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

[Carla97220]

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

Actually there are a couple of folks in this and other threads that have had success recently, mine as recently as last week and this week, I have also posted my results with a GS5 and kept my UDP so far....

If I do it via Best Buy, do I just use the line with UDP? Or do I transfer the upgrade from the UDP line to another line on my account and them order from Best Buy?

Thanks!

 

[kil187]

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

If I do it via Best Buy, do I just use the line with UDP? Or do I transfer the upgrade from the UDP line to another line on my account and them order from Best Buy?

Thanks!

Both of my lines were already on my UDP and were also eligible for upgrades, so I am not familiar with transferring the upgrade method and the steps needed to do so

 

[shortwave8669]

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

Best Buy currently has the Galaxy Note 3 for only $99 and shipping

 

[moeg3000]

Re: Keeping UDP - purchasing through Verizon?

Hello,

I have a GS3 with UDP. I want to get a G3,but best buy wont let me order via online. Any other methods? This is my only line.

 

[Cruiserdude]

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

You are correct, it's a wait and see game. But there is something that is going to be different this time around. Verizon announced they are going to start using the volte deal in next few weeks which introduces HD voice and video calling, which both will use more data and require higher speed data.

I myself don't think it was coincidence that Verizon announced the 4g network optimization and volte being launched in a few weeks. I'm guessing that network optimization will be used in the near future, specially when more phones get volte capability.

I as a customer expect Verizon to remember these are cell phones and calls take priority over Facebook, or data.


Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Yes I definitely think there's a connection. However I don't understand the need for these new policies. I have a friend who is a Verizon Network Performance Engineer, and I can assure you that they already have proper QoS policies and protections against malicious activity that's detrimental to the network (no I don't mean basic stuff like tethering or torrenting, either). They've had that for years.

In a business environment with ip phones on the network, you typically use tagged VLANs to separate voice traffic and give it a higher priority than anything else, then network management traffic, then video traffic, provided that's a necessary part of that office's work flow. Then you have normal data traffic on a lower priority VLAN. Basically, you look at which services will be most affected by latency and/or bandwidth restrictions and rank them in order of importance. Put each type of traffic in its own VLAN and prioritize accordingly. Alot of higher end switches have algorithms that will perform basic QoS like this without even needing to manually set up.

Actual throttling would only come into place when there's not enough bandwidth to support all the services running concurrently. You would limit bandwidth on the lower priority VLANs to ensure enough bandwidth for key services. QoS algorithms on the switches will do this automatically based on the policies you have set in response to heavy usage on a particular sector of the network.

You can also identify sectors of the network or individual nodes that are using an inordinate amount of bandwidth. Typical policy would be to identify what was using that much extra bandwidth, and determine whether it is normal for that device, or whether it needs to be temporarily isolated from the network until you can identify the cause. Typically its either an infection, or unauthorized activities, and those can be both be addressed and corrected. Depending on HR decisions, certain users may be given temporary or permanent bandwidth limitations.

If the office relies heavily on bandwidth to the WAN, and that's limited, you may have to set lasting bandwidth limitations on entire groups of users or segments of the network, but it's all done in the name of ensuring the best performance for all.

Verizon clearly states that their policies will continue to affect a given user for up to two months, that it is based on collective usage over a month, rather than actual load of their device on the network, and that it will only be applied to UDP users. This does not fit the model of proper QoS for the network, but rather seems designed specifically to lower the quality of the network experience for UDP users, to encourage them to either go with a tiered plan or cancel their contract with Verizon altogether.

It is this practice of abusing network QoS policies to extort users that the FCC takes exception to. Basically, if you feel the need to introduce stricter QoS policies because you're apparently experiencing difficulties maintaining bandwidth on your network, fine, do what ya need to do. Seems odd you'd wanna advertise that fact to everyone. But treating users differently in terms of QoS based solely on the business relationship they have with the carrier is against regulations on Block C spectrum. There are no speed tiers with wireless carriers (yet), only monthly usage, so there is no justification for them to break the agreement they had with the FCC when they first purchased Block C.

