[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 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?

that is normal. It is because the contract on the unlimited data line will be extended by 2 years. As long as you transferred the upgrade to a non-unlimited data line, purchased the new phone on the non-unlimited data line and first activate the new phone on the non-unlimited data line, this will work to keep unlimited data on the donor line.

 

[gharri30]

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

Ohh ok, so it's saying that because that's the line the upgrade came from.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Ohh ok, so it's saying that because that's the line the upgrade came from.

right it is telling you that you already used your upgrade from that line and don't have another upgrade to use from that line.

 

[gharri30]

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

Gotcha. Hopefully I don't run into anymore issues or things that I believe are issues that aren't.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Gotcha. Hopefully I don't run into anymore issues or things that I believe are issues that aren't.

well the issue is that this doesn't make sense that it should work to keep unlimited data but it does work. I can see why people get nervous. I was the first time I did it. Why is it any different to directly upgrade on an unlimited data line and extend the unlimited data line's contract 2 years vs. transferring an unlimited data line's upgrade to another line, using it to get a subsidized phone on that other line and then that results in extending the unlimited data line's contract by 2 years? The former will cause you to lose unlimited data but the latter won't. Makes no sense, yet it works.

But you are still using the unlimited data line's upgrade and that is the line whose contract will be extended and whose upgrade will be used. The donee line will keep the same contract length and the same upgrade date. Someday I fully expect Verizon to put a stop to this. But so far, it works. I last did this on 12/1/13, with activation on 12/4/13. My billing cycle has ended and I am in a new billing cycle and I still have unlimited data on the donor line.

As other posters have pointed out, Verizon reps in some stores will even help you to do this, so it is not like Verizon doesn't know that people do this and that it works. Enjoy it while you can because who knows how long it will last.

 

[gharri30]

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

You hit the nail right on the head. I've never upgraded my phone online before so I wasn't 100% sure what it was suppose to look like. I'm just hoping to get this new phone and keep unlimited for a few more at least.

 

[jharmon203]

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

Sounds like a good plan. It is better to avoid the reps if you can.

Well DayThyme, I waited for the order to time out. I ordered the phone online and had it shipped. I got the phone. I activated it on the 2GB tiered data smartphone line. I made a test call to verizon. I browsed the internet. Then I reactivated the iphone 5 on the tiered data line freeing up the lg g2. I ran into that "pending order" problem. I call verizon, got that fixed, got the iphone 5 back on the original line. However, when I go to activate or switch device, both the unlimited data line and the tiered data line seem to still be tied to the g2. I only have the option to activate the lg g2 on both of those lines:



I have another unlimited smart phone data line on the account. If I choose that line, I get this usual screen:



I chatted with verizon and they looked into the issue for a while and then claimed this:

"Found the issue, the phone was to be activated to the original number that it was ordered under first
and then could be used on a different number. We can temporarily make this change for you or if you need to
make a plan or feature change, I can do this for you."

I sure shot that down in a heartbeat and claimed that the account was working correctly when I had it activated on the tiered data line. Btw, I never mentioned anything about keeping unlimited data on my line. Just said the original phone wasn't available to do the activation with.

There reply was the following:

It allowed you to do an esn change to the (#### - last 4 digits of the tiered data line) but the system shows that it was never activated to
the (#### - unlimited data line number) number and since we can't manually change this, the error message pops up online when you try to
do anything.

So I figure I have two options right now, I can try to reactivate the g2 on the tiered data line again. Or, I can wait the 24-48 hours that the reps said it can take for the activation to register. Hopefully one of the two solves the problem.

However, I am posting this as well for any suggestions

One last piece of information, if I try to change anything online (change the plan for instance) I am prevented from doing so until the g2 gets activated (which it already has been on the tiered data line).

 

[DayThyme]

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

However, I am posting this as well for any suggestions

One last piece of information, if I try to change anything online (change the plan for instance) I am prevented from doing so until the g2 gets activated (which it already has been on the tiered data line).

Try posting your entire post on its own thread in the Verizon forum (this forum). There are a few posters who are very knowledgeable about Verizon's system and it may get their attention if you make it its own thread.

