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

[funky cheese]

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

Correct, they make one based on what they want your account to be (non-UDP)...thus if you never activate the SIM, you never accept their changes and those changes never make their way to your account.

So when you order from Best Buy they make a sim that is not based on your current account? That is the difference from verizon's end? What is on the BB sim that forces them too kill UDP if it doesn't contain your plan info?

 

[scipper77]

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

Correct, they make one based on what they want your account to be (non-UDP)...thus if you never activate the SIM, you never accept their changes and those changes never make their way to your account.

I got my Sim card that I ordered from Verizon today. It came with a sheet of paper listing my plan details. Under features it lists "EMAIL & WEB UNLIMITED $29.99"

Tomorrow I might head up to my local BJ's and see if I can have them activate my Sim. I figure BJ's will not be as rigid to deal with as an official Verizon store. I'm not even a member anymore but I don't think it will matter.

Thank you to you and ClintRo for the guidance.

 

[Formula700]

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

I have 2 iPhone 4S, 1 with UDP and the other 2GB. I want to upgrade to the S5 without losing the UDP. Is there a way? Also see BB has an offer for an additional $50 for turning in an old smartphone, I happen to have an old BB Tour and HTC Star Trek that can be traded.

Someone mentioned an option to get a 3rd line on the family plan for $9.99 and once activated the exchange the number between the 2 phones. Not ideal since I don't need the 3rd line. Ideas?

 

[tjrssibelle]

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

http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?p=3650425

The first part of this post would apply to the 4s on the unlimited data plan, the 2gb phone can be upgraded anywhere anytime assuming both phones are eligible for upgrade

Sent from my VERIZON LG G2

 

[Formula700]

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

So I ordered the new SIM today from Verizon and is expected to arrive Friday. What if I purchase the new S5 at the BB store and insert the SIM ordered via Verizon instead of the new SIM BB would provide? I am curious because I would like to take advantage of trading in my old HTC Smartphone and get the additional $100 credit. Is that possible?

 

[geoffkin]

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

Do I have to buy at Best Buy to keep my UDP now or what??

I currently have an HTC Rezound with UDP and I'm due for an Upgrade. I want to get a Samsung Note (either 2 or 3 haven't decided yet. Looks like $50 for a Note 2 at Best Buy and $200 for a Note 3 at Amazon are currently the best deals?)

Does anyone know if I'll have to cut my SIM card to move it from the Rezound to one of these Notes?

Also, could someone talk me into either saving $ with a Note 2 or going for a Note 3?? I really don't need the 'latest and greatest" just a good phone/web browser with great battery life! My wife has a Note 2 and LOVES IT! Note 3 is fairly new and might still have some issues or is it also a rock solid GOOD phone??

 

[geoffkin]

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

Do I have to buy at Best Buy to keep my UDP now or what??

I currently have an HTC Rezound with UDP and I'm due for an Upgrade. I want to get a Samsung Note (either 2 or 3 haven't decided yet. Looks like $50 for a Note 2 at Best Buy and $200 for a Note 3 at Amazon are currently the best deals?)

Does anyone know if I'll have to cut my SIM card to move it from the Rezound to one of these Notes?

Also, could someone talk me into either saving $ with a Note 2 or going for a Note 3?? I really don't need the 'latest and greatest" just a good phone/web browser with great battery life! My wife has a Note 2 and LOVES IT! Note 3 is fairly new and might still have some issues or is it also a rock solid GOOD phone??

 

[geoffkin]

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

Is this new or was it always there?

On the Best Buy site when I go to upgrade my phone, this message pops up...

"Do you have an existing unlimited data plan?

Here's what you need to know:

With Verizon's new Share Everything plan, unlimited data is no longer available. When you upgrade your device, you will not have unlimited data.

If keeping unlimited data is important to you, you can choose "Replace my device" and pay full retail price for a new device."

 

[tjrssibelle]

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

So I ordered the new SIM today from Verizon and is expected to arrive Friday. What if I purchase the new S5 at the BB store and insert the SIM ordered via Verizon instead of the new SIM BB would provide? I am curious because I would like to take advantage of trading in my old HTC Smartphone and get the additional $100 credit. Is that possible?

Never use the SIM that comes with the phone ordered from BB, you have to order the phone online at bestbuy.com not the store to be able to maintain UDP

Sent from my VERIZON LG G2

 

[scipper77]

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

My final post on this and pay attention because it's a very important one.

After work I went to the Verizon booth in my local BJ's. There was only one kid working there and no manager. I told him I had unlimited with a renewed contract and that I wanted activate the NFC sim that Verizon mailed me. This is a sim I ordered from Verizon after doing the upgrade, not the one from best buy. I expressed my concerns about verizon taking away UDP because I had a renewed contract with UDP. He said for a sim swap it couldn't possibly change my plan and even promised he wouldn't take away my UDP.

