- Nov 16, 2010
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For more information on the increase, see this thread.
The price increase affects customers with the legacy Unlimited Data Plan ($29.99) on their older lines that are out of contract.
The exceptions are:
This guide will cover ways to get a UDP line on-contract.
LOYALTY PROMOTIONS
Currently there are two separate loyalty promotions available. I'm currently on an older NATIONWIDE TALK SHARE plan and these were available to me:
LOYALTY 100 TEXTS X 12MOS 1YR
LOYALTY 100 MINS X 12MOS 1YR
If you're currently out of contract, applying either of these to your account will put you back on contract for one more year. Since you'll be back on-contract, an ETF will again apply should you decide to leave ($175).
If you still have over a year left on your current contract - do not add these. They take effect from the day or billing cycle that you add them to. They will not extend your contract beyond the current end date.
If you have less than a year left on your current contract, I recommend calling in during month 23 or 24 to get the most out of the extension.
How to add a promotion -
Call Verizon Wireless customer service (*611 from your device) and get transferred to speak to a live representative. Tell them you're inquiring about any bonus or loyalty promotions that could possibly apply to your account. They will spend a moment or two looking around and may need to poke around "different areas" to find something. (I casually mentioned that "a friend of mine was able to get 100 bonus minutes"). Be cheerful and energetic. Don't put anyone in a bad mood.
If the representative is unable to find anything for you, that's fine. Be polite. Say, "thank you for checking", and try again later with another call.
While two options are available, you may want to only add one of them then call back in a year to add the other to get another extension. Adding both at the same time will not put you into a two year contract.
TRANSFER YOUR UPGRADE
With a UDP line out of contract, you are eligible to get upgrade pricing with a 2-year contract renewal. However, if you upgrade on your UDP line, you will have to select a new tiered data plan.
If you have other non-UDP lines on your account, you can transfer the upgrade to one of those lines. When you use the upgrade on one of those lines, it renews the contract of the UDP line. You can do this in-store but IMO it is safer to do this yourself online at Verizon Wireless. Verizon posts instructions on an FAQ here.
Buy a new phone using the Upgrade Discount and activate it on the non-UDP line. You may want to use it in the device for about an hour. Then, simply swap the new SIM back to the previous device. Feel free to use the new device on the UDP line or sell it. (Or just use the new device on the non-UDP line).
Example:
Line 1: UDP with UPGRADE AVAILABLE (possibly also out of contract)
Line 2: TDP no UPGRADE AVAILABLE (currently on-contract)
Transfer upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2. Buy new phone with Line 2's new available upgrade. Activate phone (on Line 2, new SIM usually provided). Line 1 goes back onto a 2-year contract. Line 2's contract/upgrade date is unaffected.
SINGLE LINE OR NO OTHER NON-UDP LINE ON THE ACCOUNT
My advice initially: get yourself another year by using a Loyalty Promotion as mentioned above.
If you want to get back on a two-year contract (or maybe try a new device out), refer to the section in the Unlimited Data FAQ for Upgrades and New Lines thread about Keeping Unlimited Data When upgrading using either of these methods: Upgrade with one unlimited line (Best Buy Method) or Upgrading with two unlimited lines.
I would recommend the "Best Buy Method" where you buy a new phone through Best Buy (or other third-party retailer) and have it shipped to you. Do not turn the new phone on. Remove and destroy the SIM card that it shipped with. Your contract will be renewed for another two years and you will still have your UDP.
If you see any errors, or would like to add some detail, please feel free to post below.
The price increase affects customers with the legacy Unlimited Data Plan ($29.99) on their older lines that are out of contract.
The exceptions are:
- lines that are still under contract.
- government accounts.
- corporate/business accounts (Note: this does not refer to lines that have corporate discounts).
- legacy Alltel plans where the data plan was NOT a separate cost.
This guide will cover ways to get a UDP line on-contract.
LOYALTY PROMOTIONS
Currently there are two separate loyalty promotions available. I'm currently on an older NATIONWIDE TALK SHARE plan and these were available to me:
LOYALTY 100 TEXTS X 12MOS 1YR
LOYALTY 100 MINS X 12MOS 1YR
If you're currently out of contract, applying either of these to your account will put you back on contract for one more year. Since you'll be back on-contract, an ETF will again apply should you decide to leave ($175).
If you still have over a year left on your current contract - do not add these. They take effect from the day or billing cycle that you add them to. They will not extend your contract beyond the current end date.
If you have less than a year left on your current contract, I recommend calling in during month 23 or 24 to get the most out of the extension.
How to add a promotion -
Call Verizon Wireless customer service (*611 from your device) and get transferred to speak to a live representative. Tell them you're inquiring about any bonus or loyalty promotions that could possibly apply to your account. They will spend a moment or two looking around and may need to poke around "different areas" to find something. (I casually mentioned that "a friend of mine was able to get 100 bonus minutes"). Be cheerful and energetic. Don't put anyone in a bad mood.
If the representative is unable to find anything for you, that's fine. Be polite. Say, "thank you for checking", and try again later with another call.
While two options are available, you may want to only add one of them then call back in a year to add the other to get another extension. Adding both at the same time will not put you into a two year contract.
TRANSFER YOUR UPGRADE
With a UDP line out of contract, you are eligible to get upgrade pricing with a 2-year contract renewal. However, if you upgrade on your UDP line, you will have to select a new tiered data plan.
If you have other non-UDP lines on your account, you can transfer the upgrade to one of those lines. When you use the upgrade on one of those lines, it renews the contract of the UDP line. You can do this in-store but IMO it is safer to do this yourself online at Verizon Wireless. Verizon posts instructions on an FAQ here.
Can I transfer my upgrade to someone else on my plan?
Sure can! Here’s the deal: Log in to My Verizon, then go to the Upgrade Device page and click Transfer Upgrade. Select the mobile number you want to upgrade. This will transfer upgrade eligibility to that line. Pick the device you want to upgrade to, click next, and follow the onscreen prompts to complete the remaining steps. Easy! (Just remember, when you transfer eligibility from one line to another, the original line is no longer eligible for the upgrade discount.)
Buy a new phone using the Upgrade Discount and activate it on the non-UDP line. You may want to use it in the device for about an hour. Then, simply swap the new SIM back to the previous device. Feel free to use the new device on the UDP line or sell it. (Or just use the new device on the non-UDP line).
Example:
Line 1: UDP with UPGRADE AVAILABLE (possibly also out of contract)
Line 2: TDP no UPGRADE AVAILABLE (currently on-contract)
Transfer upgrade from Line 1 to Line 2. Buy new phone with Line 2's new available upgrade. Activate phone (on Line 2, new SIM usually provided). Line 1 goes back onto a 2-year contract. Line 2's contract/upgrade date is unaffected.
SINGLE LINE OR NO OTHER NON-UDP LINE ON THE ACCOUNT
My advice initially: get yourself another year by using a Loyalty Promotion as mentioned above.
If you want to get back on a two-year contract (or maybe try a new device out), refer to the section in the Unlimited Data FAQ for Upgrades and New Lines thread about Keeping Unlimited Data When upgrading using either of these methods: Upgrade with one unlimited line (Best Buy Method) or Upgrading with two unlimited lines.
I would recommend the "Best Buy Method" where you buy a new phone through Best Buy (or other third-party retailer) and have it shipped to you. Do not turn the new phone on. Remove and destroy the SIM card that it shipped with. Your contract will be renewed for another two years and you will still have your UDP.
If you see any errors, or would like to add some detail, please feel free to post below.