Verizon Plan Up - What to do???

[Buttzilla]

Hi All,

Here's the skinny. My Verizon plan is almost up and I have several options to get a new phone. I'm still on the grandfathered unlimited plan using a the Samsung Nexus, my mom has an Iphone5 with a 2gigs of data, we share 700 minutes.

I currently pay 130 for both phones. My mom has an upgrade available now and my upgrade will be Feb 25th.

Option 1 - Save money plan:
Fuck everything and use my work phone (iPhone 4 with possible upgrade to 5s or Nexus 5), move my mom to Tmobile's $30 prepaid which includes 100 minutes talk and 5gigs of data. Other option would be the $50 plan for 500mb and unlimited text/talk.

Bill per month: $30

Option 2 - Keep current plan:
Use my moms upgrade to get a new phone. Best bang for the buck would be the LG G2 for 100. All other phones will be 200-350. I'll root the phone either way to run custom roms and G2 has rave reviews on xda.

Bill per month: $130+$100 for phone for first month

Pros/Cons

Option 1:
Pros: Cost after 2 years = $720. Work phone is also an international phone (AT&T).

Cons: It's a work phone. I'll always feel like i'm being monitored, can't do my naughty stuff with videos and camera, can't web surf with a clear conscious, I'll feel more obligated to pick up every phone call since it might be a client/coworker calling. I lose Verizon's network.

Option 2:
Pros: Keep work and personal life separated as this is a huge deal for me. I still get to keep my work phone and can use it as a backup when needed for minor personal stuff. I get to keep Verizon's coverage.

Cons: Cost after 2 years = $3,220. I'll be stuck with Verizon for another 2 years.

 

[Buttzilla]

Another option would be to sell my unlimited plan on ebay, currently averaging 200.

I can sign my mom and I on the $30 prepaid TMobile plan. Her Iphone5 is unlocked and can use a Tmobile sim from what I read online, she just won't have access to LTE however she's mostly on wifi anyways.

I can use the 200 from selling my unlimited plan to purchase a Nexus 5. Phone is currently 400 online.

Cost after 2 years, $200 for Nexus and $60/month = $1,640

 

[s44]

In between: move your mom, keep unlimited VZ for yourself with a Swappaphone

 

[TiredEngineer]

Can't tell you what to do, but I also do not trust work phones (I work for a huge corporation). I have a buddy who went with work to save money, but it just isn't worth it to me.

I do everything on my phone, and don't want work to track me. I don't trust them.

 

[Joe1987]

Sell your phones and plans on swappa/ebay, buy used TMobile phones from Swappa/Craigslist, get the $30 TMobile plan while you can.

Port VZ numbers to Google Voice

 

[rh71]

TMobile 4G coverage is still spotty in comparison. Beware.

 

[magomago]

TMobile 4G coverage is still spotty in comparison. Beware.

If he lives in any metropolitan region he should be fine. If he lives in rural American he should absolutely stick with Verizon.

If you have anecdotal evidence it doesn't work well where you live, that ultimately means little because the network really boils down to the tower placement. Where I live and work Tmobile is amazing; AT&T basically gets little to no reception at my work place. My coworker's cube literally has no reception for Verizon. That said, when I'm driving to Death Valley and have miles and miles of desert wasteland, it is AT&T that still has voice, and Verizon that still has 3G...Tmobile is left in the dust at that point.

The reality is that he should find a friend with Tmobile (that has phone that isn't known for reception issues) and see if he has sufficient reception in the areas where he spends most of his time. If he does, then game on. If not, I'd rather spend 2K getting reception than 1K never having any.

 

[paperwastage]

Spend $30 on a month of T-Mobile prepaid to test the service

That's the beauty of prepaid and no contracts

 

[rh71]

Spend $30 on a month of T-Mobile prepaid to test the service

That's the beauty of prepaid and no contracts

What about the phone? Can I return it without restocking too?

 

[paperwastage]

What about the phone? Can I return it without restocking too?

dunno about that

either unlock your current phone (if GSM compatible), borrow a gsm phone, or buy a cheap Nokia Lumia 520/521 for <$100?

 

[Buttzilla]

So I ended up upgrading my moms line and grabbing an G2. I like Verizon service/coverage so giving it up right is hard for me.

As far as the money is concerned, i've had my verizon line for quiet awhile now so I'm used to paying that amount. Roommate has Sprint and my Iphone is on At&T and service is spotty in my apartment. Haven't tried Tmobile but I read that the G2 is unlocked and will work with TMobile, I'm planning on getting the $30 prepaid plan, 100 minutes with 5gigs to do a test run.