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

[JulesJam]

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

can i do this online through Verizon website or do I need to call to drop data?

you can do it online. Sometimes a 75MB $10/mo plan gets stuck on the basic line and if so, then may have to call to get that removed. I have no explanation for why this happens sometimes and sometimes not.

edited - even if the 75MB plan sticks, you can block data on the line and this can be done online without calling. Blocking data on the line should remove the 75MB plan.

 

[ScBlacksunshine]

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

ok, I read through pretty much the entire thread. Got a couple of lingering questions below. Appreciate all the help

1.) For people that used this to upgrade their phone back in Jan or Feb, can you guys still confirm you're still on UDP?

2.) My wife and I both have the Galaxy S3 and both are on monthly UDP since we never upgraded to a new phone. After reading this thread, I called VZW to send me two new nano sim card since I just ordered the HTC One M8 through Best buy and she's planning to get the S5 through BB or Amazon. When I get the new nano sim, do I need to use a nano to Micro SIM adapter, pop the VZW sent sim in the Galaxy S3 make sure it's activated then switch it over to the M8? I understand the S3 and S5 both use Micro so can I just switch the existing chip over? My goal is not have minimum amount of contact with VZW, what's the proper method I should follow if I am getting new Nano Sim from Verizon and getting M8 around the same time? I tried checking out VZW online on the manage/activate device section but it's saying unavailable at this time? not sure what's going on there?

3.) I noticed the S5 is $50 cheaper on Amazon so I might have my wife go through them instead, can anyone confirm this will also work on Amazon and they got to keep their UDP plan?

4.) If I decide to cut down the existing Micro SIM and not use the Nano send by VZW, Will this be just a simple device swap then? Do the new SIM just won't get activated?

 

[ricks]

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

No, I only did one secondary line.

Thank you Mr. Toad and Ricks, I appreciate the help.

Ricks: to clarify, did you purchase 2 new phones for both a primary and secondary line, which are both on the same UDP? That is the situation I'm currently trying to work through.

 

[JulesJam]

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

purchase 2 new phones for both a primary and secondary line

I would do 2 separate transactions. Anything unusual on an account causes verizon to deny the upgrade and force you to call verizon to get it OK'ed. Guess what happens when you do that? They remove your UDP.

 

[JnEricsonx]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

Swappa yet again here I come?

 

[JulesJam]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

Swappa yet again here I come?

best buy method and flying arrow method still may work.

 

[JnEricsonx]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

Flying Arrow?

 

[JulesJam]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

Flying Arrow?

Flying Arrow Method

 

[Premium1]

Re: Verizon closing the transfer upgrade loophole?

P3droid mentioned on his Twitter account that Verizon is closing the transfer upgrade loophole today.

https://mobile.twitter.com/P3Droid

He has had some good information on the past but I don't know how reliable this is.

I bite the bullet and order a G3. I was going to wait for the Note 4. I will probably sell my note 3 and the g3 and pay full price for the Note 4.

I was surprised they waited this long to close it. Then again as long as we can still pay full price and keep unlimited i am ok with that. That will be next to go, and then I will be gone as well.

 

[kil187]

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

Correct...and ACTIVATE might only mean that you make a phone call on the S5 to anyone (basically to let the cell tower know the device is working).

I did exactly what you plan to do 2 weeks ago.
From the time I powered on my new device (Galaxy Note 3) to completed the log-in process at VZW.com the carrier website was already showing my Note 3 as my device.

1) open new device and remove batt and NEW SIM card (treat as radioactive waste).
2) slip old SIM card into new device.
3) reinstall batt and back cover
4) power on new device and wait for bootup to complete
5) place phone call. If call goes through you are done!!
6) log into VZW.com and look at account details to confirm UDP still in place.

So I am on BB website now and there are multiple warnings about losing your UDP when upgrading, was this the same for you when you tried it 2 weeks ago? I want to be sure that it works, I'm like the rest of the folks in here, I dont want to lose my UDP. BTW, I am eligible for an upgrade.

 

[Mr. Toad]

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

So I am on BB website now and there are multiple warnings about losing your UDP when upgrading, was this the same for you when you tried it 2 weeks ago? I want to be sure that it works, I'm like the rest of the folks in here, I dont want to lose my UDP. BTW, I am eligible for an upgrade.

They warm you in the beginning of the site. The contract in the end should say keep existing plan or something like that.

 

[BrettWard]

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

I went through the process, chose to keep my same plan and got this message pop-up. Did this happen to everyone who was successful or is this new? I exited after seeing this not wanting to risk it.

