It was a third party authorized retailer. I questioned the price as well, but I needed the phone so I just paid. Will have to forego morning coffee for a couple days
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Carrier [Confirmed] Verizon Unlimited Loophole
- Thread starter CoolBradG
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It was a third party authorized retailer. I questioned the price as well, but I needed the phone so I just paid. Will have to forego morning coffee for a couple days
hey guys im stuck and need your help if possible! I've followed the above instructions, but myverizon keeps giving me the following error message: "The SIM ID you entered is not valid. Please try again or contact Customer Service at 800-922-0204 for assistance."
what should i do???
EDIT: FYI, i'm upgrading from an iPhone 4 to the 5s so I've never had to use a SIM before, but I do have two in my possession (one that came with the 5s, and one that i bought off ebay)
what should i do???
EDIT: FYI, i'm upgrading from an iPhone 4 to the 5s so I've never had to use a SIM before, but I do have two in my possession (one that came with the 5s, and one that i bought off ebay)
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Recap:
I had a family plan with UDP on IP4 (A) and a dumb phone (B).
Both have upgrades.
I ordered via Verizon online using the upgrade on dumb phone.
I got the 5s today and followed these directions using Verizon online.
http://www.dimascorner.com/2013/iphone5s-upgrade/
Basically, activate on dumb phone line first.
At no point did I ever take the SIM out.
5s activated fine on dumb phone line. When I went to put the dumb phone back on that phone line, it made me select $10 for data for the dumb phone. I guess the LG Revere wasn't as dumb as I thought Fine, I selected it and reactivated the dumb phone. Dial the *228 to activate the dumb phone and press 1 when prompted.
Next, I activated the 5s onto the UDP line. No problems. entered IMEI# and the SIM# (Look at the packing slip you got. There's no need to take out the SIM) Be sure to turn off the phone before doing all this.
After everything is entered, Verizon online will tell you to activate the 5s (Turn it on!). Everything should boot up fine while it searches for LTE. Then you restore on your iTurns and Boom...UDP on an 5s!
I then went back to my Verizon online account and chatted w/ a CSR. She took off the $10 data charge on the dumb phone and also verified that I still had UDP.
Done.
bc979: Use the SIM that came with your 5s!!!
I had a family plan with UDP on IP4 (A) and a dumb phone (B).
Both have upgrades.
I ordered via Verizon online using the upgrade on dumb phone.
I got the 5s today and followed these directions using Verizon online.
http://www.dimascorner.com/2013/iphone5s-upgrade/
Basically, activate on dumb phone line first.
At no point did I ever take the SIM out.
5s activated fine on dumb phone line. When I went to put the dumb phone back on that phone line, it made me select $10 for data for the dumb phone. I guess the LG Revere wasn't as dumb as I thought
Fine, I selected it and reactivated the dumb phone. Dial the *228 to activate the dumb phone and press 1 when prompted.Next, I activated the 5s onto the UDP line. No problems. entered IMEI# and the SIM# (Look at the packing slip you got. There's no need to take out the SIM) Be sure to turn off the phone before doing all this.
After everything is entered, Verizon online will tell you to activate the 5s (Turn it on!). Everything should boot up fine while it searches for LTE. Then you restore on your iTurns and Boom...UDP on an 5s!
I then went back to my Verizon online account and chatted w/ a CSR. She took off the $10 data charge on the dumb phone and also verified that I still had UDP.
Done.
bc979: Use the SIM that came with your 5s!!!
Recap:
I had a family plan with UDP on IP4 (A) and a dumb phone (B).
Both have upgrades.
I ordered via Verizon online using the upgrade on dumb phone.
I got the 5s today and followed these directions using Verizon online.
http://www.dimascorner.com/2013/iphone5s-upgrade/
Basically, activate on dumb phone line first.
At no point did I ever take the SIM out.
5s activated fine on dumb phone line. When I went to put the dumb phone back on that phone line, it made me select $10 for data for the dumb phone. I guess the LG Revere wasn't as dumb as I thought
Next, I activated the 5s onto the UDP line. No problems. entered IMEI# and the SIM# (Look at the packing slip you got. There's no need to take out the SIM) Be sure to turn off the phone before doing all this.
