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

[jtran000@gmail.com]

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

Hi All, great thread and I just want to thank everyone in advance who's helping out with the plethora of questions.

I just lost my LG G2 and in a weird predicament so any help would be appreciated:

Line 1: LG G2 (lost) with UDP and upgrade
Line 2: Iphone 5 with TDP and no upgrade

My question is, can I transfer my upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2, activate the new phone on Line 2, reactivate the Iphone 5 back onto Line 2...
So, how do I get the new phone back onto Line 1?

I do have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus w/ a micro sim card still inside but the phone isn't working. Do I need to get a beater smart phone to activate on Line 1 before I can transfer the sim card to the new phone? I'm trying not to spend more money then I need.

Thanks again!

 

[tx_tuff]

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

Hi All, great thread and I just want to thank everyone in advance who's helping out with the plethora of questions.

I just lost my LG G2 and in a weird predicament so any help would be appreciated:

Line 1: LG G2 (lost) with UDP and upgrade
Line 2: Iphone 5 with TDP and no upgrade

My question is, can I transfer my upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2, activate the new phone on Line 2, reactivate the Iphone 5 back onto Line 2...
So, how do I get the new phone back onto Line 1?

I do have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus w/ a micro sim card still inside but the phone isn't working. Do I need to get a beater smart phone to activate on Line 1 before I can transfer the sim card to the new phone? I'm trying not to spend more money then I need.

Thanks again!

After you reactivate the iPhone it t frees up the new phone. Just add it to line 1, no need to change the SIM.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

So here is what I did:

I ordered the phone from moto maker (off contract).

I have an upgrade available but I don't even want to use it at all... (on my UDP line).

To activate it, can I just remove the sim card from my phone and put it in the new one?

Assuming they are the same size, this would work. Otherwise, it is safe to use the SIM that ships with the new phone since you paid full price and did not use the upgrade.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

That's correct. I guess the best way to phrase my q is, what is the most cost effective way for me to upgrade both lines and keep my UDP on my line. Thank you again

Like I said, it's fairly easy for someone in your situation. The very first thing you do is upgrade your wife's line to whatever new smartphone she wants. Since she uses Apple, I'll assume you are getting an iPhone 6. Feel free to upgrade her to the 6 however you want as it does not matter (in-store at Verizon/Best Buy, online, etc...).

Once you wife's phone has been upgraded, then it's time to work on the unlimited line. Do the following:

1.) Through Verizon online, transfer your upgrade to your wife's line and order whatever new phone you want. Have it shipped to home.
2.) When it arrives, activate it on your wife's line following the directions provided with the phone.
3.) Wait at least an hour and make sure the new smartphone works
4.) Power off the new smartphone
5.) Log onto Verizon online and go to "activate or switch device"
6.) Reactivate your wife's new iPhone back onto her line
7.) Now activate the new Android that you want

 

[Mr. Toad]

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

If I get my phone from moto maker how do I use it on my UDP line? I guess this means I can't upgrade?

Are you using the upgrade from your unlimited line. Motomaker and Costco are not recommended to use the best buy method according to the slickdeals.net thread.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[bobken75]

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

Ok Reading through these comments i think theres a couple of ways for me to upgrade my phone on L1 and keep my UDP but would like your input to make sure. My goal is to replace my Note 3 with an iphone 6+. On best buy site im unable to transfer L1 upgrade to L3 because L3 is eligble for an early edge upgrade. I am able to transfer L1 upgrade to L4 but the problem with that is I dont have that phone in my possesion and it needs to remain active as is. Do I just do the Best Buy method for L1 or transfer L1 upgrade to L4 and discard sim in new iphone and replace with sim from Note 3. I know sims are a differnt size and will have to cut the Note 3 sim down to size. Thanks for any input you may have.

