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

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

Yes I have individual plan with unlimited data. My wife has her own plan with shared data. We are not able to merge our plans because of work. So can I use my upgrade and simply give her the phone to use?

absolutely! If the SIM card in her current phone is the same size as the new phone's SIM card, I would use her current SIM card to activate the phone for the first time and see if that works. That way you won't be using a SIM card tied to your line to do the first activation attempt.

Happy wife happy life right?

absolutely!

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

I just got her basic phone in the mail yesterday. If I call VZ and tell them I want to return the phone and cancel her line? They won't charge anything for me to do this? I won't be charged for the ETF of $175? What happens if they won't cancel the line?

There is no ETF if you return the phone and cancel the line within 14 days. If you do it within 3 days, there is no ETF and no activation fee. The only thing I am not clear on is when the clock starts ticking on that time frame when you order online and have a phone shipped to you.

Customer Agreement | Verizon Wireless

I would call them now and ask.

I them go into best buy, say I want to add a line and then buy the iPhone 5c for $50?

If you can wait about 2 weeks, Best Buy will have the reserve gift card promo and you can sign up and then get the iPhone 5c for $50. I think the iPhone 5s's are easier to sell, though.

In the mean time I find her a basic phone? I already have a basic phone for her to use.

great, then you are good to go once they cancel the line, but I would wait for the best buy reserve gift card promo.

Do I have to buy and activate the iPhone first before switching her to the used basic phone?

yes.

She needs a phone ASAP so I don't know what to do. My dad also is interested in getting a line too so we call sell two iPhones.

look into verizon pay as you go (not monthly prepaid) by activating the basic phone you already have. However, I don't know if that presents any issues if you want to later activate the phone on a post paid account. It shouldn't. The only time you should run into problems like that is if you buy a prepaid phone and don't use it for long enough.

Can you give me a step-by-step guide on what to do with the phone I currently have that I just purchased and where I go from here. I don't want to screw anything up. VZW is I open until 11pm I believe so I'll wait for your reply. You've been more than helpful thanks.

Call them now and tell them you want to return the phone and cancel the line. Ask when the clock on the 3 days starts ticking.

 

[budmonster]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

There is no ETF if you return the phone and cancel the line within 14 days. If you do it within 3 days, there is no ETF and no activation fee. The only thing I am not clear on is when the clock starts ticking on that time frame when you order online and have a phone shipped to you.

Customer Agreement | Verizon Wireless

I would call them now and ask.


If you can wait about 2 weeks, Best Buy will have the reserve gift card promo and you can sign up and then get the iPhone 5c for $50. I think the iPhone 5s's are easier to sell, though.


great, then you are good to go once they cancel the line, but I would wait for the best buy reserve gift card promo.


yes.


look into verizon pay as you go (not monthly prepaid) by activating the basic phone you already have. However, I don't know if that presents any issues if you want to later activate the phone on a post paid account. It shouldn't. The only time you should run into problems like that is if you buy a prepaid phone and don't use it for long enough.



Call them now and tell them you want to return the phone and cancel the line. Ask when the clock on the 3 days starts ticking.

What is a reserve gift card promo? I can just go and buy two 5cs on contract for $50 each. Why wait two weeks. I sent you another pm with some more questions. I'm calling them soon as I'm done talking to you.

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

What is a reserve gift card promo? I can just go and buy two 5cs on contract for $50 each. Why wait two weeks. I sent you another pm with some more questions. I'm calling them soon as I'm done talking to you.

Sorry there was a typo in my post.

Every year for the last few years in the beginning of February Best Buy has run the $50 reserve gift card promo. If you sign up for it during the promo period, then mid-February until the end of the year you can get $50 toward towards the purchase of any 2 year contract phone. So if you sign up for the promo, you would get a $50 on contract phone for free except for the upgrade fee and tax.

Now that I am thinking about it, to sign up, you need to have a cell phone number already. So if you are adding a line and not porting a cell phone number from another carrier, you can't sign up for the promo for the added line anyhow.

So never mind what I said about waiting 2 weeks.

 

[budmonster]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

Sorry there was a typo in my post.

Every year for the last few years in the beginning of February Best Buy has run the $50 reserve gift card promo. If you sign up for it during the promo period, then mid-February until the end of the year you can get $50 toward towards the purchase of any 2 year contract phone. So if you sign up for the promo, you would get a $50 on contract phone for free except for the upgrade fee and tax.

Now that I am thinking about it, to sign up, you need to have a cell phone number already. So if you are adding a line and not porting a cell phone number from another carrier, you can't sign up for the promo for the added line anyhow.

