Verizon iPad 3 account troubles?

[RetiredInFl]

4G Verizon SIM cards are available on eBay for $5-$6. They even have Micro-Sims listed. I have a cutter so it doesn't matter. There is no "prepaid" SIM, a VZW sim is a VZW sim (just like AT&T and T-Mo) despite what the idiots in the store tell you. I just got mine today and had no problem with it for prepaid. So if they are STILL giving you a hard time ("we have no prepaid 4G sims") replacing a sim just buy it off eBay FOR $5 OR $6.

Hopefully in the next couple/few weeks VZW will get their act together. I really think it's just lack of training as this probably is their only prepaid 4g device.

 

[magbarn]

I too have been experiencing this "View my Account" problem since I first tried to activate my Verizon LTE iPad on March 18th. Like some of you I had to endure speaking to totally clueless Verizon customer service reps, one of whom had me RESET ALL MY IPAD SETTINGS. Which, of course did not work, and caused me to have to restore my iPad.

IGNORE THESE FRONT-LINE PEOPLE -- THEY ARE TECHNICALLY INCOMPETENT.

FINALLY, I got thru to a TECH SUPPORT person, who told me they are aware of this issue, and that it's been happening all over the country since launch-day. They are working on it, and they expect to have a solution "within 72 hours" (this was Tuesday, the 20th. I'm expecting them to get back to me by tomorrow, Friday the 23rd).

The tech support guy gave me a DIRECT PHONE NUMBER to the TECH SUPPORT DEPARTMENT: 1-800-786-8419
So lets chill on all these "theories" about what the problem is. (These forums seem to invite all kids of silly, shoot-from-the-hip speculation from people who don't have their facts straight.)

As for the story that Verizon is charging activation fees --- TOTALLY UNTRUE.
PRE-PAID DATA PLANS ARE MANAGED DIRECTLY ON THE IPAD -- JUST LIKE AT&T.
That said, if someone DID tell you this, you are TALKING to the WRONG DEPARTMENT.
When you call Verizon Wireless, ask for the "PRE-PAID" DEPARTMENT.

Hope that clears up a few things.

Lol you have a different issue, best buy screwed many of us here and put us in post-paid accounts. This cannot be undone without having your post paid account cancelled and getting a new sim so you can set up a pre paid account.

 

[prospervic]

It's working now!!

Had a long talk with Verizon Tech Support rep Scott, who had been dealing with customer complaints ever since the iPad 3 launch. This was my fourth call (the third after my trouble ticket was created). He was very forthright about what was going on. He felt that the iPad-Verizon rollout had been rushed and that "it could have been handled differently".

Anyway, he told me that a supervisor would be calling "in the afternoon". I never got that call, but when I got home last night I again tried Reprovisioning my account (Settings -> General -> Reset -> Subscriber Services -> Reprovision Account), and I was FINALLY able to login and view my account info.

Now THAT'S more like it. I'm feeling much better about Verizon now.

I don't know whether this was just in my case (because I was polite-but-firm rather than raving mad?) or if the whole system is fixed.
YMMV, so check for yourself.

 

[dcuny2012]

Had a long talk with Verizon Tech Support rep Scott, who had been dealing with customer complaints ever since the iPad 3 launch. This was my fourth call (the third after my trouble ticket was created). He was very forthright about what was going on. He felt that the iPad-Verizon rollout had been rushed and that "it could have been handled differently".

Anyway, he told me that a supervisor would be calling "in the afternoon". I never got that call, but when I got home last night I again tried Reprovisioning my account (Settings -> General -> Reset -> Subscriber Services -> Reprovision Account), and I was FINALLY able to login and view my account info.

Now THAT'S more like it. I'm feeling much better about Verizon now.

I don't know whether this was just in my case (because I was polite-but-firm rather than raving mad?) or if the whole system is fixed.
YMMV, so check for yourself.

I just tried and still not working. Guess I'll call Monday and light a fire under them...

 

[Jtludwig]

Wirelessly posted

Since you paid upfront, data should be pre-paid contract free. If they want people to sign contracts for postpaid, then they should cough up $150 subsidies on LTE iPads!

Are you positive the post-paid account signups are a contract, as in subject to early termination fee?

AT&T doesn't do it this way if you opt for post-paid, and I don't think Verizon does either (but could be wrong). My phones are with AT&T so I spoke with business customer care about postpaid when I was considering AT&T or Verizon for my 3rd gen iPad. I ended up going with Verizon (purchased from Apple) as the $20/1GB plan better suited my needs than AT&T offerings, plus I liked the idea of carrier diversity between my phone and tablet.

Best Buy's actions in slamming people into postpaid plans is nothing less than reprehensible.

I agree Best Buy shouldn't be doing this, but even if you signed up for a postpaid account there is no contract or ETF.

