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

[DayThyme]

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

OK I am getting somewhere now, I was looking at the page all wrong. I am now to the point where I need to select the new plan for the dumb phone. Problem now is that it is making me choose a $10 data plan, I don't want or need that at all. Cost will be $9.99 + $10 data plan. Any way I can get out of the data plan with the dumb phone?

yes, once you get the dumbphone on the line, block data on it or call verizon and have them switch the line to pay as you go data.

 

[Dubbin1]

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

Thank You VERY MUCH!!! You saved my marriage

 

[mjcotter]

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

Thanks DayThyme. I'll give that a shot.

 

[phonefiend]

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

Ok, so what you're saying is the rep tried to feed me a bunch of crap and that they're not allowed to require you to keep the phone active on the line for a certain amount of time before a different number can be switched to it?

I just did the transfer upgrade process to keep unlimited and only kept my new phone active on the tiered data line for a few hours. It's only been a few days since I've done this but so far I still have my unlimited data.

 

[phonefiend]

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

her phone needs to be on when you are reactivating it on her line and the new phone needs to be off. So whatever phone is currently on the line should be shut off and whatever phone you want to put in the line needs to be on. I think they tell you that when you are going through the process online.

I had to activate one of my phones by calling customer service and they asked to turn off both phones and then told me to turn on the newly activated phone after they finished activating it. Not sure if it matters though, but definitely have the phone you are deactivating off.

 

[gharri30]

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

Ok, thanks for the insight phonefiend. I'm ready to get this on the move. My iphone 4 is on its last leg.

 

[festusoneshoe]

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

First time poster. Have read thread with great interest and believe that I understand the process but I have several questions. By cancelling the data plan (needed to purchase the subsidized smartphone) on the reactivated dumbphone, am I not in violation of my contract and subject to an ETF ( as I apparently would be if I purchased the phone from a third party vendor aside from Costco or bestbuy)?
Why would Verizon not require me to return the smartphone ?
If I transfer the upgrade from my unlimited phone to another phone I will lose unlimited data (essentially keeping me from forever using the upgrade associated with the unlimited line)?

 

[DayThyme]

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

By cancelling the data plan (needed to purchase the subsidized smartphone) on the reactivated dumbphone, am I not in violation of my contract and subject to an ETF ( as I apparently would be if I purchased the phone from a third party vendor aside from Costco or bestbuy)?

No. No. No. And another No. Not if you buy from Verizon because of the terms of their Block C licenses. They had to agree to this to be able to buy so much of the most desirable spectrum.

Why Best Buy and Costco don't charge a secondary ETF, I can't explain it to you, but they don't. Verizon on the other hand cannot or it will be in violation of the terms of its licenses.

Also, as Verizon will tell you, data is not part of the contract, it is a feature. I disagree with their interpretation of this, but that is what they say. So they can't have it both ways - they can't claim data is a feature and not part of the contract when it benefits them but then try to force you to keep a data plan by saying it is part of the contract.

Why would Verizon not require me to return the smartphone ?

see explanation above. As for Best Buy and Costco, I have no idea why they don't but they don't. At least as of 11/29/13, which is when I did it with Best Buy. If you are going to buy from any 3rd party retailer, double check at the time you upgrade because they could change their policy at any time.

If I transfer the upgrade from my unlimited phone to another phone I will lose unlimited data (essentially keeping me from forever using the upgrade associated with the unlimited line)?

I am not following you here. If you transfer the upgrade from the unlimited data line to a non-unlimited data line, activate the new phone on the non-unlimited data line, activate an old phone on the non-unlimited data line and then reactivate the new phone on an unlimited data line you will NOT lose unlimited data. That is the whole point of this thread.

 

[festusoneshoe]

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

Thanks for the help. I will go back and re-read some of the thread. I thought that I understood but apparently I don't.

 

[Haus of Pain]

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

I'm having problems with this process. We had Two smartphones with unlimited data on an old AC FamilyShare Plan 400. I chatted sales and they told me a new line is $10 but they couldn't add it. Called Cust. Asst. and they said $10 but I needed to call Sales during business hours. Call Sales during business hours and they can't add a line to my plan because it is too old. They switch me to Nationwide Talk 700 for about $14/month more but I don't lose my unlimited. I agree but I'm not happy but got the dumb phone added, activated (for free) and wait a day. I order a new Iphone 5s. Phone arrives and I activate but manage to get it stuck in the "phone is activated but website says it isn't activated" limbo. Call tech support and they say it will clear in 1 hour, it doesn't. Check for 12 hours and it doesn't clear. Call back this morning to get it pushed through and they can't get it to clear. I tell them that I'm trying to put the old phone back on until Christmas and they simply deactivate the phone and reactivate the dumb phone. Problem is that because it was never fully activated, I'm getting the message on the dumb line that there's still a phone that needs to be activated. Thinking of going to the Verizon store and having them activate it. What do you think?

 

[gharri30]

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

Quick question, after I add the S4 to the it has an option that says, "your existing 4g SIM card is compatible with the new device. Would you like to retain your existing 4g SIM card?" Do I need to select this option as I will be putting the original phone back on my sisters number? Also do I select order device with service or order device without service?

 

[DayThyme]

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

I had to activate one of my phones by calling customer service and they asked to turn off both phones and then told me to turn on the newly activated phone after they finished activating it. Not sure if it matters though, but definitely have the phone your are deactivating off.

