Can I avoid Shared Data Plan?

[thehikingdude]

Currently I have 5 phones on my account. (2) Smart Phones and (3) Dumb Phones. Here's the breakdown of current billing without taxes.

All Phones are on a Shared 1400 Minute Plan $100 (Before 22% Discount)

(1) Smartphone - Unlimited Data $30 (Before 22% Discount)

(1) Smartphone - 2GB Data Plan $30 + $10 Line Fee

(1) Dumb Phone 75MB Data Plan $10 + $10 Line Fee

(2) Dumb Phone - Total of $20 Line Fee

My current bill is roughly $210 including all taxes and fees. From everything I've looked at on-line and speaking with Verizon, once I upgrade my Smartphone I am forced to change over to the Shared Everything Plan and my bill will instantly go up about $30-$40/month. This is freaking crazy! Why the heck would I want to pay that much more money for less service.

Am I missing something? I am considering upgrading my Smartphone and then activating it on my fiance's line since she is wanting a Smartphone, but isn't ready for an upgrade yet. Still I am forced onto the new plan and the bill goes up more than makes sense to me.

Is there an option available to me that I have missed? I can't see spending so much more money each month for nothing extra. Honestly I'm surprised that people aren't leaving Verizon in droves. I know I am considering it!

Thanks!!

 

[Clementine_3]

As long as you don't upgrade the primary line you won't have to change to the SE plan. You should be able to upgrade a secondary line and switch phones around (if you want to be locked into another 2 years). Your other option is to buy a phone outright and just activate it on the primary line, either pay full price for a new one or look on swappa/ebay/craigslist/classifieds here etc.
Once you touch the primary line with a subsidized phone it's bye-bye unlimited.

 

[thehikingdude]

Yeah, I've checked around on used phones but the prices I've seen so far don't really make it worthwhile. It just pisses me off that they would make such dramatic changes in their plans and tout it as a Savings.


NOT!!!!!!!

 

[hilmar2k]

Yeah, I've checked around on used phones but the prices I've seen so far don't really make it worthwhile. It just pisses me off that they would make such dramatic changes in their plans and tout it as a Savings.


NOT!!!!!!!

It does save many people money. I had 5 lines all with smartphones. When we switched to SE our bill dropped by over $50. Now it helps that we don't use a ton of data, but even at the 10GB data plan, we would still be few dollars less. Plus, SE allows for more than 5 lines. We have since added 2 more lines (for a total of 7). Now those are dumb phones, but we would have had to start a new account for those two, and that would have cost us more than the $60 they added to our plan.

 

[thehikingdude]

Good to know that it saves in certain situations.

UPDATE: Found a rep at a local Verizon mall kiosk that knows his stuff. He can get me upgraded WITHOUT losing my Unlimited Data Plan!!!! Hard for me to explain, but it includes something about an alternative upgrade using one of the basic phones. WOOT!

Now to decide between the Note II, S3 or the pending S4.

 

[hilmar2k]

Now to decide between the Note II, S3 or the pending S4.

You could throw the DNA in that list.

 

[AntimonyER]

Yeah basically you are upgrading the dumb phone to a smartphone, adding the $30 for 2 GB plan, and renewing the contract, then putting the dumb phone back on the line, cancelling the data plan, and putting the new smartphone on the existing smartphone line. I have done this twice, works great

 

[thehikingdude]

^^^^ What he said.

 

[xTye]

You do realize you're going to lose your unlimited data by using your upgrade right?

 

[spottedcatfish]

You do realize you're going to lose your unlimited data by using your upgrade right?

If he uses an upgrade from a line without unlimited data, then the line(s) with unlimited data will not be affected. Verizon doesn't care where the new phone ends up as log as the contract is accepted.

 

[DonB]

Ok lets all tackle the issue and the question at hand and not each other. lets help thehikingdude get his question answered and all be civil. cheers

 

[cybercruiser]

Yeah basically you are upgrading the dumb phone to a smartphone, adding the $30 for 2 GB plan, and renewing the contract, then putting the dumb phone back on the line, cancelling the data plan, and putting the new smartphone on the existing smartphone line. I have done this twice, works great

huh?? you're making my head spin