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

[tx_tuff]

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

I do use gmail, but only for my personal emails. At work we use an exchange server. It is the work emails i would miss the most since i am more productive for receiving them

You have to use the old SIM to keep the UDP.

 

[mrdumbfellow]

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

Anyone who is getting "error code 53" when entering carrier info on best buy's site needs to know that most of the time this is apparently caused by owing a past due balance to Verizon. Our bill was 3 days past due and we got this code until we made a payment to them. Registered just to let you know.....I would want someone to do the same thing

 

[oyeyemi808]

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

Good morning everyone! I am on the (old) Nationwide account level talk&text Family share1400 with 2 lines ,line 1, mines is razr maxx UDP contract is up & eligible for discounted upgrade. Line 2 is iphone4 with 2gig . I have read through tons of threads, but cannot find a situation like mines. What method should i use to get a new phone for free without losing UDP, or at least at a discounted price. Right now my bill is $197.97!! . Should i consider More everything plan to cut my bill? Any advise would be appreicated. thanks

 

[TurboLegacy]

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

Has anyone found any other stores that this works with? I'm trying to find a store that is offering the Buy One Get One for the Galaxy S5. Costco comes to mind. If I purchase from Costco online, will my phone be sent to me 'unactivated'? If so, couldn't I do the same swap of SIM cards prior to activation?

 

[bupp]

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

Could someone please summarize the current possible ways to keep UDP, the thread is a little confusing to follow. And im sure it will help others as well.
For me specifically, I'm looking to upgrade from the S3 to the S5 this week.
Thanks so much!

I believe there are three ways? Someone who knows better can come and fill in the details, but I've seen this thread's method, the dumbphone line method, and buying the new phone off-contract at full-price (or used off eBay).

This thread's method in particular involves Best Buy. Go to any new phone that you want and "Add to Package." This screen will pop up:


Ignore the message in yellow and click "Check Eligibility." Next, it should come to a page prompting you to type in the number you're upgrading, the billing zip, last 4 digits of SSN attached to the account, and the billing passcode. Type those in and the next page should contain this if you have an upgrade available:


Click that button and move on to this page:


Click the "No Change" bubble, add the phone to your cart, and then check out as you normally would at any online store. Keep records of the site confirming NO CHANGE TO PLAN just in case. When the phone arrives 1 or 2 weeks later, go about removing the SIM card from the NEW phone/packaging and set it aside for now. Then, make sure your old phone's SIM card is the same size as the new phone's SIM card -- for instance, if you have a micro-SIM and you bought the One M8 or iPhone 5 you'll need to trim down to nano-SIM somehow, perhaps using a cutter via Amazon or med-heavy duty kitchen scissors, and sandpaper for thickness adjustment. Here's a video on the DIY matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6T1Mygucak

Once done, pop it in and turn on the new phone. Done? Do with the new SIM card what you will. I have a Bionic that I'm upgrading from, so I'm expecting an experience similar to mykl376 which may involve actually using the new SIM:

I went from a Droid Bionic to a Samsung Galaxy S4 with this method. I had to cut my old Bionic's SIM card to fit in the S4. When I tried to activate on Verizon's site with the old cut SIM in the new S4, I initially got an error type message saying I was using a 3G SIM, and I would have to contact them or request a new SIM. It seemed strange, since the Bionic is most certainly 4G, and the SIM itself had "4G LTE" printed on it.

Anyway, after calling Best Buy, and talking with their rep, they were unable to activate it with my old SIM. At that point I put in the SIM that came with the new phone and it activated with no problems. The included SIM that came with my S4 wasn't already inserted, but was just in with the phone, inside the box.

That was my experience, and I was able to keep my UDP. I think my original post was back on one of the first few pages, and I see 15 pages now!

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 Droid 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.

---------

Buy a S5 from Best Buy website, choose keep same plan, when you get it put in old SIM before you turn it on. Done

Yes, exactly, only wait a week after it gets released. I don't know if it will let you choose the "Keep Current Plan" option as a new release, which was the issue at first when I tried to buy the One M8 the week it debuted. Waited a week and it was fine. Waited a week and a half and then the price even went down $50. It was great.

