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

[AD0791]

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

If you transfer the upgrade from your older son's phone to the younger sons phone you could get another phone however your older son's number is now tied into another 2 year contract so you will not be able to drop this line for 2 years without an ETF. But you can have them put a dummy MEID number on it to get it down to $10/mo. But in answer to your other question, yes you can keep transferring upgrades to the younger son's phone and get another upgrade, it will just tie the donating phone number / account up with another 2 year contract. Do you use that much data on both unlimited phone's, perhaps trade phones with your older son so he will have unlimited data and you don't have to worry about his data use. Unless it will cause problem with everyone knowing you by that particular phone number. I'd be afraid of messing up your grandfathered unlimited plan if you'd swap phone numbers.

There is no way we could swap numbers. Big potential to be VERY awkward. He's a teenager and I'm sure a zillion people have his number in their contacts even if he doesn't know them anymore, etc. Thanks for clearing up the fact that donating the upgrade adds contract time to the donor line. Hubby and I don't really NEED unlimited data, it's just irritating that the share everything plan is the only option and it's actually more expensive for us than keeping the unlimited. I figured out that if we drop the older son's line totally and share 2GB of data between the 2 of us, it will be about the same as we pay now. If we don't change anything except switch to the share everything plan with 2GB, it costs us another $35/month roughly. That's just annoying. Part of the increase is it changes the way our corporate discount is applied, and not for the better.

Thanks for the help. I'm not sure what we're going to do. Right now hubby is babbling that maybe he should just go to cricket or Virgin with our older son. But I suspect the coverage quality would frustrate him.

 

[dss2000]

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

There is no way we could swap numbers. Big potential to be VERY awkward. He's a teenager and I'm sure a zillion people have his number in their contacts even if he doesn't know them anymore, etc. Thanks for clearing up the fact that donating the upgrade adds contract time to the donor line. Hubby and I don't really NEED unlimited data, it's just irritating that the share everything plan is the only option and it's actually more expensive for us than keeping the unlimited. I figured out that if we drop the older son's line totally and share 2GB of data between the 2 of us, it will be about the same as we pay now. If we don't change anything except switch to the share everything plan with 2GB, it costs us another $35/month roughly. That's just annoying. Part of the increase is it changes the way our corporate discount is applied, and not for the better.

Thanks for the help. I'm not sure what we're going to do. Right now hubby is babbling that maybe he should just go to cricket or Virgin with our older son. But I suspect the coverage quality would frustrate him.

I hear you, I have teenage boys too. If starting a new carrier for him plan I'd consider T-Mobile, they have unlimited data and seem to be quickly expanding their LTE network from money they received from AT&T from the failed merger. I would recommend not losing your unlimited data because when you get LTE you'll use more because you will no longer be constrained by the small 3G pipe. When my son went from a 3G iPhone 4 to a 4GiPhone his data use went from 1GB/month to 10GB/month. You just don't want to be restrained from using your phone to the fullest due to worrying about overage charges. Even if you drop the older son's line you still have 3 phones and 3 upgrades to work with.

 

[dss2000]

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

I totally hear what you're saying, and I've explored every angle of this instore, on the phone, and with internet reps online, same answer.
They flat out say that transfering the upgrade from the unlimited data line to the dumbphone line will result in the unlimited data line going back on contract, and being put on tiered data as unlimited data is no longer available. I cannot get past that roadblock. Any assistance would be welcome. I've tried every avenue I can think of with them.