After everything is entered, Verizon online will tell you to activate the 5s (Turn it on!). Everything should boot up fine while it searches for LTE. Then you restore on your iTurns and Boom...UDP on an 5s!
I then went back to my Verizon online account and chatted w/ a CSR. She took off the $10 data charge on the dumb phone and also verified that I still had UDP.
Done.
bc979: Use the SIM that came with your 5s!!!
Wow thanks so much for the detailed write up, it was extremely helpful and appreciated!! All set up and my UDP is preserved!
You need to go on Verizon's website and have them send you a new sim. That's what I had to do also. I paid for overnight priority shipping (I ordered Wednesday) and it should be here today according to the order page when I selected shipping speed. I haven't even got a tracking number so who knows.
I didn't need a new sim. But I'm going from a 4 to 5s so maybe the new sim is not needed in those cases. I've read there's no need for a 24 hour wait for the sim to "age" any longer.
I also noticed that while I still have UDP, I still have to pay extra to activate hot spot. Wasn't there a time that it was free to add to LTE? I guess that was a limited time deal to entice ppl to jump from 3G to 4GLTE.
I also noticed that while I still have UDP, I still have to pay extra to activate hot spot. Wasn't there a time that it was free to add to LTE? I guess that was a limited time deal to entice ppl to jump from 3G to 4GLTE.
does anyone know why it would be charging me LESS now for unlimited? when I went to activate the device it asked me to change plans (but there was still an option listed for unlimited email and web for smartphones for 29.99/month, which i clicked). Then on the next page it showed $26.39/month for unlimited as opposed to the 29.99/month for unlimited that I previously had. is this something i should be worried about since its technically a change to my plan??
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I asked the CSR about it and she said they had to do it so the system wouldn't confuse it with their 2gb 29.99 plan. Also being mid-billing cycle has something to do with the discount as well. I'm sure they'll make it back up under MISC charges in the future. You can bet I'll be keeping a close watch on my bill for the next few months
I asked the CSR about it and she said they had to do it so the system wouldn't confuse it with their 2gb 29.99 plan. Also being mid-billing cycle has something to do with the discount as well. I'm sure they'll make it back up under MISC charges in the future. You can bet I'll be keeping a close watch on my bill for the next few months
haha definitely a good call, VZW is sneaky! thanks again for all of your help dizzyV6P!
I had the same problem (upgrading 4s to 5s - both have SIM cards).
So I called Verizon Customer service, and they said I didn't need to even bother with SIM cards (or even switching em) - took care of it on phone in their computer. I took about 10 mins for the phone number to work again.
I'm in a support chat with Verizon at the moment. Trying to figure out why my priority overnight shipping on the SIM card (which I spent $14.99 on) still hasn't shipped. Should have went out yesterday and been here today.
Edit: This is the explanation I got
Edit: This is the explanation I got
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Another perk of unlimited $29.99 is that it still qualifies for corporation discount. Be $26.39 reflect your corporation discount.
But verizon will not discount the $30/2gb data plan.
Go figure. Another reason to keep unlimited. My unlimited data plan has a 22% discount so it costs about $24/month for unlimited vs 2gb/$30 (no discount)
Long but detailed post warning. Hopefully this will help someone out.
I thought I'd share my elaborate plan to get the new 5s while keep my unlimited data, and bringing my wife onto Verizon at the same time.
I was going back and forth for days on whether I wanted to bite the bullet and switch to a Share Everything plan with my wife. She doesn't use much data so I thought 4GB shared would be enough, even though I go over that (rarely) by myself some months with my unlimited.
FYI, Verizon Unlimited plans go for ~$350-400 on eBay. So I thought I'd sell my plan and then sign up for a new Share Everything plan and get 2 new phones. The money I get for selling my unlimited plan could pay for me to bump up the data allowance for quite some time.
But then I started researching this whole loophole and I thought of something.