 

[bupp]

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

Has anyone found any other stores that this works with? I'm trying to find a store that is offering the Buy One Get One for the Galaxy S5. Costco comes to mind. If I purchase from Costco online, will my phone be sent to me 'unactivated'? If so, couldn't I do the same swap of SIM cards prior to activation?

I just tried to do it via Costco and it forces me to choose a capped data plan. If you can get it to not do that then I don't see why would you couldn't do it the same way.

EDIT: Same for Amazon.

 

[K_Quinn]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

OK, so I'm back for help again you guys

There is an issue with my Samsung s4. The home button is clicking when you press it. You can temporarily fix it. And my battery seems to be draining alot faster than the one my husband has.

Called Best Buy this is what is happening and I'm a little worried.

I keep the S4. They are shipping out a new one. I will call once I get the new S4 and they will call Verizon and get my upgrade back and then activate the new phone. The girl made is sound so easy, I know it wont be.

Should I do this, or should I reactivate my old Razr and ship the phone back to Best Buy and call Verizon myself to get my upgrade back? And once I get the new S4 just swap the sim like last time.

 

[K_Quinn]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

OK, so I'm back for help again you guys

There is an issue with my Samsung s4. The home button is clicking when you press it. You can temporarily fix it. And my battery seems to be draining alot faster than the one my husband has.

Called Best Buy this is what is happening and I'm a little worried.

I keep the S4. They are shipping out a new one. I will call once I get the new S4 and they will call Verizon and get my upgrade back and then activate the new phone. The girl made is sound so easy, I know it wont be.

Should I do this, or should I reactivate my old Razr and ship the phone back to Best Buy and call Verizon myself to get my upgrade back? And once I get the new S4 just swap the sim like last time.

I also asked the girl why can't I just do an IMEI swap, she said they can't do that. I don't understand why.. I wonder how bad it would mess something up to just swap the sim cards when it gets here and do like I did when I got the phone.

 

[Kyprain]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

I would wait till you get your phone and switch sim cards, then phone Bestbuy and tell them you have everything going just fine. then just return your old phone.

 

[upgradenoob]

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

Hi, I am new to this forum but haven't seen a situation exactly like mine in this thread. I currently have a NATIONWIDE TALK SHARE 700 plan with 3 lines:

Line A: Galaxy Nexus smartphone with UDP (upgrade available)
Line B: Dumbphone (upgrade available)
Line C: Dumbphone (no upgrade)

Is it possible to take advantage of the BOGO deal for the GS5 and use one of them for Line A without losing UDP and selling the second GS5?

Based on reading through this forum it appears that I can achieve this by doing the following but please correct me if I am wrong:

Step 1: Transfer upgrade from Line A to Line C
Step 2: Order both GS5's for Line B and Line C
Step 3: Activate GS5's on Line B and C
Step 4: Reactivate dumbphones on Line B and C
Step 5: Make sure dataplans on Line B and C are switched back (i.e., removed)
Step 6: Activate one of the GS5's on Line A
Step 7: Sell second GS5

I assume that I would not have to modify my existing SIM for Line A to fit the GS5 since it already comes with a new activated SIM card. Is this correct?

 

[dss2000]

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

Hi, I am new to this forum but haven't seen a situation exactly like mine in this thread. I currently have a NATIONWIDE TALK SHARE 700 plan with 3 lines:

Line A: Galaxy Nexus smartphone with UDP (upgrade available)
Line B: Dumbphone (upgrade available)
Line C: Dumbphone (no upgrade)

Is it possible to take advantage of the BOGO deal for the GS5 and use one of them for Line A without losing UDP and selling the second GS5?

Based on reading through this forum it appears that I can achieve this by doing the following but please correct me if I am wrong:

Step 1: Transfer upgrade from Line A to Line C
Step 2: Order both GS5's for Line B and Line C
Step 3: Activate GS5's on Line B and C
Step 4: Reactivate dumbphones on Line B and C
Step 5: Make sure dataplans on Line B and C are switched back (i.e., removed)
Step 6: Activate one of the GS5's on Line A
Step 7: Sell second GS5

I assume that I would not have to modify my existing SIM for Line A to fit the GS5 since it already comes with a new activated SIM card. Is this correct?

