What account changes can you make & keep unlimited data?

[robin_]

I have four phones. A & B are smartphones w/ grandfathered unlimited data. C & D are feature phones.

The users of C&D would like to move to smart phones. According to the VZW CSR I just chatted with they cannot move to smartphones on the same account. I'm not convinced that's correct (can't they get the $30/2gb plan?) but I don't mind moving them to a different account.

My current bill is for 1400 minutes voice, unlimited data x2, 2 extra lines, and 2 lines of unlimited texting.

Can I drop the two extra lines & their texting and downgrade to 700 minutes voice without affecting the unlimited data?

 

[Clementine_3]

You cant change to the 700 minute plan, it no longer exists really. Any change to your current minutes would be the new share everything plan. You 'should' be able to just add the 2 gb/$30 to the 2 lines. I think.

 

[dautley]

If The users of C&D would like to move to smart phones from Feature phones I'm pretty sure they will force you onto a share everything plan. You can go up or down on your minutes @ text messages without losing the unlimited data i believe.

 

[olbriar]

I just recently added to my text plan with no effect to my unlimited. I am looking at taking the two feature phones on my five phone plan to smart as the OP. Verizon is all over selling me on the share everything plan.

 

[robin_]

Can I drop the two FPs and their texting with no ill effects?

 

[Doit2it]

I'm not sure about upgrading the Feature phone lines, but you can add new lines to an existing plan (with the old 2, 5 and 10Gb allowances) without going to a shared plan.

Here's the Verizon FAQ (Item 17): Share Everything Plan

 

[robin_]

Thanks for that! Couldn't I add new smartphones, then swap the phone numbers and drop the feature phones?

 

[AntimonyER]

Existing customers on an existing, limited minute plan can continue on as if the Share Everything plans didn't exist. YOu can add/reduce minutes, texting, features and lines without being forced to go to Share Everything. You can upgrade feature phones to smartphones, and vice versa. NO need to add new lines and drop old ones, just upgrade your feature phones to smartphones as you normally would.

HOWEVER, you will get sold hard on switching to Share Everything, and I suppose its even possible you get an unscrupulous CSR who tries to tell you that you have to go to that plan, (I strongly suspect they get incentives to switch people over). Just ask to speak to a manager.

 

[robin_]

Is there anywhere on their web site that says I can upgrade from FP to SP, like the link above about adding a SP?

The woman I "chatted" with yesterday flat out said it was impossible. I didn't believe her at the time, but I didn't have anything to back it up.

 

[Cares]

If The users of C&D would like to move to smart phones from Feature phones I'm pretty sure they will force you onto a share everything plan. You can go up or down on your minutes @ text messages without losing the unlimited data i believe.

This is wrong.

C & D can get smart phones without moving to Share Everything.

 

[robin_]

This is great news, thanks guys.

Next question: what's the best place to do the upgrade? I'd like to use Best Buy and move them to the free Galaxy Nexus(es) unless there's a reason not to?

I don't have a local VZW corporate store, only "authorized retailers" (who I have had terrible luck with in the past.)

(And yes, I know BB is an AR too, it's the standalone ARs I distrust. I've had good luck with getting info at BB (on cell phones specifically) although I haven't bought one there.

 

[AntimonyER]

You shouldn't have any problem at BB, but just make sure to check up on your account after to make sure everything is as you requested.

 

[euph_22]

You shouldn't have any problem at BB, but just make sure to check up on your account after to make sure everything is as you requested.

And check sooner rather than later. Supposedly it's much easier to unmuck-up your account in the first 24 hours than later. You should still be able to go back after that, but it's just harder.

 

[Doit2it]

Is there anywhere on their web site that says I can upgrade from FP to SP, like the link above about adding a SP?

The woman I "chatted" with yesterday flat out said it was impossible. I didn't believe her at the time, but I didn't have anything to back it up.

If you upgrade from a FP to a SP you HAVE to pay FULL PRICE for the SP to keep your unlimited data plan. If you purchase a subsidized phone from Verizon, you HAVE to drop your unlimited data plan and switch to a shared data plan. Of course FPs don't have data, so the new SP on that line would be under the 2, 5 or 10Gb plans.

Can I drop the two FPs and their texting with no ill effects?

If those lines are out of contract, you can drop them without any issues. In contract, you face the ETF costs.

 

[robin_]

If you upgrade from a FP to a SP you HAVE to pay FULL PRICE for the SP to keep your unlimited data plan. If you purchase a subsidized phone from Verizon, you HAVE to drop your unlimited data plan and switch to a shared data plan. Of course FPs don't have data, so the new SP on that line would be under the 2, 5 or 10Gb plans.

If those lines are out of contract, you can drop them without any issues. In contract, you face the ETF costs.

That seems to be taking about upgrading the device with the unlimited data, not a different device I the account.

I asked in person at BB yesterday and the manager said it was fine.

 

[Doit2it]

You are right. Going from FP to SP you choose one of the 3 Gb plans. If you upgrade a SP to a new SP you must pay full price, or buy used, to keep unlimited data on that line.

Sorry, I had crossed my thoughts.

 

[jova33]

Newegg.com for upgrading a plan/device. Good deals.

 

[AntimonyER]

I actually found that Dell has some good deals on phones too, although I haven't checked their terms and conditions.