I think the general experience is that if you talk to a human at Verizon and tell them the whole process of what you want to do they will give you the standard line that you will lose your unlimited. Maybe it is just an hourly job to them and they don't really study all the different steps that you can do to get around the rules without breaking them. It's just free association to them, "touch unlimited => lose it". It seems to work the best if you can do it online and minimize human interaction and only talk to them when something gets stuck. I'm not really familiar with all the now discontinued plans and which can and cannot add lines. I have the Nationwide Talk & Text FS and had been able to add lines and move upgrades. But usually go online, check the receiving line and click transfer upgrade. It is a little scary at first because a screen will pop up and say plan is incompatible and you need to change your plan but proceed. Another screen will ask you to choose which new plan you want but surprisingly your existing plan with unlimited data is still there and usually the highlighted default but quadruple check and make sure before you proceed. Perhaps even take a picture of it for proof (half way kidding). Then go ahead and they will send you a new phone. Activate it on the receiving line. Then do a change device to put the receiving lines phone back on that line to free up the new phone. Here is where some have gotten stuck. My theory is that although the phone is deactivated from the receiving account when you put the old phone back on. The 4G SIM is still associated with that number and won't activate on the unlimited line. To activate it on your unlimited line you must ether call CSR to release the SIM from that line, or get another 4G SIM, perhaps from your unlimited line to put in that new phone. Just be sure to request a SIM with the new phone to have one to work with.

 

[MM48]

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

I think the general experience is that if you talk to a human at Verizon and tell them the whole process of what you want to do they will give you the standard line that you will lose your unlimited. Maybe it is just an hourly job to them and they don't really study all the different steps that you can do to get around the rules without breaking them. It's just free association to them, "touch unlimited => lose it". It seems to work the best if you can do it online and minimize human interaction and only talk to them when something gets stuck. I'm not really familiar with all the now discontinued plans and which can and cannot add lines. I have the Nationwide Talk & Text FS and had been able to add lines and move upgrades. But usually go online, check the receiving line and click transfer upgrade. It is a little scary at first because a screen will pop up and say plan is incompatible and you need to change your plan but proceed. Another screen will ask you to choose which new plan you want but surprisingly your existing plan with unlimited data is still there and usually the highlighted default but quadruple check and make sure before you proceed. Perhaps even take a picture of it for proof (half way kidding). Then go ahead and they will send you a new phone. Activate it on the receiving line. Then do a change device to put the receiving lines phone back on that line to free up the new phone. Here is where some have gotten stuck. My theory is that although the phone is deactivated from the receiving account when you put the old phone back on. The 4G SIM is still associated with that number and won't activate on the unlimited line. To activate it on your unlimited line you must ether call CSR to release the SIM from that line, or get another 4G SIM, perhaps from your unlimited line to put in that new phone. Just be sure to request a SIM with the new phone to have one to work with.

I think I went to that point, but the fear of losing unlimited stopped me. How recently have you last performed the upgrade transfer without losing unlimited?

 

[dss2000]

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

I think I went to that point, but the fear of losing unlimited stopped me. How recently have you last performed the upgrade transfer without losing unlimited?

Personally the last time I've done a transfer upgrade was a year ago in June. But if you go through this thread it appears from recent posts that it still works. Yes that screen I think dissuades people but you know you can't be committed yet because you have to select another plan. Just make sure when the next screen comes up to select your plan you select the one you already have, the unlimited one. I think even recently a month ago when I had to temporarily revert to my original 3G Droid when waiting for a replacement 4G Galaxy Nexus I had to go through that screen.

My analogy is its like walking into a building and you ask the doorman how to get to the 3th floor and he says the elevator. You ask is there any other way to get there he says no. Ask if you can to to the patio and take stairs to 2nd floor balcony, Yes. Can you go from balcony to ballroom, Yes, can you take stairs from ballroom to 3rd floor balcony yes, can you enter the 3rd floor from the 3rd floor balcony, yes.

 

[dss2000]

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

Clarification though, when you do do the transfer you will be asked to select a new plan but this is for the receiving phone number/account. The plan on the receiving number will change and will stay that way until you put a dumb phone back on that line. It is when once you've activated the new phone and then removed it from that receiving number line and then put it on your unlimited line that it will ask you to select a new plan but on the next page where you select a plan you select your existing unlimited plan.

 

[Bigwavedave25]

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

dss2000-
Wow, that analogy is spot on... Freakin' LOVE it. Nice, truly all we want is to get to the 3rd floor.