So never mind what I said about waiting 2 weeks.

I'm sorry we keep going back and forth from here to PM. I'll stick to here now. I want to start fresh b/c I'm even more confused now, with these promos, etc. FYI, my parents currently have pre-paid phones from T-Mobile and they want there numbers ported over, don't know how to do that.

Anyways, I just got off the phone with VZW. I don't have to ship the phone back, I can just return to my local corp store. He said I won't have to pay for any restocking fee b/c the box was never opened and phone was never used. I wasn't charged with any activation fees so that's done with also. Tomorrow I'm going to my local VZW store, returning my my mothers phone (LG Revere 2) and then heading over to BB. I'm going to tell the BB rep that I want to add 2 new lines to my current 1400 NWT&T plan(I currently have 2 lines, unlimited data on both). 5c for each line, I'll end up paying $100.

I already have 1 basic Verizon phone (old LG slider phone) to use for my mother and I will go on craigslist tonight and get a second basic phone for my father.

You said that BB wont allow me to leave the store without activating the iPhones first? I just upgraded our current 2 lines last month, 5s and 5c for me and the wife and they didn't even open the boxes? They just gave us the boxes and we left. Got home and 10 minutes later they were activated after we opened them. Does the phone need to be removed from the box to be activated? Because ours weren't.

Maybe I'm just stupid or because I just worked a double, but I'm not understanding what I do once I have the both 5c's and both basic phones on me. This cell phone crap drives me nuts and confused the **** out of me, so bare with me. If both iPhones are activated at BB, you said I will automatically be issued a data plan, correct, all smartphones require one? Doesn't that cost extra money and I though iPhones need to special data plan? I don't want to have to pay for a data plan when I'm not even using the phones, just selling them. But anyways, I return the LG Revere 2 tomorrow, head to BB and tell them to add 2 lines and purchase those two 5c's. I come home and do what? I'll have two new 5c's on me and 1 basic phone (I still have to find a second one).

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

my parents currently have pre-paid phones from T-Mobile and they want there numbers ported over.

Here are the details on last year's promo. Idk if it will be the same this year, but they have been doing it for awhile now so I am hoping they will do it again this year. Last year you were able to start buying on February 10th after signing up from February 3rd - 9th.

Gift Card Reserve Offer Details- BestBuy

Gift Card Reserve Terms & Conditions

Anyways, I just got off the phone with VZW. I don't have to ship the phone back, I can just return to my local corp store. He said I won't have to pay for any restocking fee b/c the box was never opened and phone was never used. I wasn't charged with any activation fees so that's done with also.

That's awesome!

Tomorrow I'm going to my local VZW store, returning my my mothers phone (LG Revere 2) and then heading over to BB. I'm going to tell the BB rep that I want to add 2 new lines to my current 1400 NWT&T plan(I currently have 2 lines, unlimited data on both). 5c for each line, I'll end up paying $100.

yes, and the activation fee for each line of $35 will be billed to your verizon account.

I already have 1 basic Verizon phone (old LG slider phone) to use for my mother and I will go on craigslist tonight and get a second basic phone for my father.

sounds like a plan.

You said that BB wont allow me to leave the store without activating the iPhones first? I just upgraded our current 2 lines last month, 5s and 5c for me and the wife and they didn't even open the boxes? They just gave us the boxes and we left. Got home and 10 minutes later they were activated after we opened them.

Best Buy has never let me leave a store with an unopened box. They insist on opening the box and activating the phone. They do this because the phone needs to be activated on the new line for them to get their commission from Verizon. Not sure why you were allowed to leave with unopened boxes.

Does the phone need to be removed from the box to be activated? Because ours weren't.

I suppose, they could start the process by typing in the IMEI and the SIM card of the device but I think your old phone would need to be off for them to do that.

Maybe I'm just stupid or it's because I just worked a double, but I'm not understanding what I do once I have the both 5c's and both basic phones on me. If both iPhones are activated at BB then you said I will automatically be issued a data plan, correct? Doesn't that cost extra money?

yes, it costs $30/month, but when you drop it, they prorate it. So if you do this all in 1 day, you will be billed for 1 day of data, which is about $1, + taxes/surcharges/fees.

The only other thing to keep in mind is that there are certain per line charges that are not prorated if you open a line any time during your billing cycle. I can't remember what they are, but I made the mistake of adding a line on the last day of my billing cycle and was charged the full fees for that month even though the new line was only on my plan for 1 day of that billing cycle.

But anyways, I returned the LG Revere 2 tomorrow, head to BB and tell them to add 2 lines and purchase those two 5c's. I come home and do what?