It sounds like you have been unlucky for some reason but I am not as knowledgeable about verizon's system as some other posters are.

 

[jharmon203]

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

Try posting your entire post on its own thread in the Verizon forum (this forum). There are a few posters who are very knowledgeable about Verizon's system and it may get their attention if you make it its own thread.

It sounds like you have been unlucky for some reason but I am not as knowledgeable about verizon's system as some other posters are.

Ok I just posted in the overall Verizon thread. If you know anyone to refer to it, please do so! Thanks for all your time DayThyme!

 

[DayThyme]

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

Ok I just posted in the overall Verizon thread. If you know anyone to refer to it, please do so! Thanks for all your time DayThyme!

YW! dpham00 has been with verizon for a long time and knows a lot about their system. He is in California though so it is early his time.

 

[jharmon203]

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

He is in California though so it is early his time.

I am reminded of a line from waterboy that I deem appropriate, "well wake his arse up, we got unlimited data to preserve!"

 

[DayThyme]

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

"Found the issue, the phone was to be activated to the original number that it was ordered under first
and then could be used on a different number. We can temporarily make this change for you or if you need to
make a plan or feature change, I can do this for you."

It allowed you to do an esn change to the (#### - last 4 digits of the tiered data line) but the system shows that it was never activated to
the (#### - unlimited data line number) number and since we can't manually change this, the error message pops up online when you try to
do anything.

This is the part that makes no sense to me. That is the exact opposite of what is true for the rest of us. The line you ordered under was your sister's tiered data line.

 

[jharmon203]

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

My thoughts exactly.

 

[gharri30]

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

In paranoid now that I have started this process. I noticed that on the bottom of my order confirmation under Order Total Today there is another line that reads, Total Monthly Charges** then has a dollar amount. Any idea what that is? All I did was transfer the upgrade then selected the phone I wanted.

 

[jharmon203]

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

In paranoid now that I have started this process. I noticed that on the bottom of my order confirmation under Order Total Today there is another line that reads, Total Monthly Charges** then has a dollar amount. Any idea what that is? All I did was transfer the upgrade then selected the phone I wanted.

Feel free to correct me on this DayThyme, but I believe what you are seeing gharri30 is the monthly charge for that phone. You should see a line access charge of 9.99, because you are basically going to be starting a new contract.

A screenshot would be helpful for further informatoin.

 

[gharri30]

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

Ya sorry. I'm trying to post stuff when I get free moments at work and wasn't sure how to post a pic.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Feel free to correct me on this DayThyme, but I believe what you are seeing gharri30 is the monthly charge for that phone. You should see a line access charge of 9.99, because you are basically going to be starting a new contract.

What you should see if I were the person who set up Verizon's system, is the $9.99 line access charge + the charge for the 4GB data plan on his sister's line (the line he transferred his upgrade to). However, that is not what I saw when I last did an upgrade transfer. What I saw was the line access charge for the tired data plan line, the data plan charge for the tiered data plan line AND the base rate for my talk minutes that all the lines share. Made no sense because it made it seem like the cost of the tiered data line would be $125/mo instead of $40/mo + taxes, surcharges and fees.

However, once the billing cycle reset, it was all correctly calculated and that line with the 2GB tiered data plan on it is $40/mo + taxes, surcharges and fees.

 

[gharri30]

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

Ok, figured it out.

 

[DayThyme]

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

Ok, figured it out.

Looks like they did the same thing to you - your sister's line is $9.99 + $30 + $8 = $47.99/mo.

The base plan 1400 minutes are $100/mo. So $47.99 + $100 = $147.99. Why they are adding the base plan minutes into the line charges, I can't tell you but that is the same thing that happened to me. When my billing cycle reset, all was fine.

 

[gharri30]

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

Looks like they did the same thing to you - your sister's line is $9.99 + $30 + $8 = $47.99/mo.

The base plan 1400 minutes are $100/mo. So $47.99 + $100 = $147.99. Why they are adding the base plan minutes into the line charges, I can't tell you but that is the same thing that happened to me. When my billing cycle reset, all was fine.

Ok, so I shouldn't have anything to worry about?