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

[scipper77]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

You can activate it online maybe?

Sent from my Note 3

It looks like I could reactivate my thunderbolt with the old sim and then use the Verizon Web site to add a new device on an existing line using my S5 and new sim. I coworker showed me where on the Web page you can do this by entering the phone ID and sim ID. I would have to do it this way because there is no option to change sim without changing the phone at the same time (I think that's a true statement).
After some thought I am worried that whatever best buy changes in the system that makes it so you can't use the sim that came with the phone might also be on the sim I just ordered. Unless someone tells me they have done this I am in a holding pattern.

 

[NeedMoreFAR]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

Thanks everyone for sharing your results. I have a problem that I haven't seen anyone else report. On Saturday I ordered 4 phones (4 separate orders) and on Sunday I receive 3 "There's a problem..." emails. I immediately called and cancelled those 3 orders. On Monday the one phone shipped, and on Verizon's website that line still shows UDP and a contract date until 5/11/2016. Monday night I tried again, ordering only one phone. Today (Tuesday) I received another "There's a problem" email. Upon calling, they asked me to confirm the last 4 SSN and billing password, then said the order was OK and would ship. Unlike LionelHutz590, they never got Verizon involved. I intended to cancel and didn't expect it to go through. The Verizon website hasn't updated anything yet but I'll be watching closely!

Not sure if it matters, but I do have a corporate discount and the one line that intially went through without issue was the primary line on the account.

Update on my status - despite assuring me verbally Tuesday that the order was approved, today I received another "There's a problem..." email. This time they wanted to get Verizon involved, so I started to cancel the order, but then they got someone else from Best Buy involved (I specifically asked if he was a BB employee and he said yes) who asked me the same questions again and then said it would be shipping today or Monday.

I'm still nervous but we'll see what happens. As other have experienced, maybe this only goes through without intervention on the primary line?

 

[crustybooger]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

registered just to say thanks for this thread! Followed the steps exactly and it worked without a hitch. Upgraded two lines, a M8 and a iphone 5s for the gf.

 

[mykl376]

That's really too bad, bad luck I guess. Someone did something they weren't supposed to.

Quite strange. They basically took your phone away, as if you just didn't have any service for the 2-3 days until it would arrive. Sounds like a potentially dangerous situation, if you needed your phone for an emergency or for work.

I know you went to a VZW rep and at least got your old phone turned back on, but still, seems almost criminal to just shut someone's service off like that.

 

[TabletGuy4]

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

has anyone tried this method with costco? at my costco they will look at your account to see if youre eligible for an upgrade. if it is and you want to buy a phone they give you a piece of paper and you purchase it then return to the phone guys so they can activate it. i was thinking of buying the phone at a discounted price then just leaving and inserting my old sim card. it seems like essentially the same thing without the wait period for shipping. any thoughts?

 

[ProphotoGA]

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

I did the Best Buy deal. I just updated two Droid Bionics to Samsung Galaxy S5's.. Took the SIM Cards out and cut them using the SIM card cutter and put them in. Both phones started and are working just fine. Quick check on Verizon and I still have our UDP on both phones. I am one happy camper. Oh and because I am over cautious I actually have 2 back up SIM cards that I bought on e-Bay.

 

[pdxcraigslist]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

registered just to say thanks for this thread! Followed the steps exactly and it worked without a hitch. Upgraded two lines, a M8 and a iphone 5s for the gf.

Are you on a family plan? Looks like some have had issues on the secondary line but main line went through.

 

[LionelHutz590]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

Just wanted to give everyone an update: I got the new phone last week, bought a SIM Cutter on Amazon, and voila! Brand new phone and kept UDP!!! Thanks again, everyone! Very happy!!

 

[LionelHutz590]

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

Just wanted to give everyone an update: I got the new phone last week (HTC One M8 via HTC/Best Buy's 1 day sale for $99), bought a SIM Cutter on Amazon, and voila! Brand new phone and kept UDP!!! Thanks again, everyone! Very happy!!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

After some thought I am pretty sure that every single person who does this technique actually does give up UDP. The reason I say this is because after ordering a new Sim cardit dawned on me that I can never use the new card because I am in Verizon's system with a tiered data plan. The reason we are all still using unlimited is because our old Sim cards are programmed for UDP. You will never, ever be able to replace that card. Even after two years when your contract runs out if you goto Verizon they will pull your UDP.