If your iPhones were activated in the Best Buy store, you:

1) Shut off the new iPhone 5c's;
2) Log onto Verizon wireless;
3) Select My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device;
4) Select one of the new lines;
5) Select "I am activating a device that I have not used with this account";
6) Enter the device ID of the basic phone you want on that line;
7) Follow the rest of the instructions for activating the basic phone on that line, which includes dialing *228 from the basic phone but they will tell you that online as you progress in the process;
8) Check to see that the data plan dropped off the line after the basic phone was activated;
9) If not, block data on the line; and
10) Repeat steps 3-9 for the other new line.

 

[budmonster]

Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

Here are the details on last year's promo. Idk if it will be the same this year, but they have been doing it for awhile now so I am hoping they will do it again this year. Last year you were able to start buying on February 10th after signing up from February 3rd - 9th.

Gift Card Reserve Offer Details- BestBuy

Gift Card Reserve Terms & Conditions


That's awesome!


yes, and the activation fee for each line of $35 will be billed to your verizon account.


sounds like a plan.


Best Buy has never let me leave a store with an unopened box. They insist on opening the box and activating the phone. They do this because the phone needs to be activated on the new line for them to get their commission from Verizon. Not sure why you were allowed to leave with unopened boxes.


I suppose, they could start the process by typing in the IMEI and the SIM card of the device but I think your old phone would need to be off for them to do that.


yes, it costs $30/month, but when you drop it, they prorate it. So if you do this all in 1 day, you will be billed for 1 day of data, which is about $1, + taxes/surcharges/fees.

The only other thing to keep in mind is that there are certain per line charges that are not prorated if you open a line any time during your billing cycle. I can't remember what they are, but I made the mistake of adding a line on the last day of my billing cycle and was charged the full fees for that month even though the new line was only on my plan for 1 day of that billing cycle.


If your iPhones were activated in the Best Buy store, you:

1) Shut off the new iPhone 5c's;
2) Log onto Verizon wireless;
3) Select My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device;
4) Select one of the new lines;
5) Select "I am activating a device that I have not used with this account";
6) Enter the device ID of the basic phone you want on that line;
7) Follow the rest of the instructions for activating the basic phone on that line, which includes dialing *228 from the basic phone but they will tell you that online as you progress in the process;
8) Check to see that the data plan dropped off the line after the basic phone was activated;
9) If not, block data on the line; and
10) Repeat steps 3-9 for the other new line.

Ok I understand that now. Say they let me go with the two iPhones, unopened again how would I got about it that way. I'm sure if I ask they will just let me buy them and leave like last time. I'm confused because the boxes weren't opened but when I got home opened our iPhones and turned them on I wasn't able to make calls or anything right away. About 10 minutes later my new iPhones appears online on the my verizon website. At first it didn't show the devices. After the 10 minutes the iPhone images appeared under our numbers and we were able to make calls. I'm assuming they must of activated them without opening them which is pretty strange. Unless I somehow activated them myself, I did try doing *228 or some number to activate it lol, maybe I was able to activate them.

And what where you saying about that they might not let me add the two new lines tomorrow? Is it because I just canceled the other line tonight and it might be too early to add two new ones?

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

Ok I understand that now. Say they let me go with the two iPhones, unopened again how would I got about it that way. I'm sure if I ask they will just let me buy them and leave like last time. I'm confused because the boxes weren't opened but when I got home opened our iPhones and turned them on I wasn't able to make calls or anything right away. About 10 minutes later my new iPhones appears online on the my verizon website. At first it didn't show the devices. After the 10 minutes the iPhone images appeared under our numbers and we were able to make calls. I'm assuming they must of activated them without opening them which is pretty strange.

idk.

Unless I somehow activated them myself, I did try doing *228 or some number to activate it lol, maybe I was able to activate them.

*228 doesn't work with 4G LTE phones.

And what where you saying about that they might not let me add the two new lines tomorrow? Is it because I just canceled the other line tonight and it might be too early to add two new ones?

they do a credit check when you add a line. Whether or not there will be any issue with you opening 3 lines in a short period idk. It is not a verizon issue per se, but a credit issue. Idk all of the ins and outs of credit checks to open new lines, but I know they did a credit check on me when I opened a new line.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data?

What are the terms of the new policies?

$150 deductible per accident claim, 3 claim limit per 24 month period.

Before there was no deductible and no claim limit.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data?

$150 deductible per accident claim, 3 claim limit per 24 month period.

Before there was no deductible and no claim limit.

Wow, that is a huge change!

 

[dpham00]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data?

Wow, that is a huge change!

