Unlimited Data Under Contract - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S7 Questions & Answers

Anybody get the S7 on a 2 year contract that had unlimited data and was still able to keep it with loophole? If so, how were you able to do it?
And I am not talking about Verizon $20 increase and making payments on phone.

When I go to the corporate verizon store they are able to upgrade me with the payment plan. When I do I overly stress that I can not lose unlimited. The last time they said this can only be done at a corporate store. Not sure about 2yr contact.
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reggie cheeks said:
When I go to the corporate verizon store they are able to upgrade me with the payment plan. When I do I overly stress that I can not lose unlimited. The last time they said this can only be done at a corporate store. Not sure about 2yr contact.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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Correct. Under 2yr deal you will lose unlimited. But was hoping to upgrade under the previous loophole.
I can make payments but have to wait until my contract is up in May and then have to wait another month so they can charge me the extra $20 then I can make monthly payments.

I still have UDP. We have 4 lines, I used an upgrade from a different line to get the S7. That lines upgrade has been used up and the contract on that line has been extended by 2 years whereas my UDP is unaffected
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sumepls said:
I still have UDP. We have 4 lines, I used an upgrade from a different line to get the S7. That lines upgrade has been used up and the contract on that line has been extended by 2 years whereas my UDP is unaffected
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
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Yes, there is that option, but I was able to use both lines upgrades under 2 year deal and still keep unlimited data without having to use another lines upgrade. I have a theory that I will try and report back later if it works. They may have already plugged the last loophole to keep unlimited and stay under contract.

anrichardson said:
Yes, there is that option, but I was able to use both lines upgrades under 2 year deal and still keep unlimited data without having to use another lines upgrade. I have a theory that I will try and report back later if it works. They may have already plugged the last loophole to keep unlimited and stay under contract.
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http://slickdeals.net/f/7743625-ver...a-2-year-data-plan-on-a-nationwide-basic-line
You could use the UDP upgrade to get the phone at the subsidized price, NEVER activate it, sell it, and buy whatever you want with it afterwards.

Could this new carrier sim lock have anything to do with people losing UDP through loophole now?
I tried to do the slickdeals way cause I was able to do it my last 2 phones (LG G2 & Note 4). The only thing I can think of is that my S7 shipped from store. So I think they activated before I got it.
Anybody got any possible solutions that I could try?
I am thinking about upgrading my wife's line then activate it on my line then switch it back to her line?

Just did this today on VZW successfully Grandfathered unlimited data still. The rep told me that the old strategy of activating on another line and then swapping would no longer work but he essentially did that and moved my old SIM from my Nexus 6 over and it worked perfectly.

djh816 said:
Just did this today on VZW successfully Grandfathered unlimited data still. The rep told me that the old strategy of activating on another line and then swapping would no longer work but he essentially did that and moved my old SIM from my Nexus 6 over and it worked perfectly.
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Are you paying the extra $20 on either line?
And your signed up for another 2 years?

anrichardson said:
Are you paying the extra $20 on either line?
And your signed up for another 2 years?
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If you are refering to the extra $20 Verizon charges grandfathered data users now, yes (afaik this is done automatically by their billing department, not much you can do to avoid it except change the plan which loses unlimited data). Otherwise, not sure what you mean. I currently pay $50 per month for the unlimited data. The phone's contract is on the other family plan line but yes extended for another two years and subsidized S7 price of $200
Edit: To be clear, when you upgrade to a subsidized phone using another line, the contract gets extended (and updated) on that other line, not the unlimited data line. That's how the loophole works. The rep told me that now they are actually looking at MEID when you swap the phone onto the unlimited data lines in their system and if they see it's a newly activated Verizon phone (phones bought elsewhere or off contract are safe) they force you to lose unlimited data. Somehow my rep got around this by just inserting my existing SIM card in the phone during activation rather than using VZW's computer system. Then he reverted the other line to the old phone so my unlimited data line was untouched.

djh816 said:
If you are refering to the extra $20 Verizon charges grandfathered data users now, yes (afaik this is done automatically by their billing department, not much you can do to avoid it except change the plan which loses unlimited data). Otherwise, not sure what you mean. I currently pay $50 per month for the unlimited data. The phone's contract is on the other family plan line but yes extended for another two years and subsidized S7 price of $200
Edit: To be clear, when you upgrade to a subsidized phone using another line, the contract gets extended (and updated) on that other line, not the unlimited data line. That's how the loophole works. The rep told me that now they are actually looking at MEID when you swap the phone onto the unlimited data lines in their system and if they see it's a newly activated Verizon phone (phones bought elsewhere or off contract are safe) they force you to lose unlimited data. Somehow my rep got around this by just inserting my existing SIM card in the phone during activation rather than using VZW's computer system. Then he reverted the other line to the old phone so my unlimited data line was untouched.
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So what I did was order the S7 on my wife's upgrade line and we both have unlimited. I took out the new sim card and inserted her old one and it automatically switched the data to 2gb. So I took the phone back to get my unlimited back. That was the old loophole. Take out new sim and put old sim in.
But the only thing I can think of is that my phone was shipped from best buy store instead of warehouse maybe. So will try again from another retailer and see. Then bypass the activation on the phone and then insert my wife's sim after activating it on my line by inserting my sim card in it.

anrichardson said:
So what I did was order the S7 on my wife's upgrade line and we both have unlimited. I took out the new sim card and inserted her old one and it automatically switched the data to 2gb. So I took the phone back to get my unlimited back. That was the old loophole. Take out new sim and put old sim in.
But the only thing I can think of is that my phone was shipped from best buy store instead of warehouse maybe. So will try again from another retailer and see. Then bypass the activation on the phone and then insert my wife's sim after activating it on my line by inserting my sim card in it.
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Ah yeah that's trickier. The main rule of thumb now is don't change or update plans period.The only way I've been able to do that is use an already tiered data line to upgrade and then swap it to my line. Bummer that just activation switched you to the new tiered plan though Best of luck getting it back

djh816 said:
Ah yeah that's trickier. The main rule of thumb now is don't change or update plans period.The only way I've been able to do that is use an already tiered data line to upgrade and then swap it to my line. Bummer that just activation switched you to the new tiered plan though Best of luck getting it back
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I did get it back. But it does seem like they plugged all the loopholes now.

I used to keep up with my wife and I unlimited data. We never used to go over 10gb a month combined. I ditched it because VZW offered me 20gb for $100 to share with my family, wife and two kids (who are cellphone less). Plus I get a 20% discount. So 20gb for $80. Those way I just buy my phones out right or pay monthly. I did this for the S7 edge. Sold my 6p and paid off the rest of the phone. Plus I got an additional 2gb for the upgrade so 22gb for $80.

I just upgraded to the S7 yesterday at BestBuy. They ran it through as a straight 2yr upgrade with no change to my UDP.
DOES NOT WORK!!! Had to reverse upgrade and go back to my note 4. They submitted a ticket, and now I'm waiting on my UDP to be restored.
Same rules still apply....
1. You CANNOT transfer/use the upgrade from a UDP line, or you will loose your UDP.
2. You CAN either buy a phone at full retail or on the device payment plan (on top of your current billing).
3. IF you have another non-UDP line on your account eligible for an upgrade, you can upgrade and activate the new device on that line. THEN, you can swap the SIM's.
**Meanwhile those VZW A$$HATS are still making bank on my plan (with the subsidized phone costs included) + the $20 bump they added last year.

BoilerDroid said:
I just upgraded to the S7 yesterday at BestBuy. They ran it through as a straight 2yr upgrade with no change to my UDP.
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How did that happen? Can you be specific?
I just read one of your older post from the note 4 "unlimited data". So technically you are already paying the extra $20 for each one of your lines with UDP. I am still under contract. 1 line is up in May and the other is up in March 2017. I am trying the loophole without having to pay the extra $20 fee for UDP per line.
But if I am putting the pieces together from an older post that you have, you are paying the $20 fee per line with UDP and you were able to sign up for the the 2 year deal to get the S7 at $200? OR you upgraded 1 of your tiered phones and switched?
I only have 2 lines on my account and both have UDP. It's not worth it just to add a line to get the the phone to keep unlimited data before the $20 increase. BUT if what you are saying that you upgraded the line with UDP to a 2 year deal that has the $20 extra fee for unlimited data, then there is still hope. I just may have to wait until May so they can charge me the $20 fee then upgrade.

anrichardson said:
How did that happen? Can you be specific?
I just read one of your older post from the note 4 "unlimited data". So technically you are already paying the extra $20 for each one of your lines with UDP. I am still under contract. 1 line is up in May and the other is up in March 2017. I am trying the loophole without having to pay the extra $20 fee for UDP per line.
But if I am putting the pieces together from an older post that you have, you are paying the $20 fee per line with UDP and you were able to sign up for the the 2 year deal to get the S7 at $200? OR you upgraded 1 of your tiered phones and switched?
I only have 2 lines on my account and both have UDP. It's not worth it just to add a line to get the the phone to keep unlimited data before the $20 increase. BUT if what you are saying that you upgraded the line with UDP to a 2 year deal that has the $20 extra fee for unlimited data, then there is still hope. I just may have to wait until May so they can charge me the $20 fee then upgrade.
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@anrichardson I edited my post. You cannot touch an upgrade on/from a UDP line and keep unlimited data.