Yes you could do that. Or you could use your upgrade on Line B to get two GS5's and put them on Line B&C. Then put the dumbphones back on lines B&C freeing up the two GS5's, put one on Line A and sell the second. That would leave you with an upgrade available on line A that you could keep for later, or you can transfer the upgrade to Line C and order another GS5 and then sell it too.

 

[upgradenoob]

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

Yes you could do that. Or you could use your upgrade on Line B to get two GS5's and put them on Line B&C. Then put the dumbphones back on lines B&C freeing up the two GS5's, put one on Line A and sell the second. That would leave you with an upgrade available on line A that you could keep for later, or you can transfer the upgrade to Line C and order another GS5 and then sell it too.

So I technically only need one upgrade to be able to do the BOGO deal (not one upgrade for each line)? Has it been confirmed that the data plan can be removed once the dumbphones are re-activated?

 

[Michael Taylor16]

Hello everyone
I have a mifi 2200 unlimited. Our area has 4g lte so the old 3g evdo is pretty much useless. I dont mind staying with 3g service but the mifi 2200 has no sim card so I can't transfer it to another device and I get .18 mbs transfer with the mifi. I have a samsung sch lc11 hotspot but Verizon wants me to give up my unlimited plan if I switch to this. I'm stuck. Can anyone tell me what to do

 

[x516x]

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

I believe there are three ways? Someone who knows better can come and fill in the details, but I've seen this thread's method, the dumbphone line method, and buying the new phone off-contract at full-price (or used off eBay).

This thread's method in particular involves Best Buy. Go to any new phone that you want and "Add to Package." This screen will pop up:
View attachment 111408

Ignore the message in yellow and click "Check Eligibility." Next, it should come to a page prompting you to type in the number you're upgrading, the billing zip, last 4 digits of SSN attached to the account, and the billing passcode. Type those in and the next page should contain this if you have an upgrade available:
View attachment 111410

Click that button and move on to this page:
View attachment 111411

Click the "No Change" bubble, add the phone to your cart, and then check out as you normally would at any online store. Keep records of the site confirming NO CHANGE TO PLAN just in case. When the phone arrives 1 or 2 weeks later, go about removing the SIM card from the NEW phone/packaging and set it aside for now. Then, make sure your old phone's SIM card is the same size as the new phone's SIM card -- for instance, if you have a micro-SIM and you bought the One M8 or iPhone 5 you'll need to trim down to nano-SIM somehow, perhaps using a cutter via Amazon or med-heavy duty kitchen scissors, and sandpaper for thickness adjustment. Here's a video on the DIY matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6T1Mygucak

Once done, pop it in and turn on the new phone. Done? Do with the new SIM card what you will. I have a Bionic that I'm upgrading from, so I'm expecting an experience similar to mykl376 which may involve actually using the new SIM:






---------



Yes, exactly, only wait a week after it gets released. I don't know if it will let you choose the "Keep Current Plan" option as a new release, which was the issue at first when I tried to buy the One M8 the week it debuted. Waited a week and it was fine. Waited a week and a half and then the price even went down $50. It was great.

thank you so much for the detailed response, this is exactly what i was looking for. i just went through the motions on best buys site and it will let me keep my existing plan.
however, do you (or anyone) know if there are any adverse effects with keeping the old sim? I had read somewhere back in the thread that someone couldnt update their phone with the old sim? and if i just go with the new sim, i should still be keeping UDP?
thanks again

 

[dss2000]

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

So I technically only need one upgrade to be able to do the BOGO deal (not one upgrade for each line)? Has it been confirmed that the data plan can be removed once the dumbphones are re-activated?

Yes data will fall off when you re-activate the basic phone. In regards to the Buy One Get one free deal you'd have to check on the details but generally if you exercise that deal you get another free but the free one has to be activated on a line. So use the deal to get the first phone on line 2 and then you should get another free to put on line 3. You will then be tied into 2 yr contracts on line 2 and 3.

