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

[tx_tuff]

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

Not letting that happened. I returned my phone on the 14th day bc I still had the pending activation and it is very obvious to Verizon you have it. If you ever need support they will see it and ask what is going on. They could potentially activate the order themselves after the 14 days which will remove UDP or if you ever need a new sim it could remove unlimited data as well. Mr Toad alluded to the risks of pending activations a cpl pages back or so. It is painfully obvious that pending activations that do not fall off prior to your 14 day return period are not worth waiting any longer on. I would return upgrade and try again if it doesn't come off when you activate the new phone when using these methods. That's just my opinion though. If anyone keeps the phone and the PA doesn't fall of then you better avoid Verizon or they will find a way to get you for using an upgrade and retaining unlimited data bc they know the sim that shipped with the phone wasn't activated.

I only ask because you keep telling everybody they could lose their UDP because of a pending activation. I have never seen anybody saw they have lost their UDP past the 14 days, maybe I have missed it. I have seen people say they have called Verizon and had the pending activation taken off, don't know what they told them. So anyway was just wondering if you lost yours.

 

[tgp]

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

For 2, yes the phone can be blacklisted and blocked by all carriers as the blacklist is shared by all carriers now.

So whenever a person buys a phone from a private party, the risk of the phone being blacklisted is always there, unless you know for sure it was not bought under contract. Correct?

For 1, if it never gets activated you will be stuck with a pending activation on your line and can't do anything to fix that if the phone is gone. This PA will limit your ability to buy anything on that line in the future and can cost you the UDP. If you open the box you might as well put your sim in and see if it activates and removes the pending activation on your line.

Overall, it would be very risky to sell a phone that was never truly activated and had the pending order removed. Would certainly be a headache in the making.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. It seems to me that I should make sure the phone activates with my SIM, and that my account updates with a 2 year contract extension with the unlimited data intact, and that the pending activation goes away.

 

[epphllps]

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

So whenever a person buys a phone from a private party, the risk of the phone being blacklisted is always there, unless you know for sure it was not bought under contract. Correct?



Thanks, that's what I was thinking. It seems to me that I should make sure the phone activates with my SIM, and that my account updates with a 2 year contract extension with the unlimited data intact, and that the pending activation goes away.

Yeah there was a big thread at s3forums that talked about this and I remember reading it. One guy bought a used s3 and used it for 3 months and then all of a sudden it was blacklisted. The previous owner didn't pay his account and they blacklisted it and the current owner was told he was pretty much out of luck. They are getting pretty tough and I don't think that situation was fair at all for that user.

 

[tgmorris99]

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

So I've done some of the upgrade process but now I'm not sure which step to take next. What I started with was

Line 1: Galaxy S3-UDP w/upgrade available (month-to-month)
Line 2: Galaxy Nexus-TDP (4GB) w/upgrade available (month-to-month)
Line 3: Feature Phone w/upgrade available (month-to-month)

Last week I used Line 2's upgrade to get a G3. I then put the Nexus back on Line 2 and then swapped the G3 to Line 1 and still have UPD. Line 2 now has the original phone, no upgrade and a 2-year contract. So far not problem. What I'd like to do now is transfer the upgrade from Line 1 to line 2 and get another G3 for that line. I was going to get the G3 at Costco as they're only $80 at the moment but I'm not sure if I'll lose my UDP by having them do the transfer upgrade. When looking at the VZW site I can move the upgrade but it seems like that only works if I also get the upgraded phone through the VZW site - which I don't want to do.

The original thought was I'd be able to go this route and avoid the pending activation situation.

 

[tx_tuff]

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

So I've done some of the upgrade process but now I'm not sure which step to take next. What I started with was

Line 1: Galaxy S3-UDP w/upgrade available (month-to-month)
Line 2: Galaxy Nexus-TDP (4GB) w/upgrade available (month-to-month)
Line 3: Feature Phone w/upgrade available (month-to-month)

Last week I used Line 2's upgrade to get a G3. I then put the Nexus back on Line 2 and then swapped the G3 to Line 1 and still have UPD. Line 2 now has the original phone, no upgrade and a 2-year contract. So far not problem. What I'd like to do now is transfer the upgrade from Line 1 to line 2 and get another G3 for that line. I was going to get the G3 at Costco as they're only $80 at the moment but I'm not sure if I'll lose my UDP by having them do the transfer upgrade. When looking at the VZW site I can move the upgrade but it seems like that only works if I also get the upgraded phone through the VZW site - which I don't want to do.

