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

[mbkintner]

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

Sorry but I'm not sure what's going on then. It's been awhile since I used the online system to activate a SIM card but it worked fine when I did.

 

[keyworker]

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

The last I looked at the Slickdeals thread, that is what everyone is reporting. Once the increase was added, no getting rid of it. That may change of course.

My 2 year contract (Best Buy method) with UDP is ending in April. Is the Best Buy method even possible anymore? My idea was to use the BBM again, buy a cheap subsidized phone, sell the subsidized phone, creating another 2 year contract, mitigating the $20 increased data fee. It sounds like it's not worth it anymore and I'd be subject to the $20 data increase regardless.

If the BBM is possible, it'd be ideal to start an "infected" subsidized phone swap centered around UDP contract lapses and renewals.

 

[tx_tuff]

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

OK, this is getting really confusing now. The Verizon store I went to was not a Corporate store, it was a Verizon Authorized store.
I am being told by some other forums to go to a Verizon Corporate Store instead and have them activate the S6 but you are telling me to NOT go to the Verizon Corporate store.
Sorry, but I am truly getting confused!

I have been reading all your post and just don't understand why you can't go to a corporate store and get it activated? You didn't do any kind tricks to get the phone from them, you bought it second hand. There is nothing that says you can't change phones and keep UDP, you just can't get a subsidized phone and keep it.

 

[Lok52]

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

My 2 year contract (Best Buy method) with UDP is ending in April. Is the Best Buy method even possible anymore? My idea was to use the BBM again, buy a cheap subsidized phone, sell the subsidized phone, creating another 2 year contract, mitigating the $20 increased data fee. It sounds like it's not worth it anymore and I'd be subject to the $20 data increase regardless.

This is exactly what I did. Got an iPhone 6s+ and sold it on Swappa. I have a 2 year contract, kept my UDP, avoided the $20 increase, and made a profit on the subsidized phone. Just be sure to take the sim card out of the new phone & destroy it, never turning the phone on.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[inventsituations]

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

Alright, maybe someone can help me out and explain if I'm crazy. Here's my situation:

4 phones family plan consisting of:
Line 1 - Dumb Phone
Line 2 - Dumb phone
Line 3 - Smartphone (UDP, out of contact, paying +20/mo)
Line 4 - Smartphone (UDP, in contract, obtained via Best Buy method ~ 6 months ago)

Lines 1 & 2 are upgrading to smartphones. Line 3 is upgrading to a new smartphone. Intention is to have lines 1-3 on a new shared data plan with Line 4 retaining UDP until end of contract; or if that's not possible, all 4 lines on new shared data plan. They were in a corporate store today and Verizon employee insisted that Line 4 needed to come in to the store and get a new SIM card in order for the other 3 lines to be on a new shared data plan. The employee said they wouldn't be "on the plan" until Line 4 came in to get a new SIM. Meanwhile, Line 1 was upgraded to a smartphone, Line 2 is waiting on a smartphone in the mail, Line 3 upgraded to new smartphone.

Is there anyway this is true? It seems to me they must be on the shared data plan now, regardless of Line 4? If not; would simply inserting the SIM that came with the Line 4 phone from Best Buy method solve any problem? Frankly I just look for every possible reason to avoid setting foot in a store, keeping UDP on the line is not even a primary concern.

 

[dpham00]

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

Personally, I would get another family member to AOL lines 1-3 and move them onto the Verizon plan. That way you can keep unlimited

 

[Lok52]

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

Alright, maybe someone can help me out and explain if I'm crazy. Here's my situation:

4 phones family plan consisting of:
Line 1 - Dumb Phone
Line 2 - Dumb phone
Line 3 - Smartphone (UDP, out of contact, paying +20/mo)
Line 4 - Smartphone (UDP, in contract, obtained via Best Buy method ~ 6 months ago)

Lines 1 & 2 are upgrading to smartphones. Line 3 is upgrading to a new smartphone. Intention is to have lines 1-3 on a new shared data plan with Line 4 retaining UDP until end of contract; or if that's not possible, all 4 lines on new shared data plan. They were in a corporate store today and Verizon employee insisted that Line 4 needed to come in to the store and get a new SIM card in order for the other 3 lines to be on a new shared data plan. The employee said they wouldn't be "on the plan" until Line 4 came in to get a new SIM. Meanwhile, Line 1 was upgraded to a smartphone, Line 2 is waiting on a smartphone in the mail, Line 3 upgraded to new smartphone.