 

[magbarn]

Wirelessly posted



I agree Best Buy shouldn't be doing this, but even if you signed up for a postpaid account there is no contract or ETF.

But there's a $35 activation fee that you won't get charged on prepaid. Also you have to log into your Verizon account on their app or website to get your data usage instead of just checking the cellular acct in the settings tab

 

[Jtludwig]

Wirelessly posted

Wirelessly posted



I agree Best Buy shouldn't be doing this, but even if you signed up for a postpaid account there is no contract or ETF.

But there's a $35 activation fee that you won't get charged on prepaid. Also you have to log into your Verizon account on their app or website to get your data usage instead of just checking the cellular acct in the settings tab

I never said there wasn't. I was answering the question about having an ETF.

 

[magbarn]

I just tried and still not working. Guess I'll call Monday and light a fire under them...

A few here have been able to somehow have Verizon do it online, but I was one of the unlucky ones that wasted a whole Saturday afternoon trying to get Verizon to replace my sim card which finally fixed the problem. This whole experience frustrated me so that I was very close to dumping Verizon's 25mbps LTE reception and trading it for AT&T crappy 2-5mbps hspa+

 

[magbarn]

Wirelessly posted



I never said there wasn't. I was answering the question about having an ETF.

That's why it's worth it to get them to cancel the post paid plan and switch it to prepaid. You get NOTHING in return for the $35 that you throw at Verizon and their subsequent kickback to best buy. Honestly, if Verizon would've just took out the activation fee I would've kept the post paid plan.

 

[macanut]

I had the same problem when I first signed up for the $20 for 1gb data plan from Verizon on my Ipad last Friday. I called customer service and they said if you're using an American Express card to buy prepaid data plan, you have to call Amex to authorize the transaction because they are blocking it. After I called Amex to authorize it, the Verizon rep was able to create the account and now I have data.

The problem I have now, is I keep getting a message on my ipad that the data plan cannot be managed from my ipad, which I should be able to do. Then when I hit view account a second time, it lets me sign up for an account to buy more data. I'm not sure why I can't see the account that was created on Saturday.

 

[1xusafwifex1]

Is coverage different????

Slightly off topic, but still relates to the PUSHY Best Buy & Verizon rep when I bought the iPad3 for my husband. They went so far as to tell me that if I elected to go with the post-paid plan (and pay the $35.00 activation) that the service would be better than if I elect Prepaid thru the device. They said we would have "Access to more towers" than people who are on the Prepaid plans??????????????? this made no sense to me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told them NO!


Was anyone else told this??

 

[magbarn]

I had the same problem when I first signed up for the $20 for 1gb data plan from Verizon on my Ipad last Friday. I called customer service and they said if you're using an American Express card to buy prepaid data plan, you have to call Amex to authorize the transaction because they are blocking it. After I called Amex to authorize it, the Verizon rep was able to create the account and now I have data.

The problem I have now, is I keep getting a message on my ipad that the data plan cannot be managed from my ipad, which I should be able to do. Then when I hit view account a second time, it lets me sign up for an account to buy more data. I'm not sure why I can't see the account that was created on Saturday.

You've got the same problem that the rest of us have, vzw or best buy got you into a post paid account.

 

[magbarn]

Slightly off topic, but still relates to the PUSHY Best Buy & Verizon rep when I bought the iPad3 for my husband. They went so far as to tell me that if I elected to go with the post-paid plan (and pay the $35.00 activation) that the service would be better than if I elect Prepaid thru the device. They said we would have "Access to more towers" than people who are on the Prepaid plans??????????????? this made no sense to me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I told them NO!


Was anyone else told this??

I've got fed the same line of bullcrap as you did. This whole "extra towers" crap takes the bullpoop award of the year. If it weren't for the fact that AT&T doesn't even have my area for LTE expansion till much later in 2013/2014, I would've gone with AT&T.

 

[1xusafwifex1]

LOL....thanks magbarn
I didn't think so

 

[ckiggins]

I think that's actually somewhat true - as I understand it, prepaid accounts do not have access to the "extended 4G" towers, which I believe are 4G towers owned by other carriers used in a roaming arrangement.

 

[1xusafwifex1]

I think that's actually somewhat true - as I understand it, prepaid accounts do not have access to the "extended 4G" towers, which I believe are 4G towers owned by other carriers used in a roaming arrangement.

Where does your understanding come from is the question? Did you learn if this from Verizon, Apple, CNET, or other knowledgeable source? I have only heard it from the Verizon rep in Best Buy and it felt very "high pressure sales" to me...

 

[RetiredInFl]

I think that's actually somewhat true - as I understand it, prepaid accounts do not have access to the "extended 4G" towers, which I believe are 4G towers owned by other carriers used in a roaming arrangement.

Where does your understanding come from is the question? Did you learn if this from Verizon, Apple, CNET, or other knowledgeable source? I have only heard it from the Verizon rep in Best Buy and it felt very "high pressure sales" to me...

