Verizon customers: Did they make you take limited data when you upgraded your phone?

[waterjug]

I started with a data plan before Verizon introduced limits a couple years ago. I was about to buy my first new phone since they introduced those limits. I had a friend that got a new phone from them a couple months ago that was also on unlimited, and he said they forced him to take a plan with limited data on it. Can anyone dispute/verify this?

 

[Scotteq]

The last time I renewed my contract they extended unlimited data, but told me I wouldn't be able to extend again. That was a couple years ago, so I doubt anyone would be able renew an unlimited contract now.

 

[RockinZ28]

You can buy your phone full retail price and keep unlimited. Also get to enjoy a $30 activation fee now too.

If you have multiple lines, you can upgrade another with the discount price, then trade phones and keep unlimited on yours.

 

[Crono]

If you upgrade your phone by contract extension or change your plan in almost any way they take you off unlimited.

 

[Bateluer]

You can buy your phone full retail price and keep unlimited. Also get to enjoy a $30 activation fee now too.

I think that 30 dollar fee applies if you purchase and activate in a Verizon store. When I replaced my GNex with a Razr HD, purchased through Swappa, I just moved the sim card from the Nexus to the Razr. Worked without a hitch and without a fee showing up on my account. Even swapped back to the Nexus a couple times to check some things.

 

[RockinZ28]

I think that 30 dollar fee applies if you purchase and activate in a Verizon store. When I replaced my GNex with a Razr HD, purchased through Swappa, I just moved the sim card from the Nexus to the Razr. Worked without a hitch and without a fee showing up on my account. Even swapped back to the Nexus a couple times to check some things.

It applies to any new phone upgrade at the discount price for existing customers. Doesn't matter if you go through Verizon online, store, Amazon, etc. Got hit with that fee for both my SGS3, and my wife's line for the Note II before we traded phones.

Buy used/new without using your upgrade, no fee. Saw some forums that people whined enough to get it dropped, but that was when they first started this last year. Might have no exceptions these days.

 

[hans007]

its only if you take a new contract with the subsidy for a new phone.

for example i have unlimited from a few years back. if i upgrade they will make me get 2GB plan. which isn't eligible for corporate discounts anymore to boot (so it will actaully cost me more per month to switch).

needless to say i'm never upgrading. i've heard rumors they will start doing verifications on corporate discounts and i'd lose mine since its from my last job, but even then i wouldnt do it.


i guess it depends on how much money is worth it to you to lose unlimited as honestly i can probably fit under 2GB every month (i'm right around 1.5-1.8 gb most months). you get say a galaxy S4 for $200 instead of say ebay for $450-500 a month after it comes out from someone who is selling their upgrade phone new .

so basically 24 month deal for savings of $250 , which is just about $10 a month. not to mention you usually pay tax on upgrades and you dont on phones off ebay. so $10 amonth i guess is the cost of keeping unlimited. i thnk about it like, if they offered unlimited plan for $10 more a month would i take it?

 

[Chiropteran]

They tried. Instead I dumped verizon and got unlimited data through t-mobile, and I'm saving $80/month. But once every 6 months I do wander into an area where t-mobile service is bad and Verizon service isn't, so there is that.

 

[notposting]

As mentioned, do the subsidized upgrade price, lose unlimited. Have to be careful depending how old your plan is in other ways as well -- I have to mine with a rep to keep my $5 texting plan.

My entire family plan is grandfathered in (old ACII plan).

 

[poofyhairguy]

If you plan to dump unlimited sell your plan on Ebay first. They are worth a ton.

 

[Red Storm]

If you plan to dump unlimited sell your plan on Ebay first. They are worth a ton.

Is there a guide to this? Have been considering it but not sure how to proceed.

 

[poofyhairguy]

From what I understand if they can pass the credit check it should transfer.

 

[Genx87]

I started with a data plan before Verizon introduced limits a couple years ago. I was about to buy my first new phone since they introduced those limits. I had a friend that got a new phone from them a couple months ago that was also on unlimited, and he said they forced him to take a plan with limited data on it. Can anyone dispute/verify this?

Yes, when I upgraded my phone they took away the unlimited plan.

 

[xBiffx]

Yes they did. But it doesn't matter much these days. With Wifi everywhere I hardly go over 1 gig let alone 2 gig.