The original thought was I'd be able to go this route and avoid the pending activation situation.

You can do the transfer upgrade in a Verizon store without losing the UDP so I don't see why any other site would be any different.

 

[tgmorris99]

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

You can do the transfer upgrade in a Verizon store without losing the UDP so I don't see why any other site would be any different.

Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'll give Costco a shot tomorrow then. I guess I was reading some older posts where moving the upgrade from a UDP would cause it to be removed.

 

[BlueDaNoob]

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

Thanks for the quick reply. Guess I'll give Costco a shot tomorrow then. I guess I was reading some older posts where moving the upgrade from a UDP would cause it to be removed.

I am trying to figure this out, too. I am reading threads from all over the web and cannot figure out where this idea originated from (that transferring an upgrade from a UDP line will cause the unlimited to go away). It doesn't make any sense to me and I can't find a consistent answer or a source for it.

I also have one UDP line (upgrade available) and one that is limited (no upgrade, mid contract). Like you, I want to transfer the UDP's upgrade eligibility to the limited line, get a new phone, then put the new phone back on the UDP line. As far as I know, the only thing that should happen to the UDP line is the contract renews for another 2 years.

This is pretty much the exact same method people used before where you transferred the UDP's upgrade to a dumbphone, used the upgrade, then put the new phone on to the UDP line, reverting the dumbphone back to a basic line. We all know they closed that loophole by requiring the dumbphone line to keep a data plan but I thought that was the only change. If doing this didn't cause the UDP line with the original upgrade to lose UDP, I can't figure out why it would now.

 

[lkennard]

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

Hi, sorry if this has been covered already, but I have the following:
1. UDP primary line (upgrade available)
2. TDP (just upgraded in July)
3. TDP (upgrade available 12-14)
4. Basic (upgrade available)

I know I can't transfer the basic line without incurring a date fee on that line. I was originally going to wait out the month, upgrade line 3 to a turbo, activate, then switch the old phone back and move turbo to primary.

However, now I'm seeing that people are transferring their upgrade from a UDP line to a TDP line. So my question is, can I transfer my upgrade to line 2, activate the turbo, then switch the original back and move the turbo to line 1? Will I keep UDP on line 1? Which line will have the contract extended? Can I still do it on line 2, even though I just upgraded that phone?

Thanks for any assistance.

 

[rdjr74]

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

Hi, sorry if this has been covered already, but I have the following:
1. UDP primary line (upgrade available)
2. TDP (just upgraded in July)
3. TDP (upgrade available 12-14)
4. Basic (upgrade available)

I know I can't transfer the basic line without incurring a date fee on that line. I was originally going to wait out the month, upgrade line 3 to a turbo, activate, then switch the old phone back and move turbo to primary.

However, now I'm seeing that people are transferring their upgrade from a UDP line to a TDP line. So my question is, can I transfer my upgrade to line 2, activate the turbo, then switch the original back and move the turbo to line 1? Will I keep UDP on line 1? Which line will have the contract extended? Can I still do it on line 2, even though I just upgraded that phone?

Thanks for any assistance.

Your UDP line will get the new 2 year contract, the data plan is applied to your TDP line which in your case is line 2.

 

[dss2000]

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

Not letting that happened. I returned my phone on the 14th day bc I still had the pending activation and it is very obvious to Verizon you have it. If you ever need support they will see it and ask what is going on. They could potentially activate the order themselves after the 14 days which will remove UDP or if you ever need a new sim it could remove unlimited data as well. Mr Toad alluded to the risks of pending activations a cpl pages back or so. It is painfully obvious that pending activations that do not fall off prior to your 14 day return period are not worth waiting any longer on. I would return upgrade and try again if it doesn't come off when you activate the new phone when using these methods. That's just my opinion though. If anyone keeps the phone and the PA doesn't fall of then you better avoid Verizon or they will find a way to get you for using an upgrade and retaining unlimited data bc they know the sim that shipped with the phone wasn't activated.

In this phone where the pending activation didn't fall off after almost 2 weeks was it ordered through Best Buy or through Verizon?

 

[epphllps]

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

In this phone where the pending activation didn't fall off after almost 2 weeks was it ordered through Best Buy or through Verizon?