Getting to the point.... I now have a NFC enabled SIM in my S5 and he added a diamond wireless protection plan that he claims is better than the TEC from verizon because it's $1 cheaper, has the same deductable, and any replacement will be with a new device not refurbed. It should also stays with the line allowing you to swap phones and remain covered.

All I needed to know about this insurance is that I can cancel at any time without penalty and I took the chance.

The moral here is that you can order a new sim and add insurance after doing this Best Buy scam swap. This will be very important if I decide to sell my S5 to buy an iPhone 6 when they come out. (I'll need a nano sim)

I got my Sim card that I ordered from Verizon today. It came with a sheet of paper listing my plan details. Under features it lists "EMAIL & WEB UNLIMITED $29.99"

Tomorrow I might head up to my local BJ's and see if I can have them activate my Sim. I figure BJ's will not be as rigid to deal with as an official Verizon store. I'm not even a member anymore but I don't think it will matter.

Thank you to you and ClintRo for the guidance.

 

[tree9]

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

I have unlimited data on 2 old 3G phones with no SIM cards needed.

How would I do the best buy work around if I don't have old sims to work with?

 

[mbkintner]

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

Please keep all talk of the Best Buy method to one of the two threads it belongs in that I've linked to below.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...nlimited-data-get-phone-subsidized-price.html
http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...lets-me-keep-unlimited-data-plan-verizon.html

 

[scipper77]

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

I have unlimited data on 2 old 3G phones with no SIM cards needed.

How would I do the best buy work around if I don't have old sims to work with?

From what I have read here, you tell Verizon that you are planning on buying two used 4g phones and you will need Sims. After you receive the Sims you do the best buy thing and then activate the new phones with the new Sims instead of the ones that come with the phone.

The fool proof way to do it is to actually buy used phones with the size Sim you want and activate them. Then you can do the best buy thing and simply swap Sims and sell the used phones. No human interaction that way.

 

[tjrssibelle]

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

From what I have read here, you tell Verizon that you are planning on buying two used 4g phones and you will need Sims. After you receive the Sims you do the best buy thing and then activate the new phones with the new Sims instead of the ones that come with the phone.

The fool proof way to do it is to actually buy used phones with the size Sim you want and activate them. Then you can do the best buy thing and simply swap Sims and sell the used phones. No human interaction that way.

New SIMs are required for the used phones

Sent from my VERIZON LG G2

 

[navaja77]

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

hey guys - just to give you an update. I finally received my phones from BB last night and was able to get everything up and running. There was only one hitch with the new sim card I ordered from verizon. so here's what i did:

If you're coming from a 3g phone with no sim card (e.g. iPhone 4), or coming from a phone with a different sim card from what your new phone will use (e.g. mini/micro vs nano or mini vs micro), do the following:
1a) order the new sim card from verizon cs. tell them you're going to buy a used phone and it needs a new/different sim card. confirm that the new sim card they're sending you will have the right plan/UDP. No need to buy one from amazon. VZW will order/ship it 2 day FedEx for free.
1b) order your new phone from best buy. If you get a warning screen about losing unlimited, it's ok. just make sure on the next screen the option to "Keep Existing Plan" is checked. Take screen shots of every screen and save your order receipt.
2) when you get the sim card, validate that your plan is listed on the order receipt. do not do anything with this sim card yet (i think if you try to activate the sim card early, your current phone probably won't work anymore - remember the sim card is your account - but not sure what happens with phones w/o a sim card).
2b) when you get your new phone from best buy, DO NOT TURN ON THE PHONE YET! take out the sim card that comes with the new phone first (this is true for everyone - regardless of sim card ordering)
3) Call verizon to activate your new sim card. it's a different number (877) 807-4646 - this number comes with the sim card (Activating Your 4G LTE Smartphone | Verizon Wireless). Note, when you dial in, and you put in your phone number, it may give you a different order number. I couldn't match that order number with either the best buy order or my sim card order, so I just ignored it. Instead, I re-dialed and pressed 0 a couple times until it connected me to a rep manually. Explain that you ordered a new/different sim card and have them activate the sim card.
4) once the new sim card is activated, you can put it directly into your new phone. If the agent is nice, they will stay on the phone with you while you're activated and also validate that your unlimited data stays intact after the activation (mine was!).

If your current sim card is the same as what the new phone uses (usually micro to micro) just do the following:
1) order your new phone from best buy. If you get a warning screen about losing unlimited, it's ok. just make sure on the next screen the option to "Keep Existing Plan" is checked. Take screen shots of every screen and save your order receipt.
2) when the phone arrives, DO NOT TURN ON THE PHONE YET! take out the sim card that comes with the new phone.
3) put the sim card from your old phone into your new phone
4) turn on the new phone, wait for it activate, then validate that your unlimited data is still intact.

