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

[Wizardman14]

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

It's been over a week and I still have a pending order on my dummy line. How much longer should I give it?

I signed up for a new line, took that phone and put it on my UDP as soon as I got it. Now I just want to put a dummy phone on the new line but the pending order is still there. Please tell me I don't have to call and should fall off soon.

 

[Dus-10]

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

Everytime I try to upgrade and check eligibility it just says:

"Your carrier says the account info you entered doesn't match their records for that phone number. Please check it and try again".

then I enter it again it says: "Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again."

I chatted online and they entered the info and said try later. I have over a couple days.

I forgot to mention that if your verizon account has an overdue balance the eligibility check won't work. You need to have an up to date bill for this to work. I had the same problem. Had to wait until I paid off the previous month and then it worked like a charm!

 

[Dus-10]

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

I forgot to mention that if your verizon account has an overdue balance the eligibility check won't work. You need to have an up to date bill for this to work otherwise Best Buy gives you errors. Had to wait until I paid off the previous month and then it worked like a charm!

 

[th3b3]

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

LOL, I was thinking the same! Thanks for the tip! I have automated payments and it was behind. When I pay it Ill post here how it goes. I dont care about a new "G3" The G2 has awesome specs and is "XLTE" ready. Plus its basically free!

 

[Mthr1]

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

Here is some help for all of you who are still confused or having troubles…

Things you need to know:
1. You must already have an unlimited data plan (UDP)
2. Only possible ONLINE through Best Buy.
3. You MUST ship it. You cannot pick it up in store.
4. You CANNOT use the sim card that comes with the shipped phone. You must use your old sim card. If it is too big you will have to cut it down.
5. Using your old sim, some features/apps on your new phone will not be available ex. Isis Wallet. (*Once you activate with your old sim it is possible to get a replacement sim to fix this issue)
6. If you run into a problem with your Best Buy order CANCEL IT! Don’t call in and give them your Verizon info or you will lose your UDP!
7. Most order problems are from trying to upgrade on a non-main line. This can be resolved by transferring your upgrade to the main line. Then when the phone arrives you can activate it using the old sim card from the phone you want to upgrade.
8. Again, if you have any problem, cancel the order. You can always try again.
9. Keep an eye on your Verizon account to make sure your plan doesn’t change and your contract end date extends two years.

If you keep these things in mind you’ll have a new phone with UDP intact. I’m serious about not calling Best Buy. They say it’s just a pre-activation thing, takes 5 minutes, it won’t change your plan… LIARS! I learned the hard way and lost UDP on one of the three lines I upgraded. Thankfully it was my dad’s line and he only uses like 500mb max… so I don’t think I’m going to be fighting to get it back. There aren’t a lot of success stories once you lose your UDP.

Ok, let me see if I can keep a couple of things straight regarding this method.

As I mentioned in a previous post several weeks ago, my first attempt returned an email saying that there was a problem with my online order and they wanted me to contact Best Buy within 48 hours or they would cancel my order. Well, of course I didn't call. After 8 days and countless emails and phone calls, BB finally canceled my order. I was trying to upgrade a 2nd line on my family share account (I chose to guinea pig my wife's phone since she doesn't care about using data). It was argued that the problem stemmed from my not using my bill to address for the ship to.

So, I waited a couple of weeks after my first order canceled and tried again. This time, I made sure that the ship to address matched my bill to address. Again, I used the upgrade available on my wife's line. Again, I got the email shortly after submitting my order...with the same undisclosed problem and same cancellation threats. After TEN days, the order canceled because I never called them.

We are on an old 1000 min Family Share plan with UDP on both lines. Both lines qualify for an upgrade.

Given the info from this post, I should give it another try but use my primary line (my phone) as the upgrade? Then when the phone arrives, pop my wife's sim card in to that phone? If successful, it will show her phone being upgraded with UDP and mine will still be unupgraded?

I'm willing to try. So the risk to the line change isn't triggered by the online order agaisnt that line, but follows the sim card that is used once the phone arrives? Am I correct? Then afterwards, I would go ahead and order another phone and my primary line will still show an available upgrade?

Thanks.

 

[suntopper]

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

how do you like the G2? Thats what I'm trying to do. Is it micro sim or regular sim?