L1: UDP Note 3 Yes
L2: UDP iphone 6 Yes
L3: TDP iphone 5 No
L4: TDP Droid Maxx HD No

 

[quacksauce]

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

dusoccer10, after all of your steps and advice, everything is working really well!

To recap, I have:
Line 1: UDP Samsung Galaxy S4 iPhone6 (used upgrade from Line 3 + Verizon online SIM/IMEI activation), upgrade available.
Line 2: TDP Samsung Galaxy S4, upgrade not available.
Line 3: No data, dumb phone, upgrade not available, pending activation.

If I add a month of international data and/or calling to Line 1 for a week of travel, would that constitute a change to any of plans and risk either losing UDP and/or raising a flag that may cause for UDP loss?

 

[beho86]

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

Hello, I am wondering if you guys can advise me on this issue:

I am currently in a family plan of 4 devices, and I am the only UDP. I want to open a new family plan for me and my wife (she is not a Verizon customer yet). How can I do this and keep my unlimited?

 

[dusoccer10]

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

dusoccer10, after all of your steps and advice, everything is working really well!

To recap, I have:
Line 1: UDP Samsung Galaxy S4 iPhone6 (used upgrade from Line 3 + Verizon online SIM/IMEI activation), upgrade available.
Line 2: TDP Samsung Galaxy S4, upgrade not available.
Line 3: No data, dumb phone, upgrade not available, pending activation.

If I add a month of international data and/or calling to Line 1 for a week of travel, would that constitute a change to any of plans and risk either losing UDP and/or raising a flag that may cause for UDP loss?

I'm glad to hear that everything worked!

Line 3 should have a pending activation on it. Generally, that means that Verizon's system will prevent you from making changes to the plan until it drops off (usually after a month or so). See if you can add international data/calling online through Verizon. If the system allows it, you are fine. If not, you'll need to wait until the pending activation falls off Line 3.

Whatever you do, do not call or talk with Verizon. The method you did will not harm your unlimited data, but if Verizon forces the pending activation to go through, you'll get hit with a new data plan on Line 3. This is why I initially recommended transferring your upgrade to Line 2 as you would not be having this issue going that route.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Ok Reading through these comments i think theres a couple of ways for me to upgrade my phone on L1 and keep my UDP but would like your input to make sure. My goal is to replace my Note 3 with an iphone 6+. On best buy site im unable to transfer L1 upgrade to L3 because L3 is eligble for an early edge upgrade. I am able to transfer L1 upgrade to L4 but the problem with that is I dont have that phone in my possesion and it needs to remain active as is. Do I just do the Best Buy method for L1 or transfer L1 upgrade to L4 and discard sim in new iphone and replace with sim from Note 3. I know sims are a differnt size and will have to cut the Note 3 sim down to size. Thanks for any input you may have.

L1: UDP Note 3 Yes
L2: UDP iphone 6 Yes
L3: TDP iphone 5 No
L4: TDP Droid Maxx HD No

You have a couple of different options:

1.) Use Verizon - even with an early edge offer, you can use Verizon online and transfer your upgrade from Line 1 to Line 3. Early Edge only applies to Best Buy.

2.) Use IMEI/SIM numbers - if you wanted to use Best Buy, transfer your upgrade to Line 4 and have the phone shipped to home. You can use the IMEI/SIM numbers that come with the phone to activate it directly onto Line 1 and not worry about cutting your existing SIM. I would try this method first before method 3.

3.) Cut existing SIM - Buy a SIM cutter from Amazon, use Best Buy and order the 6+. You have the right idea of what to do. I would use this as a fallback if method 2 does not work.

Any of the 3 methods will work so just look for the best deal between Best Buy and Verizon. Note that methods 2 and 3 will give you a pending activation on Line 4. This will fall off in about a month. Method 1 will not give you a pending activation. A pending activation will not harm your account, but it will prevent any plan changes until it falls off.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Hello, I am wondering if you guys can advise me on this issue:

I am currently in a family plan of 4 devices, and I am the only UDP. I want to open a new family plan for me and my wife (she is not a Verizon customer yet). How can I do this and keep my unlimited?