 

[JulesJam]

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

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but the two line swap loophole will be closed on 8/24.

um, not really. What will happen then (and I think the Verizon memo to its CSRs said after August 24th, so I think that means beginning on the 25th) if you use a basic phone line's upgrade to purchase a subsidized phone, the basic line will have to keep the data plan for 2 years regardless of whether or not you put a basic phone back on the line.

The memo didn't address upgrades transferred to a basic line nor did it address the multi-UDP line Flying Arrow method or the single line Best Buy method.

 

[JulesJam]

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

I went through the process, chose to keep my same plan and got this message pop-up. Did this happen to everyone who was successful or is this new? I exited after seeing this not wanting to risk it.

try continuing on a bit further in the process and see if it gives you the option to keep existing plan after you put a phone in your cart.

 

[cnotes2019]

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

try continuing on a bit further in the process and see if it gives you the option to keep existing plan after you put a phone in your cart.

I don't think it matters. What's important is to not use the SIM card that comes with the new phone. Use your old sim in the phone you already use.

 

[JulesJam]

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

I don't think it matters. What's important is to not use the SIM card that comes with the new phone. Use your old sim in the phone you already use.

yes, since the Flying Arrow method works, that is the key.

 

[RippinitupR6]

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

Last night I finally had the other line's phone in my hands (iPhone 5) so I went ahead and turned it off as well as the new G3. I then placed the new SIM (that came with the G3) back in the phone and went through the activation process on VZ's website. The G3 came up as the other line and worked fine. Next, I turned the G3 off and re-activated the iPhone 5 on the website. Again, the iPhone came up just fine with its original number.

Now the G3 is basically free. I took the full size SIM out of my Bionic and cut it down, carefully. This was the riskiest part really as I was concerned about the knife slipping, etc.! I got it down to the right size and placed it into the G3, WITHOUT ACTIVATING IT ON VZ's WEBSITE, and VOILA! I now have a new subsidized G3 on my UDP! Very happy camper

View attachment 129777

i am going to use the same method you used, when you activated the g3 on your line, all you did was put your old sim in? theres no need to activate the g3 on verizons website?

 

[JulesJam]

Verizon How to Both Get a Subsidized Phone and Keep Unlimited Data after 8/24/14

First, let’s look at the Verizon memos about the change:




Note that it says after 8/24/14, so that means beginning on the 25th. It is unclear whether this applies only to adding a new line and using a basic line’s upgrade or whether it also will apply to upgrades transferred to a basic line.





By looking at that memo above, it appears that whichever line’s contract gets extended will have a parallel data plan requirement. Thus since when you transfer your UDP line’s upgrade to a basic line and upgrade on the basic line your UDP line’s contract gets extended, it seems reasonable to think that the UDP line will have the data plan requirement on it.

Additionally, many people have posted that when you transfer your UDP line’s upgrade to a basic phone line and purchase a subsidized phone using it, you do not even need to activate the new smartphone on the basic line - you can just pop your UDP line’s SIM card in the new smartphone and activate it on the UDP line. The data plan you selected for the basic line will automatically drop off in about a week. Hopefully that won’t change come the 25th.


Second, it appears from all the different methods that the key thing is not to activate the new phone with the SIM card it shipped with. The exception to this is if you order from Verizon and you activate the new phone on a line other than the UDP line from which the upgrade originated (i.e., the Transfer UDP Upgrade and Flying Arrow Methods).

In the next 3 posts I will summarize the Transfer UDP Upgrade Method, the Single Line Best Buy Method and the Flying Arrow Method (aka multi-UDP line method). Hopefully these 3 methods will still work after the 24th. Keep in mind that at any time Verizon could come up with a way to foil these methods. Only time will tell.

The number 1 rule of thumb for all of these methods is DO NOT INVOLVE A VERIZON REP IN THE PROCESS. They are getting bonuses to eliminate UDPs and I have read about people who didn't even upgrade but just had the in-store reps look at their account and ask questions and the reps switched them off their UDP.

It looks like the Add A New Line Method will no longer be cost effective after the 24th since you would then be locked into a 2 year data plan so I will not go over that method.

 

[JulesJam]

Re: Methods that will allow you to both get a subsidized phone and keep UDP after 8/24/14

Transfer UDP Upgrade Method​

Based on the Verizon memos posted above, the Transfer UDP Upgrade Method may still work after the 24th since it is the UDP line’s contract that is extended, not the basic line's contract.

1. Log onto Verizon online and select Upgrade My Device;
2. Transfer your UDP line’s upgrade to a basic line or a tiered data line that is not currently eligible for an upgrade;
3. Select the smartphone you want, select a data plan and purchase the smartphone – if you transferred the upgrade to a tiered data line, select the same data plan the line currently has;
4. When the new smartphone arrives, remove the SIM card that came with it and put your UDP line’s SIM card in it and turn the phone on – it will activate immediately;* and
5. Log onto Verizon online and confirm that you still have UDP on the line and that the new smartphone is showing up on the UDP line.


