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

[dpham00]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

Guess I better use up all my upgrades then today and tomorrow and hope it puts my phones under contract.

You should read the official terms on verizons website. Being in contract has no affect. A phone call to verizon will confirm this is true.

Sent from my unlocked consumer edition Motorola Droid Maxx xt1080m.

Most Verizon csr won't know or aren't allowed to say. Case and point, call in and ask if there was any way to keep unlimited data when upgrading if you have a basic line. Their answer would most likely be no.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3

 

[JoshGlzBrk]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

View attachment 133559

I can only share my personal observation. I have a primary account and a sub account, which is under the primary account. I receive a separate bill for each.

On my primary account, I had an unlimited line that was out of contract with an upgrade available.
At the bottom of that bill, I got the note verbatim as was referenced earlier, stating that one of my lines was out of contract and may be subject to Network Optimization starting October 1st.

On my second, sub account, I have 3 unlimited lines that are all under contract. On that bill, I had all the standard notes and disclaimers that were on the first bill, EXCEPT the one that refers to Data Usage and Network Optimization.

Of course, no one will no for sure and jfriend33 may be correct that all Unlimited Data users may be subject to Network Optimization, but I have to wonder if the difference between my two invoices was important.

I know that my ULD line was out of contract and I received the notice on my bill but it will be interesting to see the consensus after hearing from a few more people. If the notice only appears on bills of accounts with ULD lines out of contract but not those that have all ULD lines in contract, that would make it at least seem like the contract status does matter in regards to network optimization.

 

[jfriend33]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

I am trying to decide if I should place another order or two through best buy. You have 7 days to pickup the order or it gets canceled.

Surely in the next 7 days we will see how the process may change. Maybe there will be a way for people to order online, transfer upgrade to feature line, receive phone, and bypass activation thus avoiding addition of data plan like it's been.

I just can't wrap my head around the best buy non alternate upgrade method because there's always the chance verizon will cancel the practicing unlimited customer. Slim chance. But it's there.

22% of verizons customers with data packages have unlimited. Ok. How many of those people are ok with using old equipment. Probably more than we think. And I think there's quite a few who just pay full retail because they're already paying significantly more to have verizon.

My point being, verizon is only targeting such a small number of people. I'd like to know what percentage of the 22 actually does alternate upgrades of any form. I am an avid extreme couponer. I know plenty people that are lazy and would rather avoid hassle and just pay full price for things. There can't be that many people doing this.

Whatever. I've ridden this roller-coaster for a long time. I got a droid 2 and razr maxx hd for free. I got a droid maxx 32gb at release for 30 percent off with $100 trade up credit. I got a 16gb droid maxx for free, with a $100 trade up AND a $150 visa from comcast. It's not going to kill me to have to pay a little more than usual for my phones in the future. Thank goodness Motorola makes great devices that are affordable. But for me, paying the extra $360 a year for adding data would wash itself out. With two unlimited lines and 3 feature phones, we can both get new phones every year. Keep them in good condition, sell them, and make the money back.

This of course all depends on the dreaded network optimization.

Sent from my unlocked consumer edition Motorola Droid Maxx xt1080m.

 

[yourphonemyphone]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

I
This of course all depends on the dreaded network optimization.
.

Life it too short for that.... the "dreaded network optimization"??? Yes, it will affect many of us. However, unless you need 100GB a month for business purposes, I don't let it bother me. All Verizon wants to do it to extract money from you. If you do use a lot of bandwidth, switching to a higher tier data plan will cost you another $50 a month? $100 a month? Just require you to write a higher number on the monthly checks you mail to Verizon.

There are worse thing that I consider dreaded.... for example, ex-wives. They will bleed you dry. Compared to the ex-wives, Verizon looks like a saint. Almost.

 

[jfriend33]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

Life it too short for that.... the "dreaded network optimization"??? Yes, it will affect many of us. However, unless you need 100GB a month for business purposes, I don't let it bother me. All Verizon wants to do it to extract money from you. If you do use a lot of bandwidth, switching to a higher tier data plan will cost you another $50 a month? $100 a month? Just require you to write a higher number on the monthly checks you mail to Verizon.

There are worse thing that I consider dreaded.... for example, ex-wives. They will bleed you dry. Compared to the ex-wives, Verizon looks like a saint. Almost.

Lol. True Story. Yeah, I only use over 5gbs twice a year, up to 15-25gbs. So it's just me hating change. And having to track something I never had to before.

Back in March I was feeling curious and wondered how little data I could use. Always using wifi even if sub par. Downloading video ahead from xfinity. Keeping music on device. I had data compressed in Chrome.

I never restricted background data. But I was able to go down to 1.8gbs.

I was very judgy to those consuming hundreds of gigs. What I failed to consider was some of them perhaps didn't have an apartment or home. Maybe they travel the country.

I guess verizon wasn't planning for the future with unlimited. They obviously had no clue how dependent on data it's customers would become. Or how fast and advanced it's connections would develop into.