Had one happen through an apple order and another happen through best buy order. Not risking ordering through Verizon as was suggested in the slickdeals thread. Also, had one order through Apple work flawlessly and activated right up and removed pending activation and extended contract two years.

 

[blackhawktek]

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

Guys,
I have 2 UDP's and a flip phone with upgrades available. I'm doing the Best Buy method for myself on my wifes line.
When the phone arrives, should I pop her SIM out of her phone and activate on the new phone *just to make sure* that my line won't lose unlimited, and then switch later to mine? Or, will that not even matter?
I use much more data than her, so hers is more expendable than mine
TIA

 

[epphllps]

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

Guys,
I have 2 UDP's and a flip phone with upgrades available. I'm doing the Best Buy method for myself on my wifes line.
When the phone arrives, should I pop her SIM out of her phone and activate on the new phone *just to make sure* that my line won't lose unlimited, and then switch later to mine? Or, will that not even matter?
I use much more data than her, so hers is more expendable than mine
TIA

You won't lose unlimited unless you activate using sims that ship with the phones. Just make sure you remove those new sims prior to turning on the device and insert your sims with the UDP attached.

 

[Frank T Tank]

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

I have read about some of the problems people are having with the UDVZWIP4 method and wanted to postulate some work arounds I could try. The success stories seem to be from people who already have 4g phones activated.

Scenario 1:
Buy full price phone 5s from apple, activate with new nano sim. Return phone.
Use BB method to buy iPhone 6 at sub price
Place nano sim in iphone 6.

Scenario 2:
Order nano sim from verizon (what's the best way to do this?)
Activate 4g nano sim in older phone, I.e., thunderbolt
Order iPhone 6 with BB method
Activate with nano sim ordered from verizom

Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[tgmorris99]

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

You can do the transfer upgrade in a Verizon store without losing the UDP so I don't see why any other site would be any different.

Just wanted to say thanks for the confirmation. I went to Costco yesterday and swapped the upgrade from my UDP to the TDP line and all went well. One of the CSRs at the kiosk thought I'd lose the UDP while the other thought it would work so now they both know it still works. So now I've still got the UDP and the TDP still has 4GB at the price of 2GB.

 

[waterday20]

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

I have read about some of the problems people are having with the UDVZWIP4 method and wanted to postulate some work arounds I could try. The success stories seem to be from people who already have 4g phones activated.

Scenario 1:
Buy full price phone 5s from apple, activate with new nano sim. Return phone.
Use BB method to buy iPhone 6 at sub price
Place nano sim in iphone 6.

Scenario 2:
Order nano sim from verizon (what's the best way to do this?)
Activate 4g nano sim in older phone, I.e., thunderbolt
Order iPhone 6 with BB method
Activate with nano sim ordered from verizom

Any thoughts or experiences would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Scenario 1 comments, I think this might work, but you would be out of a phone from the time that you returned the phone to the time that you get your iPhone 6 using the BB method. Although am not sure how the nano SIM card situation would be if you returned the phone, if that SIM card would stay activated. My guess is that it would, but I got no way of confirming that.

Scenario 2 comments, I would go this route. You can call VZ and tell them that you need to activate an iPhone 6 that you bought from a third party (They will ship you a nano SIM card, and most likely expedited shipping as well) Once you get this you log into your VZ account online and it will activate your SIM card without having to insert it to a phone. (I just recently did this for my nano SIM card in anticipation of the Nexus 6, come on VZ stop lagging with this phone...) However, to be on the safe side, you should try to activate it on a phone and check your status online. If you got a 4G phone laying around, but don't have the right sized SIM card for it, you can buy a nano SIM card adapter. Check online for them, I bought mine from Ebay from someone that shipped from the US for $2 and got it within a week. Then order your Iphone 6 through the BB method.

Hope this helps.

 

[Oros#AC]

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

Yep, I was going to look out for this pending activation, thanks. I wanted to be sure first my process with the BB method is correct.

Anyone else do the BB method in November and have pending activation drop off yet?

I did the BB method through Costco. I received the phone this week. My contract has been extended and I still have unlimited data. I do not have a pending activation.

