Existing Verizon customers CANNOT preorder iPhone by adding a line on 3rd!

[Olivia23]

Ok on another site, they are saying that if you are a Verizon customer, and you are planning on adding a line to order the iPhone, well guess what, you won't be able to.

I was surprised by this and did not believe it because I was going to add a fourth line and add the iPhone to it, so I call up Verizon and the rep says he doesn't see why I cannot. Then he says to hold on and let him double check. Well he comes back and says no, that you cannot add a line on the 3rd for the iPhone, but that you can add a line for it on the 10th. I am so mad!!!!!!!!!

I know that on this other site that people were saying it was at least 100.00 cheaper to add a line with the iPhone, then once you got it switch it over to your number than to pay an ETF for your current verizon phone. Then they started joking about if too many people kept posting it that Verizon will probably change it to where you can't. Well they sure did! So basically I will not be preordering the iPhone after all. I will have to wait until the 10th!

 

[staticoranges]

If you have a dumbphone to activate before the 3rd, you can just add a line with a month-to-month agreement for that phone, and upgrade it on the 3rd. Not too difficult, and most people have old phones just lying around anyways.

 

[Olivia23]

I don't have an old one laying around, so no preorder for me

 

[2056]

that's what i did. used a dumb phone and activated it today. the website says i'm eligible for an upgrade and i can even transfer that upgrade to my main line.

i dont know if prepaid phones can be used, but if you look on craigslist you might find a cheap phone.

 

[saberahul]

One of my lines became eligible on the 17th of Jan 2011 for an upgrade. On the VZW My Account page - there is an option to transfer the upgrade but the moment you do that you're pushed to a screen where you must choose which device you want this new number to upgrade to.
My question is and hope someone may know the answer: can I do that on the 3rd and choose the iPhone? I don't see why I shouldn't be able to but would like to hear opinions and past experiences with other phones. If you're going to suggest calling up VZW - don't. I'm sick of talking to these clueless people.

 

[black743]

According to Verizon's twitter posts, even those wanting to pay full retail can't preorder on the 3rd. Only those with upgrades allowed....that will clear some web traffic for sure.

 

[Olivia23]

that's what i did. used a dumb phone and activated it today. the website says i'm eligible for an upgrade and i can even transfer that upgrade to my main line.

i dont know if prepaid phones can be used, but if you look on craigslist you might find a cheap phone.

Another question. Can I just add a line, choose the option of using my own equipment (meaning my own phone), but not actually have a phone? Pretty much add a line with no phone, just pretend to have one, then on the 3rd preorder?

 

[2056]

Another question. Can I just add a line, choose the option of using my own equipment (meaning my own phone), but not actually have a phone? Pretty much add a line with no phone, just pretend to have one, then on the 3rd preorder?

no, you need the equipment. it asks you for the phones MEID and it won't take you any further if you don't have a clean MEID. clean meaning not stolen/active.

 

[Goldinboy17]

Another question. Can I just add a line, choose the option of using my own equipment (meaning my own phone), but not actually have a phone? Pretty much add a line with no phone, just pretend to have one, then on the 3rd preorder?

If I were you I'd find a cheap Verizon phone stat. Craigslist, so on. Maybe you can use one of the prepaid Verizon phones at Target/Walmart? Not sure if they'd allow you to activate those on a month to month plan but don't see why not.

 

[wommpsssh]

I went to two stores and called customer service about this. I have been on month to month with t-mobile until the iphone release was getting close. My mom and I are going to do a family share plan with vzw. She got her line and phone last saturday. I have a bb storm thats unlocked that ive been using with tmobile. I asked the vzw rep if i could setup my line and then on the 3rd pre-order the iphone since i should be eligible for an upgrade. He said I could pre-order it but it would be for the full retail price. So I went to a different store and they told me the same thing. VZW customer service also told the same story. I dont understand why if I were to go into a store tomorrow and add a line and use my bb storm as the phone for now why i cannot pre-order the iphone on the 3rd. i think its to get us to go into the store so they can try to sell us accessories for the iphone. If i did add a line and use my storm for now could i check to see if i would be eligible for an upgrade on the vzw website?