Is there anyway this is true? It seems to me they must be on the shared data plan now, regardless of Line 4? If not; would simply inserting the SIM that came with the Line 4 phone from Best Buy method solve any problem? Frankly I just look for every possible reason to avoid setting foot in a store, keeping UDP on the line is not even a primary concern.

Can't help with the question about needing to get a new sim, but if you put the sim you got with the subsidized phone into it, you run a real risk of losing UDP. People have lost it from doing that when they did BBM last April.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Alright, maybe someone can help me out and explain if I'm crazy. Here's my situation:

4 phones family plan consisting of:
Line 1 - Dumb Phone
Line 2 - Dumb phone
Line 3 - Smartphone (UDP, out of contact, paying +20/mo)
Line 4 - Smartphone (UDP, in contract, obtained via Best Buy method ~ 6 months ago)

Lines 1 & 2 are upgrading to smartphones. Line 3 is upgrading to a new smartphone. Intention is to have lines 1-3 on a new shared data plan with Line 4 retaining UDP until end of contract; or if that's not possible, all 4 lines on new shared data plan. They were in a corporate store today and Verizon employee insisted that Line 4 needed to come in to the store and get a new SIM card in order for the other 3 lines to be on a new shared data plan. The employee said they wouldn't be "on the plan" until Line 4 came in to get a new SIM. Meanwhile, Line 1 was upgraded to a smartphone, Line 2 is waiting on a smartphone in the mail, Line 3 upgraded to new smartphone.

Is there anyway this is true? It seems to me they must be on the shared data plan now, regardless of Line 4? If not; would simply inserting the SIM that came with the Line 4 phone from Best Buy method solve any problem? Frankly I just look for every possible reason to avoid setting foot in a store, keeping UDP on the line is not even a primary concern.

Line 4 doesn't need a new SIM. Personally, I would just move Line 4 into a sub-account and then convert the remaining lines into a shared plan.

 

[ViolinKnits]

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

This is exactly what I did. Got an iPhone 6s+ and sold it on Swappa. I have a 2 year contract, kept my UDP, avoided the $20 increase, and made a profit on the subsidized phone. Just be sure to take the sim card out of the new phone & destroy it, never turning the phone on.

Posted via Android Central App

I'm a bit confused - you bought the iPhone from Best Buy, then sold it on Swappa. Did you pay in full or are you making payments? How did you acquire the phone you're using? I'd really like to avoid the $20 increase. I'm not due to upgrade until August, but my phone died last week and I'm using a prepaid with a different number. If I buy it on Swappa, will I avoid the increase? Should I be able to buy from BB early without an issue? Thank you very much!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[GuileMD]

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

Wonder if anyone can help me.

My situation (UDP = Unlimited Data Plan; TDP: Tiered Data Plan):

My Plan:
NATIONWIDE TLK&TXT SHARE 1400
Data Phone Upgrade Eligible
Line 1: Basic/dumbphone Motorola WD755 Yes
Line 2: Basic/dumbphone Motorola WD755 Yes
Line 3: UDP Galaxy Note 3 Yes

All are upgrade eligible since 9/2015.

Also my other family members have the following single plan with 3 lines on TDPs that are all upgrade eligible:

Unlimited Talk and Text - 3 lines 2 GB TDP each
Data Phone Upgrade Eligible
Line 1: TDP Galaxy S4 Yes
Line 2: TDP Galaxy S4 Yes
Line 3: TDP Galaxy S4 Yes

Can I possibly buy 3 subsidized phones on all 3 of my lines using the BBM and give those three phones to my family members to activate on their lines after I have destroyed the toxic sim cards.