I admit that the above is speculation but I feel very strongly that that is how it works.

 

[ClintRo]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

UDP is not tied to the card, you can get new cards and still retain unlimited. You can buy a new phone and keep unlimited. You just have to go get a card if the one you have doesn't fit.

Sent from my Note 3

 

[scipper77]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

UDP is not tied to the card, you can get new cards and still retain unlimited. You can buy a new phone and keep unlimited. You just have to go get a card if the one you have doesn't fit.

Sent from my Note 3

Are you sure of this? You can get a new card after upgrade? I ordered the new card so I could have an NFC compatible Sim for my S5 knowing the card that came with it will kill UDP. I just want to understand how this process works from Verizon's perspective so I can do things like upgrade my Sim and add insurance without loosing UDP.

 

[ClintRo]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

I don't know how it works but if you read the thread it does work. I just did it a few weeks ago

Sent from my Note 3

 

[js6558]

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

Haha I'm pretty bitter at some of you guys... THIS DID NOT WORK FOR ME. Thankfully the Verizon rep said they "could" give me 6gb per month for the same price. NOTE: the rep made it sound as if they could only do this because I average over 2gb every month. Very jealous of those who kept UDP...

 

[funky cheese]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

It seems that you could still get a new SIM in the future if needed, because if you order one they will replicate exactly what you account currently has...not what some unused SIM card that has never been activated has. That unactivated SIM card is not even linked to your account.

 

[SmashedPumpkins]

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

You can do what I did... I shipped my phones to my brother in Utah and paid $6 in tax. California wanted over $100 for the two phones. My phones showed up in Utah on Wednesday and should arrive to my place in California today. As of now, my Verizon account still says unlimited with my contracts extended two years. The phones were $100 each plus I got a $50 Best Buy gift card for each phone from the promo back in February. Awesome deal... Can't avoid the $35 activation fee though. Just another rotten way to charge extra for nothing.


That's really too bad, bad luck I guess. Someone did something they weren't supposed to.

Just as an update, I swapped the sims from both Galaxy S3's and both work great. The sims were already activated and it began to work right away. My Verizon account still lists unlimited data as well. I did notice a few apps said I didn't have a "secure feature" on my sim card but eh I don't plan on using the apps anyways.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

It seems that you could still get a new SIM in the future if needed, because if you order one they will replicate exactly what you account currently has...not what some unused SIM card that has never been activated has. That unactivated SIM card is not even linked to your account.

So when you order from Best Buy they make a sim that is not based on your current account? That is the difference from verizon's end? What is on the BB sim that forces them too kill UDP if it doesn't contain your plan info?

 

[ClintRo]

Re: Best Buy Mobile lets me keep Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon?

If you use the new card people say you will lose unlimited. If you use the current card you keep UDP.

Sent from my Note 3

 

[dss2000]

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

Haha I'm pretty bitter at some of you guys... THIS DID NOT WORK FOR ME. Thankfully the Verizon rep said they "could" give me 6gb per month for the same price. NOTE: the rep made it sound as if they could only do this because I average over 2gb every month. Very jealous of those who kept UDP...

Sorry to hear that, please provide us with method you used, details on what you did and where things might have gone wrong so we can learn any caveats, technicalities to be aware of.

 

[tx_tuff]

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

has anyone tried this method with costco? at my costco they will look at your account to see if youre eligible for an upgrade. if it is and you want to buy a phone they give you a piece of paper and you purchase it then return to the phone guys so they can activate it. i was thinking of buying the phone at a discounted price then just leaving and inserting my old sim card. it seems like essentially the same thing without the wait period for shipping. any thoughts?

The whole point of doing it online at BB is being able to select "keep current plan" unlimited data. Second is the SIM. If you miss the first part by going to Cosco no use even bothering with the second part.

If unlimited data is important to you then waiting for shipping should not be a big deal.

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