Upgraded and Kept my Unlimited Plan

[TisMyDroid]

Because you have all three lines in unlimited, there are only three ways to get something fairly close to keeping your unlimited data. Either...

1. one of those lines would have to become a tiered line. If there is any one of you that uses minimal data, then move the upgrade to that line, activate the new phone on that line and choose a tiered data plan for that line. Then once the new phone is activated on that line and the contract updated, you can switch the new phone to any line you want.

2. Add a fourth line, buy the new phone fit that fourth line, choose a tiered plan for that fourth line. Once activated, you can switch the new phone to any line, put a dumb phone on that line and cancel the tiered data but would still cost an extra 9.99 for the next two years for the fourth line.

3. Buy a phone full retail, used or eBay, swappa, etc and can put that phone on any line.

 

[ralbertina]

Because you have all three lines in unlimited, there are only three ways to get something fairly close to keeping your unlimited data. Either...

1. one of those lines would have to become a tiered line. If there is any one of you that uses minimal data, then move the upgrade to that line, activate the new phone on that line and choose a tiered data plan for that line. Then once the new phone is activated on that line and the contract updated, you can switch the new phone to any line you want.

2. Add a fourth line, buy the new phone fit that fourth line, choose a tiered plan for that fourth line. Once activated, you can switch the new phone to any line, put a dumb phone on that line and cancel the tiered data but would still cost an extra 9.99 for the next two years for the fourth line.

3. Buy a phone full retail, used or eBay, swappa, etc and can put that phone on any line.

Unfortunately, it looks like we'll be selecting Option #3. The issue with option #2 is the when you add, the monthly surcharges, taxes etc to the $9.99/mo line, your actual out-of-pocket cost is $16/mo. $16 x 24 mos= $384. The $384 roughly becomes the difffernial cost between purchasing a phone outright vs. purchasing a subsidized phone under a 2 year contract committment. I rather just buy the phone outright and not be tied to a 2-year committment.

 

[TisMyDroid]

Yes, I totally agree with you. I would do the same.

 

[mmaxx]

I purchased a Maxx HD through Amazon for another number under my family plan that was eligible for upgrade a discounted price. As soon as the phone came in, instead of activating it on the number it was supposed to be activated on, I took it to Verizon and they complied the terms of service for amazon, and without activating it on the other line first, put it straight on my line that I have unlimited data grandfathered in on. No extra fees from Amazon or Verizon. Only fees I have occurred total is the 199.99 from Amazon for the phone and 30.00 for upgrading the other line with Verizon. The activated the SIM Card straight to my number instead of to the other number so it tied the Amazon terms of service to my line with unlimited data. I have no idea how the lady at Verizon did it, but she is a Godsend. So to sum it up, Maxx HD, discounted price, unlimited data, no extra fees.

Has anyone else done this with Amazon? I'm in this same situation...multiple lines on family plan. 2 unlimited, 2 tiered. Want to transfer unlimited upgrade to a tiered line, buy $199 Maxx HD from Amazon and then transfer phone back to my unlimited line. Totally get I could do this through Verizon, but looking to save the $100 and buy phone through Amazon. And clearly need to avoid Amazon's ETFs. Based on the post above I order phone under tiered number, but actually activate it on my unlimited line when I receive it...anyone else confirm this works? THANKS

 

[lloydstrans]

Several people here on the forums claim to have done this, I was going to recommend it but I do not have first hand experience. But it seems to be working for them.

Good luck. (Not being facetious)

 

[droidreajoh]

costco

Was just at my local Costco. Rep there said no problem, upgrade wifes sp with s3 then switch it to my unlimited with no probs. $197 out the door and verizon will bill me the $30 activation fee. Going to wait until my D3 dies completely though.