It's just funny to think that now with its service being so fast, how many limits they place on them both financially and functionally. But it's irritating to read how they claim these changes aren't designed to generate more revenue.

If anyone has any info or read any news about class action lawsuits I'd like to check them out.

Because technically, if I'm with unlimited, but not in contact, they can do whatever they want to my line, right?

Sent from my unlocked consumer edition Motorola Droid Maxx xt1080m.

 

[took2089]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

Any new info today regarding the new policy?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NBAJ2K]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

It's completely understandable man. I swear to god I'm going to lose my hair over this.

Another part of me wishes I would have sold both of my unlimited lines for 500 each on eBay. A small part of me wants to believe that the next generation volte will be compatible with our unlimited plans. And any network optimization would be negligible due to such fast speeds.

Sent from my unlocked consumer edition Motorola Droid Maxx xt1080m.

I wish I could believe that too, but seems extremely doubtful.

I think I'm going to roll the dice and hope I can still transfer and upgrade after today. Waiting for more info on these new Motorola phones hopefully coming to Verizon.

-J

 

[cnotes2019]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

Who will be the first to transfer an upgrade to a dumbphone line and maintain UDP and no data on dumbphone

 

[JnEricsonx]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

Honestly, I won't care if my UDP line gets locked in for another 2 years if I do the transfer trick, that's completely fine by me. If I can still upgrade on my mom's line-since getting her a smartphone is impossible, and then move the new phone to my line, hey, that works. If that winds up being legit, I'll simply wait till next year to get a Note 4/5, based on pricing.

 

[yourphonemyphone]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

I wish I could believe that too, but seems extremely doubtful.

I think I'm going to roll the dice and hope I can still transfer and upgrade after today. Waiting for more info on these new Motorola phones hopefully coming to Verizon.

-J

I just left the VZW-owned store... sitting in my car outside of the store as I'm typing this.

Here's what the store manager told me. It is no longer possible to keep unlimited data plan if you transfer the unlimited data line's upgrade to other lines on your account. The reason is that they now require you to agree to pay $30.00 per month for 2gb of data for the entire duration of the new 2-year contract. After the upgrade transfer, the 2-year contract will fall on the UDP line. To meet this new requirement, you can't have the old $29.99 UDP, since their new rules very specifically say $30.00 ore more. He said the new policy is more about "persuading"(his word, not mine) UDP customers to get off UDP than about making more profit by requiring the $30.00 data plan.

 

[mesocyclonic]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

The reason is that they now require you to agree to pay $30.00 per month for 2gb of data for the entire duration of the new 2-year contract. After the upgrade transfer, the 2-year contract will fall on the UDP line. To meet this new requirement, you can't have the old $29.99 UDP, since their new rules very specifically say $30.00 ore more.

This would imply that ANY method of transferring upgrades is now impossible, leaving the BB method as the only way to keep your UDP. The manager could be mistaken (or trying to "scare" you off UDP), of course. But, if the requirement is tied to 1) the donating line, and 2) the monetary cost ($30) of the data plan, this change is more far-reaching than rumored.

 

[HawaiiD]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

Honestly, I won't care if my UDP line gets locked in for another 2 years if I do the transfer trick, that's completely fine by me. If I can still upgrade on my mom's line-since getting her a smartphone is impossible, and then move the new phone to my line, hey, that works. If that winds up being legit, I'll simply wait till next year to get a Note 4/5, based on pricing.

I'm hoping that people with extended udp contracts won't be affected by throttling after Oct 1. If that's holds true? And your one who uses more than 5GB a month? I wouldn't want to be stuck to being possibly slowed down for 2 billing cycles for another 2 years.
Choose wisely

 

[dlcj21]

Re: Verizon to close the upgrade to smartphone then downgrade to basic phone loophole

So I got the saturday delivery, I think when I tried the first time, it wasn't available but it was available the 2nd time. I activated the phone online via the "activate device" process. It activated fine, I made a test call, then 15 or so minutes later I swapped the line back to a dumb phone and all worked well.

I wasn't worried about anything until today. I ordered a new NFC sim card for my phone (a different line) about a week and a half ago, it came on saturday. I wasn't in a hurry to get it swapped so I waited until today to do it. With the new sim it gave me a number to call to activate it before putting it in my device. When I called the number to activate the sim, it asked me to activate my order on my dumb phone line. I immediately hung up then called back and entered my info again. This time it said "more info is needed" and transferred me to a rep. The rep couldn't find my sim card order so I had to read the number on the card to her and that got it activated.

I'm a little worried that it prompted me to activate the order on my dumb phone today, 2 days later. Does that mean that when I activated it online without calling the number, that it didn't actually activate my line? I made a call and placed a text from the phone before I downgraded back to my dumb phone. I guess i'm just worried that I'm going to get charged full retail for the phone if it didn't actually count me activating it online.

Should I be worried, or does their phone line just remember my last order placed as a convenience to speed up the activation process?