This is probably the safest way to do things. Yes, there is some VZW involvement, and I was a bit worried when activating my sim card that they'd see the best buy order/upgrade, but either they didn't, or the agent didn't care.

can an admin sticky this post?

good luck!

I did exactly as above except that when I called to activate my SIM card, my order number was already there. I selected to activate the order and then it asked to activate my new device. I hesitated and did cancel then did it again but this time selected to activate device. It kinda freaks you out because of the new phone but in actuality, it is asking to activate your SIM card. Once that was done, pop it in the new phone (S4) and turned it on. Everything went well. Then I logged into Verizon. It showed my new phone with new contract date and UDP intact. Thank you all for this! I finally updated to a newer phone from my old Samsung Fascinate!

 

[tree9]

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

From what I have read here, you tell Verizon that you are planning on buying two used 4g phones and you will need Sims. After you receive the Sims you do the best buy thing and then activate the new phones with the new Sims instead of the ones that come with the phone.

The fool proof way to do it is to actually buy used phones with the size Sim you want and activate them. Then you can do the best buy thing and simply swap Sims and sell the used phones. No human interaction that way.

When u pop the "old" sim in the new device and boot it up, does it eventually show the new device on the verizon account? Does it all end up the same as if u "activate a device" on the verizon website? I forget what the actual option is called.

I'm wondering if I can order the sim, boot it up in my dad's phone to activate it with my unlimited data account then buy the new best buy phone...you know so I don't have to buy a used phone first

 

[Jamamp]

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

Hello everyone, I can't believe I didn't stumble upon this thread earlier! I have been in the market now for a while since I am wanting to keep my unlimited data plan through Verizon. I currently have an HTC Thunderbolt (poor old guy!) on my first line and a regular old flip phone as my second line. Is there any way that you fellers know of for me to upgrade BOTH lines to newer smartphones? Since I would have to change out her phone completely and give that line a data plan I haven't thought it was possible. Any tips would be much appreciated!

 

[l_Hutch_l]

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

I wanted to share my experience with this Best Buy method. I had an iPhone 4, which is obviously 3G with no SIM card. I am now on an iPhone 5S with unlimited data.
I wanted to try this to get an iPhone 5S, but didn't want to risk activating a new SIM card ordered from Verizon (I ordered one anyway just in case my first plan wouldn't work). Below are the steps I used...

1. Individual plan with UDP (only 1 line on the account) with an iPhone 4 (3G - no SIM)
2. My friend had a spare Galaxy S3. The screen was cracked but it still worked perfectly.
3. I took the s3 into a verizon store and had them activate it on my account, which deactivated the iPhone 4
4. This got me on a 4G device with an active SIM card.
5. I then ordered my upgrade phone through the Best Buy method (an iPhone 5S)
6. The phone was delivered last night, I did NOT turn it on and immediately removed the SIM card that came in it.
7. I took the micro SIM out of the s3 and had to cut it down to a nano SIM size with some sharp scissors
8. Put the SIM card (that is now a nano size) into the 5S and start it up.

I had to sign out and sign back into verizon online for the 5S to show as my device. Verizon still shows that I still have UDP, and my data usage has been updating fine.

I bet the blank SIM card ordered from verizon would have worked too, but I was only going to try that if my active SIM didn't work.

 

[ClintRo]

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

You can order a phone on the flip phone line and upgrade it to a data plan but you will not be able to get that line on unlimited. Just buy a phone on the flip phone line, I assume you have upgrades on both line now, then activate it when it comes in. Then transfer your upgrade to the other line and upgrade again. When it comes in activate it on the NON UNLIMITED line. Then you can move the phones arround any way you want.

Sent from my Note 3

 

[scipper77]

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

When u pop the "old" sim in the new device and boot it up, does it eventually show the new device on the verizon account? Does it all end up the same as if u "activate a device" on the verizon website? I forget what the actual option is called.

I'm wondering if I can order the sim, boot it up in my dad's phone to activate it with my unlimited data account then buy the new best buy phone...you know so I don't have to buy a used phone first

Yes that should work. I personally am scared to call verizon for anything. My only concern is that if the sim in your dads phone is still associated with that phone when you put in the new sim you might run into an issue. If there is an issue you can call verizon and straighten it out as long as you did not do the best buy part of this yet. No risk incurred and no money spent at this point (unless Verizon charges you $3 for the new sim or a sim activation fee).

I bet if you chat it up with your friends you will easily find someone with an old phone to borrow. I now have two old thunderbolts just taking up space. You would need a sim adapter to activate the new sim in those however.

The reality is that before you go through best buy you have nothing to risk trying your method. Verizon can not take away UDP unless you first try to change your contract. I hope this helps.