It's how most prepaid works. While I can't speak for VZW with ATT & TMO Prepaid plans (you can see the differences on their pre-paid vs. postpaid coverage maps) you can't roam to other carriers if there is no coverage from your provider. Ex: If AT&T has no coverage but T-Mo does and your on ATT prepaid you get nothing but on postpaid you roam on T-Mo towers. I'm sure there are some exceptions but generally that's the downside to Prepaid.

It's heavily discussed on Howard Forums as well as other places. In major metro areas it's usually not a problem. From that I would assume VZW works the same but I'm not 100% sure.


http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/...-verizon-postpaid-and-prepaid-coverage-35964/

 

[thatoneguy82]

Like many have said, this sounds like your iPads have been put into a post paid account. When I switched my original SIM (that was working perfectly and could view my account) from my MiFi to my iPad, it gave me the same the error message of the SIM already being activated. Accessing it in my online verizon postpaid account showed that the device on the plan/account had changed from the MiFi to the iPad, so it recognized it. It still worked, but it is on post paid, contract plan. I have a SIM in a baggie that is prepaid and has several weeks left of service and a device that has no SIM and collecting dust.

 

[AllieNeko]

I don't think it's contracted, but isn't it still subject to tax and bogus fees prepaid wouldn't be? I haven't signed up yet, but the tax and fees is why I don't want it on my account.

 

[dcuny2012]

Had to return my iPad -could not access account

After 4 calls to Verizon, being told that my 3 trouble tickets had been "lost", I finally had to exercise my 14 day Apple iPad return window. Apple Genius was not able to solve it either. Had to get a new iPad. I used a different email address to set up the Verizon prepaid acctoun & everything now works correctly.
The Verizon prepaid support is amateurish and not nearly as polished as their normal support. I was told a supervisor would call me and never got a call. I really don't like being lied to....

 

[RetiredInFl]

After 4 calls to Verizon, being told that my 3 trouble tickets had been "lost", I finally had to exercise my 14 day Apple iPad return window. Apple Genius was not able to solve it either. Had to get a new iPad. I used a different email address to set up the Verizon prepaid acctoun & everything now works correctly.
The Verizon prepaid support is amateurish and not nearly as polished as their normal support. I was told a supervisor would call me and never got a call. I really don't like being lied to....

You simply needed a new sim. However that is easier said then done.

 

[Azbat7]

Fight 'em - I won.

After reading this forum and having the same issue, I went back up to Best Buy to get this resolved. It wasn't easy - they continually told me they did everything right and that my iPad was working fine.... even when I showed them I couldn't access my account.

Luckily, they had an apple rep on site so I got him to come over and confirm that Best Buy had no reason to set up a Verizon account. Only after that, they gave me a new sim card. Even though for 40 minutes they told me they HAD to charge me for a sim card - there was no way possible they could give me a free one. If this happened to you, demand a new SIM card - you should not have to pay for one -it was their error/scam.

The biggest problem was my fight was with the best buy mobile manager - she was certain I was wrong and refused to help me until I had to embarrass her with the apple rep. I demanded to speak with the store manager and after recapping everything with him, he agreed to refund the account activation fee I was wrongly charged.

MY QUESTION- Is Best Buy doing this out of pure stupidity and lack of knowledge or is there some other motive? Do they make $$ from account activations?

 

[Night Spring]

Wirelessly posted

nvm

 

[RetiredInFl]

MY QUESTION- Is Best Buy doing this out of pure stupidity and lack of knowledge or is there some other motive? Do they make $$ from account activations?

Commissions for activating Post-Paid accounts. The store I purchased (and returned in) was pulling people out of a long line waiting to pay for the iPad by saying "No waiting, come with me, we'll activate it for you."

 

[magbarn]

It's how most prepaid works. While I can't speak for VZW with ATT & TMO Prepaid plans (you can see the differences on their pre-paid vs. postpaid coverage maps) you can't roam to other carriers if there is no coverage from your provider. Ex: If AT&T has no coverage but T-Mo does and your on ATT prepaid you get nothing but on postpaid you roam on T-Mo towers. I'm sure there are some exceptions but generally that's the downside to Prepaid.

It's heavily discussed on Howard Forums as well as other places. In major metro areas it's usually not a problem. From that I would assume VZW works the same but I'm not 100% sure.


http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/...-verizon-postpaid-and-prepaid-coverage-35964/

Maybe for a few evdo towers, but who else besides AT&T and verizon have LTE towers up and running? Who's this mysterious '3rd party' that's putting up LTE towers using the same frequencies as Verizon that Verizon LTE devices will only be able to roam on post paid accounts?! I call BS on this. A cell phone company salesman, mattress salesman, and car salesman all use the same bs tactics lol!