GNex / Tt4b

 

[clinto45]

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

Quick question regarding transferring upgrades. When I'm doing the transfer it lets me keep the same voice plan then prompts me to change to one of the tiered data plans. Is this normal? Just making sure my idea is to choose the 2GB for now until I switch the line back to my unlimited line. BTW the line I'm using for the transfer is a crappy dumb phone I rarely use. Thanks

 

[SirLance99]

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

Yes, it still works. This was done just last week. I'm doing it again on Friday. All online through transfer upgrade.

This was done to my fiancees line. I got her the GS4.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[dss2000]

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

Quick question regarding transferring upgrades. When I'm doing the transfer it lets me keep the same voice plan then prompts me to change to one of the tiered data plans. Is this normal? Just making sure my idea is to choose the 2GB for now until I switch the line back to my unlimited line. BTW the line I'm using for the transfer is a crappy dumb phone I rarely use. Thanks

From the receiving phone/line you should see a transfer upgrade, you select the donor phone (one with available upgrade). It will ask you to select a data plan (this is plan that the receiving line is getting), 2GB is fine but doesn't really matter because it is only temporary unless your eventually keeping a smartphone on that line. Once you get the new phone you activate it on the receiving line. Then do a swap and put the original phone back on the receiving line. If it is a feature phone the data part will drop off as will the extra monthly charge for data.. Now your new phone is free to be swapped onto your unlimited line. Here is where some have hit a glitch.

The following is my theory and not yet proven: is when you swap a 4G phone that has a SIM card with a feature phone the phone part get disassociated from the line but that the 4G SIM is still associated with that line and when you try to activate it on your unlimited line it says something like it is associated with another number and can't be activated. If the phone on your unlimited line that your replacing has a SIM in it you can put this SIM in the new phone and it can be put on your unlimited line. Or you can call a Verizon CSR and have they can do it for you, takes them like 1-2 minutes. To test my theory if someone can post their results is that if the original phone on the receiving line going back on the line is a 4G phone with a SIM and not a feature phone I suspect it will knock both the phone and the SIM off the line and you won't have any problem activating it on the unlimited line.

So once you have this free phone you put that back on the unlimited line.

 

[dss2000]

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

Yes, it still works. This was done just last week. I'm doing it again on Friday. All online through transfer upgrade.

This was done to my fiancees line. I got her the GS4.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/04/utanemuq.jpg

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Great, reassuring to hear. Verizon reps probably initially told you that it couldn't be done right?

 

[Bigwavedave25]

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

Yes, it still works. This was done just last week. I'm doing it again on Friday. All online through transfer upgrade.

This was done to my fiancees line. I got her the GS4.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

OK cool, thanks for the pic Was on the phone with a rep just this morning who told me it couldn't be done, transferring line would require new 2yr data plan/ loose unlimited...
However she was willing to help me do the workaround using the existing upgrade on our basic line! So that was the first ray of sunshine for me on that front.

N7 / Tt4b

 

[nichole7785]

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

Has anyone tried swapping their SIM card to a MiFi and then forwarding their calls to a prepaid phone as discussed in this article: Verizon Affirms Unlimited Smartphone SIM Card Usage in Hotspots, Tablets, LTE iPad | PhoneNews.com. I am trying to figure out how this would work as far as my plan goes...

 

[dpham00]

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

Has anyone tried swapping their SIM card to a MiFi and then forwarding their calls to a prepaid phone as discussed in this article: Verizon Affirms Unlimited Smartphone SIM Card Usage in Hotspots, Tablets, LTE iPad | PhoneNews.com. I am trying to figure out how this would work as far as my plan goes...