So my options were:
- Started out with my ULD on a non-family plan (Line 1)
- Purchased (2) 5s' on contract on new separate non-family Nationwide plans (Line 2 & 3)
- Activated new phones on Lines 2 & 3
- Called Verizon CS to have all 3 lines joined on a Nationwide Family plan, making sure Line 1 retains ULD
- Activate dumb phone (purchased from eBay) on Line 3
- Activate Line 3's 5s on Line 1
- Give wife Line 2 (2GB plan)
- Remove data plan on Line 3
This all worked out perfectly. So I'm paying $10+tax on Line 3, but this allows me to have an upgrade available every year for myself, between lines 1 & 3. And it actually saves me money versus buying a full-priced phone. $300 + ($10 x 24months) < $750
Keep in mind that this is only really cost effective if you have 3+ lines. My family plan totals $160. If it was only 2 lines (Unlimited & dumb phone lines), it would drop it down to $110, which is relatively high if you're only going to use one of the lines.
I thought I'd share my elaborate plan to get the new 5s while keep my unlimited data, and bringing my wife onto Verizon at the same time.
I was going back and forth for days on whether I wanted to bite the bullet and switch to a Share Everything plan with my wife. She doesn't use much data so I thought 4GB shared would be enough, even though I go over that (rarely) by myself some months with my unlimited.
FYI, Verizon Unlimited plans go for ~$350-400 on eBay. So I thought I'd sell my plan and then sign up for a new Share Everything plan and get 2 new phones. The money I get for selling my unlimited plan could pay for me to bump up the data allowance for quite some time.
But then I started researching this whole loophole and I thought of something.
So my options were:
- Sell unlimited plan and sign up for new Share Everything
- Find a way to buy a 5s off contract to keep my unlimited (this would be difficult since I'm eligible for upgrade and wouldn't be able to pay full price on Verizon or Apple's website)
- Figure out a way to take advantage of this whole dumb phone loophole, which is what I ended up doing
- Started out with my ULD on a non-family plan (Line 1)
- Purchased (2) 5s' on contract on new separate non-family Nationwide plans (Line 2 & 3)
- Activated new phones on Lines 2 & 3
- Called Verizon CS to have all 3 lines joined on a Nationwide Family plan, making sure Line 1 retains ULD
- Activate dumb phone (purchased from eBay) on Line 3
- Activate Line 3's 5s on Line 1
- Give wife Line 2 (2GB plan)
- Remove data plan on Line 3
This all worked out perfectly. So I'm paying $10+tax on Line 3, but this allows me to have an upgrade available every year for myself, between lines 1 & 3. And it actually saves me money versus buying a full-priced phone. $300 + ($10 x 24months) < $750
Keep in mind that this is only really cost effective if you have 3+ lines. My family plan totals $160. If it was only 2 lines (Unlimited & dumb phone lines), it would drop it down to $110, which is relatively high if you're only going to use one of the lines.
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So line 2 has a 2gb plan? That was slick. In the end you're not saving a whole lot but the key is you have UD. It's just so nice knowing we're not being metered. Gotta love it.
To update what the result was. I went to the store and talked to a rep. He was confused as to why the phone did not come with a SIM card. Of course it did... but I wasn't about to to tell him what I was trying to do. He had to call corporate to get it activated. Checked online, it still shows as me having Unlimited. So overall, a horrible experience, but I guess its worth it, eh?
Yeah, not really saving any money but only $20 more than what we were paying separately so not bad.
But also keep in mind that their new Share Everything plans are not cheap either. 2 smartphones with 4GB shared is $150...
I was hoping to do the same. I wanted to finally upgrade to an iPhone 5s after 4 years with a Droid Incredible and I wanted to get my wife on a Verizon smartphone plan with a 5c. I currently have a single line corporate discounted line with 900 minutes and an unlimited data plan off contract for $78. My son is also needing a phone but that will be a basic feature phone - no data needed.
Can you help me out? I didn't quite understand the following step:
"- Purchased (2) 5s' on contract on new separate non-family Nationwide plans (Line 2 & 3)"
Was that a family plan? Or do you essentially have 3 individual plans that you then requested a CS to lump together as a family plan? Did you have to wait a month or did you do it right away over the phone. I would assume you then have a pool of minutes (700 or 1400) to share on the 3 lines. Do you have mobile to mobile calling and free nights and weekends as well? Does the CS then switch the 3rd line to a $10 additional line? If so, that dummy phone would be perfect for my son - without the data of course.
