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

[tx_tuff]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

@Mykl376, I'm glad that worked out for you. I have a question if anyone could help. I upgraded last week from my Galaxy Nexus to a G2 (which is very nice except for the buttons on the back.) and took the 6gb plan for $30 They offered. However, once I saw this thread I returned the G2 and had my unlimited plan and upgrade restored. The thing is they gave me a new sim card. Does anyone know if this will affect my activation when I order through BB? Thanks in advance.

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I don't see why the new SIM in your old phone would change anything. In fact I don't think any SIM has to do with this, it's just the website isn't changing the plan when you order.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[mykl376]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I got this warning, anyone else?
View attachment 101629

I did get that screen, buti just went ahead with my order. In my case, I don't have a family plan, I only have a single number on my account. I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I was available for an upgrade as well, my previous 2 year contract being up last November. I don't remember all the specific screens/steps during the order process on BestBuy.com, but I just selected "keep existing plan" when available. I checked my account again today and everything still looks the same.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[KG II]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I don't see why the new SIM in your old phone would change anything. In fact I don't think any SIM has to do with this, it's just the website isn't changing the plan when you order.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

Thanks. I saw that people were using the old sim and trimming it. It just made me a little nervous when she pulled to new sim card out. Hopefully that's the case and I can keep my unlimited when I upgraded next week.

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[Cozume]

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

If I wanted to keep my unlimited data i'd just have to buy whatever phone I wanted off the web and then move my sim card over? Razr Maxx should be micro so I'm hoping to not have to cut the SIM card down at all.

I don't understand your question.

If you currently have an individual unlimited data plan and want to use your upgrade in May and keep your unlimited data, then there is only 1 cost effective way to do it - you have to buy through Best Buy online, select keep existing plan and have the new phone shipped to your house not the store.

That process is outlined on another thread, so post on that thread if you have questions:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/verizon/351917-verizon-how-keep-unlimited-data-get-phone-subsidized-price.html


When you receive the new phone at your house, you take the SIM card that comes with the new phone out of the new phone and replace it with the SIM card that is currently in your Razr Maxx. Then you activate the new phone. If the new phone has a nano SIM card, since the Razr Maxx has a micro SIM card you would have to buy a SIM card cutter to cut down the micro SIM card to nano SIM card size.

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Long answer: got the phone today, tried to activate it with my old Boinic's SIM card, trimmed with the Noosy cutter. Verizonwireless.com wouldn't let my use that sim card, saying it was not compatible with my new device.

So, after that, I logged back into Verizonwireless.com and just used the sim that came with the new phone. Everything seemed to work fine. I activated the phone, and nothing was changed in my plan or data. I have a new end date for my contract, 2 years from now, which is fine with me. Here's a screen cap showing my data and new contract end date.

Interesting. It is as if the attempt with the old SIM card was enough to keep your UDP even though you got a message saying that the attempt to activate it failed.

 

[tx_tuff]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Interesting. It is as if the attempt with the old SIM card was enough to keep your UDP even though you got a message saying that the attempt to activate it failed.

I don't think it has anything to do with which SIM you use. I think once you get through the process on the website with getting to keep you old plan you are golden.

Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I don't think it has anything to do with which SIM you use. I think once you get through the process on the website with getting to keep you old plan you are golden.

That is not true at all. If you find the other thread on best buy, you will see that a guy did not switch SIM cards and lost his and his wife's UDPs. He was able to get verizon to switch them back after a lot of hassle. Same with another poster but he was able to get a phone rep to switch him back without a lot of hassle.

Also, I have a friend IRL who did the same thing - she when through the whole process and it said keep existing plan. Then when she activated her phone using the SIM card that came with the phone she was automatically switched to the 2GB data plan for $30. She was able to convince Verizon to switch her back, too, but she had to make numerous phone calls. So I know for a fact YOU WILL BE SWITCHED TO THE 2GB PLAN IF YOU ACTIVATE THE PHONE USING THE SIM CARD IT CAME WITH EVEN THOUGH YOUR PAPER WORK SAYS KEEP EXISTING PLAN. The only exception to this that anyone has posted about is the guy who attempted the first activation of the phone with an already activated but cut down SIM card and it failed and then he used the SIM card that came with the phone.

