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

[tgp]

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

The Best Buy method does work on Amazon; though, people tend to shy away because it is possible to get hit with a $400 charge if you violate their terms of service (there are rumors of this over on SlickDeal).

I've never heard of it actually happening, although it probably technically could. A colleague of mine upgraded through Amazon several months ago with no issues. I wouldn't worry about it.

I ended up upgrading through Best Buy because I bought an iPhone to flip; otherwise I probably would have used Amazon.

 

[Sandman333]

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

You don't need to worry about SIM Swapping between the Razr Maxx and the Turbo. Just do the following (can be done in either Best Buy or Verizon):

1.) Move upgrade from line 1 to line 3
2.) Purchase the turbo and have it shipped home
3.) When the smartphone arrives just activate it on Line 3 following the directions that came with the phone using the new SIM card as well. Make sure to shut down the iPhone first and keep the old SIM.
4.) Wait about an hour and make sure that the phone works (test call, texts, and data).

Now you just need to reactivate the iPhone on line 3 to free up the Turbo. Do the following:

5.) Shut down the Turbo
6.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
7.) Select line 3 (should have a picture of the Turbo)
8.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the iPhone 5. Select the iPhone 5 and follow directions.

Now you just need to get the Turbo on your line:

9.) Shut down the Maxx
10.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
11.) Select line 1
12.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the Turbo. Select the Turbo and follow directions.

Finally, enjoy your new phone!

This is the procedure I followed, though I did have to call Verizon to activate the old phone back on its TDP line. The online site would not let me do it for some reason. HOWEVER, the UDP line I initially transferred the upgrade from is still showing an upgrade available two months later. I'm almost wondering if I could use that upgrade again....

 

[dusoccer10]

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

You're awesome, man. Thank you so much. One last question: the SIM card shipped with the new phone--that's just the one that'll come with (or in) the iPhone, right? Just making sure I don't have to request an additional SIM card or something.

Use the SIM card that comes with the phone. By activating the phone directly onto your line, you end up reprogramming the SIM to your unlimited plan (when it is shipped it is programmed for the 2GB plan). The big thing is to make sure to not turn on the phone; otherwise, your brother will lose his unlimited plan! You need to log into Verizon before turning on the phone. In fact, I'm pretty sure that Verizon ships the phone with both the IMEI and SIM numbers on the outside of the box. If it does, I strongly recommend following the directions before even removing the phone from the box.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

I've never heard of it actually happening, although it probably technically could. A colleague of mine upgraded through Amazon several months ago with no issues. I wouldn't worry about it.

I ended up upgrading through Best Buy because I bought an iPhone to flip; otherwise I probably would have used Amazon.

I definitely agree with you. My post is more about educating folks that Amazon is a little bit different than Best Buy because of the secondary ETF.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

This is the procedure I followed, though I did have to call Verizon to activate the old phone back on its TDP line. The online site would not let me do it for some reason. HOWEVER, the UDP line I initially transferred the upgrade from is still showing an upgrade available two months later. I'm almost wondering if I could use that upgrade again....

To get around calling Verizon, the person could just do a SIM Swap between the recently activated Turbo and the old iPhone since both use a nano. Then, he or she could use the old iPhone SIM with the Turbo to activate it on line 1 and avoid having to call Verizon.

As for your case, there is a glitch in Verizon's system that is causing people to keep their upgrades when transferring from an unlimited line to a tiered one. It doesn't happen for everyone, but it is happening for some. So, you can upgrade again if you want.

 

[fishfan86]

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

Don't order the second device. You will just use your brother's upgrade by doing the following:

1) Through Verizon online, order the new smartphone you want using your brother's upgrade, picking the 2GB data plan, and have it shipped to home not shipped to store;
2) When the new smartphone arrives, do not turn it on or plug it in, rather log onto Verizon online and click activate or switch a device;
3) Select your line - it should ask you if you want to activate or verify the new device that was just shipped to you - you click "No, I want to activate a different device" or "Not activating my new device at this time, take me to the Activate or Switch Device page";* and
4) Select that you want to activate a device that has not been on your account before, type in the IMEI of the new phone ordered and the SIM card number of the SIM card that shipped with the new phone and follow the directions to activate the new phone on your line.

About the upgrade: am I upgrading through my brother's line or transferring it to my own?

 

[dusoccer10]

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

About the upgrade: am I upgrading through my brother's line or transferring it to my own?

You can't transfer your upgrade since he already has an upgrade. So, you'll use your brother's line and upgrade to order your phone. When it comes in, follow the directions I typed out and/or the picture sequence at Slickdeals.net - View Single Post - Upgrade and keep your Unlimited Data with Verizon

Now, this will extend your brother's line for another 2 years while keeping you month to month. If this isn't ok, I'll give you a different method.

 

[rustylongwood]

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

My old device, a Galaxy S5 uses a micro SIM, while the new device I purchased from Best Buy.com shipped to not the store as an upgrade for my current UDP, a Droid Turbo, uses a nano SIM. Someone posted that they were able to pick up a nano SIM for their UDP by stopping by a Verizon store: how? What do you say that would make them give you a new SIM without trying to check/change/remove your unlimited data plan? I can buy a SIM cutter if I need to, but I figured I'd check first.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

My old device, a Galaxy S5 uses a micro SIM, while the new device I purchased from Best Buy.com shipped to not the store as an upgrade for my current UDP, a Droid Turbo, uses a nano SIM. Someone posted that they were able to pick up a nano SIM for their UDP by stopping by a Verizon store: how? What do you say that would make them give you a new SIM without trying to check/change/remove your unlimited data plan? I can buy a SIM cutter if I need to, but I figured I'd check first.

There is nothing that you can say right now that would be safe. Since you have already ordered the phone, any nano-SIM they give you will be coded with the tiered plan (2GB for $30 if you selected "keep your existing plan). For right now, you'll need to cut your SIM and use it to activate the Turbo. In a few months, once the pending activation falls off your line, you'll be able to request a new SIM from Verizon for free.

 

[Cringey]

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

I hate to ask this being that it may have been covered in the 323 pages before, so I apologize ahead of time.

Nationwide 700 family plan with:

Line 1 - microsim Note 2 - UDP (upgrade available 2/20/15)
Line 2 and 3 dumb phones upgrades currently available for both.

Using Best Buy method, can I upgrade one of the 2 dumb phones to what I want (phone with microsim adding TDP) and have it shipped to house.
Then get new phone and toss out new sim and put in the old sim?
Would I have to do anything online?
And the tiered data plan activation pending will fall off anywhere within a month or 2 with out being charged for it?

Thank you to anyone who helps.

Another question:
If that is so, do I wait for Note 4 to drop down or get the Note 3 for $1.00?

 

[annabananana]

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

I am sure a variation of this question has been asked before so I am sorry in advance! I have very little of a clue of what I'm doing and just need some specified guidance.

On a family plan with:
Line 1- iphone 4s UDP, upgrade available
Line 2- iphone 4s UDP, upgrade available
Line 3- iphone 4s TDP, no upgrade available
Line 4- iphone 5c TDP, upgrade available
Line 5- basic flip phone, upgrade available

I was originally planning on giving my (line 2) upgrade to line 3, buying an iphone 6 online, activating it when it came in the mail, and then switching line 2 & 3's phones. My big concern comes in with will this method work since they are both 3g phones? I have read some very mixed things on this forum concerning that.

Along with that, if this is possible, what happens if line 3 wants to keep her original phone, is it possible after everything is done to switch her line back to the original 4s?

Thanks in advance for putting up with and possibly answering my annoying questions!

 

[dusoccer10]

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

I hate to ask this being that it may have been covered in the 323 pages before, so I apologize ahead of time.

Nationwide 700 family plan with:

Line 1 - microsim Note 2 - UDP (upgrade available 2/20/15)
Line 2 and 3 dumb phones upgrades currently available for both.

Using Best Buy method, can I upgrade one of the 2 dumb phones to what I want (phone with microsim adding TDP) and have it shipped to house.
Then get new phone and toss out new sim and put in the old sim?
Would I have to do anything online?
And the tiered data plan activation pending will fall off anywhere within a month or 2 with out being charged for it?

Thank you to anyone who helps.

Another question:
If that is so, do I wait for Note 4 to drop down or get the Note 3 for $1.00?

You can use any of your upgrades and do the method you are suggesting. As long as you put in your current SIM before turning on the phone, it will work. The line you use the upgrade will get the pending activation that should fall off in a month or two.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dusoccer10]

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

I am sure a variation of this question has been asked before so I am sorry in advance! I have very little of a clue of what I'm doing and just need some specified guidance.

On a family plan with:
Line 1- iphone 4s UDP, upgrade available
Line 2- iphone 4s UDP, upgrade available
Line 3- iphone 4s TDP, no upgrade available
Line 4- iphone 5c TDP, upgrade available
Line 5- basic flip phone, upgrade available

I was originally planning on giving my (line 2) upgrade to line 3, buying an iphone 6 online, activating it when it came in the mail, and then switching line 2 & 3's phones. My big concern comes in with will this method work since they are both 3g phones? I have read some very mixed things on this forum concerning that.

Along with that, if this is possible, what happens if line 3 wants to keep her original phone, is it possible after everything is done to switch her line back to the original 4s?

Thanks in advance for putting up with and possibly answering my annoying questions!

The easiest way for you would be to use line 4 rather than 3 since the iPhone 5c is a LTE phone. Is it possible to use that line?

 

[annabananana]

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

Yeah I don't think that would be a problem using that line to upgrade, do you think that is the best method to go? Also, how would I switch that line back to the original 5c after everything is said and done?

 

[annabananana]

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

The easiest way for you would be to use line 4 rather than 3 since the iPhone 5c is a LTE phone. Is it possible to use that line?

Yeah I don't think that would be a problem using that line to upgrade, do you think that is the best method to go? Also, how would I switch that line back to the original 5c after everything is said and done?