Yes indeed. Asurion is a better deal as you get two claims per year with $99 deductible and also covers loss and theft (bestbuy doesn't)

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[budmonster]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

idk.


*228 doesn't work with 4G LTE phones.


they do a credit check when you add a line. Whether or not there will be any issue with you opening 3 lines in a short period idk. It is not a verizon issue per se, but a credit issue. Idk all of the ins and outs of credit checks to open new lines, but I know they did a credit check on me when I opened a new line.

We'll I'll just return the VZW phone tomorrow and wait to go to bob until I find the 2nd basic phone. Craigslist is pain in the *** to find phones but it's quicker than eBay.

 

[dpham00]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data on Verizon?

We'll I'll just return the VZW phone tomorrow and wait to go to bob until I find the 2nd basic phone. Craigslist is pain in the *** to find phones but it's quicker than eBay.

There is more accountability on ebay though...

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[laddibugg]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Going to try this. Just a question...If this doesn't work--say the phone won't activate, will I lose my unlimited data?

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Going to try this. Just a question...If this doesn't work--say the phone won't activate, will I lose my unlimited data?

what do you mean won't activate? do you mean if it is broken?

 

[laddibugg]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Well, the OP said the automated system couldn't activate his phone, so he had to speak with a live rep. Is there any chance the rep could screw up, or flat out refuse to activate the new phone with the old SIM? If that happens would my unlimited data be gone?

(I ordered my phone, should be here in about 5 days...I"m just a worrywart!)

 

[mykl376]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I think, but I'm not totally sure, that the OP used an existing micro SIM from his old phone, and called the rep to activate it. My old phone, the Driod Bionic, uses a larger sized SIM, and had to be trimmed to fit in a micro SIM slot. At first when I tried to use my old SIM card number on the Verizon website, it actually said I was changing from a 3G phone to a 4G phone, and I would need a new SIM. Obviously that isn't true, as the Bionic is very much 4G. When I called the rep, she was unable to activate the new phone with my old, now trimmed SIM. Perhaps, and I don't know for sure, if your old phone already uses a micro SIM, you won't have these problems. When I was reading the rep the old SIM number, she asked me if the first string of zeros was 3 or 4 in a row. Sure enough, the old SIM had a slightly different format of numbers. I don't know if Verizon will not let any old SIM cards like that work on a newer phone that uses the smaller micro SIM size, but that's what I encountered.

There will be no problem activating the new phone if you use the included SIM, but you should try the old one first, as Cozume said, that seems to be the only thing done differently.

Of course there is a chance you could lose your UDP, since Verizon doesn't actually do them anymore with a new subsidized phone. But if you have proof that your transaction from Best Buy stated "no changes to data plan," then you should at least be able to call or go into a store and get it changed back.

 

[M16Club]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Well, the OP said the automated system couldn't activate his phone, so he had to speak with a live rep. Is there any chance the rep could screw up, or flat out refuse to activate the new phone with the old SIM? If that happens would my unlimited data be gone?

(I ordered my phone, should be here in about 5 days...I"m just a worrywart!)

I'm very worrisome for trying this as well. I cannot afford to loose my UDP. I average 160GB monthly data usage. The only other company to have UDP is T-mobile with sketch coverage. I'm over an year without contract already, but my TB is giving up now. I need to get a new phone. I would not mind be locked in for 2 more years to get a free device. So far, I only see one confirmation of this Best Buy deal to work on a single line UDP. Please keep us posted if you are successful or not. Tkx.

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I average 160GB monthly data usage.

with that kind of data usage, you are crazy to attempt this method. If something goes wrong, I don't see anyone at Verizon giving you back your unlimited data plan even if you return the phone. They don't want people who use that much data on their network.

Just add a line and get 2 subsidized phones and sell one. It is not as cost effective as doing that with a family plan but it is a less risky method. Or just buy a 16GB Moto X for $300 with the code, $350 for a 32GB.

The only other company to have UDP is T-mobile with sketch coverage.

I think TMobile throttles after a certain amount of data.

 

[otwok]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Well, the OP said the automated system couldn't activate his phone, so he had to speak with a live rep. Is there any chance the rep could screw up, or flat out refuse to activate the new phone with the old SIM? If that happens would my unlimited data be gone?

(I ordered my phone, should be here in about 5 days...I"m just a worrywart!)

My old phone had the mini sim. He also said that I could've activated it online if the phone couldn't do it.

If he refuses just say no thanks and return the phone and you are where are you now.

Since you ordered your phone I would suggest that you sign into your Verizon account, see if it still says you have UL and look at the new contract date. I am sure they extended your contract and you kept UL.