Be prepared that Verizon may not allow it. You really have three options (though 2 of them are basically the same thing with different layouts). Options 1 and 2 are easy and Verizon will have no problems with it. Option 3 may be difficult depending on who you are talking to:

1.) Just add a device to your current family plan so that there are 5. While probably not ideal, this is the most simplistic and easiest way to add your wife to the plan.

2.) Contact Verizon and ask for the unlimited line to be moved into its own sub-account. Now, add your wife to the same sub-account. This is very similar to option 1; however, the bill layout is different. So, depending on your end goal, this may be helpful.

3.) You'll need to do an Assumption of Liability to the unlimited data line. If you are not the current account holder, you'll need to do a credit check and pass before Verizon allows it. Additionally, Verizon does not "officially" allow assumption of unlimited lines; though, there have been cases where it happens...a lot of this is rep dependent.

 

[beho86]

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

The first option won't work, as I want a separate account, trying to get away from my old family plan.
For the 2nd option, Can the sub account be a another separate family plan? I am asking because I have never heard about a sub-account. If it is possible to have a sub family plan (separate bill), can it be later converted to a separate plan/account.

 

[startertan]

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

Hey everybody! This is a great thread and I've done my best to read through the latest posts, I know that VZW has closed a lot of the loopholes so I didn't see much need to read post prior to August 2014 or so. I've also been on DroidLife, XDA, etc. to try to figure this out on my own but I could use some advice/help here. I, like everyone else on the thread, would like to keep my UDP on my main line and upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S6, line 1. Here's the breakdown of my situation:

Line 1: Samsung Galaxy S4; UDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 2: iPhone 5; TDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 3: Dumbphone; No DP; Upgrade eligible
Line 4: Dumbphone; No DP; Not upgrade eligible

So reading through everything, I believe my options are:

Option 1: Use L2's upgrade, order the S6 using L2's upgrade, have it shipped home and then just activate it on L1 via VZW's website. Later on when L2 is ready for a new device, transfer L1's upgrade to L2 and then order the new phone. The concern being L2 will want to upgrade in a few months and I don't want to lose that ability since it's already on a TDP.

Questions: Do I need to swap SIM cards? I thought I read a comment stating that the DP was encoded in the SIM so I would have to cut my S4 SIM to fit the S6? Couldn't I just take the SIM out of the new S6, take it to the VZW store and play dumb, tell them I got it off Craigslist and I need a new SIM card for the S6 and L1 and boom done? If Option 1 is viable, could I later transfer the upgrade from L3 to L2 and then upgrade then?

Option 2: Use L3's upgrade, order the S6 using L3's upgrade, have it shipped home and activate it on L1 via VZW's website. L3 will never need an upgrade so I'm not worried about that.

Problem: VZW's website requires you to add a TDP to the dumbphone line, so I guess this one really isn't an option and per Droid Life this is one of the loopholes that they had closed.{EDIT] Rereading dusoccer's post above, it looks like I could still do this possibly? If I never activate the phone then it shouldn't charge me for the data line? So would this option require me to cut the S4 SIM card in order to get it to work? The one thing I'm missing from all these posts is that both VZW and BB require you to add TDP to the dumbphone line, how do you get around not paying for that?

Option 3: Order the phone from Best Buy in a similar fashion to Option 1.

Questions: I'd rather not involve BB/3rd party at all but it seems like I'd have the same issue with the SIM card yes? {EDIT} Just went on Best Buy's website and it states that VZW is forcing people onto TDP so I guess this option is out as well?

Thanks to anyone/everyone taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate it. In the mean time I'll keep reading through sites/forums to try to figure things out.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

The first option won't work, as I want a separate account, trying to get away from my old family plan.
For the 2nd option, Can the sub account be a another separate family plan? I am asking because I have never heard about a sub-account. If it is possible to have a sub family plan (separate bill), can it be later converted to a separate plan/account.