 

[jfriend33]

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

Thanks for the info. I paid $58 after gift card, plus received a gift card. I'm having my price adjusted on the phone right now.
Previous cost after upgrade fee $43. New price, negative $11!

Lol. Now my order somehow is mysteriously canceled itself even though I picked up the phone...

So basically I ordered from best buy on 8/23 to upgrade feature phone , paid $108 with tax for lg g3. Put 50 on bb gc and 50 on visa cc. Received another 50 bb gc from other promo that had registration ending 2/14

Picked up phone in store. Never powered on. Had verizon manually reactivate feature phone. It's contract is extended thru 8/28/16

Also in process of verizon legacy plan Dept removing data requirement since my account was notated and I did indeed purchase by loophole end date.

Price dropped to 49 on phone, called in, price adjustment credited back 58 to visa (really shouldve only been 54 with lesser tax) pending until Wednesday.

Received email that my order was cancelled. Called in to see what's up and they said they had no clue but not to worry about it....?

Checked balances on initial gc card for purchase. Balance is 50. And new gc from upgrade promo is still valid.

What the heck. Lol. What I did was no loop hole. I just did an alternate upgrade order before the end date. But nice part is I have until 9/11 to exchange if something newer comes out.

Guess I'll check to see if the credit goes through to my visa. If not, I'm probably not going to complain. I'll just use it black Friday. But it would be hilarious if I did somehow get two credits since my order is now cancelled...

 

[NBAJ2K]

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

Without having the capability of removing the new data plan (loophole is now closed) which in your case and mine doesn't matter, yes there is no reason it shouldn't. I went through the steps on myverizon as if I were transferring my UDP to my 2gb tiered line and all seems to work. The data plan stays with the line you are transferring it to and the new 2 year contract goes on your UDP line. I recommend doing as I did and do the steps on verizons site. You will see what I'm talking about. Keep in mind I didn't actually finalize the purchase as I am waiting for the Note 4.

Let's say I were to go through with my transfer and receive the phone. I would activate the phone on the tiered line; then switch it back to the original smartphone; take the new phone and insert my sim card from my UDP phone; turn the phone on and the screen should say the sim card is already activated. I did the sim card swap in April thru the Best Buy method and it worked great! There is nothing that tells me it would not work the same. And even if there were issues swapping the sim card all I would do is go to verizon and have them get me another sim card. They can't tell you what you can or can't do with the phones you own. Simply tell them it was a gift if you feel necessary to make up an excuse.

Do I now have to activate it on the tiered line first to be safe, or can I activate it straight on the UDP line? Since the tiered 2gb line has an iPhone 4 on it (without a sim card) it would probably be a pain to get a new card just to activate it temporarily, but I could do it if it was necessary/safer.

Thanks for your help,

-J

 

[seabass]

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

Looking for some advice if anyone could be so kind.

I'm currently on a family plan that consists of 3 lines, all due for upgrades. 2 lines are basic phones and 1 is a S3 with unlimited data(me). I'll be getting a new phone here soon and would love to use one these suggestions in this thread, but if one of the basic phone users decides they want an iphone will that put the unlimited data user part of the tiered data?

I pay about $55 a month after 20% discount for the ultd line and use about 4-5gbs data a month. I want to make sure if i jump through some hoops to get a new phone it's not all in vain when one of the basic phones goes to tiered data a few weeks later. I'm contemplating just giving up and going tiered data as i could use a little more wifi and between the two lines i couldn't see us using more than 6-7GBs of data, but i'm not sure what this would cost per the 3 users and don't want to find out once it's too late. I know this is hard to answer, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mesocyclonic]

Re: Keeping UDP - purchasing through Verizon?

Hello,

I have a GS3 with UDP. I want to get a G3,but best buy wont let me order via online. Any other methods? This is my only line.

Get another phone, or wait for BB to offer the G3 for delivery. I remember reading that people have used Costco to upgrade their lines using a similar method, but you don't get a receipt that says "keep current plan" like you do at BB in case you somehow do lose your unlimited (even though you shouldn't).