 

[Olivia23]

Ok. I found a phone. My brother has a flip phone from Verizon he's no longer using. I work 12 hour shift today so I won't be able to get it until around 8pm. Then I'm calling Verizon to activate it. I'm going to make sure I can still preorder on 3rd though. I'm so afraid this will somehow mess it up though because this is my fourth line.

I'm wondering when I activate this flip phone if I should go ahead and switch my number to the flip phone. That way when I preorder the iphone, it will ship with my number on it already. I don't know how hard it's going to be to switch numbers after I get it if I don't do it that way.

 

[kicko]

yes, just add the line BEFORE the 3rd. I added a RAZR as a 2nd line last week and its all set for upgrading. you will be fine. I added a "temp" number to the razr, after i get the iph4 i will visit the local store and have them do a port.

 

[hcho3]

I don't have an old one laying around, so no preorder for me

K so, wait until 10th then. You sound so immature by even making a thread like this. This is nothing to be upset about. They are expecting shortages and they want to give opportunities to as many users they can.

 

[kdarling]

One of my lines became eligible on the 17th of Jan 2011 for an upgrade. On the VZW My Account page - there is an option to transfer the upgrade but the moment you do that you're pushed to a screen where you must choose which device you want this new number to upgrade to.

My question is and hope someone may know the answer: can I do that on the 3rd and choose the iPhone?

It would seem so. Personally, I went ahead and did the transfer last week, moving an upgrade from my wife's line to mine. One less thing to do later on.

I don't remember being asked about a new device, though. Or perhaps I simply stopped at that point, after doing the upgrade transfer. (?)

I'm wondering when I activate this flip phone if I should go ahead and switch my number to the flip phone. That way when I preorder the iphone, it will ship with my number on it already. I don't know how hard it's going to be to switch numbers after I get it if I don't do it that way.

You can switch your numbers between phones as much as you want. You can either do it online, or if you have set yourself up with an online PIN, you can just dial *228 from any phone: at the prompt, enter the phone number you want it to be and your PIN, and it reprograms itself.

Umm. Let me think. It gets a bit more complicated if you're deleting or adding a data plan. Sometimes you have to talk to a rep for that. Does your number currently carry a data plan?

 

[GoCubsGo]

In a way it sucks but in another way it's kind of interesting. It seems VZW has looked out at all the past little games AT&T customers have played to get the latest and greatest phones and they're skirting these opportunities as best they can. I wonder when the CTO said their website won't be hammered if he said that with the knowledge that VZW would c-block existing users who aren't upgrade eligible who decide to find a work-around thus reducing web traffic greatly. Makes me wonder for sure.

In my opinion, you should not add a second line to get the latest and greatest when it is not quite your time on your main line and your intention is to cancel the line within a certain timeframe. If you're going to do this then you shouldn't be rewarded with a pre-order opportunity.

 

[DDustiNN]

In a way it sucks but in another way it's kind of interesting. It seems VZW has looked out at all the past little games AT&T customers have played to get the latest and greatest phones and they're skirting these opportunities as best they can. I wonder when the CTO said their website won't be hammered if he said that with the knowledge that VZW would c-block existing users who aren't upgrade eligible who decide to find a work-around thus reducing web traffic greatly. Makes me wonder for sure.

In my opinion, you should not add a second line to get the latest and greatest when it is not quite your time on your main line and your intention is to cancel the line within a certain timeframe. If you're going to do this then you shouldn't be rewarded with a pre-order opportunity.

Why not? You're still paying for the phone and the ETF, so they're getting money and you're getting a phone.

 

[DDustiNN]

Just got off the phone with a great customer service rep, and this is absolutely correct. Adding a line will not be an option when pre-ordering. The only way to pre-order is if you have a line that is currently eligible for an upgrade. So, as others have said, you can add a line before the 3rd, using an old phone, then pre-order. Then you can keep the line, cancel it and pay the ETF, do whatever you want. That is what I will be doing tonight.

Also, she said that the bill-to-account option will NOT be available for pre-orders since they will be using a different ordering system for this occasion. The only payment methods accepted will be credit cards and Verizon gift cards.

Lastly, she said the inventory is ready to go, so they may ship early for pre-orders, but she wasn't 100% sure.

 

[SlamJam12]

Confusion about Verizon Bill

Now, I am not the one who does the bills around the house. But I am on a family plan for Verizon. I recently looked at the monthly bill from Verizon. I am one of the kids on the family plan of 5. I saw that my phone was only $12.00 for the month.
Now, I have an unlimited messaging. I made about 100 messages for the month. I had like only 10 shareplan minutes. I do make calls of at least 25 minutes to friends (they have verizon as well) several times.
It's confusing to me how this works. If I got the iPhone 4, which I am still debating, that would all be the same except with an additional data plan, am I correct?
I am eligible for an upgrade. I am just debating all these threads talking about the iPhone 5, get it now and be eligible soon enough for the LTE one.

 

[elan123]

According to Verizon's twitter posts, even those wanting to pay full retail can't preorder on the 3rd. Only those with upgrades allowed....that will clear some web traffic for sure.

verizon just plain sucks

 

[tbaker00]

I think even if you are not upgrade eligible you will be able to preorder on the the 3rd. The reason I say that is because if you go there now and "upgrade" your line you just have to pay full retail price and it says its for a month to month contract. So even though you are not at your 2 year upgrade eligibility date it still lets you upgrade at retail for any phone you want and doesn't mess with the 2 year contract date.

 

[Olivia23]

K so, wait until 10th then. You sound so immature by even making a thread like this. This is nothing to be upset about. They are expecting shortages and they want to give opportunities to as many users they can.

I'm 35 years old. Why do you feel the need to respond to my"immature" thread. I'm not able to go stand in line on the 10th so I really need to order it in the 3rd. Of course I don't know why I'm bothered with responding to your insults. YOU need to grow up.

 

[whiteyanderson]

Yes, you can buy at full retail and yes you can add a line and upgrade. Verizon has finally updated their useless FAQ page. No need to jump through all these hoops.

 

[Applejuiced]

Why not? You're still paying for the phone and the ETF, so they're getting money and you're getting a phone.

I agree.
Fanboys will agree and find everything VZ does fair and brilliant I guess

 

[DoctorK4]

Just to confirm - if you have an old phone or two laying around, VZ will allow you to add it to your family share plan (or create a family share plan) today, and you will be on a pay-as-you-go or month-to-month plan, and you'll be eligible for upgrade to the iPhone on 2/3. The rep I worked with said he's been getting calls to do that all day.

There's a $35 activation fee per line, but there's no fee later when upgrading to the iPhone.

Here's a link to the youtube video where a guy does it on camera...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcB4s6GUz0A

 

[saberahul]

One of my lines became eligible on the 17th of Jan 2011 for an upgrade. On the VZW My Account page - there is an option to transfer the upgrade but the moment you do that you're pushed to a screen where you must choose which device you want this new number to upgrade to.
My question is and hope someone may know the answer: can I do that on the 3rd and choose the iPhone? I don't see why I shouldn't be able to but would like to hear opinions and past experiences with other phones. If you're going to suggest calling up VZW - don't. I'm sick of talking to these clueless people.

It would seem so. Personally, I went ahead and did the transfer last week, moving an upgrade from my wife's line to mine. One less thing to do later on.

I don't remember being asked about a new device, though. Or perhaps I simply stopped at that point, after doing the upgrade transfer. (?)



You can switch your numbers between phones as much as you want. You can either do it online, or if you have set yourself up with an online PIN, you can just dial *228 from any phone: at the prompt, enter the phone number you want it to be and your PIN, and it reprograms itself.

Umm. Let me think. It gets a bit more complicated if you're deleting or adding a data plan. Sometimes you have to talk to a rep for that. Does your number currently carry a data plan?

verizon just plain sucks

Okay I called Verizon again today in the afternoon. They refused to transfer my wifes upgrade to my number. The man I spoke with told me to "screw off" and hung up on me. After calling back the second time I happened to come across a nice lady who said that the upgrade cannot be transferred but I can still use the "Transfer upgrade to another line" on the My Account page on verizonwireless site. According to her I should be able to select the iPhone 4 once I click on the upgrade. Having tried it 2 minutes ago - I could only see all the phones but the iPhone; quite obviously that is because it is not available yet. Let's hope I can get the iPhone as a pre-order and the guy who told me to "screw off" loses his job.