Then can they give me their three subsidized phones which they also purchase through BBM (again destroying the toxic sim cards) and I can activate one on my UDP line and sell the other two?

Is it even possible to purchase subsidized phone through BBM for basic lines anymore and just stay on the basic plan if I never activate them? I think I remember reading in the past that I had to do something with the Basic no data /dumbphones to sort of reactivate them.

If anyone has any advice or anecdotes about what they tried and what failed/succeeded, I'd be indebted. At this point I would just maybe get as many subsidized phones and gift them or sell them and then look on Swappa or Ebay for new/used phones I want.

 

[Droid3r]

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

The system is all screw up.. I bought a lg g4 from swappa. I put my current activated sim wotb unlimited data on it to update the the OS.

When i switched the sim back to the Galaxy s 6.. The sim became incompatible with the phone and my data plan is gone. Had to call and asked the udp to be reinstated.. How long it takes to get it back usually???

 

[dpham00]

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

The system is all screw up.. I bought a lg g4 from swappa. I put my current activated sim wotb unlimited data on it to update the the OS.

When i switched the sim back to the Galaxy s 6.. The sim became incompatible with the phone and my data plan is gone. Had to call and asked the udp to be reinstated.. How long it takes to get it back usually???

Shouldn't be too long, but I would call Verizon and ask them. If the unlimited data is removed from the line then they would have to file an inactive pricing request.

 

[Droid3r]

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

Shouldn't be too long, but I would call Verizon and ask them. If the unlimited data is removed from the line then they would have to file an inactive pricing request.

Yes they filed the IPR. I will call back Monday night and ask for update. My usage now shows 14.149 GB out of 0.649 GB

 

[pygme]

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

I used the Best Buy method about a year ago to keep my unlimited. I also had to cut my sim card. Everything went through fine. The M8 I upgraded to has been giving trouble and Verizon is sending me a replacement with a new sim card. If I use the new card will I lose my unlimited? Has anyone gone through this? Thanks!

 

[Lok52]

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

I'm a bit confused - you bought the iPhone from Best Buy, then sold it on Swappa. Did you pay in full or are you making payments? How did you acquire the phone you're using? I'd really like to avoid the $20 increase. I'm not due to upgrade until August, but my phone died last week and I'm using a prepaid with a different number. If I buy it on Swappa, will I avoid the increase? Should I be able to buy from BB early without an issue? Thank you very much!

Posted via the Android Central App

I bought the iPhone from Best Buy on my Best Buy card. I got it for the subsidized rate rate and went back under contract. That prevented me from getting charged the extra $20.

I am using the HTC One M8 I had on the line. I didn't want to change phones, I just wanted back on contract to avoid the rate hike.

If you are under contract until August, you don't have to worry about the extra $20 until then. And you can put any phone on your line that works without worrying about losing UDP as long as they are not bought as subsidized phones for the line you are putting them on.

If you pay full price for a phone from anywhere, it won't have an effect on your UDP. And it is separate from the extra $20. The $20 is dependent on whether or not you are under contract.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[ViolinKnits]

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

I bought the iPhone from Best Buy on my Best Buy card. I got it for the subsidized rate rate and went back under contract. That prevented me from getting charged the extra $20.

So we don't lose UDP by getting a new contract? They weren't renewing UDP contracts before; one had to move to one of the other plans.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[mbkintner]

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

So we don't lose UDP by getting a new contract? They weren't renewing UDP contracts before; one had to move to one of the other plans.

Posted via the Android Central App

Yes, you will lose UDP if you directly renew your contract on a UDP line. He probably used one of the loophole methods to renew.