 

[mesocyclonic]

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

if one of the basic phone users decides they want an iphone will that put the unlimited data user part of the tiered data?

No, it won't. They will get a tiered plan (at least 2 GB @ $30/mo.) that is for their line only. Changes on other lines do not affect your UDP line.

I'm contemplating just giving up and going tiered data as i could use a little more wifi and between the two lines i couldn't see us using more than 6-7GBs of data, but i'm not sure what this would cost per the 3 users and don't want to find out once it's too late.

The Best Buy method described in multiple threads here is pretty straightforward: order online (MUST be shipped to you, not a store!) and click "keep current plan" (ignore warnings about losing unlimited), and when you get the new phone, remove SIM in phone BEFORE activating (activating with this SIM would cause your unlimited to be removed); put current SIM from S3 in and power on phone. Destroy SIM that shipped with phone. Personally, I'd say keeping your unlimited plan is worth at least trying this method...even if your usage isn't that large now, maybe it will be in the future!

 

[berfles]

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

Seems like all but the stupid gold S5 are unavailable to ship for Verizon at Best Buy, looks like they know about this or something?

I'm still afraid of the ETF at Amazon, but it sounds like as long as you don't touch your line and just swap the SIMs it doesn't apply.

 

[seabass]

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

Thanks a million.

That's what I thought for the first parter, but wanted to make sure it had not changed recently, but I also read this and am not sure what I am missing or it's just false info.

"If I have a family plan, do all the lines need to change?

If you upgrade your phone and keep your plan the same, your family plan can stay the same. (Except if you have unlimited data in which you would need move to a tiered data on the single lines you are upgrading). If one line moves to Share Everything, all lines must move to Share Everything."

5th question found here: Share Everything Plan FAQs

Now, I am contemplating getting the Iphone 6 for the new phone which brings up 2 more questions. I believe most new phones use nano sim slots. Is it best practice to convert the micro sim I have in my S3 to nano sim and use that? I assume there are many people doing this these days to keep unlimited.

2nd and hopefully last question, I see many phones aren't on sale at best buys website for shipping. are costco or any other websites likely to ship to home and this work specifically with an Iphone 6?

Thanks again!

 

[asudevil]

Easiest way to Upgrade and keep unlimited data..no hassles

I have been gone for awhile so while perusing the forums about keeping unlimited data, I felt I should give my opinion and my experience. Since 2011 I have been utilizing this method. I have a single line with UD.
I walk into a corporate Verizon store and pick out my phone. I add a line separate from my primary line...not a shared plan. After activating the phone, I switch phones, putting the new device on the UD line and the old phone on the new line. After a day I call and suspend the new line( I take the old phone off the new line and put a test device on the new line. Can be done when you call in to suspend the new line). After a month I cancel the suspended line. The old phone I sell to pay for the disconnect fees. On the average if the phone is year old, it would fetch almost the same amount as the disconnect fee. There it is... no need to worry if Verizon will cancel your UD. I used this method for 3 years successfully. There is also a way to not pay disconnect fees but I'm not sure if I should share...Opinions?

 

[jec11718]

Re: Easiest way to Upgrade and keep unlimited data..no hassles

Yes, please share, the disconnect fees are the etf, right? What if you don't get enough from selling the old phone? It comes out of your pocket, right?

sent from my Nos M7 DNA

 

[asudevil]

Re: Easiest way to Upgrade and keep unlimited data..no hassles

After 6 months I call customer care and say that the owner of the suspended line passed away. They ask you a couple of questions such as will someone else take over the line or will you be adding another line for the next six months. After you say no to both questions they simply cancel the line.No disconnect fees. Not sure if that is ethical. I would ask anyone to call customer care and ask and reply on this thread.

 

[mesocyclonic]

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

If one line moves to Share Everything, all lines must move to Share Everything.

This is true, but there's no requirement that you move your current family plan to Share (now More) Everything. You can simply add tiered data to an old family share plan. The More Everything plan is only required for new accounts.

