Keeping Verizon's unlimited data and upgrading to Galaxy S7 Edge?

[Chandria]

I am one of those who were grandfathered in with the unlimited data plan at Verizon. When I upgraded from Galaxy S3 to my current Galaxy S5, I was able to simply switch the sim card and continue with my existing plan without any change.

However, with Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, this will not be possible, since the sim is a different size...nano. Was anyone with the same scenario able to get the upgrade and keep their unlimited plan? If so, what did you have to do?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

~Chandria

 

[KupKrazy]

All you need to do is replace your SIM card from Verizon. Go to any store and tell them that you want to replace your SIM card for the GS7 and they'll give you a nano card and deactivate the old micro card. I did that with AT&T - moving from a Note 4 (micro SIM) to a GS7 Edge. Just make sure they don't change anything to your plan (they really shouldn't but I had an issue with AT&T and their unlimited plan - I needed it restored due to a system issue). Anyway, changing a SIM card doesn't alter your plan.

 

[skilaufen]

I just ordered my S7 and I have the UDP. I had to do the device payment plan to keep my plan ($28 a month extra for 24 mos) but it is still cheaper than going to a tiered plan.

If you are paying the extra $20 a month, you can now use the device payment plan. The phone is coming with a new sim card. Hope that helps.

 

[Chandria]

I just ordered my S7 and I have the UDP. I had to do the device payment plan to keep my plan ($28 a month extra for 24 mos) but it is still cheaper than going to a tiered plan.

If you are paying the extra $20 a month, you can now use the device payment plan. The phone is coming with a new sim card. Hope that helps.

Please let me know if your plan still shows the same after your activated? Thank you for the reply.

 

[Rose4uKy]

My S7 Edge with Sprint tried telling me it wasn't compatible with my plan telling me to choose a new one but I called Sprint and they did something to fix me. I was assured I could keep my plan if I resigned with them for 2 more years.

 

[Sobandit]

I was having a hard time figuring out how to do this online so I called Verizon sales. I was able to keep my unlimited data plan and had to sign up for the payment plan like skilaufen said above. I did that so that I was eligible for the gear S2 watch though.

I'm used to buying the phones outright anyway to keep the data. The sales rep said I just had to sign up this way and if I wanted to pay the full balance in 30 days or whatever I could do that.

I've had my new phone activated for over 24 hours now and my data plan is still unlimited. I upgraded from a galaxy S4. The new phone came pre-loaded with the new sim. I just had to call Verizon to do the activation over the phone. Took a few minutes and I was up and running. Way easier than I figured it was going to be.

 

[ninog]

READ THIS:
I pre-ordered my S7 Edge at Best-Buy and made sure to buy it at full retail because I too have unlimited data with Verizon. At first I had issues automatically activating my phone with the SIM card already pre-installed. Luckily one of the awesome guys at Best-Buy told me that I don't have to activate a new SIM card. What he did was actually take a special PUNCH OUT and just punched out my old SIM card from my S5 into the smaller nano-sized SIM card. Then I put that into the S7 and ta-dahhh! fully working phone! No calling Verizon, no hassle, no BS. And most importantly no unnecessary plan upgrades/changes. Plan untouched. So yea. Don't know if all Best-Buys have this special SIM card punch, but it was totally worth it. I even kept the excess punched out piece so that I can still combine with the now nano-sized SIM and put the two together back into my S5 so I can easily switch the same SIM card between the two phones with no issues. Hope this helps those of you in the same situation!!

 

[kelela92]

If you want the free VR/S2, then you'll have to go on the payment plan. If you don't care about that, all you have to do is buy the phone outright. If you do it online, choose upgrade (make sure you choose the full retail price). It's not using your subsidized upgrade, which would boot you off your unlimited and charge you a lovely extra $20 line fee. I was super concerned about clicking on "upgrade". It also won't change your plan. If you have to choose a plan, you did something wrong.

Lastly, you can activate your phone online via the VZW website. I've done this with many phones (at least 4 or 5 now), different size SIM cards, same size SIM cards (same or new cards), etc, and never lost my unlimited.

Good luck.

 

[skilaufen]

To confirm I still have my UDP and just like Sobandit it came with a SIM and all I did was activate it over the phone.

 

[Deleted User]

I am one of those who were grandfathered in with the unlimited data plan at Verizon. When I upgraded from Galaxy S3 to my current Galaxy S5, I was able to simply switch the sim card and continue with my existing plan without any change.

However, with Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, this will not be possible, since the sim is a different size...nano. Was anyone with the same scenario able to get the upgrade and keep their unlimited plan? If so, what did you have to do?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

~Chandria

Chandria, My Son (30 yo) just did what you want to do and he, as you, has the grandfathered unlimited. He went to Best Buy and purchased the S7 at full retail price. The S7 comes with a SIM card already in it. (this Sim card is smaller then the one in the S5) Anyway, he went home with the new phone and with his laptop went to his My Verizon account and signed into it. There at the main screen, top, he clicked on "My Devices" and at the next screen clicked on "Activate or Switch a Device". There, he entered the appropriate info and within a minute or s,o his old S5 was deactivated and the new S7 was working on his account. This process had no effect on his Verizon unlimited. Note: Both the old S5 and new S7 should be turned OFF while you are doing the changeover process at My Verizon.

Important: After activation of the new S7 be sure you call Verizon customer support and make sure your insurance for the device carried over to the new S7. My Son found his had not and he had to request the Verizon rep move the device insurance to the S7. Also, used S5's are selling on Craigslist and eBAY for between $120-145 right now. You can easily sell your old S5. (be sure to reset your phone to factory and remove your Sim card from the S5 before sale of the phone) If you want to sell, do asap before the market gets flooded with S5's. I have sold three S5's in the last week and they went very fast.

Important #2: I suggest that you do the changeover to the new S7 like my Son did. IF you choose to call Verizon and ask their rep to do it, it is a crap shoot whether you will or will not get a rep that does not screw with your unlimited by accident. Seems theses days alot of Verizon reps are lets call it clueless and are prone to making account errors.

 

[Deleted User]

snipe:

Luckily one of the awesome guys at Best-Buy told me that I don't have to activate a new SIM card. What he did was actually take a special PUNCH OUT and just punched out my old SIM card from my S5 into the smaller nano-sized SIM card. Then I put that into the S7 and ta-dahhh! fully working phone! No calling Verizon, no hassle, no BS. And most importantly no unnecessary plan upgrades/changes.

This is an excellent way to go and indeed would have no impact on a person's unlimited data plan. Unfortunately, the Best Buy where my Son went did not have the punch out tool to punch out the smaller Sim with.

 

[Vriznunlmdat4evr]

My situation is a little more interesting. I am on a family plan. My line is currently "in contract" with unlimited data. (I used a Best Buy glitch to purchase my S5) so I cannot do the payment plan and get the vr and sd card. I am looking for the cheapest way to get an S7 and I would also like to get the goodies if possible. I'm looking at all my options but it's looking like I am going to have to buy a phone outright.
I have a line that has an upgrade available but it does not have data. If I upgrade that line, I have to add a data plan and I cannot go back to the non data plan. That would cost an extra $30 a month for the plan (more than paying full price).
Does anyone know of any workaround?
FYI, there are three other lines with data on my plan, none of witch are eligible for an upgrade.