 

[TisMyDroid]

Has anyone else done this with Amazon? I'm in this same situation...multiple lines on family plan. 2 unlimited, 2 tiered. Want to transfer unlimited upgrade to a tiered line, buy $199 Maxx HD from Amazon and then transfer phone back to my unlimited line. Totally get I could do this through Verizon, but looking to save the $100 and buy phone through Amazon. And clearly need to avoid Amazon's ETFs. Based on the post above I order phone under tiered number, but actually activate it on my unlimited line when I receive it...anyone else confirm this works? THANKS

It is a risk you take. At any point in the 6 months Amazon can check to see if the phone remained on the line that was upgraded and decide to charge you the etf fee if it is not. Some have lucked out, others have not. Costco and best buy does not have this same policy and allow you to put your phone on any line you choose.

 

[Scimino]

I just upgraded at a Verizon store.....The lady tried everything in her power to keep my unlimited data....i no longer have unlimited data.

 

[mmaxx]

My luck I'll get stuck with the etf and somehow lose my ULP. Best to pay the extra $100 now and move on. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[beefchopper]

I just upgraded at a Verizon store.....The lady tried everything in her power to keep my unlimited data....i no longer have unlimited data.

Did you have another line with a dumbphone on it? If so did you try to buy the new smartphone on that line and then switch it as has been described in this thread?

 

[geoff5093]

I just upgraded at a Verizon store.....The lady tried everything in her power to keep my unlimited data....i no longer have unlimited data.

Did you pay full price? If not, then you had to be switched to tiered data.

 

[drzcharlie]

My upgrade and retention went like this; I went in having one of my four lines eligible for upgrade. I told the guy at Best Buy that I wanted the SIII, he got it and set it up. I paid for the phone ($45 after my iPhone 4 trade in). I walked around and looked for a router, came back and told the same guy that I changed my
mind and wanted to switch phone to my primary account number. Voila' done deal.

I was told by the guy that as long as your primary phone instrument isn't UPGRADED you keep your unlimited. I didn't upgrade it I just swapped phones between nunumbers. He even called Verizon to swap the phones between numbers and didn't get any resistance. All I know for sure is that it worked.

 

[geoff5093]

My upgrade and retention went like this; I went in having one of my four lines eligible for upgrade. I told the guy at Best Buy that I wanted the SIII, he got it and set it up. I paid for the phone ($45 after my iPhone 4 trade in). I walked around and looked for a router, came back and told the same guy that I changed my
mind and wanted to switch phone to my primary account number. Voila' done deal.

I was told by the guy that as long as your primary phone instrument isn't UPGRADED you keep your unlimited. I didn't upgrade it I just swapped phones between nunumbers. He even called Verizon to swap the phones between numbers and didn't get any resistance. All I know for sure is that it worked.

That will work, but the line you used the upgrade on would no longer have unlimited data.

 

[beefchopper]

That will work, but the line you used the upgrade on would no longer have unlimited data.

Of course if you are able do that on a line that has a dumb phone the data is unimportant anyway.

 

[06M6TorridGTO]

I am going to try this when I upgrade soon. i was going to get the phone though Amazon to save $100 but keeping the unlimited data may prove useful. I however have not used over 0.5 GB in the last few months on my DI2 which is 3G. I find it hard to believe that I would even hit 2 GB with 4G but we'll see. I'd rather just keep it if I can no problem but that may mean I would have to spend the extra $100. That to me isn't really worth it just to keep unlimited instead of 2 GB. But I just looked at Radioshack's prices and they are the same as Amazon. What I'm not sure of though is whether or not I could get those prices in the store or if they are online only. Plus, I called yesterday and the guy told me they don't have the Maxx HD (or the 32 GB Galaxy S3 which I am considering). So unless he was wrong or they got it in (or will by tomorrow) and I can get those prices in store, then it looks like I would pay $300 for Maxx HD no matter where I go to keep unlimited or wait a few days and get it for $200 from Amazon and lose my unlimited. I also need to compare the current pricing with a Share Everything plan. It may be worth it to go with that. We may even add in a jetpack to use as our second home's internet connection since we don't have one there yet but will soon. At $20 a month for a jetpack, that may work, although I'd have to see what the data usage of it would be, depending on what normal usage of a computer is and how often we are there. Guess I better start crunching some numbers. Good to know that it is possible to keep unlimited though!