Is there a way to get around the Verizon activation fee?

[phillthedrill]

I've been with Verizon since they took over PrimeCo back in the late 90s. I have a 4G sim card and want to stay on my grandfathered unlimited. Will moving my sim card from my Note 10+ phone to the new S22 Ultra allow me not to be charged an activation fee?

 

[buzzy3970]

Where did you purchase your phone from?

 

[Emig5m]

I don't recall ever getting a activation fee from just swapping the sim card from one phone to the other but I'm on AT&T.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Depends where you bought it. If you bought it from Samsung and the unlocked model you should be able to just swap the SIM card from old to new and not pay the activation fee. That's the only way I know of how to avoid that ridiculous fee. I'm sure Verizon will find a way to fix this though.

With Verizon going to 36 months financing crap I'll probably start buying unlocked phones from now on.

 

[Samsmome]

I've been with Verizon since they took over PrimeCo back in the late 90s. I have a 4G sim card and want to stay on my grandfathered unlimited. Will moving my sim card from my Note 10+ phone to the new S22 Ultra allow me not to be charged an activation fee?

I too am on Verizon. As long as you didn't buy it from Verizon there is no activation fee. I have the Note 10+ unlocked, no fee when I swapped phones. We have bought phones from Amazon, again no activation fee.
We have 6 lines on our account no activation fee for any of them.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I too am on Verizon. As long as you didn't buy it from Verizon there is no activation fee. I have the Note 10+ unlocked, no fee when I swapped phones. We have bought phones from Amazon, again no activation fee.
We have 6 lines on our account no activation fee for any of them.

All unlocked? I've bought Verizon branded phones from other places and was charged the activation fee. Best buy, Sams club. I imagine Samsung direct Verizon branded phones get that fee also. I'm just curious, I've always been told if it's Verizon branded there's the fee, but those all are agents for Verizon also. Was told to buy unlocked or used to avoid that fee. Thanks for input

 

[AndroidJay]

All unlocked? I've bought Verizon branded phones from other places and was charged the activation fee. Best buy, Sams club. I imagine Samsung direct Verizon branded phones get that fee also. I'm just curious, I've always been told if it's Verizon branded there's the fee, but those all are agents for Verizon also. Was told to buy unlocked or used to avoid that fee. Thanks for input

If you buy a Verizon version and the 3rd party stores link it to your Verizon account, you will be charged an upgrade fee. Only way around it, is buying an unlocked phone from places like Samsung, Best Buy and swamping your SIM cards.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

If you buy a Verizon version and the 3rd party stores link it to your Verizon account, you will be charged an upgrade fee. Only way around it, is buying an unlocked phone from places like Samsung, Best Buy and swamping your SIM cards.

Ok, thanks. That's how I understood it.

 

[jinxygrrl]

I received my S22 Ultra unlocked from Samsung yesterday, put my Note 20 Ultra sim card in it and was not notified of an activation fee.

 

[lindajm22]

What is the difference in buying an unlocked phone? Is there any down side? Why would anyone buy a branded phone from Verizon (like I just did) instead of getting an unlocked phone if you don't have to pay the activation fee? Could Verizon ever reject it?

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

What is the difference in buying an unlocked phone? Is there any down side? Why would anyone buy a branded phone from Verizon (like I just did) instead of getting an unlocked phone if you don't have to pay the activation fee? Could Verizon ever reject it?

Most get Verizon because Verizon finances more easily, convenient. Unlocked phones you have to pay up front or finance thru Samsung which goes off your credit, will show on your credit, Verizon will not show up on your credit, unless you don't pay. Verizon will not tech support a unlocked phone, they will confirm it's not their system and transfer you to Samsung. You won't have Verizon visual voicemail, you lose the video calling on the dialer app, you have to use something like Google duo. Things like that. For the most part, it's not that different.

 

[lindajm22]

Most get Verizon because Verizon finances more easily, convenient. Unlocked phones you have to pay up front or finance thru Samsung which goes off your credit, will show on your credit, Verizon will not show up on your credit, unless you don't pay. Verizon will not tech support a unlocked phone, they will confirm it's not their system and transfer you to Samsung. You won't have Verizon visual voicemail, you lose the video calling on the dialer app, you have to use something like Google duo. Things like that. For the most part, it's not that different.

Thank you for all of that! Those are things I wouldn't want to do without so it seems I am happy to have bought from Verizon then. Thanks for all the info!

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

Thank you for all of that! Those are things I wouldn't want to do without so it seems I am happy to have bought from Verizon then. Thanks for all the info!

No problem. There are other options for visual voice mail out there, just not Verizon's.

 

[FACTagent]

Most get Verizon because Verizon finances more easily, convenient. Unlocked phones you have to pay up front or finance thru Samsung which goes off your credit, will show on your credit, Verizon will not show up on your credit, unless you don't pay. Verizon will not tech support a unlocked phone, they will confirm it's not their system and transfer you to Samsung. You won't have Verizon visual voicemail, you lose the video calling on the dialer app, you have to use something like Google duo. Things like that. For the most part, it's not that different.

I currently have an unlocked Z Fold 3 on Verizon (going to S22 Ultra) and I have visual voice mail and Wi-Fi calling working. What doesn't work is video calling in the dialer and the Verizon version of RCS in the Samsung Messages app.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I currently have an unlocked Z Fold 3 on Verizon (going to S22 Ultra) and I have visual voice mail and Wi-Fi calling working. What doesn't work is video calling in the dialer and the Verizon version of RCS in the Samsung Messages app.

Interesting. I don't have Verizon's visual voicemail. I don't use it so didn't look hard for it.

 

[danhartman26]

When I swapped my Sim from Note 9 to unlocked N20U on Verizon, I got charged the $35 activation fee. No notification, it just showed up on my bill.

 

[grafixguy#AC]

Even when I bought from Verizon I did a bit of negotiating with a CSR and got the fees waived. Now, it's all unlocked for me.

 

[Samsmome]

All unlocked? I've bought Verizon branded phones from other places and was charged the activation fee. Best buy, Sams club. I imagine Samsung direct Verizon branded phones get that fee also. I'm just curious, I've always been told if it's Verizon branded there's the fee, but those all are agents for Verizon also. Was told to buy unlocked or used to avoid that fee. Thanks for input

Yes, all unlocked. No carrier branding.

 

[Samsmome]

When I swapped my Sim from Note 9 to unlocked N20U on Verizon, I got charged the $35 activation fee. No notification, it just showed up on my bill.

I'm sorry that happened.
My husband 3 phones unlocked, my son going on his 3rd (when he gets s22u)unlocked, my daughter 1 unlocked and myself will be 2. Plus 2 other phones unlocked on our account. Not a single activation fee.

 

[phillthedrill]

Hey all, I got the unlocked S22 Ultra from Samsung. I appreciate everyone's info. Hopefully I won't get charged a fee either. The Note 10+ I have is a Verizon branded that I bought from Best Buy almost 3 years ago.