Verizon only allows 5 lines per account. However, people can create sub-accounts under the master account to give them more lines. A sub-account can be billed separately; though, the owner of the master account is still liable if the sub-account does not pay. The good thing about sub-accounts is that they can be completely different plans. One account can be a Nationwide Family Plan and the other could be a More Everything.

It sounds like you want to do option 3. There is no guarantee that you will be able to keep the unlimited line, but this option is the only way to get what you truly want.

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Hey everybody! This is a great thread and I've done my best to read through the latest posts, I know that VZW has closed a lot of the loopholes so I didn't see much need to read post prior to August 2014 or so. I've also been on DroidLife, XDA, etc. to try to figure this out on my own but I could use some advice/help here. I, like everyone else on the thread, would like to keep my UDP on my main line and upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S6, line 1. Here's the breakdown of my situation:

Line 1: Samsung Galaxy S4; UDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 2: iPhone 5; TDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 3: Dumbphone; No DP; Upgrade eligible
Line 4: Dumbphone; No DP; Not upgrade eligible

So reading through everything, I believe my options are:

Option 1: Use L2's upgrade, order the S6 using L2's upgrade, have it shipped home and then just activate it on L1 via VZW's website. Later on when L2 is ready for a new device, transfer L1's upgrade to L2 and then order the new phone. The concern being L2 will want to upgrade in a few months and I don't want to lose that ability since it's already on a TDP.

Questions: Do I need to swap SIM cards? I thought I read a comment stating that the DP was encoded in the SIM so I would have to cut my S4 SIM to fit the S6? Couldn't I just take the SIM out of the new S6, take it to the VZW store and play dumb, tell them I got it off Craigslist and I need a new SIM card for the S6 and L1 and boom done? If Option 1 is viable, could I later transfer the upgrade from L3 to L2 and then upgrade then?

Option 2: Use L3's upgrade, order the S6 using L3's upgrade, have it shipped home and activate it on L1 via VZW's website. L3 will never need an upgrade so I'm not worried about that.

Problem: VZW's website requires you to add a TDP to the dumbphone line, so I guess this one really isn't an option and per Droid Life this is one of the loopholes that they had closed.{EDIT] Rereading dusoccer's post above, it looks like I could still do this possibly? If I never activate the phone then it shouldn't charge me for the data line? So would this option require me to cut the S4 SIM card in order to get it to work? The one thing I'm missing from all these posts is that both VZW and BB require you to add TDP to the dumbphone line, how do you get around not paying for that?

Option 3: Order the phone from Best Buy in a similar fashion to Option 1.

Questions: I'd rather not involve BB/3rd party at all but it seems like I'd have the same issue with the SIM card yes? {EDIT} Just went on Best Buy's website and it states that VZW is forcing people onto TDP so I guess this option is out as well?

Thanks to anyone/everyone taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate it. In the mean time I'll keep reading through sites/forums to try to figure things out.

You have the basics down; though, your questions comes from a small misunderstanding of when the plan changes occur. Your plans do not change when you order the smartphone. It happens when you activate the smartphone on the line the upgrade was used. That is why it is possible to use the basic phone upgrade even though the website asks you to select a tiered data plan. You do not get charged the data plan because you never actually activate the smartphone on Line 3. Activating the new S6 on Line 3 would implement the data charge. Activating the S6 directly onto Line 1 will not. That's how you get around the system.

With that said, the easiest way for you to upgrade is:

1.) Go to a Verizon store and upgrade Line 2 to a S6. It's safe to do this because this is a tiered line and will not affect your unlimited plan.
2.) Once Verizon has activated the S6 on Line 2, ask them to activate the iPhone 5 on Line 1. This will not affect your unlimited data either.
3.) Drive home
4.) Power off both the S6 and the iPhone 5
5.) Swap SIMs between the two phones so that the S6 is on Line 1 and the iPhone 5 is on Line 2 (both phones use a nano-SIM)
6.) Power on both phones and everything will be set.