 

[If I Must I Must]

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

I think you guys are making this overly complicated.
Any device that works on Verizon's 4G network can be used with an unlimited data plan. The problem is that if you get a subsidised device, Verizon will make you switch to a newer plan because you have to sign a new contract, and since unlimited is no longer offered, you can't add it to any new lines. (New contract = new line.)
What you need to do is buy your 4G Verizon-compatible device device outright from any source, and then place your SIM card in it. The plan is for the account, so your SIM will transfer your unlimited data with itself. Once your phone connects to the network, you'll have unlimited data immediately.
I would suggest you get a nano SIM, and if your device uses a larger size, then you can just use an adapter. That way, you can switch to any 4G device in the future no matter what size SIM it takes.
I have been using this method for years, and I have activated a Galaxy Nexus, a Droid 3, a Droid 4, an iPhone 5, an iPhone 5S, an iPhone 6, a Note 4 and an iPad - all with the same SIM, and without asking Verizon to do anything and I have had an unlimited data plan on 2 lines since 2009 when I first activated unlimited data on my 3G Palm Pre.
The one issue I ever had was that I activated a used Sprint iPad on Verizon (cellular iPads are unlocked and work universally) and it showed as an unauthorized device. Everything still worked, but occasionally it would lose connectivity. All I had to do was place my SIM card back into my previously authorized device, and once it connected to the network, the problem was solved. I just had to return the SIM to the iPad and everything worked fine. Eventually, I called Verizon and added my iPad to my account, and now, even though it shows as unsupported, I have no more problems. An added benefit is that since there is no charge for tethering on an iPad, I can now use unlimited hotspot for free - as well as unlimited standard data. The only thing you lose doing it this way is the ability to make calls and receive texts - but I have another line for that.
P.S. I routinely witch my SIM from device to device depending on what I need to do, and I have never had any problem with that, either.

 

[zombieshavebrains]

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

Question:

I have a UDP line and my brother has a UDP line. We are both eligible for an upgrade in Feb. Could we both get a subsidized phone, never turn them on, swap them, then use our Sim cards and keep our UDP?

If this doesn't work is there something else we could try? Thanks for any advice!

 

[ClintRo]

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

I think you guys are making this overly complicated.
Any device that works on Verizon's 4G network can be used with an unlimited data plan. The problem is that if you get a subsidised device, Verizon will make you switch to a newer plan because you have to sign a new contract, and since unlimited is no longer offered, you can't add it to any new lines. (New contract = new line.)
What you need to do is buy your 4G Verizon-compatible device device outright from any source, and then place your SIM card in it. The plan is for the account, so your SIM will transfer your unlimited data with itself. Once your phone connects to the network, you'll have unlimited data immediately.
I would suggest you get a nano SIM, and if your device uses a larger size, then you can just use an adapter. That way, you can switch to any 4G device in the future no matter what size SIM it takes.
I have been using this method for years, and I have activated a Galaxy Nexus, a Droid 3, a Droid 4, an iPhone 5, an iPhone 5S, an iPhone 6, a Note 4 and an iPad - all with the same SIM, and without asking Verizon to do anything and I have had an unlimited data plan on 2 lines since 2009 when I first activated unlimited data on my 3G Palm Pre.
The one issue I ever had was that I activated a used Sprint iPad on Verizon (cellular iPads are unlocked and work universally) and it showed as an unauthorized device. Everything still worked, but occasionally it would lose connectivity. All I had to do was place my SIM card back into my previously authorized device, and once it connected to the network, the problem was solved. I just had to return the SIM to the iPad and everything worked fine. Eventually, I called Verizon and added my iPad to my account, and now, even though it shows as unsupported, I have no more problems. An added benefit is that since there is no charge for tethering on an iPad, I can now use unlimited hotspot for free - as well as unlimited standard data. The only thing you lose doing it this way is the ability to make calls and receive texts - but I have another line for that.
P.S. I routinely witch my SIM from device to device depending on what I need to do, and I have never had any problem with that, either.

I agree with what you are saying. But we are trying to use the upgrades while keeping unlimited.