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Carrier [Confirmed] Verizon Unlimited Loophole
- Thread starter CoolBradG
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When I add the line do I need a "dumb" phone or do I just need it by the time my iPH5 arrives.
From everything I've read and heard from VZW Reps, youd need the dummy phone once you try to deactivate the iPhone from your new line. So you won't need it until you receive the iPhone.
Adding the extra line does work. I confirmed with my friend who works as a store manager at a verizon store. however, he did tell me they perform 'audits' and they could take the unlimited data away if they find out you did it for this sole reason.
Okay, this might be a bit long, but here's my current situation.
First things first, I'm away at school a few hundred miles from home, and my mom is the VZW account holder.
My phone (unlimited) isn't eligible to be upgraded for about another month. My grandma's phone (old flip phone) has been eligible for over a year. From what I understand, I can upgrade my grandma's phone, then when it arrives, take it to a Verizon store and have my number switched to the new phone, then have my grandma's number put back on her old phone, then cancel the new 2 gb data plan. I have a couple of questions though:
1. Does the account holder have to do this, or can I do it myself?
2. Do I need to take my grandma's phone to the store, or can it be re-activated (on her number) over the phone? Taking it with me to the store is kind of impossible since I won't be home until winter break.
Thanks in advance. This is just confusing the heck out of me.
First things first, I'm away at school a few hundred miles from home, and my mom is the VZW account holder.
My phone (unlimited) isn't eligible to be upgraded for about another month. My grandma's phone (old flip phone) has been eligible for over a year. From what I understand, I can upgrade my grandma's phone, then when it arrives, take it to a Verizon store and have my number switched to the new phone, then have my grandma's number put back on her old phone, then cancel the new 2 gb data plan. I have a couple of questions though:
1. Does the account holder have to do this, or can I do it myself?
2. Do I need to take my grandma's phone to the store, or can it be re-activated (on her number) over the phone? Taking it with me to the store is kind of impossible since I won't be home until winter break.
Thanks in advance. This is just confusing the heck out of me.
Right, the Sim card has me worried. I hope Verizon is able to simply 'change' the info to mine.. I hope so.
A friend of mine is doing the same thing and this is what we were told by a few Reps.
When the iPhone comes in it will need to be activated on your Grandmother's account and then deactivated. Once it's deactivated you're free to add it to your Unlimited Account.
You can have the phone sent to you and do this without your Grandmother present. It would be best if you were added to her Account as an authorized account manager (she would need to call in to do this). It would allow you to easily call in once the phone arrives to attach it to her line, deactivate and cancel the data plan on her account and tell them the old phone will be reactiaved. In order to reactivate her account on her old phone all she needs to do is hit #... (I can't remember the numbers. It's 3 digits) and then select Option 1 and that would reactivate the phone.
Does anyone know how long the iPhone needs to be activated on the dumbphone line before Verizon will let us switch phones?
I hope it's only for a day or two, if even that
My Droid Razr broke on me a while ago (TWO droids broke on me within a year. I'm so getting Apple Care with my luck ) and I have to activate a smartphone on my line by Sept 23 or I lose my unlimited.
I hope it's only for a day or two, if even that
My Droid Razr broke on me a while ago (TWO droids broke on me within a year. I'm so getting Apple Care with my luck ) and I have to activate a smartphone on my line by Sept 23 or I lose my unlimited. Does anyone know how long the iPhone needs to be activated on the dumbphone line before Verizon will let us switch phones?
I hope it's only for a day or two, if even that
Ive spoken to a number of Reps on this... two told me it could be activated and then deactivated immediately. Another told me it was 14 days. Another told me 30 days. I asked the last person if he was sure because I was being told different information. He asked me what I'd been told and he would go and verify.
He came back and said the first two were right, it can be activated and deactivated immediately. He then said the guy who said 14 days was mistaken and that you have 14 days to activate the phone.
So, I believe you can just activate and deactivate in as little as five minutes.
The key seems to be that you have to make sure to activate it on the line it was purchased on. This contrasts what some other people are saying though when they say you can just activate it directly on to your Unlimited Data account. I'd be safe and just do the activation on the other phone before swapping.
DAMMIT! My mom has a dumb phone and we're on a family plan but I already used my upgrade and cancelled out my unlimited data with the 2GB data plan.
Wish I would've known this last night and used her upgrade, used the phone on my line, cancelled her data plan, and gave her the dumb phone.
Wish I would've known this last night and used her upgrade, used the phone on my line, cancelled her data plan, and gave her the dumb phone.
Well, I'm wondering if you could still do that? I mean, if you cancelled the order and never activate the phone, wouldn't you technically be able to keep your Unlimited Data Plan? You could then re-order it on your mom's account, although you'd probably now have to wait a few weeks for the phone... but to keep your Unlimited, it might be worth it?
Awesome!
Thank you so much. Takes a load off my back! I am now fully psyched (again) for Sept 21!
Yeah I actually just looked up my data usage and I've had my phone for 9 months and used a total of 9.5 GB...I'm fine with 2GB. I'm connected to WiFi at home, work, and school.
Phone is not going to be lower than $600. Assume a sales tax of 10% at the highest (rounding up). So $660. Add in all of the recycling fees which may or may not apply and you're very close to $700.
You've got the plan charge if you keep the line - so $60/month minimum over 2 years. $1440.
You've got the ETF if you don't keep it. $350, at the outside.
Let's say you get slimy and do what I think people are saying to do - which is create a new line with the iPhone 5, buy a dumb phone on the side, swap the device out, and then cancel the line before the end of the period. Keep in mind that most carriers' terms do allow for charging you at their discretion, so this is extremely risky. AT minimum you're looking at the ETF. SO over $1000.
Or...you pay the $700, get the device you want, and avoid all that stress.
Fingers crossed Verizon stores are stocked with these and know what's going on. I haven't dealt with Verizon sims as I only have had the 4s with them but I do know for the iPad they don't really just hand you a sim.
I wish they could reprogram the sim before you activate but no one knows. Living on the west coast has its perks for this situation.
Do you think this plan will work, if instead of a "dumb phone", I upgrade a Line that already has the 2GB/month plan?
After speaking with the local Verizon rep, he advised me not to do the phone swap. Seems like Verizon is well aware of it and has clearly stated that if you want to keep the unlimited data you have to purchase your phone at retail price. I'm wondering if they are testing people? Kind of nervous about it. I would hate for them to pull the unlimited data from me and though I clearly know what I'm doing in regards to the phone swaps.
Yes, it will work. It's been mentioned more than a few times in this thread.
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I've spoken to more than 6 Reps about phone swapping on Unlimited Data plans and they've all told me that it's allowed and not a problem. The terms of keeping your UDP is that you not use the subsidy on your account. Technically, by swapping a phone, you're bringing your own phone to them. That's what they've all told me.
I sure hope your right. I guess if you use the subsidy on your unlimited data you can't keep the data feature. That includes transferring the upgrade since its still tied to the unlimited data line.
Correct. You basically just can't ever touch the phone subsidy on your UDP account, transfer or otherwise.
Seems like it would be cheaper to upgrade on a dumb phone than buy at full retail price?
$460 - iPhone 5 64gb (CA purchase w/ tax)
$30 - Upgrade fee
$300 - Service cost at 20 months and eligible to upgrade.
$850 - total
$915 - price for iPhone 5 64gb at retail price w/ tax