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

[svi12345]

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

Hi, hoping someone can verify this for me.

I have a family plan with 3 lines:

1) UDP - iphone 5, upgrade eligible
2) No data - dumb phone, upgrade eligible
3) No data - dumb phone. upgrade eligible

All 3 lines are in use, but line 3 is used the least. Right now, I am only interested in upgrading the UDP phone to another smartphone.
step 1) Go on VZ and upgrade line 3 to my desired smartphone, select lowest price data plan
step 2) Sit around and wait until phone comes
step 3) When I get the new phone activate it to the UDP line instead of line 3
step 3b) If phone is accidentally activated to line 3, just reactivate dumb phone to line 3, then transfer smart phone to UDP line.

In the end, I have a new smartphone on my UDP and the 2G dataplan on line 3 goes away and everything is as it was except line 3 has an updated contract?
Can someone verify that this is correct?

The fact that all my lines are available for upgrades shouldn't cause any problems so long as I only use the dumb phone line to upgrade. The 3G to 4G thing shouldn't be an issue and I don't need to worry about this SIM business since I'm not using the Best Buy method? Is that right?

 

[Hawk600]

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

Hey folks, would this work in my case?
I still have the Unlimited family plan 700 shared between to HTC Rezound and both are off contract now.
I am also a bit confused if my HTC card will fit on a Note 3 or S5.
Thank you in advance!

 

[HMichael]

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

Can someone explain to me the method on how to do this with buying a sim card from Amazon? That seems like the easier way, but I'm hesitant I'll screw it up.

Thanks!

 

[Wiedle]

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

you could go to phonearena.com and compare your rezound to the note 3 or s5 and towards the bottom of the specs it says what kinda of sim card each has. you will be able to see compatibility that way.

based on everything i've read, this should work for you. in playing with the best buy site, it looks like you'd have to do one phone at a time (two transactions).

 

[cygnal]

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

So I decided to follow this path as I really do not want to lose UDP. I currently have a Droid DNA, but want to upgrade to a Galaxy S5. My phone is due for an upgrade so this seemed to be the best option.

I purchased the s5 through BB's site and was allowed to keep my current data plan. I thought I might be able to get the phone at my local store without having them activate it, and if they insisted, I would simply cancel the order. Of course no matter how much I told them I just wanted the phone they wouldn't allow it, so I told them I was going to cancel the order.

I called Best Buy mobile in order to cancel the order, which they did. I then ordered it again and took the option for ship to my home. I was later sent an email that pre-activation failed. I called Best Buy mobile to resolve the issue, and was told that it occasionally happens when a timeout occurs between Best Buy and Verizon. The CS rep told me she would resolve it by getting in touch with Verizon, and reprocessing the pre-activation, which she did and told me my order would be processed and the phone shipped quickly.

Just as a precaution I checked my Verizon account and it showed that my device was not identifiable, also my data plan was no longer UDP and had been changed to 512MB. I called Verizon to resolve the issue and was told that in order to get my UDP back I would need to contact Best Buy and cancel the order. I called Best buy only to be told that they could not cancel the order as it was being processed, that they would ship it either today (Friday) or Monday (next business day), but they would put in a request to cancel shipment and have it returned. Once they had gotten confirmation of the shipment being cancelled then they could get a hold of Verizon in order to have UDP reinstated.

Once I am able to get my account back to normal I will try this process again. I know that UDP was lost when I called back to resolve the pre-activation issue.

I know its been said in this thread before, but once a CS rep is required involved in any part of this process anything can happen.

 

[rdjr74]

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

Maybe take it to a store. Since you already have your sim card in it I would think you'd be ok. They aren't activating anything new on your plan, just replacing it with another with your current sim card. Or call and ask them what you need to do. Very odd your issue.

 

[cygnal]

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

So I decided to follow this path as I really do not want to lose UDP. I currently have a Droid DNA, but want to upgrade to a Galaxy S5. My phone is due for an upgrade so this seemed to be the best option.