Reporting my experience on #3. No need to activate then swap SIMS, I simply removed the shipped SIM before first boot and inserted the SIM from my UDP line. UDP still intact after new billing cycle.

schoolage1080 said:
Reporting my experience on #3. No need to activate then swap SIMS, I simply removed the shipped SIM before first boot and inserted the SIM from my UDP line. UDP still intact after new billing cycle.
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Can you explain further?
Because I upgraded my wife's line with UDP and turned old phone off and took out old sim out as well as taking out new sim before turning on. I then put old sim into S7 then booted up and that is where I lost my UDP.
Edit: By your expierence, did you try this after Verizon implamented the $20 price increase for UDP? Because I have done twice before they charged $20 extra and worked just fine for me too, but trying now with the S7 doesn't seem to work and like others as well.

anrichardson said:
Can you explain further?
Because I upgraded my wife's line with UDP and turned old phone off and took out old sim out as well as taking out new sim before turning on. I then put old sim into S7 then booted up and that is where I lost my UDP.
Edit: By your expierence, did you try this after Verizon implamented the $20 price increase for UDP? Because I have done twice before they charged $20 extra and worked just fine for me too, but trying now with the S7 doesn't seem to work and like others as well.
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OK so I upgraded my UDP line on 11/14/15 (The LAST day for the Best Buy "Keep Existing Plan" method), ordered online, shipped S6 Edge+ to home removed the SIM before first boot, placed my wife's SIM (Non-Unlimited Line) in new phone, destroyed toxic SIM that Best Buy shipped, thus avoiding the $20/month UDP price hike. Then, I pre-ordered the S7 Edge, received on 3/9/16, before first boot removed SIM, swapped SIM from my UDP Device. Activated fine, avoided activation fee, kept $30/month UDP (until 11/15/17) left everything completely the same on my wife's tiered data plan.
No issue whatsoever, even got my new bill two days ago after using S7 Edge on UDP for exactly two weeks. To be clear, I never activated the S7 Edge on the line which I used the upgrade, never switched upgrades, just used my wife's upgrade and never let the S7 activate on that line. No issues with initial activation.

Related

GN3 Dumbphone upgrade transfer to unlimited line process question

I have a family plan with 5 lines, mine the only one which has unlimited data with GS3 still on it. One of the dumbphone lines was eligible for an upgrade, and I used it to get an GS3 with the idea of activating it on the dumbphone line, then activating the dumbphone again on the said line (removing $30 data) and swapping my GS3 SIM with GNote's, thus activating GN3 on the unlimited line. I ordered the phone online, used the Verizon30 coupon so the price ended up just north of $200. The phone came in two days ago, but I was too chicken to go ahead with activation without 100% confirmation that I will not lose unlimited data. I went to my Verizon retailer (not the corporate store, but just an official retailer in NYC). When I tried to run the above by the rep, he told me that I should not have ordered the phone online but from him, as he has access to some sort of "internal system" process that would guarantee that I would not unlimited data. He even put a phone aside for me (would not match the online Verizon price), telling me if I did it my way Verizon may pull the unlimited data irreversibly and no one, himself included, would be able to get it back. I thought what he told me was a bunch of BS, and really don't want to pay another $80-90 to buy the phone from him + pay Verizon restocking fee if that is the case. Found this online, that describes the dumbphone upgrade transfer process (but with an iPhone5s, should not make a difference):
http://www.dimascorner.com/2013/iphone5s-upgrade/
Basically, would like to hear from those who successfully transferred their dumbphone upgrade by buying the phone online, and can point me in the right direction. I want to start using this awesome phone! but don't want to risk losing unlimited data.
dohturdima said:
I have a family plan with 5 lines, mine the only one which has unlimited data with GS3 still on it. One of the dumbphone lines was eligible for an upgrade, and I used it to get an GS3 with the idea of activating it on the dumbphone line, then activating the dumbphone again on the said line (removing $30 data) and swapping my GS3 SIM with GNote's, thus activating GN3 on the unlimited line. I ordered the phone online, used the Verizon30 coupon so the price ended up just north of $200. The phone came in two days ago, but I was too chicken to go ahead with activation without 100% confirmation that I will not lose unlimited data. I went to my Verizon retailer (not the corporate store, but just an official retailer in NYC). When I tried to run the above by the rep, he told me that I should not have ordered the phone online but from him, as he has access to some sort of "internal system" process that would guarantee that I would not unlimited data. He even put a phone aside for me (would not match the online Verizon price), telling me if I did it my way Verizon may pull the unlimited data irreversibly and no one, himself included, would be able to get it back. I thought what he told me was a bunch of BS, and really don't want to pay another $80-90 to buy the phone from him + pay Verizon restocking fee if that is the case. Found this online, that describes the dumbphone upgrade transfer process (but with an iPhone5s, should not make a difference):
http://www.dimascorner.com/2013/iphone5s-upgrade/
Basically, would like to hear from those who successfully transferred their dumbphone upgrade by buying the phone online, and can point me in the right direction. I want to start using this awesome phone! but don't want to risk losing unlimited data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
activate the new phone on the dumbphone line...then do an esn swap online back to the dumbphone(you will have to add a 75mb data plan) the just swap out the SIM card from the unlimited line to the new phone. then call customer service to have the 75mb data dropped from the dumbphone line. ive done this a ton of times and did it with my note 3 and wives s4
---------- Post added at 07:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------
92slammer said:
activate the new phone on the dumbphone line...then do an esn swap online back to the dumbphone(you will have to add a 75mb data plan) the just swap out the SIM card from the unlimited line to the new phone. then call customer service to have the 75mb data dropped from the dumbphone line. ive done this a ton of times and did it with my note 3 and wives s4
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Click to collapse
pm me if you have any other questions

