New phone time, want to keep grandfathered unlimited, what do I need to know?

Iowagriz · Jul 28, 2015

Title says it all. Still enjoy my S3 and haven't really been to the forums since the rollout of that model. But it is getting old and I would like to get something new and yet retain my grandfathered unlimited data.

I know that I can pay full price from Verizon. But I also see phones via eBay and other outlets. If I were to go that way, what do I need to know and what should I avoid?

Is it as simple as taking my SIM card from the S3 and adding it to the new phone that I purchase? Anything that I need to be wary of with respect to buying used phones?

Thanks

Unforgiven · Jul 28, 2015

Buying used or factory direct both work, as I've done both. You do simply insert your sim for data after activating the new phone on Verizon. Well, I put the sim in before I turned them on. I did have to call VZW CS on the Moto X for the 4G LTE, but they were plenty friendly.

When buying used, be careful you aren't buying a blacklisted device. Swappa is a good place for used phone purchases.

Clementine_3 · Jul 28, 2015

I use swappa.com and have never had a problem. Just make sure you go to the Verizon section, read the descriptions carefully, ask questions and make an offer if you're ready. Easy-peasy.

If the 'new' phone uses the same size SIM then you are all set (do a factory reset, just to be sure, on the 'new' phone), pop it in and turn it on. If it's a different size you should be able to call Verizon and ask for a new one, they may give you some gruff but will send it. Or, go to an authorized Verizon (not corporate) store and buy a new one (~10), you should then be able to activate online. Or or, take the phone to a corporate store, they'll set it up but will/may charge and will certainly give you gruff.

I gave up unlimited a while ago but when I had it I never had any trouble changing phones and keeping it.

AZgl1500 · Jul 30, 2015

when I got my S5, customer service said to leave the SIM card in the phone that came with it, that they would program it automatically to match my assigned phone number.

I ran into this when I upgraded a 3rd line on my account, but activated the phone on my "primary line"

none of this effects your "unlimited data", you just have to pay for the account as usual.

for me, when I added on 2 more lines in my home, the financial burden of keeping unlimited data for my sole pleasure was not affordable, so we went with the Family Share Plan and I lost my Unlimited plan forever. they won't let us renew them.
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, Lollipop

Lodingi · Aug 8, 2015

You should check out this thread.

http://androidforums.com/index.php?threads/844803/

AZgl1500 · Aug 9, 2015

All of the old "known facts" are now in the trash bin....

No more contracts or subsidized phones.

http://www.piercepioneer.com/verizon-announces-dramatic-shift-to-mobile-service/44631

Now that this has come about, it is time they dump their ridiculous bloatware "enhancements"...

The_Chief · Aug 18, 2015

Just take out your SIM, put it in the new phone and rock on. Be advised, though, that Verizon will notice you have a new phone and will (being the nice people they are) assume that you want Assurion protection on your new device. And they'll very likely add it to your bill automatically - which you won't see until the bill comes in, of course. Now if you don't want Assurion:

About a week after using the new phone, call *611 and talk with the fine folks at Verizon. Confirm with them that you DO NOT WANT ASSURION. They will take it back off your bill. I've had to do this for my last two devices.

AZgl1500 · Aug 19, 2015

The_Chief said:
Just take out your SIM, put it in the new phone and rock on. Be advised, though, that Verizon will notice you have a new phone and will (being the nice people they are) assume that you want Assurion protection on your new device. And they'll very likely add it to your bill automatically - which you won't see until the bill comes in, of course. Now if you don't want Assurion:

About a week after using the new phone, call *611 and talk with the fine folks at Verizon. Confirm with them that you DO NOT WANT ASSURION. They will take it back off your bill. I've had to do this for my last two devices.

???
Been with Verizon for 20+ years, and I don't recall that ever happening to me.
but, I always go to the website immediately after a new device is activated, and make sure that all of the feature boxes are set to my preferences.

It "might have" been in a check off box, but I don't remember having to do away with it.
when talking to a customer service rep, I always refuse insurance. that is a game that I never play.
Adding a new device always causes a bit of consternation... the latest gambit is their new voice mail which I detest. I turned it of after about 15 minutes of listening to it.

kyler13 · Aug 28, 2015

Slickdeals has a whole thread on getting new phones on contract, but keeping your UDP. I'm getting the Note 5 and got my wife the iPhone 6 a couple months back. We both still have our UDP, but we're able to take advantage of the 2-yr contract prices.

Scooter70 · Aug 31, 2015

Iowagriz said:
Is it as simple as taking my SIM card from the S3 and adding it to the new phone that I purchase? Anything that I need to be wary of with respect to buying used phones?

I just bought an S6 Edge from Swappa last week and it worked great. I put the SIM card from my MotoX into the S6, restarted the phone, and everything worked perfectly. I highly recommend Swappa as they check ESNs to make sure that anything sold there is clean. You'll just have to make sure that the SIM card in the new phone is the same size as your S3. If not, you'll have to go to a Verizon store to get a new one to activate the new phone.

New phone time, want to keep grandfathered unlimited, what do I need to know?

Newbie

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