As alxarambula stated, the G2 takes a micro (not nano like M8) sim. I upgraded from a GS3 so the sim size was no problem. So far I'm liking the G2. Like you said it's basically free so I didn't think I could go wrong. I'm still interested in the G3, and if I decide to get it one of my sons will get the G2. The only thing about the G2 which caused concern was the reports of poor GPS. I can't say I've tested it enough to give a good review but it locked in less than 10 secs outside my house. The placement of he buttons is really not a big concern. It's interesting going from the amoled color saturation but not bad. Just too soon to tell I guess. (But a good phone!!!)

edit: One thing I will comment on is Verizon's changing of the form factor which requires a different case. I like to have a stand case so I can use it on the bedside table for a clock while charging at night (on on the tray on a plane to watch movies). There are not a lot of choices out there for the Verizon version.

 

[pdxcraigslist]

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

What is best way to activate the new sim from Verizon? Activate online? Call activation line? Simply plug in new sim (or does sim have to be "activated" first)?

I am doing the same. I have new sim cards from verizon for two UDP family lines. I ordered new phone on my primary line and will try to activate new sim for line #2 on this phone. If all goes well I will tranfer upgrade from Line #2 to main line and order a new phone for the main line. So far so good. Website shows contract extension on main line with UDP in place.

Thank you guys for all of the advice! I was able to upgrade my mainline phone to a new S5 and retain the UDP. I also was able to order a new sim card with NFC from Verizon and sucessfully activated on my new phone, special thanks to Plim for the detailed write-up.

The only problem I have yet to solve is my wife's line on the my family plan. So far, it sounds like any line with UDP on family line cannot get their order through with best buy because of some pre-activation error with the code not matching with Verizon. It seems that the only way to complete the order is to involve Verizon which will result in the removal of the UDP.

The only one I have seen that got through it Lionelhutz who got the Verizon rep to add back the unlimited data plan with promise of cancelling the order but ending up keeping the phone anyways . I am not sure if I want to go through that risk as I know from experience it can take weeks to get the UDP back. Maybe the only option is to do transfer that upgrade from an unused line to another. I don't know... does anyone who had the same problem as me have any thoughts?

 

[dss2000]

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

It's been over a week and I still have a pending order on my dummy line. How much longer should I give it?

I signed up for a new line, took that phone and put it on my UDP as soon as I got it. Now I just want to put a dummy phone on the new line but the pending order is still there. Please tell me I don't have to call and should fall off soon.

Mine took about a week. Perhaps with Memorial Day weekend it is taking a bit longer. I wouldn't worry about it, you don't pay any higher rate since the plan doesn't go into effect. It will eventually fall off.

 

[tree9]

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

Word of advice, i read you can only transfer the upgrade on verizons site, then use it on verizons site otherwise it goes back. so u can not transfer the upgrade, then go to bestbuy and use it...this is what i read in the other related threads here

 

[pdxcraigslist]

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

Yikes - any way around this?

Word of advice, i read you can only transfer the upgrade on verizons site, then use it on verizons site otherwise it goes back. so u can not transfer the upgrade, then go to bestbuy and use it...this is what i read in the other related threads here

 

[Dus-10]

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

Yikes - any way around this?

I did it on best buy website. The option popped up on the right side...

 

[Dus-10]

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

Given the info from this post, I should give it another try but use my primary line (my phone) as the upgrade? Then when the phone arrives, pop my wife's sim card in to that phone? If successful, it will show her phone being upgraded with UDP and mine will still be unupgraded?

I'm willing to try. So the risk to the line change isn't triggered by the online order agaisnt that line, but follows the sim card that is used once the phone arrives? Am I correct? Then afterwards, I would go ahead and order another phone and my primary line will still show an available upgrade?

Thanks.

That's correct. Transfer/use upgrade on main line(your phone), put old sim from phone you want to upgrade(wife's phone) in new phone when it arrives. The contract will extend on the line the upgrade was transferred from (wife's phone). Activation fees for the new phone will be applied to your verizon account when you receive and activate the phone.

To be clear... You will be able to order two new phones if you want. Once with your upgrade and then again with the transferred upgrade.

 

[hazelgreen]

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

Can I use the tactics mentioned above - - use upgrade on dummy phone line, then activate on my UDP line - - if I order through Amazon? I was all set to order with Verizon but they don't have any white Galaxy S5s. Best Buy also has the white. Should I order thru one of them or wait til it comes to Verizon? I'm wondering if there will be any Father's Day promotions.

 

[Mthr1]

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

That's correct. Transfer/use upgrade on main line(your phone), put old sim from phone you want to upgrade(wife's phone) in new phone when it arrives. The contract will extend on the line the upgrade was transferred from (wife's phone). Activation fees for the new phone will be applied to your verizon account when you receive and activate the phone.

To be clear... You will be able to order two new phones if you want. Once with your upgrade and then again with the transferred upgrade.

There seems to be a different disclaimer on the Best Buy site regarding UDP accounts. When adding the phone, the disclaimer says "Verizon Wireless has ended this plan option, so when you upgrade you'll be switched to their most common 2GB plan by default." The previous disclaimer said "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." ". So the wording is different.

Does this change anything? I didn't know if this is just their slick way of working around the gltich and forcing you out of your UPD without your voluntary consent.

See image below...has this disclaimer been this way for a while? It's been about 3-4 weeks since I tried an online order last and it said something different (as stated above).

 

[pdxcraigslist]

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

I did it on best buy website. The option popped up on the right side...
View attachment 120343

Ok - perfect - i see this option. Thanks.
Can anyone confirm this works without any hangups like the one we've seen with upgrading secondary lines?
Also, What is best way to activate a new sim ordered from Verizon? Activate online? Call activation line? Simply plug into new phone (or does the sim have to be "activated" first)?
Thank you

 

[cnotes2019]

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

There seems to be a different disclaimer on the Best Buy site regarding UDP accounts. When adding the phone, the disclaimer says "Verizon Wireless has ended this plan option, so when you upgrade you'll be switched to their most common 2GB plan by default." The previous disclaimer said "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." ". So the wording is different.

Does this change anything? I didn't know if this is just their slick way of working around the gltich and forcing you out of your UPD without your voluntary consent.

See image below...has this disclaimer been this way for a while? It's been about 3-4 weeks since I tried an online order last and it said something different (as stated above).

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l19/paulnbonnie/UPD_zps6a6fec40.png

But isn't that what's happening anyway? When you transfer an upgrade the line you transferred to has to change to a tiered data plan and the line where the upgrade came from gets the contract extension.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dus-10]

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

I am waiting on my second phone to be shipped. It was a transfer upgrade. Didn't get the pre-activation error and it says my order is complete. Also checked VZ and contract was extended. You can activate online or just put it in your phone and follow the instructions.

 

[Dus-10]

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

As long as you don't use the new sim(Dissolve them in acid!) that comes with the new phone no one goes to a tiered plan. Line transferred from gets extension on contract. Once you get the phone the data plan can only be changed by using the new sim so... [vat of acid] Main line keeps whatever it had.

 

[ckmason]

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

I'm sure this has been mentioned over and over just wondering if someone could tell me if I can do this or not. I'm confused about whether or not having to activate new phone on a dummy line/plan or not. I want to keep my UDP and here's what I have:

Line 1 (wife): 2 GB Data/month (upgrade available)
Line 2 (me): UDP (upgrade available)

I'd like to get the LG G2 phone. Wife just recently got a new phone (through Amazon) so she doesn't want to use the upgrade. Can I order the LG G2 through Line 1, take out the SIM card, put in my SIM card from my current phone and then activate or do I need to have her activate the LG G2 on her line, de-activate it, and then re-activate her OLD phone and then I take my SIM card and put in LG G2 and activate in order to keep the UDP?

Thanks for any help!

 

[dss2000]

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

I'm sure this has been mentioned over and over just wondering if someone could tell me if I can do this or not. I'm confused about whether or not having to activate new phone on a dummy line/plan or not. I want to keep my UDP and here's what I have:

Line 1 (wife): 2 GB Data/month (upgrade available)
Line 2 (me): UDP (upgrade available)

I'd like to get the LG G2 phone. Wife just recently got a new phone (through Amazon) so she doesn't want to use the upgrade. Can I order the LG G2 through Line 1, take out the SIM card, put in my SIM card from my current phone and then activate or do I need to have her activate the LG G2 on her line, de-activate it, and then re-activate her OLD phone and then I take my SIM card and put in LG G2 and activate in order to keep the UDP?

Thanks for any help!

Either way will work. But it is less steps but the first method is less steps. Order it on Line 1 and when the new phone comes put the SIM from your existing Line 2 and put it in the new phone and your done. The contract will be extended by 2 years on Line 1 and you'll have a new phone and preserved UDP on your Line 2.