Just upgraded to the HTC DNA in Jan btw.

 

[Binky]

I've been living without subsidized upgrades for years, but I get to keep my 5 lines with unlimited data for $240 (tax incl).

 

[s44]

Is there a guide to this? Have been considering it but not sure how to proceed.

Check HowardForums. It's called Assumption Of Liability (AOL). You can actually keep your # with a Google Voice workaround.

Btw, the reason Verizon is trying to price people off unlimited is that there's literally no legal way they can stop you from doing this.

 

[Chocu1a]

I consistently go over 3 gigs per month, many times 4. I just stream all my music from Google Music. Occasionally watch netflix while on the treadmill at the gym.

 

[boomhower]

Only way to keep unlimited is to upgrade another line on your account and move it over. I did that to get the iPhone 5. I'll be my last subsidized upgrade. I'll just stay a year behind and buy used.

 

[waterjug]

Yes they did. But it doesn't matter much these days. With Wifi everywhere I hardly go over 1 gig let alone 2 gig.

Just upgraded to the HTC DNA in Jan btw.

crap. I'm over 5 most months, and I'm sure not paying the extra fee for the massive data plan

 

[waterjug]

I think that 30 dollar fee applies if you purchase and activate in a Verizon store. When I replaced my GNex with a Razr HD, purchased through Swappa, I just moved the sim card from the Nexus to the Razr. Worked without a hitch and without a fee showing up on my account. Even swapped back to the Nexus a couple times to check some things.

so I can just pull the simcard out of my thunderbolt, and pop it into a galaxy that I buy and it works? (Sorry, I've never swapped sim cards before)

 

[Chocu1a]

so I can just pull the simcard out of my thunderbolt, and pop it into a galaxy that I buy and it works? (Sorry, I've never swapped sim cards before)

Yes. Unless the sim cards are different size, not sure if the TB one is larger or not. If your current sim is larger, you can just cut it down.

 

[Insomniator]

2GB for 30 bucks is a joke, I reach that just checking emails and browsing reddit. Its so hard to drop 500+ on a phone though. I'm currently on a Rezound (a flaky one at that) but am having a hard time justifying paying 400 for a phone from last year when I know if I gave up unlimited I could get a S4 for 200.

But without unlimited, the use of the phone is really limited to me.

 

[hans007]

Yes. Unless the sim cards are different size, not sure if the TB one is larger or not. If your current sim is larger, you can just cut it down.

The tb one is bigger. But they will give you a new one for free.

 

[Crono]

2GB for 30 bucks is a joke, I reach that just checking emails and browsing reddit. Its so hard to drop 500+ on a phone though. I'm currently on a Rezound (a flaky one at that) but am having a hard time justifying paying 400 for a phone from last year when I know if I gave up unlimited I could get a S4 for 200.

But without unlimited, the use of the phone is really limited to me.

I made that jump to get the One. Had unlimited on Verizon, switched to ATT to get the One for $200 with a contract.

Love the phone and 4G, but I also miss the unlimited data. Even avoiding Netflix (which I used to use all the time on Verizon, and worked fine even with 3G) I burn up more than 2GB a month from browsing, streaming, and downloading podcasts. I try to keep most of that activity on WiFi, and download files to my desktop and then transfer for podcasts, but sometimes I'm just in a hurry at work or on the road and I download or stream a fair amount.

I think if I had about 7GB of data I wouldn't have to worry about exceeding the cap, but 3GB isn't enough for me not to have to manage my data closely. I don't regret switching, but it's not an ideal situation either way unless you have the money in pocket to buy a phone off contract. I think next time I'll just set aside the cash and buy purely off contract.

 

[jacktesterson]

I find it hard to go over 1GB of Data per month myself.

1) Wifi all day at work - work in software industry - 230 Mbit speeds
2) Wifi when I'm home - 80 Mbit Speeds
3) Wifi when I'm at the Gym - 1 Mbit but good enough for XM Radio
4) Wifi at friends places, inlaws and parents places
5) Tim Hortons has Wifi - Coffee shop I visit daily.

There are the top 5 places I'm at. I'm at one of these locations easily 95% of my week.

I just don't require the data - but I don't stream music - I do use XM but maybe 1-2 hours a day - and mostly Stern or MLB channels unless I'm at the gym.