Also, not really a way around it, but if you get a prepaid plan ($30 is currently the lowest) then you can activate as many prepaid devices as you want, and make a call while on the prepaid plan, that should clear that the imei.
Btw, if you have 3g prepaid devices then you can activate them on the prepaid line at the same time. 3g devices require 6 month wait though, so long as you activate it on prepaid once, then the clock starts ticking. You don't have to keep prepaid service for 6 months, just have to wait 6 months after activation .
Also got can check the trade in website with the imei of the device:
Electronic Device Recycling – Verizon Wireless
If you get an error message then don't put it on a post paid line as it will hotline the line.