This is the easiest way to upgrade Line 1 to a S6. When Line 2 wants to upgrade, you just need to order online from Verizon or Best Buy and transfer Line 1's upgrade to Line 2. This will not affect your unlimited data either.

 

[startertan]

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

You have the basics down; though, your questions comes from a small misunderstanding of when the plan changes occur. Your plans do not change when you order the smartphone. It happens when you activate the smartphone on the line the upgrade was used. That is why it is possible to use the basic phone upgrade even though the website asks you to select a tiered data plan. You do not get charged the data plan because you never actually activate the smartphone on Line 3. Activating the new S6 on Line 3 would implement the data charge. Activating the S6 directly onto Line 1 will not. That's how you get around the system.

With that said, the easiest way for you to upgrade is:

1.) Go to a Verizon store and upgrade Line 2 to a S6. It's safe to do this because this is a tiered line and will not affect your unlimited plan.
2.) Once Verizon has activated the S6 on Line 2, ask them to activate the iPhone 5 on Line 1. This will not affect your unlimited data either.
3.) Drive home
4.) Power off both the S6 and the iPhone 5
5.) Swap SIMs between the two phones so that the S6 is on Line 1 and the iPhone 5 is on Line 2 (both phones use a nano-SIM)
6.) Power on both phones and everything will be set.

This is the easiest way to upgrade Line 1 to a S6. When Line 2 wants to upgrade, you just need to order online from Verizon or Best Buy and transfer Line 1's upgrade to Line 2. This will not affect your unlimited data either.

Thanks dusoccer! I really appreciate the quick reply/feedback. What you outlined above is definitely the easiest way to get an S6 on L1. I was missing that bit about the changes not going into affect until the phone is actually activated on that line.

One more question, what if I wanted to use the dumb phone upgrade, would it work like this:

1. Order the S6 using the L3 upgrade and select a TDP
2. Have the S6 shipped to my home
3. Without turning on or charging the S6, open it up and remove the nano-SIM, the next part is where I get confused
4a. Take the micro-SIM out of my SGS4, use a SIM cutter to cut it to a nano-SIM, insert it into the SGS6 and power it on OR
4b. Take the SGS6 w/o the nano-SIM to a VZW store, tell them I bought it off CL but there is no SIM card and I need it activated on Line 1

Is 4a or 4b correct? 4b sounds less risky than cutting my SIM card, worst case though is that I just go to VZW and have them give me a new SIM for my SGS4 in case I have to go back. I don't mind using the upgrades on L1 (transferring it) or L2 but I have that upgrade on my L3 just sitting there, why not put it to good use?

Thanks again!

 

[dusoccer10]

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

Thanks dusoccer! I really appreciate the quick reply/feedback. What you outlined above is definitely the easiest way to get an S6 on L1. I was missing that bit about the changes not going into affect until the phone is actually activated on that line.

One more question, what if I wanted to use the dumb phone upgrade, would it work like this:

1. Order the S6 using the L3 upgrade and select a TDP
2. Have the S6 shipped to my home
3. Without turning on or charging the S6, open it up and remove the nano-SIM, the next part is where I get confused
4a. Take the micro-SIM out of my SGS4, use a SIM cutter to cut it to a nano-SIM, insert it into the SGS6 and power it on OR
4b. Take the SGS6 w/o the nano-SIM to a VZW store, tell them I bought it off CL but there is no SIM card and I need it activated on Line 1

Is 4a or 4b correct? 4b sounds less risky than cutting my SIM card, worst case though is that I just go to VZW and have them give me a new SIM for my SGS4 in case I have to go back. I don't mind using the upgrades on L1 (transferring it) or L2 but I have that upgrade on my L3 just sitting there, why not put it to good use?