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Yeah I don't think that would be a problem using that line to upgrade, do you think that is the best method to go? Also, how would I switch that line back to the original 5c after everything is said and done?

Just do the following:

1.) Purchase the iPhone 6 and have it shipped home using line 4's upgrade
2.) When the smartphone arrives just activate it on Line 4 following the directions that came with the phone using the new SIM card as well. Make sure to shut down the iPhone 5c first and keep the old SIM.
3.) Wait about an hour and make sure that the phone works (test call, texts, and data).

Now you just need to reactivate the iPhone 5c on line 4 to free up the iPhone 6. Do the following:

4.) Shut down the iPhone 6
5.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
6.) Select line 4 (should have a picture of the new iPhone)
7.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the iPhone 5c. Select the iPhone 5 and follow directions.

Now you just need to get the iPhone 6 on your line:

8.) Shut down the 4s
9.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
10.) Select line 2
11.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the iPhone 6. Select the iPhone 6 and follow directions.

Finally, enjoy your new phone! The good news is you can repeat this process for all of your other lines by just transferring their upgrades to line 4 since it is a tiered line with a LTE phone already on it.

 

[annabananana]

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

Just do the following:

1.) Purchase the iPhone 6 and have it shipped home using line 4's upgrade
2.) When the smartphone arrives just activate it on Line 4 following the directions that came with the phone using the new SIM card as well. Make sure to shut down the iPhone 5c first and keep the old SIM.
3.) Wait about an hour and make sure that the phone works (test call, texts, and data).

Now you just need to reactivate the iPhone 5c on line 4 to free up the iPhone 6. Do the following:

4.) Shut down the iPhone 6
5.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
6.) Select line 4 (should have a picture of the new iPhone)
7.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the iPhone 5c. Select the iPhone 5 and follow directions.

Now you just need to get the iPhone 6 on your line:

8.) Shut down the 4s
9.) Log into Verizon online and select "activate or switch devices"
10.) Select line 2
11.) Select "activating device that I previously used". In the list should be the iPhone 6. Select the iPhone 6 and follow directions.

Finally, enjoy your new phone! The good news is you can repeat this process for all of your other lines by just transferring their upgrades to line 4 since it is a tiered line with a LTE phone already on it.

Since the 5c itself already has an upgrade, is it still fine to go through with your method using the 5c's upgrade?

And thank you so much for that detailed explanation, it has helped so much!!

 

[AndroidFan4ever]

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

Just wanted to say thank you to Dusoccer10 for your help. Followed your instructions and it worked like a charm:-*

One advice I can give to the next person doing the switcheroo is to write down the Sim Card number of the new phone and the old phone. During the switcheroo I was prompted to enter the SIM number. It took awhile to get the numbers because they were tiny and VZW kept on logging me out. Otherwise, everything worked fine.

I got to keep my UDP and got a new Droid Turbo at a discounted rate. Yey!!! Oh btw my the Upgrade Date on the UDP line did not change and still shows available for upgrade since 6/2014. Now, I am tempted to transfer the upgrade again to my hubby's TDP line, get and activate a new Iphone5c for free then switch him back to his old phone. Then I will give the iPhone 5c to my son to play with no data/line access cause his itouch is dying.

Again, many many thanks to all the contributors here!!!

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Since the 5c itself already has an upgrade, is it still fine to go through with your method using the 5c's upgrade?

And thank you so much for that detailed explanation, it has helped so much!!

Correct. You don't need to transfer your upgrade to 5c because it already has one.

 

[rustylongwood]

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

Wanted to report great success with this method. Had a Galaxy S5 that died. Verizon reps all said "No, you can't use your line's upgrade and keep the full data plan. You have to pay full price for a new phone or lose unlimited data." So I bought a Droid Turbo for $100 using my line's upgrade through BestBuy.com , delivered to my home. I called the Best Buy store to see if I could pick it up in store and walk out with the cell unactivated or pop in my own SIM card. They said the same crap as the Verizon reps and said they had to activate it in store. Phone arrived to house Threw away the included preinstalled nanoSIM. After cutting down my S5 microSIM to a nanoSIM size with the aid of a friendly owner at a phone repair store, I popped it into the Turbo and wah-lah, it worked. Said "Your number XXX-XXX-XXXX is already activated" on first boot, and 4G LTE worked immediately. I did nothing with Verizon.com or calling to activate or anything else before hand. Verizon.com now lists the Droid Turbo as my phone and, drumroll, unlimited data remains.

Takeaways:

1. Don't believe the Verizon or Best Buy reps.
2. To use your own line's upgrade, get the new phone in your hands, throw out the new SIM without booting, stick in the old SIM card and power it on. That's it.
3. Read everything carefully to make sure you aren't agreeing to a new plan! Verify "keep your existing plan" is noted on your order. I saved PDF printouts of two pages of my BestBuy order indicating I would keep my existing plan. I anticipate Verizon will figure out this Bestbuy/ 3rd party loophole soon. Don't get caught when it changes.