EDIT: Just wanted to add when I go to "Activate or Switch Devices" it has the phone listed in the "Activate Device - Replace your current device by activating one without service" Option under "Select from your device history" so it definitely recognizes that it was activated at one point, but even when I first selected the option, it asked me to "Verify my new device".

I was going to give it to my sister in-law since she just broke her iPhone, but i guess I'll hold off for a few weeks just in case.

 

[lml123]

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

If I do this method (or even just buy a new phone), can I switch the SIM between my new an old phones? For example, if I go to the beach, can I put the SIM back into my old phone, then return it to my new phone later?

 

[NBAJ2K]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

I just left the VZW-owned store... sitting in my car outside of the store as I'm typing this.

Here's what the store manager told me. It is no longer possible to keep unlimited data plan if you transfer the unlimited data line's upgrade to other lines on your account. The reason is that they now require you to agree to pay $30.00 per month for 2gb of data for the entire duration of the new 2-year contract. After the upgrade transfer, the 2-year contract will fall on the UDP line. To meet this new requirement, you can't have the old $29.99 UDP, since their new rules very specifically say $30.00 ore more. He said the new policy is more about "persuading"(his word, not mine) UDP customers to get off UDP than about making more profit by requiring the $30.00 data plan.

Well that's not good.... Hopefully that's not true, but we will see if others have the same experience. Interested to hear what happens when someone transfers an upgrade online and tries this.

-J

 

[yourphonemyphone]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

This would imply that ANY method of transferring upgrades is now impossible, leaving the BB method as the only way to keep your UDP. The manager could be mistaken (or trying to "scare" you off UDP), of course. But, if the requirement is tied to 1) the donating line, and 2) the monetary cost ($30) of the data plan, this change is more far-reaching than rumored.

I went to pick up the Samsugn Tab S 10.5 tablet that I ordered at Best Buy this afternoon. After I picked it up from the pick-up counter, I strolled over to the mobile dept and chatted with the mobile dept manager.

As soon as I started talking, he said he knew what I was going to ask. He said when he was selling a Verizon phone to a customer who was upgrading from the old iPhone 4 to iPhone 5S, a screen popped up that asked the customer to agree to 24 months of 2GB data at 30 dollars each month for the next two years. The customer didn't care, since she was already on the 2GB data plan and needed data for the iPhone anyway.

I wonder how that will affect people who are trying to do the Best Buy method for doing upgrade transfers? IIRC, the Best Buy method means ordering from Best Buy' website and have the phone shipped to your home. The last step is to throw out the included SIM card and insert the old SIM card that had unlimited data. If they see the pop-up screen when selling the phone at a store, doesn't it mean that you'll also see it when ordering it on BestBuy.com? Someone wants to try it and report back?

 

[cnotes2019]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

I went to pick up the Samsugn Tab S 10.5 tablet that I ordered at Best Buy this afternoon. After I picked it up from the pick-up counter, I strolled over to the mobile dept and chatted with the mobile dept manager.

As soon as I started talking, he said he knew what I was going to ask. He said when he was selling a Verizon phone to a customer who was upgrading from the old iPhone 4 to iPhone 5S, a screen popped up that asked the customer to agree to 24 months of 2GB data at 30 dollars each month for the next two years. The customer didn't care, since she was already on the 2GB data plan and needed data for the iPhone anyway.

I wonder how that will affect people who are trying to do the Best Buy method for doing upgrade transfers? IIRC, the Best Buy method means ordering from Best Buy' website and have the phone shipped to your home. The last step is to throw out the included SIM card and insert the old SIM card that had unlimited data. If they see the pop-up screen when selling the phone at a store, doesn't it mean that you'll also see it when ordering it on BestBuy.com? Someone wants to try it and report back?

Someone will before weeks end

 

[Cruiserdude]

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

If I do this method (or even just buy a new phone), can I switch the SIM between my new an old phones? For example, if I go to the beach, can I put the SIM back into my old phone, then return it to my new phone later?

Sure, but if the devices don't use the same size SIM you'll have to use an adapter in one. I think their may be a limit if you switch devices a ton in a very short period, but you're not gonna run up against that unless you try.

 

[Cruiserdude]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

Well, Verizon's new loyalty plan just gets better and better the more I read about it, I sure do feel appreciated for being a long-time customer...

 

[dss2000]

Re: Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

I just left the VZW-owned store... sitting in my car outside of the store as I'm typing this.

Here's what the store manager told me. It is no longer possible to keep unlimited data plan if you transfer the unlimited data line's upgrade to other lines on your account. The reason is that they now require you to agree to pay $30.00 per month for 2gb of data for the entire duration of the new 2-year contract. After the upgrade transfer, the 2-year contract will fall on the UDP line. To meet this new requirement, you can't have the old $29.99 UDP, since their new rules very specifically say $30.00 ore more. He said the new policy is more about "persuading"(his word, not mine) UDP customers to get off UDP than about making more profit by requiring the $30.00 data plan.

They would have told you that a week or two ago too. Verizon CSR's have been saying this for the past two years and it hasn't been true before. So not sure what it means now. We won't know until somebody actually tries one of these methods now.