Thanks again!

4a would definitely work. 4b would work only by ordering from Best Buy and using a VAR.

There is a 4c. You could try to activate the S6 directly onto Line 1 using the IMEI and SIM numbers that come with the phone. I'd go that route first and use 4a and/or 4b as fallbacks.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[startertan]

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

4a would definitely work. 4b would work only by ordering from Best Buy and using a VAR.

There is a 4c. You could try to activate the S6 directly onto Line 1 using the IMEI and SIM numbers that come with the phone. I'd go that route first and use 4a and/or 4b as fallbacks.

Posted via Android Central App

Once again I can't thank you enough dusoccer. Thanks for being patient and answering my questions. Just so I'm 100% clear:

1. Order the S6 using the L3 upgrade and select a TDP
2. Have the S6 shipped to my home
3. Open up the back of the phone and get the IMEI #
4. Log onto my VZW account
5. Activate a new device (never activated on this account before)
6. Enter in the IMEI of the SGS6
7. Power on the phone with the original nano-SIM card that came with the SGS6 and hope that it is now operating on my Line 1 number

Does this sound correct? Thanks again!!!

 

[barry93]

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

I haven't kept up with what Verizon is doing lately to remove the UDP from customers accounts. It has been about a year since i have gone through this process and im just looking for some confirmation on what my best option would be. I would like to keep my UDP on Line 1 and upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S6. My Verizon account looks like this:

Line 1: Samsung Galaxy S5; UDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 2: iPhone 5c; TDP; not upgrade eligible
Line 3: Dumbphone; No DP; not upgrade eligible
Line 4: Dumbphone; No DP; Upgrade eligible

What i'm confused about is i always thought there was no way i could use the upgrade on line 1. Its been month to month since i Verizon changed their policy and forced people to go to a TDP. After reading through some recent posts it looks like your actually able to use your upgrade, start a new 2 year plan, activate that phone on the same line with your original sim card and still keep your UDP on that same line. I thought it was the new contract that allowed them to remove the UDP. Is it truly only the sim card that forces the TDP?

Although it would be nice to use line 1s upgrade, I'm okay with using the upgrade for line 4. I mainly want to make sure they wont just take the UDP away some how. I know people with a similar plan have asked this question but before i make my move i want to be sure. Thank you all for your time and knowledge.

 

[Mr. Toad]

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

I haven't kept up with what Verizon is doing lately to remove the UDP from customers accounts. It has been about a year since i have gone through this process and im just looking for some confirmation on what my best option would be. I would like to keep my UDP on Line 1 and upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S6. My Verizon account looks like this:

Line 1: Samsung Galaxy S5; UDP; Upgrade eligible
Line 2: iPhone 5c; TDP; not upgrade eligible
Line 3: Dumbphone; No DP; not upgrade eligible
Line 4: Dumbphone; No DP; Upgrade eligible

What i'm confused about is i always thought there was no way i could use the upgrade on line 1. Its been month to month since i Verizon changed their policy and forced people to go to a TDP. After reading through some recent posts it looks like your actually able to use your upgrade, start a new 2 year plan, activate that phone on the same line with your original sim card and still keep your UDP on that same line. I thought it was the new contract that allowed them to remove the UDP. Is it truly only the sim card that forces the TDP?

Although it would be nice to use line 1s upgrade, I'm okay with using the upgrade for line 4. I mainly want to make sure they wont just take the UDP away some how. I know people with a similar plan have asked this question but before i make my move i want to be sure. Thank you all for your time and knowledge.

Best thing to do is just transfer your upgrade to Line 2. This can be done through Verizon online or Best Buy online.

If you use the upgrade from a dumbphone you have to be careful. Verizon now makes you pay for data for 2 years when getting a smartphone on the old plans. This can be bypassed by not activating the sim that comes with the phone.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk