Adding a 'dumb' line for 5S Upgrade Verizon

[Slicktype]

Edit: This only applies to accounts with unlimited data. If you currently are on a share everything plan, a dummy line will have to be $30

I recently looked into this. This is indeed possible.

First of all, if you currently have unlimited data and on a family plan, you should NOT have the Family Share Everything plan. This is a new plan, and your line cannot/should not be on this plan, because that means if you have more than one phone, you have 2 SEPARATE plans, (1 for unlimited data line, and another plan for your other X phones). The plan that you should be on for a family plan with unlimited data line is the Nationwide talk and text (unlimited text and 700/1400 mins). This plan you share minutes/texts, but data is individual to the line. On share everything its 30 dollars access charge for a dumb phone, BUT on nationwide talk&text, its 10 dollars just to have the dumb phone with no data on it.

I spoke a knowledgeable verizon rep that did a bunch of calculations for me asking about these type of scenarios. Doing this costs a few hundred less than purchasing the new iphone at full retail. because its $240 + phone cost + tax vs. $649 + tax.

What you have to do is add a dummy line and start a new contract on that line to get a subsidized device. Activate the new iphone on the dummy line first. Let a few minutes go by, and walk into a store/call CS to ask to do a device swap. Then you will put your new iphone on your unlimited data line, THEN what you need is to find a dumb phone that is not a smart phone and give the IMEI to verizon in order to give them a phone to tie the line to. If you currently have a smart phone and you swap it in to the dummy line, they will detect it and add a data package to that line which is like an additional 20/30 bucks. Hope this helps, I am going to do this once I am able.

Thanks for the breakdown !!!. You just helped me out soo much. This will be something that I will be looking into next year with the 6.

 

[MrSniffles69]

Not sure if I did not mention this or people just didnt see it.

I do not have unlimited data.

I am already on a share plan.

I only have 1 line on my account but when I got verizon which was last year when the 5 came out they no longer offered unlimited.

Thanks

 

[MrSniffles69]

I currently have a share everything plan with 1 line

So I am currently paying $40 for my line and $70 for my data since I have 4gig,

I am thinking if I had a line I will lower from 4 gig to 2 gig to lower my bill by 10 dollars.

So I would be paying $40 + $30(newline once switched to non data) + 60 for 2gig data,

So I would tech be paying $20 dollars more a month.

I am guessing this is my only option.

 

[risk235]

I have 2 unlimited lines and 1 basic line. I will buy the 5S on my basic line then transfer to one of my unlimited and will add a line to get another 5S and also switch to my unlimited. Also Verzion will give you $200 for a 16GB 4S so I might be tempted to do that and basically get a 5S for free or at least pay $100 for a 32GB

 

[MICHAELSD]

How do we get around the $30 feature phone addition on the Share Everything plan and just get the $10 basic line without data or texting? Been researching but no one seems to know on the new plans.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Figured it out! Didn't think this would work at first, but the support rep assured me it does. For the Share Everything plan, a new iPhone could be replaced with a tablet for $10/month with the same two-year contract.

 

[kowen14]

Figured it out! Didn't think this would work at first, but the support rep assured me it does. For the Share Everything plan, a new iPhone could be replaced with a tablet for $10/month with the same two-year contract.

Do you have to have a tablet or just switch it and say you will be getting a tablet

 

[omgitzv2]

I currently have a share everything plan with 1 line

So I am currently paying $40 for my line and $70 for my data since I have 4gig,

I am thinking if I had a line I will lower from 4 gig to 2 gig to lower my bill by 10 dollars.

So I would be paying $40 + $30(newline once switched to non data) + 60 for 2gig data,

So I would tech be paying $20 dollars more a month.

I am guessing this is my only option.

Add a line to your plan and terminate your existing line remember its 350 to terminate -$10 for every month you completed in your contract.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Do you have to have a tablet or just switch it and say you will be getting a tablet

They need the code of a tablet to switch, yes.

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Add a line to your plan and terminate your existing line remember its 350 to terminate -$10 for every month you completed in your contract.

Then you have to do that every single year to upgrade. Same as buying full price then waiting.

 

[mac.cali]

How do we get around the $30 feature phone addition on the Share Everything plan and just get the $10 basic line without data or texting? Been researching but no one seems to know on the new plans.

Can't be done on the shared plans. Only the original family plans.

 

[boomhower]

I did it last year. Paid the prorated $30/month data for I believe it was two days so the cost was negligible. Put an envy 2 on the line, dropped the data and moved the iPhone to the primary line. Worked just fine.

 

[jquest]

Figured it out! Didn't think this would work at first, but the support rep assured me it does. For the Share Everything plan, a new iPhone could be replaced with a tablet for $10/month with the same two-year contract.

Could you explain how this works ? I can't seem to figure it out.

I'm still a year away from an upgrade, but I wouldn't mind throwing my iPad onto my plan for $10/month.

But I'm not getting how you can get an early upgrade for the phone out of this approach ?

 

[MICHAELSD]

Could you explain how this works ? I can't seem to figure it out.

I'm still a year away from an upgrade, but I wouldn't mind throwing my iPad onto my plan for $10/month.

But I'm not getting how you can get an early upgrade for the phone out of this approach ?

You're adding a new line to the account with the 5s at upgrade pricing. Then the contract requires 2 year commitment but if you replace it with an iPad then it's only $10/month vs $40.

 

[acctman]

Well I did an online chat with a Verizon Sales Person on their website and according to him if I add a line it would have to be a shared plan which I could then put a normal phone on the line after I got the 5s and would be $30 a month....

Which is not an option for me because i wont pay 720 over a 2 year span.

Has anyone heard anything different recently. I might try calling and see if I get a different answer.

Does anyone else have any other options.

I might try to sell my iphone5 32G for like $350-$400 and pay the difference if that is the only route I have?

Any other suggestions are appreciated thanks everyone that has replied.

Verizon will give you $320 for a iphone 5 32gb with there trade in program

 

[MrSniffles69]

My first approach will be to try and use Verizon's Device payment plan which consist of me paying off the full retail price in 12 months.

Since you have to be qualified for this I will first have to see if I qualify.

If I do not I will add a line to get the upgrades price. I will first trade in my current i5 for $320. and use that to purchase the new 5s on the new line.

Then I will switch over an Envy 3 to the new line so I only pay an extra 30 a month.

Which will be 720 after 2 years.

Thinking about it either way it all evens out to paying the full retail price of 750 since I will be getting the 32G.

I am just trying to avoid paying it all upfront.

 

[MICHAELSD]

My first approach will be to try and use Verizon's Device payment plan which consist of me paying off the full retail price in 12 months.

Since you have to be qualified for this I will first have to see if I qualify.

If I do not I will add a line to get the upgrades price. I will first trade in my current i5 for $320. and use that to purchase the new 5s on the new line.

Then I will switch over an Envy 3 to the new line so I only pay an extra 30 a month.

Which will be 720 after 2 years.

Thinking about it either way it all evens out to paying the full retail price of 750 since I will be getting the 32G.

I am just trying to avoid paying it all upfront.

Go back and read my posts. You might be able to replace it with a tablet for $10/month instead of $30.

Can anyone confirm they've replaced their phone contract with a $10/month tablet? The rep said she had done it multiple times but I'd rather not get stuck with a new line.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Really interested if somebody has tried replacing their 5S line with a $10/month tablet plan so I can go ahead and buy.

 

[touaregv10]

I'm really interested if someone has succeeded with this "iPad" swap approach and if someone can comment on Verizon policy going from $30 plan to a $10 dollar plan. Is it because the Ipad is considered data at $10 that they allow it???

I currently have a Verizon Ipad I just cancelled from my share everything plan. I also have a 5 with one more year before an upgrade. I would really like to purchase a 5s on a new line and then see if they will replace and add my Ipad to that new line...for an effective price of $10/month vs the $30/month.

Sounds like it should work, but curious to see if others have had any success.

 

[Jaker999]

Just talked to a Verizon rep online and they said this about adding an iPad to a new line on a share everything account... Shoot.. Tried to shmooze them..

 

[D3TSURA]

I have talked to many people at verizon and everyone has told me that it's possible to add a new line to get the iPhone 5s and then switch that to my main line and place a tablet or hotspot device one the new line.

 

[legioxi]

Just talked to a Verizon rep online and they said this about adding an iPad to a new line on a share everything account... Shoot.. Tried to shmooze them..

I was able to do this last year. Maybe they changed something but I would assume the rep is incorrect. Try speaking with them on the phone.

 

[Jaker999]

I was able to do this last year. Maybe they changed something but I would assume the rep is incorrect. Try speaking with them on the phone.

On the phone I have had 2 reps tell me that it is possible to place a tablet on that phone line that was just upgraded and 1 tell me on the phone that it is not. From what I'm hearing I feel like it is still indeed possible but that's not a $40/month for 24 months risk I'm willing to take. Given the line can be canceled within the initial 14 days but if I get my hands on an iPhone 5S I don't think there will be any turning back!

 

[legioxi]

On the phone I have had 2 reps tell me that it is possible to place a tablet on that phone line that was just upgraded and 1 tell me on the phone that it is not. From what I'm hearing I feel like it is still indeed possible but that's not a $40/month for 24 months risk I'm willing to take. Given the line can be canceled within the initial 14 days but if I get my hands on an iPhone 5S I don't think there will be any turning back!

I'll be making this switch on a line tomorrow. I'll report back the results.

 

[Jaker999]

I'll be making this switch on a line tomorrow. I'll report back the results.

Awesome! What is your plan of action? Are you making a new line and then putting the tablet onto the line? Or do you currently have a tablet line and are going to upgrade from that?

 

[legioxi]

Awesome! What is your plan of action? Are you making a new line and then putting the tablet onto the line? Or do you currently have a tablet line and are going to upgrade from that?

I already added a line and bought the phone. So tomorrow I'm going into a Verizon store with a hotspot to swap onto the voice line I created. Same deal from last year. Hopefully no issues.