Reporting a successful activation of a new phone on the unlimited plan. This was done on 8-23-2013 and the whole process completed that day.
Here's my Nationwide Talk and Text family plan:
Line A: Grandfathered unlimited plan on a 3G smartphone on a month to month basis.
Line E: Dumbphone with an upgrade available.
- Went to veriozonwireless.com, logged on and upgraded the dumbphone to a 4G smartphone and completed the purchase for an in-store pickup because I really wanted a new phone ASAP
- Went over to Verizon store for a pick up. Rep goes "wow you are going from a basic phone to a 4G smartphone. That's a major upgrade!" I just laughed and said it was for another family member! So the rep activated the phone and it works and everything and I went home. At no point did I mention I wanted to switch phones or keep an unlimited plan. FYI, if you select in-store pick up, you have to activate the new phone at the store. Which is fine for me since that's one less step I have to do at home and guarantees that the new phone is working.
- Went home, logged on to Verizon did the switch device. But here's were I ran into a hiccup. When I selected to switch devices on the newly activated smartphone line (Line E), I got this message: "Our records indicate you recently purchased a device for this MDN but have not activated it yet. You have the option to proceed after you have activated your new device, or you may contact Customer Service at (800) 922-0204 for further assistance." My thoughts were "Oh great this is not going to work."
So i just went ahead and called that number and spoke to an actual rep. Told that rep I was having trouble switching phones online and that I wanted to go back to the dumbphone and the rep did not ask why. The rep actually just switched the phones while I was on the line with the rep for me and I can see that change on Verizonwireless.com
- So with the dumbphone back on in service ( I made sure that dumbphone worked and the new smartphone didn't have service) I went online again and selected the switch device option on Line A. There I selected new 4G smartphone as my new device from the drop down menu of previously used devices on the account. Hit next and got a popup saying something along the lines that the new device you selected is not compatible with your current plan and I was only able to hit next. Then I got to the Data option page and low and behold there was an option to select the 29.99 Unlimited Web and email plan or the 2GB for 30 plan and you can also select other plans too, but why wouldn't you select the Unlimited plan!!!
Hit next and now it says that your new phone requires a SIM card. Keep in mind that I had a 3G phone so there were no SIM card. The only SIM card I have is the one from the new 4G phone. I could only hit continue. Then I got the option to have them send me a new SIM card or use a SIM card that I got. I selected the latter option because I was just going to use the SIM card from the new 4G phone and had to enter that # down online. Hit complete and it gave me confirmation page and everything seems fine. FYI, on the confirmation page it still says I have the unlimited plan. Went back to overview of my account and there it is, the new 4G phone on Line A and it still says Unlimited data with a month-to-month contract AND I still have an upgrade available on Line A!!!
- Then I went ahead to use my new 4G smartphone and here is the second hiccup. I couldn't place or receive any calls, text and data doesn't work. I said "Oh great here we go again" Even though on verizonwireless.com it shows that the new phone is associated with Line A it still didn't work but Line E with the dumbphone works like before.
So the only option I had left was called that same number again when I had the MDN issue and see what they could do. Called them up explained to them that I was trying to switch devices on my family plan and now it doesn't work. Luckily I got a different rep and that rep was extremely nice and helpful. The rep did ask if I activated that 4G smartphone previously on another number from my plan and I said yes. Didn't ask any further questions why I was switching devices the same day I activated. The rep walked me through a couple of troubleshooters and we think it was probably a loose SIM card or that the system just needed time to update because during my call to the rep I was able to send and receive test calls and texts. Thanked the rep and everything was working fine!
As of today everything is working without a hiccup and enjoy that unlimited 4G speed! Thanks for everyone's help here and I will continue to contribute to this thread if there are any questions.