The basic or tiered data line will have a pending activation on it but this will eventually go away. Note that you will not be able to upgrade on that line again until the pending activation goes away.

In time (about a week) the data plan you selected for your basic line should drop off since no smartphone will be activated on the basic line. Remember, this is how it works NOW. We will see if it will still work this way after the 24th.

If the UDP line’s upgrade was transferred to a tiered data line, nothing will change on the tiered data line. It will say pending activation but that will eventually go away.

If the new smartphone has a different size SIM card from your old smartphone, please refer to the many posts/threads about cutting down SIM cards, SIM adapters or how to request a new SIM card from Verizon. Please do not clutter up this thread with questions about how to deal with a SIM card mismatch issue. Start a new thread if you must.


* Alternatively, you can activate the new smartphone on the basic or tiered data line, then put the original basic/tiered data line phone back on the line and then put the new smartphone to the UDP line. You can do this if your old SIM card is a different size than the new smartphone's SIM card in order to avoid cutting down a SIM card or using a SIM card adapter.

 

[JulesJam]

Re: Methods that will allow you to both get a subsidized phone and keep UDP after 8/24/14

Single Line Best Buy Method​

Of course if you have an individual plan, you can’t transfer an upgrade. That leaves the Single Line Best Buy Method as your option. Note that Motomaker uses the Best Buy ordering system so this method will work on MotoMaker, too.

1) Go to Best Buy online;
2) Add the smartphone you want to your cart;
3) Check to see if you are eligible for an upgrade – it will warn you if you have UDP that you will lose it if you upgrade; ignore the warning;
4) Go through with the purchase and select Keep Existing Plan and have the new smartphone mailed to you, DO NOT PICK UP IN STORE;
5) When the smartphone arrives, DO NOT TURN IT ON;
6) Remove the SIM card that came with the smartphone and stomp on it, spit on it, cut it with scissors and then set the pieces on fire, or in the alternative, just dispose of it in a trash can;
7) Put your old smartphone’s SIM card in the new smartphone and turn it on; and
8) Log onto Verizon online and confirm that you still have UDP and the new smartphone is on your UDP line.


The reason this works is because the SIM card the phone ships with is associated with your account and when you activate the new smartphone using that SIM card, the Verizon system is programmed to kick you off of UDP even if you did not select a new data plan when you ordered the phone. By discarding the SIM card the phone ships with, you defeat that mechanism (i.e., the switch order). So do not turn the new smartphone on until you get that toxic SIM card out of the device.

BONUS - some users have reported that because the switch order was never completed they were never charged the upgrade fee by Verizon.

Do not select pick up in store because they will not let you leave without activating the phone with the SIM card it shipped with. Even if you tell them not to, they will open the package and in the blink of an eye turn the phone on. At that instant, you will have lost your UDP so don't risk it.

If you are contacted by Best Buy after you place your order due to a problem with your order requiring that Verizon be contacted, CANCEL THE ORDER. Numerous people here have lost their UDP when Verizon was involved in the process.

Again, if the new smartphone has a different size SIM card from your old smartphone, please refer to the many posts/threads about cutting down SIM cards, SIM adapters or how to request a new SIM card from Verizon. Please do not clutter up this thread with questions about how to deal with a SIM card mismatch issue. Start a new thread if you must.


It is being reported on another site that this method will work with any 3rd party retailer, including Amazon and Costco even though you have to pick a tiered data plan, and here is the explanation:

Switch Order Explained

Now Amazon (unlike Costco and Best Buy) charges a secondary ETF of $400 for downgrading a data plan within 181 days and the $29.99/mo UDP is considered a downgrade from the $30/mo 2GB tiered plan. In addition, on both Amazon and Costco you must pick a new data plan and cannot keep existing plan. Those who have done this are reporting that when they log onto verizon either thru a browser or thru the myverizon app, the customer agreement shows that they picked a new data plan although they still have a UDP. Whereas if they purchased thru best buy it shows keep existing plan. So I personally would not try it with Amazon or Costco.

Note that it would be very easy for Verizon to defeat this method by simply completing the switch order based on the IMEI number of the phone being used on the Verizon network rather than the SIM card number.

Also I don't see an explanation for why the Flying Arrow Method works in the explanation provided in the link above. If the Flying Arrow Method works when you order from Verizon directly, then the switch order is not completed at the point of sale, but rather only if you activate the new smartphone on the UDP line on which it was ordered. Again, very easy for Verizon to change their system to foil this method, too. So who knows how long this will last.