I believe most new phones use nano sim slots. Is it best practice to convert the micro sim I have in my S3 to nano sim and use that?

I know a number of people have bought SIM cutters (they're cheap) to do this. I didn't need to because the S3 and S5 both use the same size. Verizon does issue free SIM cards at corporate stores if you mess up the cutting or don't want to bother with it.

I see many phones aren't on sale at best buys website for shipping. are costco or any other websites likely to ship to home and this work specifically with an Iphone 6?

Best Buy is the best option because they have been confirmed to work recently and issue you a receipt saying "keep current plan"; Costco has worked in the past; maybe someone else has recent experience with them? As far as I know, these are the only two non-Verizon retailers that don't charge a secondary ETF. Other places, like Amazon, may allow you to "use" this method to keep unlimited data, but not using the included SIM card (and therefore violating their secondary retailer agreement) may trigger a large ETF-it's $400 for Amazon, for instance.

 

[rdjr74]

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

Do I now have to activate it on the tiered line first to be safe, or can I activate it straight on the UDP line? Since the tiered 2gb line has an iPhone 4 on it (without a sim card) it would probably be a pain to get a new card just to activate it temporarily, but I could do it if it was necessary/safer.

Thanks for your help,

-J

Me personally, I would find a way to activate it on that line, then switch it.

 

[rdjr74]

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

will happen if I use Line 2's own upgrade on 3/1/2015? Will that line
be required to keep $30 data plan until 3/1/2017? Or is it still 9/1/2016?

Not to sure but I would venture to say it will extend it. Sorry I'm just not 100% on this one. Maybe someone else could chime in..

 

[rdjr74]

Re: Keeping UDP - purchasing through Verizon?

I read that if you use the subsidized upgrade on the 6GB data max plan you will lose the promo and be bumped down to 2GB of data. I would call Verizon and ask about that before using that upgrade.


Both verizon and best buy say the $30.00/month data plan requirement is placed on the line where the upgrade originated. So if you transfer an upgrade from a UDP line to a tiered data line, you will be kicked off of the $29.99/mo UDP and placed on the $30/mo 2GB plan. According to them, the tiered data plan line that receives the upgrade transfer will not have its contract extended nor will it have a 2yr data plan requirement of $30/mo. That will happen to the UDP line, which of course will no longer have UDP, but rather a 2GB data plan.

Call Verizon and ask yourself if you don't believe me. Or try it and see what happens and report back here your results.

No one has done this recently and no one should because this method will not preserve your UDP any longer. There is no reason to believe that transferring a UDP line's upgrade to a tiered data plan line will result in anything other than you losing your UDP from August 25, 2014 onward.

This wasn't part of the loophole that took place on the 25th. Of course Verizon will tell you this. Verizon also told me through chat that if any changes to the way transfers work would have to be communicated to their customers first. Transfers are not a secret or a way to work the system as this loophole was. Take the steps necessary on myverizon.com, look at the screens, nothing has changed as far as the way the screens look as you progress through the transfer process before and after the 25th. I did these steps several times before and after the 25th. The data plan goes on the line you transfer to and the contract goes on the line you transferred from. Until this process is written differently, they legally (I use this term loosely) can't change your data plan since you are transferring it and placing your new phone on a different line.

 

[rdjr74]

Re: Keeping UDP - purchasing through Verizon?

You are wrong and you are obviously not a lawyer.

Nice attitude for 15 posts. I'm basically informing the people of my experiences. But in honesty you know as much as I do and it certainly isn't the end result as no one has claimed they have done in finalizing a purchase. You're basing your conclusions from reps that will do anything to get you off of an UDP. I'm basing my conclusions off of steps taking from myverizon.com as you claim you have also done. You must read this image differently then I do. I read it as having at least a minimum 30 dollar data plan which I do albeit an UDP. There are several ways to interpret this pop-up but based off of when this was implemented and the info that we had prior to the 25th, all things point in the direction that this was implemented based solely on the loophole that is now unavailable.

See post 3401 for my screen shots. No where does it say a new data plan will be implemented on the UDP line, only the line that the transfer is going to.