[VZW] How to Get a Subsidized Phone on Verizon and Not Lose Unlimited Data

I asked for a Verizon forum to be created to discuss issues like this, but while the admins are deciding on that I thought I would post this here for other Verizon Moto X unlimited data plan users to see in the mean time.
The easiest way that has been working to get a subsidized phone using your unlimited data plan's upgrade without losing your UDP is to buy from Best Buy online. Now since Moto Maker uses the Best Buy system, at least one poster on another forum reported it worked using his upgrade on Moto Maker, too. I have not personally used this method but others on another forum have and have posted screen shots showing it worked for them to keep their UDP.
There is a glitch in the Best Buy system (and in Moto Maker since it is the same system) whereby if you use your UDP line's upgrade, it tells you that you are going to lose your UDP but it does not make you select a new plan before checking out. And when you complete the check out it says Keep Current Plan. This appears to be true for all phones except the Droid Maxx. To progress through check out with the Droid Maxx you have to select a new Share/More Everything plan. Why that is no one knows and I suspect this glitch will be fixed eventually for all phones as it has been fixed for the Droid Maxx.
You also need to ship the new subsidized phone to your home to do the activation yourself. Do not ship to the store because many stores will not give you the phone without activating it with the SIM card it shipped with in it. That is the step you want to avoid - you do NOT want to activate the new subsidized phone with the SIM card it shipped with in it. If you do, you will be switched off of your UDP and onto the 2GB data plan. Instead, you want to swap out the SIM card the new phone shipped with and replace it with your current SIM card. If they are different sizes get a SIM card cutter/adapter as needed.
All Verizon 4G LTE phones are shipping with the SIM cards already installed in them. All you have to do is turn them on and they connect to the network and this is all it may take to lose your UDP. So the first thing you should do when you get your new subsidized phone is remove the SIM card it shipped with and throw it out. Do NOT turn on your new subsidized phone before removing the SIM card it shipped with.
So here are the steps:
1) Order a subsidized phone other than the Droid Maxx from Best Buy online using the upgrade on your UDP line, choosing Keep Current Plan and selecting No Change each step of the way, and taking screen shots of the ordering process at each step to document;
2) Ignore the warning that you will lose your UDP;
3) Do NOT select a new plan; choose Keep Current Plan and select No Change at each opportunity throughout the ordering process;
4) Select ship to your home address and do NOT ship to store;
5) Before you check out confirm that it says Keep Current Plan;
6) When your new subsidized phone arrives to your home, do not turn your new subsidized phone on, remove the SIM card that shipped with the phone and throw it out, shut off your current phone and remove the SIM card from your current phone. Then put your current SIM card in your new subsidized phone - get a SIM cutter/adapter as needed if the SIM cards are different sizes;
7) Turn on your new subsidized phone - this should activate the new subsidized phone;
8) Log onto Verizon online and confirm that you still have your UDP on your line; and
9) Keep checking for the next 14 days to make sure you keep your UDP.
Again, I haven't done this myself, but I have read about others doing it on another forum and they posted screen shots. Kicking you off of your UDP appears tied to activating the new subsidized phone using the SIM card that shipped with the phone. My understanding is that this works because you aren't doing that and because the Best Buy system warns you that you will lose your UDP but does not make you select a new plan. The only exception so far is the Droid Maxx, but I am sure in time this glitch will be fixed for all the phones. But for now, from all I have read it is still working.
There has been 1 poster on another forum who claimed the Best Buy Method outlined above did not work for him and he was switched off of his UDP to the 2GB plan. However, he did not do the SIM card switch himself without involving Verizon. He said it didn't work and so he called Verizon and the phone rep did something to make it work and that is when he lost his UDP. Moral of this story - if you are going to do this do NOT involve a Verizon rep or a Best Buy rep for that matter. If it doesn't work for you for some reason, my advice is to return the phone to Best Buy and have your upgrade restored. You may or may not be able to get out of the restocking fee if the phone has never been activated. Whatever you do, do not involve a Verizon or Best Buy CSR in the activation process. Other posters have posted screen shots showing they kept their UDP when they didn't involve a Verizon rep. YMMV.
Also, other posters on the other forum that have made mistakes and not followed the protocol precisely have been able to return their phones to Best Buy, get their upgrade restored and get their UDP back as long as they did it within 14 days.
If you want a Moto X Dev Ed, which you can't get using an upgrade, I suggest you use your upgrade to buy an iPhone 5s and sell it and use the cash from the sale towards purchasing a Moto X Dev Ed. I worked out the math on that in this thread:
Using Your Upgrade to Buy an iPhone 5s to Sell So You Can Buy a Moto X Dev Ed
Transfer UDP Upgrade Method
There is another method that works if you have a family plan and at least one line has a basic phone or a capped data plan on it. This works because you can transfer your upgrade from your UDP line to the basic or capped data plan line and then upgrade and activate the new subsidized phone on that line. Then you switch the new subsidized phone to your UDP line and you will not lose your UDP. I have done this personally so I know it works. If you want a Moto X Dev Ed, since you can't get one using an upgrade, I suggest you get a subsidized iPhone 5s with your upgrade and sell it and use the cash from the sale proceeds to put toward purchasing a Moto X Dev Ed.
If you are transferring your UDP line's upgrade to a basic phone line, you will have to pick a data plan when you purchase a new subsidized smartphone on the basic phone line. You can later drop that data plan but the only three retailers that will let you do this without charging you a secondary ETF of $400 are Verizon, Best Buy and Costco. So don't buy from any other retailers if you are using a basic phone line to transfer your UDP line's upgrade to. And when you do buy from those three I mentioned, double check that they are still not charging a secondary ETF for downgrading a data plan before 181 days are up. It is hit or miss whether a Best Buy or Costco rep will know how to do the upgrade transfer properly. I have done this once at Best Buy and the rep was very knowledgeable so it worked without a hitch but I have read others have not been so lucky. The safest way is to do it yourself through Verizon online. I avoid the Verizon stores because some of the reps get ticked off that this works and refuse to do it for you. YMMV.
Also, you cannot transfer an upgrade from an UDP line to a line that currently is eligible for its own upgrade. You have to use that line's upgrade first. That is no problem though because you can just then transfer your UDP line's upgrade to that line when you are ready to get a new phone for that line.
Here are the steps if you have a capped data plan line on your family plan and are doing this through Verizon online:
1) Log onto Verizon online and click Shop;
2) You will now see which lines in your family plan are eligible for an upgrade - the CDP line you are going to use to transfer your UDP line's upgrade to cannot be eligible for an upgrade;
3) Select your UDP line and click Transfer on your UDP line and select the CDP line to transfer the UDP line's upgrade to;
4) Purchase a subsidized phone of your choice on the CDP line and have it shipped to your home;
5) When you get the new subsidized phone at your home, turn off the CDP line's current phone and follow the instructions to activate the new subsidized phone on the CDP line - THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP THAT MUST BE DONE;
6) Turn off the new subsidized phone and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the CDP line's original phone back on the CDP line by following the directions; and
7) Turn off the phone currently on your UDP line and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the new subsidized phone on your UDP line by following the directions.
Steps 6 and 7 also can be done by putting the new subsidized phone's SIM card into the CDP line's original phone after activation and then putting the SIM card from the UDP line's original phone into the new subsidized device if all of the SIM cards are the same size.
If you are using your UDP line's upgrade to get a subsidized iPhone 5s to sell, you stop after Step 6 and then the iPhone 5s is off of your account and available to sell. Remember to take the SIM card out of the iPhone 5s and discard it before you ship your iPhone 5s to its new owner.
Here are the steps if you have a basic phone line on your family plan and are doing this through Verizon online:
1) Log onto Verizon online and click Shop;
2) You will now see which lines in your family plan are eligible for an upgrade - the basic phone line you are going to use to transfer your UDP line's upgrade to cannot be eligible for an upgrade;
3) Select your UDP line and click Transfer on your UDP line and select the basic phone line to transfer the UDP line's upgrade to;
4) Purchase a subsidized phone of your choice on the basic phone line, pick the 2GB data plan and have the new subsidized phone shipped to your home;
5) When you get the new subsidized phone at your home, turn off the basic phone and follow the instructions to activate the new subsidized phone on the now 2GB data plan line - THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP THAT MUST BE DONE;
6) Turn off the new subsidized phone and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the basic phone back on the line by following the directions;
7) The 2GB data plan may or may not drop off when you complete Step 6 - if it doesn't, you can block data on the basic phone line and the data plan will drop off or you can call Verizon and tell them to take the data plan off of the basic phone line and they will do it; and
8) Turn off the phone currently on your UDP line and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the new subsidized phone on your UDP line by following the directions.
Step 8 also can be done by placing the UDP line's original phone's SIM card into the new subsidized phone if the SIM cards are the same size.
If you are using your UDP line's upgrade to get a subsidized iPhone 5s to sell, you stop after Step 7 and then the iPhone 5s is off of your account and available to sell. Remember to take the SIM card out of the iPhone 5s and discard it before you ship your iPhone 5s to its new owner.
Add A Line Method
If you have a family plan and do not have at least one line that has a basic phone or a capped data plan on it to transfer your upgrade to, you can add a basic phone line and get a subsidized iPhone for that line to sell to recoup the cost of the added line. You can do it if you have an individual plan, too, but it is not cost effective to convert an individual plan to a family plan as selling a subsidized iPhone will not recoup the added cost of a family plan.
You need to have a Verizon basic phone to add to the basic phone line or you can put the ghost ESN on the line. Keep in mind that Verizon prepaid phones can't be used for this unless they have met the requirements to be put on a postpaid account. Also keep in mind that some people claim that putting the ghost ESN on your line yourself is a violation of Verizon's TOS. Other people say Verizon reps will do this for you and it is not a problem. Idk what the correct answer is. The Ghost ESN = 13800000400. NEVER PUT THE GHOST ESN ON AN UDP LINE AS YOU WILL LOSE YOUR UDP IF YOU DO!
Since you will be dropping the data plan on the new line before 181 days to make this cost effective, you can only do this at three retailers - Verizon, Best Buy and Costco - since all other retailers will charge you a secondary ETF of $400 if you downgrade a data plan prior to 181 days. And of course, double check before you add a line that the three retailers still have this policy in place when you are ready to do it.
If you have a special plan, like the any mobile to any mobile for $5 promotion that ran a couple of years ago, you can't add a line online and keep that plan. You will have to call Verizon to add a line or do it in a store. Supposedly Best Buy reps and Costco reps know how to do this, too, but YMMV.
Here are the steps to add a line to your family plan through Verizon online:
1) Buy a used Verizon basic phone off of ebay/craig's list that is eligible for use on a postpaid account (skip this step if you are using the ghost ESN);
2) Log onto Verizon online and click Add a Line;
3) Select the subsidized phone of your choice and pick the 2GB data plan for the new line;
4) When you get the new subsidized phone at your home, follow the instructions to activate the new subsidized phone on the 2GB line - THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP THAT MUST BE DONE;
5) Turn off the new subsidized phone and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the used basic phone or ghost ESN on the new line by following the directions;
6) The 2GB data plan may or may not drop off when you complete Step 5 - if it doesn't, you can block data on the basic/ghost phone line and the data plan will drop off or you can call Verizon and tell them to take the data plan off of the basic/ghost phone line and they will do it - caveat emptor if you use the ghost ESN as some people claim that is a violation of your TOS and others say it is not and the reps will do it for you, idk what the correct answer is; and
7) Turn off the phone currently on your UDP line and click My Verizon Activate or Switch a Device to put the new subsidized phone on your UDP line by following the directions.
Now that you have a basic phone line, you can use it to transfer any of your other family plan UDP line upgrades to by following the instructions for doing that in my previous post.
After you have upgraded all of your UDP lines, you will have 1 extra upgrade available and you can use that to buy a subsidized iPhone 5s to sell to recoup the cost of the added line.
If I am getting the iPhone 5s with plans to flip it, do I pull the sim card before sending it to the new owner?
caseyatbt said:
If I am getting the iPhone 5s with plans to flip it, do I pull the sim card before sending it to the new owner?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Once you have activated a phone on your line, the SIM card will be attached to your account for a period of time before it becomes inactivated, could be active for up to 90 days. Now the new owner could reprogram the SIM card for their account, but no way would I trust they could do it right. And if they don't do it right, it will only cause you problems.
If the new owner is on Verizon, all they have to do is go into a corporate store and they will give them a SIM card for free to use if they need one. Or if they call Verizon, they will mail one for free. They can even ask for one online and it will be mailed free. Non-corporate stores charge for SIM cards but corporate stores do not.
If the new owner wants to use the phone on a GSM network, the Verizon SIM card wouldn't work anyhow.
OK I get all of this one question my UDP plan has an eligible upgrade now. I can transfer that to another line and get a new phone and not lose UDP on this line. Also does the line I transfer to have to be eligible for an upgrade. All two of my lines upgraded in the last 8 months can they upgrade again.
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
bigv5150 said:
OK I get all of this one question my UDP plan has an eligible upgrade now. I can transfer that to another line and get a new phone and not lose UDP on this line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
bigv5150 said:
Also does the line I transfer to have to be eligible for an upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, just the opposite - it cannot have an upgrade of its own for you to be able to transfer an upgrade to it.
bigv5150 said:
All two of my lines upgraded in the last 8 months can they upgrade again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure what you are saying here. If there is an upgrade available on a line, it will say so when you log on to your Verizon account.
Let me explain better what I mean is I have a phone my wife has a phone my daughter has a phone they're all under my name I use my wifes upgrade to get my max i used my daughters upgrade to get my wifes RAZR M. I I use my wifes upgrade in August and signed a two-year contract I use my daughters upgrade in June and signed a two-year contract. My question is if I give one of those lines my upgrade would I be able to get subsidized phone. Since they're both only about six to eight months into a2 year contract. Can I still use my upgrade on one of their lines.
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
bigv5150 said:
I use my wifes upgrade in August and signed a two-year contract
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That extended your wife's contract by 2 years.
bigv5150 said:
I use my daughters upgrade in June and signed a two-year contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That extended your daughter's contract by 2 years.
bigv5150 said:
My question is if I give one of those lines my upgrade would I be able to get subsidized phone. Since they're both only about six to eight months into a2 year contract. Can I still use my upgrade on one of their lines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes of course. That is the whole point of this process - you transfer your UDP line's upgrade to a capped data plan line or a basic phone line and the capped data/basic phone line cannot be eligible for its own upgrade when you do the transfer. You must first activate the new phone on the capped data or basic phone line, then switch the new phone to your UDP line.
After you do this, your UDP line's contract will be extended 2 years.
Got it so after activation on the capped line my UDP line keeps unlimited but I get stuck in a 2 year contract again. Sounds good I didn't think I would be able to ever use this upgrade again I have been sitting on it over 6 months. I may just wait and see what is up all the manufacturers sleeves and just get a new phone. I love my maxx but this locked boot loader is a pita. Or I may get a new phone sell it and my maxx and buy a Dev maxx. Thanks for the info when I checked with Verizon they told me if I switched my upgrade to another line this line would lose unlimited. I guess they are trying to keep these work around to a minimum and lie to the customers. That is great customer support. If they don't want us to do this then close the loop holes. Don't lie about it that is just shameful.
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
bigv5150 said:
Got it so after activation on the capped line my UDP line keeps unlimited but I get stuck in a 2 year contract again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And getting "stuck" in a Verizon truly, unthrottled, unlimited data plan is bad? You can sell your line for about $300 on ebay if you want out of your contract. And probably more as fewer and fewer of these contracts remain.
bigv5150 said:
Sounds good I didn't think I would be able to ever use this upgrade again I have been sitting on it over 6 months. I may just wait and see what is up all the manufacturers sleeves and just get a new phone. I love my maxx but this locked boot loader is a pita. Or I may get a new phone sell it and my maxx and buy a Dev maxx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only get an iPhone for resale. I have an UDP line upgrade available now but I am waiting for the Moto X2 Dev Ed to come out. I will buy it full retail and then get the iPhone 6 with my upgrade to sell.
Flip an iPhone with Your Upgrade
bigv5150 said:
Thanks for the info when I checked with Verizon they told me if I switched my upgrade to another line this line would lose unlimited. I guess they are trying to keep these work around to a minimum and lie to the customers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of them actually believe that. I did 2 upgrade transfers during the holidays to a basic phone line that I added to my account just for transfers. Still have UDP on both of my smartphone lines.
Two year contract or not I'm stuck Verizon has the best coverage.
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
Cozume said:
Yes. Once you have activated a phone on your line, the SIM card will be attached to your account for a period of time before it becomes inactivated, could be active for up to 90 days. Now the new owner could reprogram the SIM card for their account, but no way would I trust they could do it right. And if they don't do it right, it will only cause you problems.
If the new owner is on Verizon, all they have to do is go into a corporate store and they will give them a SIM card for free to use if they need one. Or if they call Verizon, they will mail one for free. They can even ask for one online and it will be mailed free. Non-corporate stores charge for SIM cards but corporate stores do not.
If the new owner wants to use the phone on a GSM network, the Verizon SIM card wouldn't work anyhow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I am going to sell it, do I have to activate it?
caseyatbt said:
If I am going to sell it, do I have to activate it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with not activating it is that your account will show pending activation on it until you activate the device. That blocks you from doing some things on your account until that gets lifted. Some on other forums have claimed that the pending activation eventually goes away on its own without having to actually activate the device on your account. I am guessing you could probably call up Verizon, tell them you gave the phone as a gift to another person before you activated it (which you are allowed to do) and have the pending activation removed. But I would remove the SIM card that shipped with the device because that is still linked to your account even if you don't activate the SIM card.
If you want to sell a device without activating it, I would call Verizon and ask what will happen. Don't mention UDP. Just ask them if you use an upgrade and give the phone away as a gift to a person for use on another account, what would happen to the pending activation on your line?
All Verizon cares about after they ship you a subsidized phone is that you don't break your contract with them because they recoup the subsidy in the monthly wireless charges. It is your right to gift or sell your subsidized phone as you see fit. I would just tell them it is a gift simply because I would not want them to ask me any more questions.
ETA - I called and the CSR I spoke with said you have to activate the phone on the line you used the upgrade on to remove the pending activation hold from your line. I call bs on that because what would they do if the phone got lost by FedEx - they have to have a way to do it.
Just don't sell the phone with the SIM card it came with in it. Take the SIM card it came with out and throw it away.
Cozume said:
There has been 1 poster on another forum who claimed the Best Buy Method outlined above did not work for him and he was switched off of his UDP to the 2GB plan. He did not post any screen shots of the ordering process showing he did not select a new plan and that it said Keep Existing Plan nor did he post any screenshots of his account, so there is no way to know if he followed the directions properly. Other posters posted screen shots showing they kept their UDP. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This poster has now revealed that he experienced a glitch when he transferred his SIM card to the new phone, called VZW and they "fixed" it.
I'm gonna give it a shot. About time I put my Thunderbolt to rest.
So my girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is eligible for an upgrade. She wants an iphone 5s, despite my prodding for her to move to android.
Is there any way to use the best buy glitch to get her a new iPhone without losing unlimited? I know they use different sims..
Edit: I should probably mention that we are on separate family plans and we (as well as everyone else on my account) has unlimited data and are eligible for upgrade).
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
DonKilluminati23 said:
So my girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is eligible for an upgrade. She wants an iphone 5s, despite my prodding for her to move to android.
Is there any way to use the best buy glitch to get her a new iPhone without losing unlimited? I know they use different sims..
Edit: I should probably mention that we are on separate family plans and we (as well as everyone else on my account) has unlimited data and are eligible for upgrade).
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon iPhone 4/4S is 3G/EVDO only. The SIM in it was only for GSM "global roaming", and you could operate without it. The iPhone 5S is 4G/LTE and and sim is required for operation and used for LTE connections as wel as roaming.
If I recall correctly, the 3G unlimited data plan was a different feature code, and upgrading a 3G phone to a 4G/LTE phone meant picking a 4G/LTE data plan feature code. Since 4G UDP's are not available you'd need to pick from their currently available 4G/LTE data plans
---------- Post added at 07:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 AM ----------
Cozume said:
Yes. Once you have activated a phone on your line, the SIM card will be attached to your account for a period of time before it becomes inactivated, could be active for up to 90 days. Now the new owner could reprogram the SIM card for their account....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the past, when you activated a SIM on your account it was a "once and done" thing. If you switched away to a different SIM on your account, you couldn't re-use it, even for the same line. (i.e. had MicroSIM and Galaxy S4 on account, switched to Nano SIM and iPhone 5. Want to switch back to the GS4, and you can't reuse the MicroSIM from before, you have to get a new one). Has that changed?
KidJoe said:
Verizon iPhone 4/4S is 3G/EVDO only. The SIM in it was only for GSM "global roaming", and you could operate without it. The iPhone 5S is 4G/LTE and and sim is required for operation and used for LTE connections as wel as roaming.
If I recall correctly, the 3G unlimited data plan was a different feature code, and upgrading a 3G phone to a 4G/LTE phone meant picking a 4G/LTE data plan feature code. Since 4G UDP's are not available you'd need to pick from their currently available 4G/LTE data plans
---------- Post added at 07:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 AM ----------
In the past, when you activated a SIM on your account it was a "once and done" thing. If you switched away to a different SIM on your account, you couldn't re-use it, even for the same line. (i.e. had MicroSIM and Galaxy S4 on account, switched to Nano SIM and iPhone 5. Want to switch back to the GS4, and you can't reuse the MicroSIM from before, you have to get a new one). Has that changed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre correct about the SIMs.
I have 4 lines on my family plan, as of a month ago 3 of them were on 4G and the 4th was still an old Droid 2 Global (3G), ALL WITH UNLIMITED DATA. When I bought my DevEd Moto X, I suddenly had an extra 4G phone laying around, so I decided to try to move that phone to the line with the D2G. I called Verizon and told them that the D2G was acting funny and would like to activate my old Razr Maxx HD on that line until she could figure out what she wanted to use her upgrade on (LOL). It took a little while, but eventually it worked. The Rep found my Razr Maxx HD in the system and replaced the 3G phone with my old 4G phone, I didnt have to switch out the SIM card or anything, she is now using my old phone AND LTE SIM card on a line that previously had a 3G phone / SIM card.
Knowing all that, it seems like it should be possible to use one of our family lines' upgrades to buy an iPhone 5, send it to my girlfriend, have her somehow get a new SIM for it, and activate it on her line without losing unlimited. Crazy, or crazy enough it just might work??
Russell Sprouts said:
This poster has now revealed that he experienced a glitch when he transferred his SIM card to the new phone, called VZW and they "fixed" it.
I'm gonna give it a shot. About time I put my Thunderbolt to rest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just checked over there, it appears that he did not just transfer his SIM. He transferred his SIM and then it didn't work and so he called Verizon to get them to activate it and that is when he lost his UDP.
So moral of this story - if it doesn't work with your old SIM, DO NOT CALL VERIZON! Return the phone and your upgrade will be restored. Or you can request a SIM card by phone and see if a completely fresh SIM card will work. To request a SIM card by phone, you call in and say you are having a lot of dropped calls and pulled your SIM card to see if that would help and you damaged it when you did. They will mail you a new one and you can try activating the new SIM card in your old phone and then in your new phone.
I would avoid the stores at all costs unless you know you have customer friendly CSRs.
DonKilluminati23 said:
So my girlfriend has an iphone 4 and is eligible for an upgrade. She wants an iphone 5s, despite my prodding for her to move to android.
Is there any way to use the best buy glitch to get her a new iPhone without losing unlimited? I know they use different sims..
Edit: I should probably mention that we are on separate family plans and we (as well as everyone else on my account) has unlimited data and are eligible for upgrade).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like the other poster said, those old SIMs in the iPhone 4/4s series aren't 4G LTE. Do you have any old 4G LTE phones you can put on her line? You can't use any that are currently active on one of your lines because you can't let a UDP line be without a 4G LTE phone on it - it will drop the data plan if you do.
If you can find a spare 4G LTE phone to put on her line, you can reprogram the SIM card in it for her line. If you have a spare 4G LTE phone, let me know and I will type out the steps to reprogram the SIM card.

How to keep unlimited data when buying phone?

I'm currently on a family line with 2 phones having a 2GB data plan and 2 other phones having unlimited data. I currently have unlimited data on my line with an upgrade and I'm planning on purchasing this phone at a subsidized price.
My plan was to transfer my upgrade to a 2 GB line. Activating it on that line and then simply swapping it over to my line and inserting the SIM card into it. Now it appears that I cannot simply insert the SIM as it takes a nano SIM card and not the micro SIM that my galaxy s4 currently uses. How would I be able to switch over the line and keep my unlimited data?
Can I just grab another nano SIM from Verizon or is that not possible? I'm getting a little worried I'll lose my unlimited data if I swap lines. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
graymonkey44 said:
I'm currently on a family line with 2 phones having a 2GB data plan and 2 other phones having unlimited data. I currently have unlimited data on my line with an upgrade and I'm planning on purchasing this phone at a subsidized price.
My plan was to transfer my upgrade to a 2 GB line. Activating it on that line and then simply swapping it over to my line and inserting the SIM card into it. Now it appears that I cannot simply insert the SIM as it takes a nano SIM card and not the micro SIM that my galaxy s4 currently uses. How would I be able to switch over the line and keep my unlimited data?
Can I just grab another nano SIM from Verizon or is that not possible? I'm getting a little worried I'll lose my unlimited data if I swap lines. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we're the same person. I'm in an identical situation and I'd like to know the answer to this as well. I have upgraded other lines to keep my unlimited in the past but I haven't had to have a new sim to do it until now.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
They give Sim cards away at Verizon for no charge. Just ask.
liquidthc said:
I think we're the same person. I'm in an identical situation and I'd like to know the answer to this as well. I have upgraded other lines to keep my unlimited in the past but I haven't had to have a new sim to do it until now.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tell Verizon your buying a phone from a friend. Like perhaps a iPhone or a moot x. They all use a nano SIM
Verizon gives out some cards for free.
Here is the latest update to keeping unlimited I have seen. Transferring upgrade may no longer work. See Method 5.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/25/upgrade-verizon-keep-unlimited-data/
prdog1 said:
Here is the latest update to keeping unlimited I have seen. Transferring upgrade may no longer work. See Method 5.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/25/upgrade-verizon-keep-unlimited-data/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've upgraded on a non smartphone line before since the other 2 have unlimited data, but it looks like you cannot remove the data anymore so your stuck paying the data fees for 2yrs.... Sucks
I believe they make SIM cutters. Might want to look into those.
Or just ask Verizon to send you a new SIM card.
an21281 said:
I've upgraded on a non smartphone line before since the other 2 have unlimited data, but it looks like you cannot remove the data anymore so your stuck paying the data fees for 2yrs.... Sucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it two years ago and I was able to remove it. Went into Verizon today to ask since I saw your comment, and they still said it's okay, but you have to wait maybe 12 or so hours to reactivate it on your line. I guess I'll ask somewhere else to confirm it tomorrow.
Please let me know. Can't wait to get this phone. Thank you
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
graymonkey44 said:
Please let me know. Can't wait to get this phone. Thank you
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Talked to two different reps today. One store wouldn't give me any information since it's against policy I guess. The other rep at my usual store (this makes 4 people from this store saying it, one person has done it for me) confirmed it again. He said that transferring upgrades is okay but it may come back on the employee. Not really sure about that part, but it may be why they're hesitant to do it or admit it. But activating the phone and transferring it to your line is okay. Again I was told you may have 12 hours of down time to avoid suspicion or something like that. Again, not sure about that since 2 years ago they activated it on my line within 5 minutes and had me out. You can remove data lines from basic phones too by calling Verizon and having the CSR remove it from the system, which I did last time.
As far as SIM cards go, this should not be an issue. I forgot to ask the reps today, but yesterday I was told that it doesn't matter. They'll activate the phone on your non unlimited line, toss the SIM, and put in a new one for your line. I'm not sure which line gets the 12 hours of downtime here though, since I was in a bit of a hurry and forgot that too. I'm a little worried about that since I don't want my mother to go phoneless for a day since she has work and all. But as far as upgrades go, you'll be set and keeping your unlimited data with it. I'll be buying my phone next Thursday on the 30th, so if you want, I can let you know how it goes. I just hope I don't run into a rep that won't help me with this, since I guess technically they're not allowed to. If anybody has any conflicting information, please let me know. I'll try to clear it up with my store since they don't seem to have an issue with this method and are surprisingly honest about it.
After keeping my HTC Thunderbolt since its release (warranty claim recently upgraded me to a Droid DNA!), I finally have succumbed to relinquishing my unlimited data plan. I fully understand why you would want to keep it and admit that it felt like tearing my heart out when I switched to the more everything plan but I will say a few things:
1. Earlier last month I read that Verizon wanted to start throttling unlimited plans after 5gb of use. Recently I saw that they decided not to, so yay for you! I do however think that they are going to make it harder and harder to keep your plan as time passes. As it is, you are probably paying significantly more per month to keep the plan.
2. If you downgrade to a more everything plan there is a "month to month" promo that gives you the same Edge plan perk of $15/smartphone per month line access fee (as opposed to the $40 one). Again this is a promo for out of contract people and I know it is active because it was just applied to my account. (Note, you must select at least the 10gb plan and of course be out of contract)
3. By switching out of the unlimited data plan I now have unlimited minutes per month, 10GB of monthly data (family's average was 5gb-7gb anyway), and am paying ~$65 less per month on my bill now.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to switch, but $65 less a month is a lot of money saved when I wasn't even using 10gb per month.
I hope this helps someone like me who kept unlimited out of principal but didn't actually utilize it.
Xelios029 said:
Talked to two different reps today. One store wouldn't give me any information since it's against policy I guess. The other rep at my usual store (this makes 4 people from this store saying it, one person has done it for me) confirmed it again. He said that transferring upgrades is okay but it may come back on the employee. Not really sure about that part, but it may be why they're hesitant to do it or admit it. But activating the phone and transferring it to your line is okay. Again I was told you may have 12 hours of down time to avoid suspicion or something like that. Again, not sure about that since 2 years ago they activated it on my line within 5 minutes and had me out. You can remove data lines from basic phones too by calling Verizon and having the CSR remove it from the system, which I did last time.
As far as SIM cards go, this should not be an issue. I forgot to ask the reps today, but yesterday I was told that it doesn't matter. They'll activate the phone on your non unlimited line, toss the SIM, and put in a new one for your line. I'm not sure which line gets the 12 hours of downtime here though, since I was in a bit of a hurry and forgot that too. I'm a little worried about that since I don't want my mother to go phoneless for a day since she has work and all. But as far as upgrades go, you'll be set and keeping your unlimited data with it. I'll be buying my phone next Thursday on the 30th, so if you want, I can let you know how it goes. I just hope I don't run into a rep that won't help me with this, since I guess technically they're not allowed to. If anybody has any conflicting information, please let me know. I'll try to clear it up with my store since they don't seem to have an issue with this method and are surprisingly honest about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I for one would love a follow-up. Thank you for the information.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
TagCdog said:
2. If you downgrade to a more everything plan there is a "month to month" promo that gives you the same Edge plan perk of $15/smartphone per month line access fee (as opposed to the $40 one). Again this is a promo for out of contract people and I know it is active because it was just applied to my account. (Note, you must select at least the 10gb plan and of course be out of contract)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume this did not include getting a new phone. If you want to keep that offer when upgrading, I assume you will have to use Verizon edge, right?
dschisler3 said:
I assume this did not include getting a new phone. If you want to keep that offer when upgrading, I assume you will have to use Verizon edge, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the moment we still have all our old phones, yes. I was told that the promo would last until we decide to upgrade. At that point, if we use "Edge", the line access fee is still $15/smartphone per month plus the monthly cost of the phone (this is a permanent price feature for all edge plans 10gb and over AFIK). I asked what happens after the phone is payed off and was told that the line access fee jumps to $40/smartphone per month unless we "re-Edge" another phone or jump onto the "month to month" promotion again which may or may not be available. Note: I have been told many things about what happens after an edge plan phone is paid off. I am not 100% sure if the line access fee changes or not. I know that while paying off phones on the edge plan, plans 10gb or over have a $15/smartphone per month line access fee and all other non-edge plan devices have a $40/smartphone per month line access fee. Tablets are $10 per month on or off of edge which is cool.
Also, because I would have to pay full price for a phone on my old unlimited plan anyways, I did not incorporate the additional cost(s) of the phone(s) into my monthly savings mentioned above. I figure that with unlimited data or edge you have to pay the full price of the phone anyway so technically if we got new phones at full price and swapped them out, we would still have the promo active. Then again, not everybody (me included) can fork out $600+ per line on their account all at once. Lastly, so many great new phones are coming out every quarter that I kind of like edge because after 60% of the phone is paid off I can jump to a new one and continue payments as normal. It allows me to stay current with technology instead of holding on to a crappy thunderbolt just because it had unlimited data
TagCdog said:
After keeping my HTC Thunderbolt since its release (warranty claim recently upgraded me to a Droid DNA!), I finally have succumbed to relinquishing my unlimited data plan. I fully understand why you would want to keep it and admit that it felt like tearing my heart out when I switched to the more everything plan but I will say a few things:
1. Earlier last month I read that Verizon wanted to start throttling unlimited plans after 5gb of use. Recently I saw that they decided not to, so yay for you! I do however think that they are going to make it harder and harder to keep your plan as time passes. As it is, you are probably paying significantly more per month to keep the plan.
2. If you downgrade to a more everything plan there is a "month to month" promo that gives you the same Edge plan perk of $15/smartphone per month line access fee (as opposed to the $40 one). Again this is a promo for out of contract people and I know it is active because it was just applied to my account. (Note, you must select at least the 10gb plan and of course be out of contract)
3. By switching out of the unlimited data plan I now have unlimited minutes per month, 10GB of monthly data (family's average was 5gb-7gb anyway), and am paying ~$65 less per month on my bill now.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to switch, but $65 less a month is a lot of money saved when I wasn't even using 10gb per month.
I hope this helps someone like me who kept unlimited out of principal but didn't actually utilize it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For some of us, like me, I am trying to stay on my unlimited data plan because it is cheaper (or pretty much the same price) for me than anything else Verizon currently offers. I have a plan with Unlimited Data, 450 minutes, 400 texts and I pay about $65 a month total. The only comparable plan would be the new single line plan which is Unlimited Talk/Text and 2Gb data for $60. Thing is, I don't need any more talk or text because I never use what I currently have. I do use a lot of data. If I were to switch to a More Everything plan I would be paying heaps more every month for less data than I get now.
Verizon just simply doesn't have plans anymore that cater to people like me who want limited minutes/texts and lots of data.
Erasmus354 said:
For some of us, like me, I am trying to stay on my unlimited data plan because it is cheaper (or pretty much the same price) for me than anything else Verizon currently offers. I have a plan with Unlimited Data, 450 minutes, 400 texts and I pay about $65 a month total. The only comparable plan would be the new single line plan which is Unlimited Talk/Text and 2Gb data for $60. Thing is, I don't need any more talk or text because I never use what I currently have. I do use a lot of data. If I were to switch to a More Everything plan I would be paying heaps more every month for less data than I get now.
Verizon just simply doesn't have plans anymore that cater to people like me who want limited minutes/texts and lots of data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I would stay on your current plan too It is harder to manage with a family plan and everyone wanting new phones though... Good luck!
Can someone confirm if this would work....
I have a 5 line family plan. 3 smartphones and 2 dumbphones. 2 of the smartphones are UDP and one is 2GB. I have an upgrade available on a dumbphone line. I would like to move that upgrade from the dumbphone line to the 2GB tier smartphone line and get a new smartphone. Once the new smartphone is activated on the 2GB line, could I then swap the sim from the new phone and give my existing phone to the 2GB line and then put my UDP sim in the new phone without changing my UDP? I was hoping this could work as the upgrade is not from my UDP line which would cause me to lose my unlimited as I have read on the net. So would this scenario allow me to preserve my UDP? Thanks for any help!
kph3 said:
Can someone confirm if this would work....
I have a 5 line family plan. 3 smartphones and 2 dumbphones. 2 of the smartphones are UDP and one is 2GB. I have an upgrade available on a dumbphone line. I would like to move that upgrade from the dumbphone line to the 2GB tier smartphone line and get a new smartphone. Once the new smartphone is activated on the 2GB line, could I then swap the sim from the new phone and give my existing phone to the 2GB line and then put my UDP sim in the new phone without changing my UDP? I was hoping this could work as the upgrade is not from my UDP line which would cause me to lose my unlimited as I have read on the net. So would this scenario allow me to preserve my UDP? Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i did a variation of this two years ago, it works. And according to the reps i spoke to, it still does. Although there is no need to transfer the upgrade. Activate the phone on your dumbphone line, then reactivate the dumbphone on that line. It will drop the data plan from the line and then you can activate the new phone onto your udp line. This is called an alternate upgrade. The reps i spoke to know what it is, and they probably will help you with it.
Xelios029 said:
Yes, i did a variation of this two years ago, it works. And according to the reps i spoke to, it still does. Although there is no need to transfer the upgrade. Activate the phone on your dumbphone line, then reactivate the dumbphone on that line. It will drop the data plan from the line and then you can activate the new phone onto your udp line. This is called an alternate upgrade. The reps i spoke to know what it is, and they probably will help you with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately this is no longer true. If you update one of the dumb lines and get a smart phone, the dump line will be locked in to a tiered data plan for 2 years. The carriers closed this loophole a few months ago.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 12:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:06 PM ----------
kph3 said:
Can someone confirm if this would work....
I have a 5 line family plan. 3 smartphones and 2 dumbphones. 2 of the smartphones are UDP and one is 2GB. I have an upgrade available on a dumbphone line. I would like to move that upgrade from the dumbphone line to the 2GB tier smartphone line and get a new smartphone. Once the new smartphone is activated on the 2GB line, could I then swap the sim from the new phone and give my existing phone to the 2GB line and then put my UDP sim in the new phone without changing my UDP? I was hoping this could work as the upgrade is not from my UDP line which would cause me to lose my unlimited as I have read on the net. So would this scenario allow me to preserve my UDP? Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea, but I'd double and triple check the new contract when you sign them though. Since the carries are doing it to the UDPs, they may apply the same restriction to all lines. IE., since the update comes from the dumb line, they may force you to sign up for a tiered data plan for 2 years on the dumb line.
... Just make sure you read the contact closely when you update
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app

Upgrading with 2 year contract and keeping unlimited data

I did this with the original Turbo, but I have an upgrade available on my unlimited data line and my sister has 2GB of data on our family plan. I plan on transferring my upgrade to her line, upgrading the phone and activating it. Then just slip my nano sim and... profit. Anyone successfully upgrade their phone and keep their unlimited data? Does the best buy method still work as well?
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
I just upgraded last night I have three phones on my line. My wife had an upgrade I used. the phone was put on her phone number I then about 20 minutes later swapped my sim card for her SIM card and I kept unlimited data.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Thanks for the reply. I just placed my order today. I went with the 64GB blue ballistic nylon with blue accents. I can't wait. Everything went well with ordering since I ordered online and transferred my upgrade to my sister's.
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
I have no idea how this works, can you please elaborate? I know it's a common method but I really want to upgrade my phone. I'm currently on an UDP and I have two tiered data lines. You just have to transfer the upgrade to theirs, and when the phone comes in, put in your SIM card instead of activating the card it comes with? That's all you have to do?
Xelios029 said:
I have no idea how this works, can you please elaborate? I know it's a common method but I really want to upgrade my phone. I'm currently on an UDP and I have two tiered data lines. You just have to transfer the upgrade to theirs, and when the phone comes in, put in your SIM card instead of activating the card it comes with? That's all you have to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are two methods I have 2 lines 1 udp and 2 tired 2 gig plans wife/daughter.
1. My wife's line had an upgrade went to version upgraded walked out to the car swapped Sims now its mine.
2. Transfer your upgrade to another one of your lines on the computer before hand. Go to verizon upgrade walk outside swap Sims.
Number 2 some people say you should not swap Sims immediately. Make some calls and in a few hours swap. I don't know why it would make a difference but it is what I have heard. I have done both methods and did not lose udp. However number 2 I gave my udp update to my daughter 2 months ago for a turbo. However it was for her so I never swapped my sim to the phone.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bigv5150 said:
There are two methods I have 2 lines 1 udp and 2 tired 2 gig plans wife/daughter.
1. My wife's line had an upgrade went to version upgraded walked out to the car swapped Sims now its mine.
2. Transfer your upgrade to another one of your lines on the computer before hand. Go to verizon upgrade walk outside swap Sims.
Number 2 some people say you should not swap Sims immediately. Make some calls and in a few hours swap. I don't know why it would make a difference but it is what I have heard. I have done both methods and did not lose udp. However number 2 I gave my udp update to my daughter 2 months ago for a turbo. However it was for her so I never swapped my sim to the phone.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. I'll definitely be saving this for future reference. Also apparently with the new increase in UDP prices, you can use your upgrade and keep the UDP too. I'm still looking into that but this will be a great back up plan in case.
graymonkey44 said:
I did this with the original Turbo, but I have an upgrade available on my unlimited data line and my sister has 2GB of data on our family plan. I plan on transferring my upgrade to her line, upgrading the phone and activating it. Then just slip my nano sim and... profit. Anyone successfully upgrade their phone and keep their unlimited data? Does the best buy method still work as well?
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only have a single line. BestBuy method still works!, just did it at the start of this week.
Xelios029 said:
Thank you. I'll definitely be saving this for future reference. Also apparently with the new increase in UDP prices, you can use your upgrade and keep the UDP too. I'm still looking into that but this will be a great back up plan in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that as well but it would seem not. What the increase for udp will allow is you to purchase a phone on a payment plan like everyone else. If you try to update using upgrade buh buy unlimited.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Transferring an upgrade from a line which has an unlimited plan, to another line will result in a change to the unlimited plan line as well. Since that contract changed, the data plan changes as well. That was my last conversation with VZW today, Nov 11, 2015 @ 2:49 CST. Also, with the increase on the Unlimited data plan, if you opt to go on a device payment plan, the Unlimited data plan will be discounted back down to $30/month. So device payment plan = $30 data plan + monthly phone price increase(Maxx 2 would be $16/monthly) and you would still save the $20 per month, net savings $4 monthly. This will begin on Nov 15th. They will slowly phase out 2 year Contracts is the end game there.
bamabamboogy02 said:
Transferring an upgrade from a line which has an unlimited plan, to another line will result in a change to the unlimited plan line as well. Since that contract changed, the data plan changes as well. That was my last conversation with VZW today, Nov 11, 2015 @ 2:49 CST. Also, with the increase on the Unlimited data plan, if you opt to go on a device payment plan, the Unlimited data plan will be discounted back down to $30/month. So device payment plan = $30 data plan + monthly phone price increase(Maxx 2 would be $16/monthly) and you would still save the $20 per month, net savings $4 monthly. This will begin on Nov 15th. They will slowly phase out 2 year Contracts is the end game there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your first mistake was asking a verizon rep they lie like a rug. I transfered my udp upgrade to my daughter's line she upgraded my contract extended and I don't have to pay the 20 dollar udp increase for 2 years. I just did this in June.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Even from the VZW website, when I go to transfer my upgrade, it makes me change the Unlimited data plan on my line to the 2GB plan. Did you do the upgrade at a best buy like menational above? Or yourself online at the VZW website? The Increase in price will start on Sunday, Nov 15th.
bamabamboogy02 said:
Even from the VZW website, when I go to transfer my upgrade, it makes me change the Unlimited data plan on my line to the 2GB plan. Did you do the upgrade at a best buy like menational above? Or yourself online at the VZW website? The Increase in price will start on Sunday, Nov 15th.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope I just transferred the upgrade to my other line. Went to verizon upgraded and my lines contract got extended two years. I guess in the 3-4 months they could have changed it. You could try to switch the upgrade then go to verizon and upgrade. I am assuming you tried it on the computer that may be the issue.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bigv5150 said:
Your first mistake was asking a verizon rep they lie like a rug. I transfered my udp upgrade to my daughter's line she upgraded my contract extended and I don't have to pay the 20 dollar udp increase for 2 years. I just did this in June.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, Verizon reps from 3 different stores fed me that line as well. I just upgraded online so I didn't have to deal with them.
I will go to Verizon Tomorrow, but even transferring the upgrade from another line at Best Buy said it would get rid of my unlimited Data plan, So at the VZW Store the same thing would happen as well.
bamabamboogy02 said:
Even from the VZW website, when I go to transfer my upgrade, it makes me change the Unlimited data plan on my line to the 2GB plan. Did you do the upgrade at a best buy like menational above? Or yourself online at the VZW website? The Increase in price will start on Sunday, Nov 15th.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is a way to do it through the Verizon website, there is a trick during the checkout to keep your existing plan and keep unlimited, I did it on my single line (nationwide 450 talk and text), upgraded my phone to a droid turbo 2 and my contract got renewed to 10/31/2017. You still will need to swap your existing SIM to the new phone though. some people on another forum said it was risky but it worked for me. if you want more info you can pm me.
Jimmy8881 said:
there is a way to do it through the Verizon website, there is a trick during the checkout to keep your existing plan and keep unlimited, I did it on my single line (nationwide 450 talk and text), upgraded my phone to a droid turbo 2 and my contract got renewed to 10/31/2017. You still will need to swap your existing SIM to the new phone though. some people on another forum said it was risky but it worked for me. if you want more info you can pm me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But maybe after 30 days, it might drop. Just keep an eye on it. The paper work that came with your device, does it state that your data plan is no longer Unlimited? And is now 6GB for $30? I can do the transfer upgrade on the VZW website, and it seems like it won't change the unlimited data plan. I was really hoping for the best buy deal of a galaxy S6 for $1 for a renewal. Worst case scenario, I do a device payment plan, on my lines, and the over all be only goes up $10-$20 instead of $40( for two unlimited plans). Sams club on the 14th will have the Galaxy S6 and note 5 for $0.96 with a 2 year Contracts . So we shall see what happens by Saturday.
Worst case scenario, I do a Device payment plan to keep the data an at $30, I will have to pay at least $20 more per UDP, so I might as well get phones out of it, rather than paying for air.
Thanks for the support.
bamabamboogy02 said:
But maybe after 30 days, it might drop. Just keep an eye on it. The paper work that came with your device, does it state that your data plan is no longer Unlimited? And is now 6GB for $30? I can do the transfer upgrade on the VZW website, and it seems like it won't change the unlimited data plan. I was really hoping for the best buy deal of a galaxy S6 for $1 for a renewal. Worst case scenario, I do a device payment plan, on my lines, and the over all be only goes up $10-$20 instead of $40( for two unlimited plans). Sams club on the 14th will have the Galaxy S6 and note 5 for $0.96 with a 2 year Contracts . So we shall see what happens by Saturday.
Worst case scenario, I do a Device payment plan to keep the data an at $30, I will have to pay at least $20 more per UDP, so I might as well get phones out of it, rather than paying for air.
Thanks for the support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already received the contract paperwork through mail, I'm locked on nationwide 450 talk and text with unlimited data with no price increase until 10/31/2017. According to the paperwork I will get the $20 increase after 10/31/17 unless I can figure out a way to extend the contract again before then.
Jimmy8881 said:
I already received the contract paperwork through mail, I'm locked on nationwide 450 talk and text with unlimited data with no price increase until 10/31/2017. According to the paperwork I will get the $20 increase after 10/31/17 unless I can figure out a way to extend the contract again before then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that's possible once the contract is up you will have to pay. I can't think of anyway to extend a contract before it is up. If anyone has an idea let us know.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bigv5150 said:
I don't think that's possible once the contract is up you will have to pay. I can't think of anyway to extend a contract before it is up. If anyone has an idea let us know.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you were able to upgrade and keep data on your single line plan? If so can you tell me how you did it? I usually transfer my upgrade to my dad who is on a tiered data plan and it works.
Sent from my LG G4
lucasbohanan said:
So you were able to upgrade and keep data on your single line plan? If so can you tell me how you did it? I usually transfer my upgrade to my dad who is on a tiered data plan and it works.
Sent from my LG G4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I have 3 lines mine udp wife's 2gig daughter 2gig. I transfered my udp upgrade in June to my daughter and she got the turbo and my contract was extended.
Sent from my XT1585 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Verizon Unlimited Data plans going up 20 dollars??

So does anyone have anymore information on this? My understanding is on November 15 the price will go up from 29.99 a month to 49.99 for anyone not on contract with an unlimited data plan.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/08/technology/verizon-unlimited-plan-increase/
That's how I read it.
If you are on contract then it does not apply to you. If you are on a month to month basis then it will apply to you. I am on contract based a loophole and still have unlimited data.
anrichardson said:
If you are on contract then it does not apply to you. If you are on a month to month basis then it will apply to you. I am on contract based a loophole and still have unlimited data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect, I'm on contract as well, via a loophole
yes yes old news.
off contract $29.99 goes up to $49.99.
no throttling.
still cheaper for me to stay on this plan and pay $20 more than to goto someone else for tiered data bs.
anrichardson said:
If you are on contract then it does not apply to you. If you are on a month to month basis then it will apply to you. I am on contract based a loophole and still have unlimited data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't mind me asking, how did you do it via a loophole? Thank you in advance.
Sent from my SM-N910V
Still in the long run, it ends up being cheaper if you're a heavy user. It's just b.s. that they tried to sneak it pass everyone. I highly doubt that less than 1% is harming the network. It's more of a revenue generator for them.
I have a TDP line on my account. A couple switches and I upgraded to a new phone, subsidized, kept UDP, and am now locked under contract until 10/30/17 for another 2 years of $30/month
stajam said:
If you don't mind me asking, how did you do it via a loophole? Thank you in advance.
Sent from my SM-N910V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sent you a pm to tell you how i did it.
Can you please tell me too about the loophole ? I am not in a contract. @stajam @anrichardson
I would also appreciate information pertaining to this loophole?
Yes, I thought when you went into contract it got rid of unlimited and forced you into a plan.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
There's 2 Loopholes:
Best Buy Method: Buy Phone EDIT: Online in store[/Srike]. The phone will come with SIM in it. Destroy that SIM and put in your old one. I can't believe this still works, but people are reporting success.
4ever Method (AKA Alternate Upgrade): You need at least one UDP and one TDP line. Transfer Upgrade from UDP to TDP. Activate phone on TDP Line. Remove the line from the plan, reactivate TDP's normal phone. You now have a free-floating Verizon phone. You can sell it (without the SIM), or use it on the UDP line. Either way, the UDP line gets the contract.
My contract date is now 10/30/2017 and I bought a new, subsidized phone.
Thanks droidguy22 for correcting me. I'm correcting my post in case anyone reads just mine, but not droidguy's correction below!
tekjester said:
There's 2 Loopholes:
Best Buy Method: Buy Phone in store. The phone will come with SIM in it. Destroy that SIM and put in your old one. I can't believe this still works, but people are reporting success.
4ever Method (AKA Alternate Upgrade): You need at least one UDP and one TDP line. Transfer Upgrade from UDP to TDP. Activate phone on TDP Line. Remove the line from the plan, reactivate TDP's normal phone. You now have a free-floating Verizon phone. You can sell it (without the SIM), or use it on the UDP line. Either way, the UDP line gets the contract.
My contract date is now 10/30/2017 and I bought a new, subsidized phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correcting Best Buy method: Buy phone online and ship it to your address and when you get the phone - do not power it, open the sim slot and destroy the sim which came with the phone and put your old sim in the new phone. I did this last week and everything worked fine.
Please let me know if this is correct for transferring upgrade to lock contract. 1. I am on UDP and my wife is on TDP, I transfer my upgrade to my wife and she gets a LG G4. 2. My wife continues to use her iPhone 6+ and I use my sim in the LG G4. Is that too blatant that the phone was for me? 3. That locks me into a contract for 2 years and I continue to pay 29.99. Is it best to do this online? When is the cut off for a move like this, I have heard Nov 15 is the day of effect. Thanks!
lightyear22 said:
Please let me know if this is correct for transferring upgrade to lock contract. 1. I am on UDP and my wife is on TDP, I transfer my upgrade to my wife and she gets a LG G4. 2. My wife continues to use her iPhone 6+ and I use my sim in the LG G4. Is that too blatant that the phone was for me? 3. That locks me into a contract for 2 years and I continue to pay 29.99. Is it best to do this online? When is the cut off for a move like this, I have heard Nov 15 is the day of effect. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need to activate the phone on her line after you get it. Once you activate it, put the iPhone back on (you will need the SIM number handy for the iPhone), and your phone and the G4 is free to move lines.
Is it too late to get myself lock in a year contract to keep my unlimited price at 29.99?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
I am going to get another phone tomorrow to get me locked into a 2 year contract. When I spoke to Verizon I was told that Nov. 15 is the date it takes effect. I was also told that I will inherit my wife's upgrade date which is 1.5 years, she just got her iphone 6 months ago. Now the big question. What phone do I buy to be able to root and it be a semi new release. I was thinking the G4, now I am reading that the Moto X Pure has an unlockable bootloader. What else is on Big Red's lineup that is open for clean rooting?
Upgrade question
So if I'm taking an upgrade to extend my contract but want to stick with my Note 4 Dev after the activation, do all the VZW phones use the same size SIM?
firereverie said:
So if I'm taking an upgrade to extend my contract but want to stick with my Note 4 Dev after the activation, do all the VZW phones use the same size SIM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No they dont. All the new iphones and note 5 and galaxy s6 use the nano sims. The note 4 takes the Micro Sim.

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