Do you think I could just pass on my Droid to my son as the third dummy line or will they make me trade it in for the 5s? After all it ain't pretty but it works. Perhaps he could at least surf while on wifi.
Thanks for any help or advice.
To answer your questions:
- The new lines (2 & 3) were their own completely separate plans. I spoke with Verizon CS beforehand and they said there's no problem in converting separate Nationwide plans into a Nationwide Family plan, since it would be a lateral move. And they also said it's no problem in changing them back to individual Nationwide plans later on.
- You can have the change to family plan effective on next billing cycle but then I'd have to wait to put the dumb phone on line 3 so I had it take effect immediately. I'm sure my next bill will look like a mess with prorations and all with 3 different lines, but the 2 new lines were only on individual plans for a couple hours.
- The Nationwide family has the choices of 700, 1400, 2000 or unlimited pooled/shared minutes.
- I did a quick search online and I'm pretty sure the plan has mobile to mobile and free nights/weekends. I do know if you choose the 1400 or 2000 minute plans you get to add 10 friends/family numbers.
- For the family plan, there is a base charge for the minutes ($50 for the 700min plan) and then each line is $9.99/month. With a dumb phone, you're not required to add text or data.
- If you activate a smartphone on a line, you are required to add a data plan to it, even if it won't be used. The cheapest smartphone data plan is $30/month for 2GB.
Thanks - I have not been getting the greatest advice from CS reps at brick and mortar stores. Every time I have talked of adding lines they limit options. I will be interested to see if they will allow me to start another new plan at the following rates: the plan I was forward from my corporate office has discounted individual plans at $46 (450 min) and a family plan for $80 for the first 2 lines (700 min shared) then every additional line is $10. As you said data is $30 for 2gb for every smart phone. We might not be comparing apples to apples. I also may be better off talking to a CS over the phone. Thoughts?
I wouldn't be surprised if b&m stores have incentives to get you to the new Share Everything plans. And they definitely don't want to go out of their way to explain these types of loopholes.
The family plan you're referring, are you sure it's $80 for the first 2 lines, and not $70? I've seen the Nationwide Family listed on some websites as being $70 for first 2 lines (700 min shared) and then $10 each additional. This is the same as mine since it's the base cost of $50 (700min) + $10 each line. A family plan can't have a single line so it technically is $70 for first 2 lines.
I get a corporate discount also, but it's only taken off the $50 base charge and $30 unlimited data.
It is actually $100 for the first two lines discounted to $80 and then each additional line is $10. Here is the picture. So looking at this price plan, how would you proceed?
Attachments
Oh, for clarification, I'm on the Nationwide Family Talk plan, not Talk and Text. The Talk plan is showing at $69.99 before discount on your picture, which is what I have.
The difference is that the Talk and Text plan has unlimited messaging for ALL lines included. You can get unlimited messaging for all lines on the Talk plan for $30, so it comes out to the same. However, having the Talk plan gives you more flexibility.
On the Talk plan, you have 2 choices for messaging. 1) Unlimited messaging on ALL lines for $30 or 2) 1000 messages for $10 PER line. I chose to have 1000 messages on 2 of the lines, saving me $10, since 1000 per line is plenty anyways and one of the lines isn't being used anyways.
Loophole works even when purchasing thru an Apple store ??
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2
So for lines 2 and 3 of your illustration, you purchased single line nationwide Talk plans for $40 each before discount and also purchased 2 Gb of data for each at $30 a piece. Did you do that over the phone or in store? Didn't they think that was strange?
Then you called a CS rep and had them move all your lines to one family Talk plan and chose 1000 pooled text messages for 2 of the lines. I assume that was line 1 and 2. Didn't you have texting on line 1 to begin with or were you forced to change since it was all one family plan?
Do I really need the dummy phone if I already have the old Droid Incredible? What is the optimal order of activating these devices? What is your monthly cost? Thanks for taking me by the hand through this. I always said they would have to pry my unlimited data out of my cold dead hands.