 

[Diabl0]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

OK, so I'm back for help again you guys

There is an issue with my Samsung s4. The home button is clicking when you press it. You can temporarily fix it. And my battery seems to be draining alot faster than the one my husband has.

Called Best Buy this is what is happening and I'm a little worried.

I keep the S4. They are shipping out a new one. I will call once I get the new S4 and they will call Verizon and get my upgrade back and then activate the new phone. The girl made is sound so easy, I know it wont be.

Should I do this, or should I reactivate my old Razr and ship the phone back to Best Buy and call Verizon myself to get my upgrade back? And once I get the new S4 just swap the sim like last time.

I also asked the girl why can't I just do an IMEI swap, she said they can't do that. I don't understand why.. I wonder how bad it would mess something up to just swap the sim cards when it gets here and do like I did when I got the phone.

I don't see why you can't just swap sim cards to the new phone. Also, do you have to send the old one back?


There is no reason that I can see for them to call Verizon....

 

[KJ78]

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

I am hoping that this was answered already but then again I didn't read 106 pages of this thread.

I have a Samsung S3 and want to buy out right the S5 to replace my S3.
I am grand fathered with unlimited data.
I went to the verizon web site to preorder however it tries to force me into the new plans.

How can I get around that ?

Do I have to call them and talk with someone ?

I'm in the exact same situation. I have an S3, want to buy an S5 w/out contract and don't want to get rid of my grandfathered unlimited data as I usually use about 8gb/month.

 

[dss2000]

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

I'm in the exact same situation. I have an S3, want to buy an S5 w/out contract and don't want to get rid of my grandfathered unlimited data as I usually use about 8gb/month.

I just looked. Seems like website won't allow you to pay full price for a device that has an upgrade available and preserve your unlimited data. You'd probably have to go to the store to purchase one outright. I think it is a limitation of the website rather than a Verizon policy. If you have another line with measured data or a basic phone on it you could transfer the upgrade and then move the phone to your unlimited line. I also looked at a phone that doesn't have an upgrade available and it would allow you to pay full price and keep the unlimited data.

 

[dpham00]

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

I just looked. Seems like website won't allow you to pay full price for a device that has an upgrade available and preserve your unlimited data. You'd probably have to go to the store to purchase one outright. I think it is a limitation of the website rather than a Verizon policy. If you have another line with measured data or a basic phone on it you could transfer the upgrade and then move the phone to your unlimited line. I also looked at a phone that doesn't have an upgrade available and it would allow you to pay full price and keep the unlimited data.

If you want to buy full retail, use the iconic portal.


http://www.droid-life.com/2013/08/2...-retail-with-no-hassle-use-the-iconic-portal/

dpham00, Android Central Moderator
Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[rdjr74]

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

I have a few questions/scenarios that I haven't read throughout this entire tread. Here are my scenarios:
My wife and I have UDP, her line is the only upgradable line and I would like to use her line to get a HTC M8 for my line. Once the phone comes in the mail do I have to activate it on her line first (using her current "trimmed" sim card from her S3) or can I trim down my Samsung S3 sim card and use the phone on my line immediately? With that said, what is this 35 dollar activation fee (assuming it's the agreement to enter another 2 year contract on my wife's line) and what if I do the above scenario and not activate the new phone on her line? Would there be some breach in the contract and would they expect the phone to be sent back or else pay the full amount for the phone? Basically, what are or could be the repercussions of not activating the phone on her line since it was the line I used to buy the phone?

I suppose another scenario would be to trim her card, activate on her line, then get her a new sim card to fit her S3 then reactivate it, then trim my sim card from my S3 then activate the M8 on my line.

Some pretty heavy scenarios here I know but I like to think everything through thoroughly and you guys on here seem to be a ton of help to others so now it's my turn to find some help. Really appreciate any advice you could give! THX

Also to those that have ordered the M8, have you received it and have you activated it. What was your outcome? Successful?...