I just activated my new off contract Moto X and that is what I did and it worked. I had forgotten to turn off my GNex and the Moto X wouldn't activate so for sure you need to turn off the phone that is currently on the line in order to put a new phone on a line.

 

[DayThyme]

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

I'm having problems with this process. We had Two smartphones with unlimited data on an old AC FamilyShare Plan 400. I chatted sales and they told me a new line is $10 but they couldn't add it. Called Cust. Asst. and they said $10 but I needed to call Sales during business hours. Call Sales during business hours and they can't add a line to my plan because it is too old. They switch me to Nationwide Talk 700 for about $14/month more but I don't lose my unlimited.

they can add a line if they can find the code in order to add the line to a particular plan. I would ask for a supervisor to see if you can undo the change and add a line to your old plan.

I agree but I'm not happy but got the dumb phone added, activated (for free) and wait a day. I order a new Iphone 5s. Phone arrives and I activate but manage to get it stuck in the "phone is activated but website says it isn't activated" limbo. Call tech support and they say it will clear in 1 hour, it doesn't. Check for 12 hours and it doesn't clear. Call back this morning to get it pushed through and they can't get it to clear. I tell them that I'm trying to put the old phone back on until Christmas and they simply deactivate the phone and reactivate the dumb phone. Problem is that because it was never fully activated, I'm getting the message on the dumb line that there's still a phone that needs to be activated. Thinking of going to the Verizon store and having them activate it. What do you think?

sounds like the iPhone 5s still needs to be activated on the dumbphone line. If you can't do it online, I would have tech support walk you through it over the phone.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Quick question, after I add the S4 to the it has an option that says, "your existing 4g SIM card is compatible with the new device. Would you like to retain your existing 4g SIM card?" Do I need to select this option as I will be putting the original phone back on my sisters number?

Do you physically have your sister's device with you while you are doing this?

Also do I select order device with service or order device without service?

If you are using an upgrade, you are ordering a device with service.

 

[gharri30]

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

No I don't have it. But I can wait to do it when she comes into town. I just wanted to have the phone here when she gets her. I can wait and do it when she gets in if I need to.

 

[Haus of Pain]

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

Day Thyme, I went to the Verizon store and the guys in there were very helpful. They checked the account and weren't able to see the Iphone on the account. I walked them through what I was trying to do (sell Iphone to recoup costs, transfer upgrades, swap devices) and they not only agreed that it would keep my unlimited plans but they were happy to help! I just bought the second phone (Droid Maxx) for my line and will pick it up either tomorrow or Friday. They transferred an upgrade from my unlimited line to the dumb phone and ordered the Maxx, I could have walked away with the new phone except they didn't have any Maxx in the store. Will repeat this again for the wife's phone on Friday. Thank you for all the expert advice. I couldn't have done this without your informative posts!

 

[DayThyme]

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

No I don't have it. But I can wait to do it when she comes into town. I just wanted to have the phone here when she gets her. I can wait and do it when she gets in if I need to.

I think if you don't retain your sister's SIM card it will deactivate your sister's SIM card but I have never had this issue. If you had her phone physically with you, you could say yes retain her SIM card, remove her SIM card from her phone, pop it into the new phone and turn the new phone on and go through the activation of the phone. Then log into the account and you should see the new phone on her number. Then simply put her SIM card back in her phone and you should see her phone back on her line when you log back into the account.

Then put the new phone on your unlimited line and use the SIM card that came with the new phone when you do that.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Day Thyme, I went to the Verizon store and the guys in there were very helpful. They checked the account and weren't able to see the Iphone on the account. I walked them through what I was trying to do (sell Iphone to recoup costs, transfer upgrades, swap devices) and they not only agreed that it would keep my unlimited plans but they were happy to help! I just bought the second phone (Droid Maxx) for my line and will pick it up either tomorrow or Friday. They transferred an upgrade from my unlimited line to the dumb phone and ordered the Maxx, I could have walked away with the new phone except they didn't have any Maxx in the store. Will repeat this again for the wife's phone on Friday. Thank you for all the expert advice. I couldn't have done this without your informative posts!

I am really glad to hear there are some nice Verizon reps out there. I hope some of them transfer to my store!!

Glad to help, I wouldn't have been able to keep my unlimited data without this thread being started by the OP and all the other posters so just returning the favor.

 

[gharri30]

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

I think if you don't retain your sister's SIM card it will deactivate your sister's SIM card but I have never had this issue. If you had her phone physically with you, you could say yes retain her SIM card, remove her SIM card from her phone, pop it into the new phone and turn the new phone on and go through the activation of the phone. Then log into the account and you should see the new phone on her number. Then simply put her SIM card back in her phone and you should see her phone back on her line when you log back into the account.

Then put the new phone on your unlimited line and use the SIM card that came with the new phone when you do that.

Ok, thanks I'll do that. Just wanted to make sure I didn't mess something up and deactivate hers or something.

 

[gharri30]

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

ok, I have something that is worrying me now. I transferred the upgrade to the line that I'm going to use and then ordered the phone using the line I transferred the upgrade to. I was went back through my version and clicked on the upgrade button again just to see what it said and it says, "our records indicate you have recently purchased a device for this line of service but have not activated it yet," but this message appears over the line that I transferred the upgrade from not the one that I transferred it to that I'm going to use. Did I do something wrong?