter to you too! Yay I'm so happy with my shiny new Galaxy Note II.

That's awesome!

Just check in your account to verify unlimited data. I have had multiple occasions where Verizon reps gave inaccurate information or said that they would do something and didn't.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Just check in your account to verify unlimited data. I have had multiple occasions where Verizon reps gave inaccurate information or said that they would do something and didn't.

I can't emphasize this enough. If you try any of these options, at least until a full billing cycle has completed, keep checking to make sure the unlimited doesn't get switched off and act quickly if it does.

 

[trivor]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Here's the real elephant in the room - How long before Verizon finds some way to just kill unlimited - it might actually be worth it to them to actually cancel contracts to get rid of the unlimited lines?

I actually rarely go over 2 GB - just keeping it because I can. Just wondering.

 

[diesteldorf]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

But don't you have to pay the ETF + the $30 activation fee on the line, too?

Seems easier to just keep the extra line. Where I live, it is about $13 a month extra after taxes and fees to have a dumbphone extra line. For 20 months, that is $260. So the way I look at it is that I get an upgrade on that line every 20 months for the cost of $260. If I pay $200 + the $36 upgrade fee for the latest iPhone on that line it costs about $500 instead of the $650 it costs if you bought it full retail. You could probably sell the latest iPhone for $500 or close to it on swappa and then you would have an extra line, too. What I do with the extra line is keep it in my mother's car. She has an iPhone but she forgets it sometimes and this way she always has a phone in her car.

Anytime you add a line there is a $35 activation fee but anytime you upgrade an existing line of service there is a $30 UPGRADE fee, so they sort of off set--they ding you if you are a new or existing customer--, but yes, you are correct, you would get stuck with a $35 activation fee and $350 ETF on the new line.

Activation fees are much easier to waive than upgrade fees, so it's conceivable you could get lucky when you open the new line.

I would agree that keeping the extra line is not a bad option when you are only paying about $13 per month extra for that line. The problem is that for the person who has been flying totally solo, it costs much more to add a 2nd line.

Let's assume they are paying $39.99 for a 450 minute basic single plan with unlimited Nights and Weekends, unlimited VZW to VZW and no texting.
If they add a 2nd line and wish to start a Nationwide Family plan, the lowest plan is normally $50 for 700 minutes, but they do have a 550 minute LOYALTY plan for $40 if you ask nicely.....lol

So, if you add that 2nd line, your bill would look like this:

550 share minutes =$40 + $9.99 1st Line + $9.99 2nd line + approx. $3 tax on that 2nd line in your example but other states are higher and lower.
(There are taxes on the 1st line too but I didn't include those since you will pay them as a single line plan too.)

Total cost for single plan is $39.99 for 450 minutes vs. $62.98 for a 2 line family share with 550 minutes.
You can do the math, but it isn't worth it over 2 years.

Of course, if you are a power texter and need unlimited texting, (something I've never understood since Google Voice became popular...lol) Verizon charges $20 to add unlimited texting to a single plan or $30 to add it to a family share plan, so that 2nd line could end up being very costly.

So they let you switch lines back and forth like that? Well if that is the case, I should just rent out my extra dumbphone line to allow people to transfer their unlimited data lines' upgrades to, lol!

Well, typically people that do assumption of liabilities are using it as a means to avoid paying for or outright canceling a line they no longer want and paying an ETF. I'd imagine Verizon views it favorably since they are not actually losing a line of service and could potentially be gaining a new customer.

Most people aren't going to agree to take it back once they get rid of it, but these aren't normal circumstances--i.e. we are discussing how to use loopholes to keep unlimited data --and there is no law that says a line of service can only be transferred once.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Activation fees are much easier to waive than upgrade fees, so it's conceivable you could get lucky when you open the new line.

From what I have read here, recently Verizon has adopted the policy that they won't waive activation fees at all. They are using the fee to offset the costs of upgrading the network (they claim).

Let's assume they are paying $39.99 for a 450 minute basic single plan with unlimited Nights and Weekends, unlimited VZW to VZW and no texting.
If they add a 2nd line and wish to start a Nationwide Family plan, the lowest plan is normally $50 for 700 minutes

That's a good point but I just assumed that everyone would use 700 minutes in a month, but you are right, lots of people don't especially if they use Google Voice.

Of course, if you are a power texter and need unlimited texting, (something I've never understood since Google Voice became popular...lol)

I need to look into using Google Voice to text. The problem is that I am on a family plan with my elderly mother (I pay for her phone) and she texts using Siri because her fingers shake and she can't use the keyboard on her iPhone without a stylus (which she can never find because her short term memory is bad so really she never uses the keyboard).

I really want to get her a GNote3, but I don't know if she would be able to adapt to Android.

 

[androidluvr2]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Here's the real elephant in the room - How long before Verizon finds some way to just kill unlimited - it might actually be worth it to them to actually cancel contracts to get rid of the unlimited lines?

Lots of predictions on that. My prediction is that there will be enough natural attrition to Share Everything (either because people don't want to pay full retail for a new phone or because they don't use much data and Share Everything will save them money) that there won't be many of us with unlimited data left and Verizon will just leave us alone. They have never tried to increase the price on the acquired Alltel customers and those people have quite a sweet deal.

Keep in mind that once you are off contract, they can stop offering unlimited data to you starting with the next billing cycle at any time. That is one of the benefits of transferring the unlimited data line's upgrade - it renews the contract on the unlimited data line for 2 years! Of course, they could buy people out of their contracts if they wanted to, but I suspect there will be fewer and fewer of those contracts around pretty soon.

 

[dpham00]

Re: [Instruction]How to Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon

Lots of predictions on that. My prediction is that there will be enough natural attrition to Share Everything (either because people don't want to pay full retail for a new phone or because they don't use much data and Share Everything will save them money) that there won't be many of us with unlimited data left and Verizon will just leave us alone. They have never tried to increase the price on the acquired Alltel customers and those people have quite a sweet deal.

Keep in mind that once you are off contract, they can stop offering unlimited data to you starting with the next billing cycle at any time. That is one of the benefits of transferring the unlimited data line's upgrade - it renews the contract on the unlimited data line for 2 years! Of course, they could buy people out of their contracts if they wanted to, but I suspect there will be fewer and fewer of those contracts around pretty soon.

The vast majority of people are gonna do things the easy way, even if it costs more. I tell friends and family all the time about how to get good deals before, but they just think it is too much effort. Fair enough, it is their money. The loopholes to get unlimited data is not worth the hassle for a lot of people. The share everything plan is well priced for most people with their current usage. People don't really think far into the future. Just like before, 56k modem was the De facto standard. Nowadays, it is even slower than 1xRTT. Point being, 1-2gb may be fine now, but in 10 years, i would imagine, it would not seem that adequate in the future.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II