I purchased the s5 through BB's site and was allowed to keep my current data plan. I thought I might be able to get the phone at my local store without having them activate it, and if they insisted, I would simply cancel the order. Of course no matter how much I told them I just wanted the phone they wouldn't allow it, so I told them I was going to cancel the order.

I called Best Buy mobile in order to cancel the order, which they did. I then ordered it again and took the option for ship to my home. I was later sent an email that pre-activation failed. I called Best Buy mobile to resolve the issue, and was told that it occasionally happens when a timeout occurs between Best Buy and Verizon. The CS rep told me she would resolve it by getting in touch with Verizon, and reprocessing the pre-activation, which she did and told me my order would be processed and the phone shipped quickly.

Just as a precaution I checked my Verizon account and it showed that my device was not identifiable, also my data plan was no longer UDP and had been changed to 512MB. I called Verizon to resolve the issue and was told that in order to get my UDP back I would need to contact Best Buy and cancel the order. I called Best buy only to be told that they could not cancel the order as it was being processed, that they would ship it either today (Friday) or Monday (next business day), but they would put in a request to cancel shipment and have it returned. Once they had gotten confirmation of the shipment being cancelled then they could get a hold of Verizon in order to have UDP reinstated.

Once I am able to get my account back to normal I will try this process again. I know that UDP was lost when I called back to resolve the pre-activation issue.

I know its been said in this thread before, but once a CS rep is required involved in any part of this process anything can happen.

 

[Wiedle]

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

well I guess that answers my question - they will not let you just pick up in store and take home to activate with the "work-around". dangit.

 

[EvanM3]

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

I just tried to use one of my upgrades on the LG G2. When i tried to complete the order, I got a message saying to call Best Buy's 1-877 number and to give then an error code of "53". So I did and they told me that was a code that tells them to have you call Verizon directly about the upgrade.

I'd say they've closed this loophole.

 

[StormRyder]

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

UPDATE:

I know this has been verified to work many times in this thread, this is just my confirmation that this method is consistently reliable.

Received two HTC One M8s on schedule at home (yes, had to sign for them)

Cut my micro SIM from my Droid RAZR MAXX to nano sim with a cutter from Amazon ( Amazon.com: QQ-Tech Nano Sim Card Cutter Mini /Standard & Micro to Nano Sim for iPhone 5 iPhone 4, 4S and other Phones + Metal Tray + 2 Sim Adapters + Sand Paper, All in One Pack (In Stock Ready to Ship): Cell Phones & Accessories )
Including the link because it worked just fine. Also had to sand the card just a little to make it thinner.

Pulled the new sim card out, stuck in my cut-down old card, and powered up the new M8.
Booted right up with my existing phone number and worked like a champ!

Checking Verizon online shows New device, with unlimited data plan still in effect. No changes were made to my Family plan except the new end date on my contract.

Did the same thing for a SECOND phone too! Worked exactly the way it's described in this thread...
I'm thrilled!

Mahalo!!

Thanks to OP and all the contributors to this awesome thread!!

I just ordered TWO HTC ONE M8 UPGRADES from Best Buy.
They are on sale for $150.00!

The order process went smooth as so many have described.
(The gunmetal color is back ordered about 1-2 weeks)
So far no change to my account on Verizon, but I'll check again later. I am expecting to see my plans extended 2 years with no change, keeping my 2 UDPs.

Also ordered a sim card cutter from Amazon to modify my Droid Razr Maxx sims.

Thank you all !!

 

[Blackberriessuck]

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

I see this page while trying to navigate through order creation - I need to click the $40 option to enable the "Add Package to Cart" button at the bottom. Is this normal? Or are some of the posters immediately above me correct that now this process is no longer possible?

 

[Lodingi]

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

Interesting. I've never seen that before.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

 

[realjet]

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

Need a good quality sim cutter. Mini to micro. Any recommendations?

 

[oldstyle00]

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

I am looking to upgrade my Rezound to the new M8 and need to keep my unlimited data (go though about 50GB a month) and was wondering how I go about my situation. Because I also am going to add my wife's phone to our family plan and she also needs a new phone.