So the only people who have had success with this process are those who used or attempted to use a SIM card that has already been activated in another phone.

 

[dpham00]

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

Individual plan.

My friend's trying to convince me to switch to T-Mobile. Unlimited phone calls, wifi calling, unlimited data (throttled at a certain point) and unlimited text.

Problem is I don't know much about their service area. I live in a well populated area, central NJ, but people I know have had problems with their network.

That and the fact i've heard they don't just throttle, but incredibly slow down after you hit a threshold.

For individual plans, this is the only way
http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=351917

I would strongly suggest that you try tmobile before switching. The monthly plan with unlimited data is $70/month. You can try it out at $3/day prepaid, but limited data.

Also, if you leave, since you have UDP, consider selling the Verizon plan, you should be able to make a few hundred. I do believe that you lose the number though if you did that


Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 3 via Tapatalk Pro

 

[Cozume]

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

For individual plans, this is the only way
Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price. - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com

Well, you can add a line to an individual plan and convert it to a family plan and then transfer the upgrade and sell an iPhone to recoup the cost but it is not cost effective unless you have someone who could use the added basic phone line. If you have an individual UDP and have a parent who uses a basic phone only, it may be cost effective to add a line depending on their usage patterns. But typically people like that are already in a family plan anyhow.

Also, if you leave, since you have UDP, consider selling the Verizon plan, you should be able to make a few hundred. I do believe that you lose the number though if you did that

You would definitely lose the number. And the last verizon rep I spoke with tried to tell me that if you do an AOL, you can keep the UDP but not any other special promotions on your plan. So for instance, if you have an unlimited any mobile to any mobile plan, you would lose that. I haven't verified that with Verizon's AOL department, but I will since I am going to try to do an AOL soon.

Also, FYI - ATT no longer allows people to keep their UDPs if they do an AOL. So anyone thinking of buying an ATT UDP line, double check with ATT before you do because if I was told the correct information by ATT's AOL department, an AOL on an ATT UDP automatically drops the UDP. No exceptions.

 

[Cozume]

Re: Bestbuy Mobile Lets me Keep Unlimited Data?

I just wanted to check in. I was able to keep our unlimited data and upgrade our phones. Its been almost a month and no issues. Glad I get to keep my unlimited data for another 2 years.

Awesome!!!

I do have one question, I don't know if I made the right choice or not tonight? My mother really needed a cell phone, shes alone, old, etc. lol. Anyways, I put her on my plan, got her a basic phone. She'll be able to share our(me & the wifes) 1400 minutes and unlimited text(if she knows how to). I got her a LG Revere 2 for $0.01.

Bad move. You should have gotten another subsidized iPhone 5s when you added a line to sell to recoup the cost of the added line and bought a used basic phone off of ebay for your mom to use on the added line. If you are still within the 14 day return period, return the basic phone and pay $200 to get a subsidized iPhone 5s and sell it. You need to buy a used basic phone to put on the line first.

The Verizon rep told me that I should of used the Verizon Edge program on her phone instead of signing a 2 year contract on her phone. Was it mistake not getting Edge on the basic phone?

Edge is never a good idea unless you are too lazy to sell your old iPhone.

 

[mykl376]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

So the only people who have had success with this process are those who used or attempted to use a SIM card that has already been activated in another phone.

I was actually pretty worried when I tried with the old sim card, both on the website and over the phone, and it did't work. I figured the new sim would activate fine, and I would take my chances with the data plan and other account settings. I was just ready to get a new phone, and really didn't want to pay full price, and I didn't want to buy used if at all possible. I don't know why it worked for me and not others, whether it was the attempt with the old sim, or that I only have a single number on my account. I guess any attempt like this is "at your own risk" basically, since it is Verizon's mission to get everyone off of unlimited data. And on that, I wouldn't even care about losing "unlimited" data, but paying the same $30 for 2GB, when I've been paying the same for much more....

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

I don't know why it worked for me and not others, whether it was the attempt with the old sim

That is the only difference between what you did and what my friend did and she lost her UDP. And that is the only difference between what you did and what that other guy on the other thread did and he lost his UDP just like my friend.

or that I only have a single number on my account.

No, my friend only has an individual plan as did the other guy who only had to call once to get the rep to give him back his UDP.