 

[Frank T Tank]

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

Scenario 1 comments,
Scenario 2 comments, I would go this route. You can call VZ and tell them that you need to activate an iPhone 6 that you bought from a third party (They will ship you a nano SIM card, and most likely expedited shipping as well) Once you get this you log into your VZ account online and it will activate your SIM card without having to insert it to a phone. (I just recently did this for my nano SIM card in anticipation of the Nexus 6, come on VZ stop lagging with this phone...) However, to be on the safe side, you should try to activate it on a phone and check your status online. If you got a 4G phone laying around, but don't have the right sized SIM card for it, you can buy a nano SIM card adapter. Check online for them, I bought mine from Ebay from someone that shipped from the US for $2 and got it within a week. Then order your Iphone 6 through the BB method.

Hope this helps.

Thank you very much for your help. I think I will go the route you suggested, option 2 and order a nano sim from Verizon.

I don't have a 4g phone, but I'll order one off ebay for this process. There seems to be a bunch of droid bionics available for around 35 bucks. It says it takes a mini sim so I'll look for an adapter.

When I activate the nano sim, do I do it online before I put it into the adapter and into the bionic. Or do I put in the phone and somehow activate it? This sounds like a truly rudimentary question, but thanks for the help

 

[Jeff Hager]

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

I'm just going to chime in because almost all the information out there is pertaining to getting a new phone at a subsidized price while keeping your Unlimited Data plan. Most of what I have read seems risky at best and a lot of work. Personally, I wanted to get a new phone without the hassle, keep my UDP, and pay full retail for it so Verizon had no way of accusing me of breaking contract in any way.

I didn't want to jump through any hoops. I just bought a Droid Turbo for full price from a Verizon store this past weekend and everything went incredibly smooth. I walked in and started looking at the phone to get familiar with it and make sure it was what I wanted. After a little while, a representative came over to help me out. I said I was interested in the phone and willing to pay full price. He pulled up my account info to see if any of their tiered plans worked for me. The most data I've used in a month is about 10gb. None of their plans would come remotely close, cost wise, compared to the $78 I pay for the unlimited plan I currently have. I told the representative the phone would pay for itself in about 7 months. He understood and didn't put up a fight to get me off unlimited. He also offered a couple accessories which I declined because I honestly want to see some reviews first and I can get most of it online for substantially cheaper. He had nothing to upsale me on and he didn't try to hard. I got my phone, he set it up, I swiped my credit card, and I was on my way. Still have my unlimited data and I can start saving for my next phone in a couple of years. Way too easy for a Verizon experience.

I just wanted to share because I've heard some horror stories about people dealing with in-store representatives and losing their unlimited. Most people seem to be trying to get the subsidized price. I just want to play by the rules and let others know that they can too if they choose without any hassle. However, if you can get a cheaper price and willing to assume the risks, by all means, have at it and good luck.

 

[tgp]

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

I'm just going to chime in because almost all the information out there is pertaining to getting a new phone at a subsidized price while keeping your Unlimited Data plan. Most of what I have read seems risky at best and a lot of work. Personally, I wanted to get a new phone without the hassle, keep my UDP, and pay full retail for it so Verizon had no way of accusing me of breaking contract in any way.

I didn't want to jump through any hoops. I just bought a Droid Turbo for full price from a Verizon store this past weekend and everything went incredibly smooth. I walked in and started looking at the phone to get familiar with it and make sure it was what I wanted. After a little while, a representative came over to help me out. I said I was interested in the phone and willing to pay full price. He pulled up my account info to see if any of their tiered plans worked for me. The most data I've used in a month is about 10gb. None of their plans would come remotely close, cost wise, compared to the $78 I pay for the unlimited plan I currently have. I told the representative the phone would pay for itself in about 7 months. He understood and didn't put up a fight to get me off unlimited. He also offered a couple accessories which I declined because I honestly want to see some reviews first and I can get most of it online for substantially cheaper. He had nothing to upsale me on and he didn't try to hard. I got my phone, he set it up, I swiped my credit card, and I was on my way. Still have my unlimited data and I can start saving for my next phone in a couple of years. Way too easy for a Verizon experience.

I just wanted to share because I've heard some horror stories about people dealing with in-store representatives and losing their unlimited. Most people seem to be trying to get the subsidized price. I just want to play by the rules and let others know that they can too if they choose without any hassle. However, if you can get a cheaper price and willing to assume the risks, by all means, have at it and good luck.

Your way is definite the quickest! But still, you paid about $400 more than doing the BB upgrade method. To you, it was worth it. There is actually a potential advantage to using an upgrade. It extends the contract for 2 years, which would make it harder for Verizon to mess with the unlimited data in that time. If you're month to month, they could probably forcefully take it from you.