Line A Moto 4g something-UDP upgrade eligible
Line B Rezound-UDP upgrade eligible
Line C dumb phone-upgrade eligible
Line D dumb phone-upgrade eligible
Then we are going to add her Moto Razr, which she isn't eligible for an upgrade 2GB per month plan. My sister also wants to upgrade her Moto 4g. My question is if we use Line C and D to upgrade the 2 with UDP will we still have another 2 upgrades available or will those go away or how will that work so we can upgrade my wife's phone as well.

 

[Hawk600]

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

you could go to phonearena.com and compare your rezound to the note 3 or s5 and towards the bottom of the specs it says what kinda of sim card each has. you will be able to see compatibility that way.
based on everything i've read, this should work for you. in playing with the best buy site, it looks like you'd have to do one phone at a time (two transactions).

Thank you Wiedle, unfortunately Rezound uses mini sim card and S5 uses micro so no go for me

 

[realjet]

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

Thank you Wiedle, unfortunately Rezound uses mini sim card and S5 uses micro so no go for me

You should be able to cut the sim card. I don't have a cutter so I'm taking mine to a cell store and have them do it.

 

[dss2000]

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

Hi, hoping someone can verify this for me.

I have a family plan with 3 lines:

1) UDP - iphone 5, upgrade eligible
2) No data - dumb phone, upgrade eligible
3) No data - dumb phone. upgrade eligible

All 3 lines are in use, but line 3 is used the least. Right now, I am only interested in upgrading the UDP phone to another smartphone.
step 1) Go on VZ and upgrade line 3 to my desired smartphone, select lowest price data plan
step 2) Sit around and wait until phone comes
step 3) When I get the new phone activate it to the UDP line instead of line 3
step 3b) If phone is accidentally activated to line 3, just reactivate dumb phone to line 3, then transfer smart phone to UDP line.

In the end, I have a new smartphone on my UDP and the 2G dataplan on line 3 goes away and everything is as it was except line 3 has an updated contract?
Can someone verify that this is correct?

The fact that all my lines are available for upgrades shouldn't cause any problems so long as I only use the dumb phone line to upgrade. The 3G to 4G thing shouldn't be an issue and I don't need to worry about this SIM business since I'm not using the Best Buy method? Is that right?

Yes, you have everything correct. If you want you can even use your upgrades to get more smartphones and sell them for near full retail price because others that don't have upgrades or extra lines to run the upgrade through will buy them to upgrade their phones with UDP. Just make sure you always transfer the upgrade to a non-UDP line first before upgrading.

 

[dss2000]

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

I am looking to upgrade my Rezound to the new M8 and need to keep my unlimited data (go though about 50GB a month) and was wondering how I go about my situation. Because I also am going to add my wife's phone to our family plan and she also needs a new phone.

Line A Moto 4g something-UDP upgrade eligible
Line B Rezound-UDP upgrade eligible
Line C dumb phone-upgrade eligible
Line D dumb phone-upgrade eligible
Then we are going to add her Moto Razr, which she isn't eligible for an upgrade 2GB per month plan. My sister also wants to upgrade her Moto 4g. My question is if we use Line C and D to upgrade the 2 with UDP will we still have another 2 upgrades available or will those go away or how will that work so we can upgrade my wife's phone as well.

If you use the upgrades on Lines C & D and then activate them on Lines A & B you will extend the contract on Lines C & D for two years and you will preserve UDP on lines A & B and there will still be 2 upgrades available on Line A & B. If you want to use those transfer the upgrades from A&B to C&D and order more smartphones which will extend the contract on lines A & B another 2 years.

 

[Hawk600]

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

Thanks again and this a great idea, however they fixed the gap because now the website is asking for a data plan to be added like the screenshot posted above.
It wasn't doing it couple days ago when I first tried but did not finalized the process.
Seems like the deal is over.

 

[ClintRo]

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

Well I rethought my situation and just wanted to get everybodys opinion. 2 of my lines have UD and one has 2gb. The one that has 2gb is ready to upgrade and if I upgrade that phone through bestbuy and ship it to my house and then activate it on the 2gb line and then later in the day switch the phone to one of the UD lines, I shouldn't either one of the UD right?

You will be fine.

Sent from my Note 3