And on that, I wouldn't even care about losing "unlimited" data, but paying the same $30 for 2GB, when I've been paying the same for much more....

At a minimum, you should be able to get the 6GB plan for $30 in exchange for your UDP.

 

[rzar]

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

Hello all, I've been reading up on the threads and finally took the plunge to upgrade my dumb line-2 and attempt to activate it on my primary UDP line-1.
Unfortunately I ran into an issue where I am unable to reuse the new sim to activate on my UDP line-1 (old phone was Samsung Fascinate 3G, no sim).
I went through the steps to activate new phone on dumb line, made a few calls, then reactivated dumb phone back onto dumb line.
Next, when trying to activate new phone with same SIM on UDP line-1 it forces me to select a new data plan.?????

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Cozume]

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

Hello all, I've been reading up on the threads and finally took the plunge to upgrade my dumb line-2 and attempt to activate it on my primary UDP line-1.

Did the upgrade originate on the dumb line or did you transfer the upgrade from the UDP line?

I went through the steps to activate new phone on dumb line, made a few calls, then reactivated dumb phone back onto dumb line.
Next, when trying to activate new phone with same SIM on UDP line-1 it forces me to select a new data plan.?????

If you can post a screen shot that would help us. Be sure and black out any identifying information if you do. It seems like there may be a problem with moving from 3G only to 4G LTE phone. However, I did this in January and didn't have to select a new data plan.

 

[SmashedPumpkins]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Did anyone have success with this who's on a family plan? It seems like each of you are on individual plans. I've been off contract for a year or so.

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Did anyone have success with this who's on a family plan? It seems like each of you are on individual plans. I've been off contract for a year or so.

Why would it be any different on a family plan? The trick is to use an already activated SIM card for the first activation of the subsidized phone.

However, with a family plan and 2 UDP lines, you can just add a 3rd line and use the third upgrade to buy an iPhone and sell it to recoup the cost of the third line.

 

[rzar]

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

Did the upgrade originate on the dumb line or did you transfer the upgrade from the UDP line?
Both lines are eligble for upgrade but this was done on the dumb line-2.

If you can post a screen shot that would help us. Be sure and black out any identifying information if you do. It seems like there may be a problem with moving from 3G only to 4G LTE phone. However, I did this in January and didn't have to select a new data plan.

i will try to get screen shots shortly. But I presume you completed yours Jan 13?

 

[Cozume]

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

But I presume you completed yours Jan 13?

I added a dumbphone line in January of 2013 and transferred the subsidized phone to a UDP line in January of 2013. Then in November and December of 2013 I transferred upgrades from UDP lines to the dumbphone line to get 2 more subsidized phones. I sold 1 of the subsidized phones (an iPhone 5s) to recoup the cost of the added line.

Both lines are eligble for upgrade but this was done on the dumb line-2.

I am still not clear. The upgrade that you used, was it the dumbphone line's upgrade or did you transfer the UDP's upgrade to the dumbphone line?

 

[SmashedPumpkins]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Why would it be any different on a family plan? The trick is to use an already activated SIM card for the first activation of the subsidized phone.

However, with a family plan and 2 UDP lines, you can just add a 3rd line and use the third upgrade to buy an iPhone and sell it to recoup the cost of the third line.

Yeah we have two UDP's and we're both on S3's. I've read about the third line trick, but have avoided it thus far. We were planning to wait for the S5 and would try to get a cheaper phone off ebay but no point in waiting if we keep our UDP's since the S4 is free at Best Buy right now. If this trick works, it's a big win win but if it doesn't...

 

[Cozume]

Re: Verizon: How to keep Unlimited Data and get phone on subsidized price.

Yeah we have two UDP's and we're both on S3's. I've read about the third line trick, but have avoided it thus far. We were planning to wait for the S5 and would try to get a cheaper phone off ebay but no point in waiting if we keep our UDP's since the S4 is free at Best Buy right now. If this trick works, it's a big win win but if it doesn't...

If it doesn't you argue for your UDP back or return the phone and get it back that way. At least 2 people here have done that and my friend IRL did it, too.

But if you are going to go with Best Buy wait for the $50 reserve gift card. It is usually beginning of February when you sign up and mid-February when you can start buying and get the $50 gift card. That way you would actually MAKE $50 per line by upgrading to the S4.