You would pay the same amount as the smartphone , since the plan is a smartphone plan (there is no unlimited tablet or mifi plan on Verizon)

Plus the cost of the prepaid phone of course. Or you could just add a line to your existing account.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[sj2000]

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

I just did this last week and this week, I have 2 lines unlimited and add another basic phone last week and ordered the free phone for basic line. I got the basic phone and activated, then I transfer upgrade from 1 of the unlimited lines to this basic phone and ordered nokia window smartphone, and I got the nokia phone and activated it (this is in the basic phone line), the next day I called Verizon to reactivate the basic phone the first time I got, and then I went to Verizon store to get mini sim card for 1 of my unlimited lines the one that I transferred the upgrade, then the person in the store helped me reativated the Nokia phone using this mini sim card. So far I still see unlimited in my data plans, we will see the next billing cycle.

 

[Bigwavedave25]

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

I just did this last week and this week, I have 2 lines unlimited and add another basic phone last week and ordered the free phone for basic line. I got the basic phone and activated, then I transfer upgrade from 1 of the unlimited lines to this basic phone and ordered nokia window smartphone, and I got the nokia phone and activated it (this is in the basic phone line), the next day I called Verizon to reactivate the basic phone the first time I got, and then I went to Verizon store to get mini sim card for 1 of my unlimited lines the one that I transferred the upgrade, then the person in the store helped me reativated the Nokia phone using this mini sim card. So far I still see unlimited in my data plans, we will see the next billing cycle.

Did you do the upgrade transfer online? If so, did it ask you to update or select a "new" data plan for the transferring line?

N7 / Tt4b

 

[intrgrphc]

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

Hey guys, I've read through all the posts and I've likely missed it if this question was already asked. If so, sorry in advance.
I have 5 lines on the family plan. One unlimited, and one dummy line with no data which I purchased the S4 on. All lines had/have available upgrades.
Is there any reason why this would not work? Activate S4 on dummy line, disabling dumb phone. Then use "Switch Device" (Each person keeps their phone number and plan, but will have the swapped device) to swap new S4 from dummy line to unlimited line, whereby keeping unlimited data. Then re-activate dumb phone on dummy line causing swapped phone and data plan to drop off. Will this get the job done? Thanks!

 

[Chuck73080]

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

Yes, it still works. This was done just last week. I'm doing it again on Friday. All online through transfer upgrade.

This was done to my fiancees line. I got her the GS4.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/04/utanemuq.jpg

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

We have 2 Bolts on a Nationwide Talk Share Plan with unlimited data. The other day I talked to a CSR about adding a dumb phone line for use as an "Emergency" line when I'm trying to sleep during the day (OTR truck driver) and turn the ringer off. This has become more pressing since the 5/20 tornado in Moore, OK 16 miles from my home.

He was very helpful and told me that I needed to downgrade from unlimited voice minutes to the 2000 minute plan to be able to get the dumb phone line for $9.99/mo, but that it would not affect my data plan.

I bought a Convoy 2 off EBay for $19.99 and downgraded my plan to 2000 minutes and waited a few days to be sure my data plan didn't change.

Yesterday I added a line with the purchase of a 32GB S4 (shared voice, no text, 2GB data) for $249.99 and the CSR told me that after activation I could swap phones, putting my Bolt on the new line and the S4 on my unlimited line without changing my data package.

Then, after a couple days I plan to activate the Convoy 2 on my new line.

After that, I plan to try transferring an upgrade from the wife's phone to the dumb line.

 

[nichole7785]

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

Thanks for the advice! So right now I am paying $39.99 for Talk, $10.00 for Text, $29.99 for Email and Web Unlimited and $30.00 for 4G Smartphone Hotspot (unlimited). If I change the SIM card to a MiFi would I still be paying for Email and Web Unlimited and 4G Smartphone Hotspot. The following sentence in the article confused me because I thought the $30 charge was for the unlimited data.

?Even more obvious is that customers paying for that problematic mobile hotspot data add-on, an additional $30 per month, don?t seem to need to anymore. The plan was only offered to folks that specifically had a grandfathered data plan on an LTE smartphone?

 

[sj2000]

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

Yes, I transferred upgrade online, no it did not ask me for that