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Adding an existing Verizon smartphone user to an individual plan = phone upgrade?

RunamuckRez

RunamuckRez

Member
Hey all, a little history is in order here...

So I've been using an Eris since last November, and I'm definitely suffering from growing pains. I'm rooted, running xtrROM with Launcher pro plus and have more or less taken my phone as far as I can go. Everything works great, and what few problems that I have with the phone (mostly the scrolling to the left issue, and now my phone seems to charge intermittently, and a serious issue with GPS running a few miles behind/or stalling on trips when pandora is running) I can live with. My finance is running a D1 and is not a power user and the only issue she has is with emails sending out the wrong email (so she doesnt use it anymore).

So my question comes from the fact that we'd like to save some cash on our respective plans by combining our respective individual plans. We each have a year give or take on our own individual plans. Has combined individual plans before? And were you able to wrangle a new phone out it? It looks like we want to do this in Dec or Jan. If we didn't upgrade to new phones, would they extend our contract and screw us out of a NE2? In a perfect world I'd love to be able to get an early upgrade to a Droid Incredible or a D2. She seems o.k. with her current Phone...but I also know that if I get an Incredible, I'm gonna be antsy this time next year when all the cool stuff is out running 2.3 or 3.0. I think a D2 would have enough power behind it (not to mention get the upgrades) to keep me content for a while to come. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
 
Depending on your plans, either or both of you may be eligible for an early upgrade.

If only one of you is eligible for early upgrade, make sure that line is the primary of your new family share plan. If both are, hold off on forming the family share until you both get new phones, then form the family share plan.

Also, don't get the phones until after both lines are on the same account, as you will void the manufacturer's warranty on the phone for the line that is moving to the new account.

Personally, I think anyone upgrading this close to CES is crazy. No, you don't get the great holiday prices, but you will have the latest and greatest when it comes out after the new year.
 
if your wife is fine with her phone just change your plan to a family plan and put her on your line, plus right now when you add a line to your account verizon will pay the 9.99 charge for a 2nd line for the remaineder of your contract.... you will still get your upgrade, but she will lose hers.
 
Thanks for the answers gentlemen, a further question then for both of you. Maybe I should be more specific. I Have the individual calling plan at 450 min, a $10 text plan, and a $29.99 data plan. According to my Verizon wireless home page I'm eligible for an upgraded phone next August. My wife has a similar plan, except I believe she has unlimited text messages.

I would be changing my plan to a family share plan at 69.99, Plus the text plan at $10 for both phones (ideally), and two unlimited data plans ( perhaps one unlimited for me and a 150mb for her since she doesn't use much). Her phone line would be added to mine as the shared plan. There is another fee for this?(the 10 fee that VZWguy mentioned). Does this allow me to upgrade my phone at any kind of reduced price? Since the contract is changing? Do I loose my NE2 credit of about a year, or can I get it prorated so I can still upgrade in a year?

Ugh to confusing, but I hate dealing with the instore reps. Always feel like they are trying to screw me.

Rez
 
you will not be charged any fee for putting her number on your line... and as far as i know your wife should no be charged for dropping service, since she is just moving her number onto your plan and upgradeing to a family share plan.. in total i would expect you to pay about 134.. Thats 69.99 for the family plan with 2 lines, plus 20 for the text messages, plus 59.99 for both data plans. How ever if you move up to the 99.99 talk and text you get unlimited mobile to mobile texting. and then you can possible move down the the 5 dollar 250 texts for number outside of the verizon network.. and i was wrong about the 10 dollar credit... thats for 3 lines or more.. so the 3rd line you put on will recive a 9.99 credit..... You wil not lose your NE2 credit. and will still beable to upgrade next year.
 
If your wife has the 450 with unlimited text, better known as the 450 Talk & Text (make sure to check the bill), then she is able to early upgrade at 12 months. When she becomes the secondary line in your family share, she will lose that early upgrade. Her line will no longer be more than 54.99 a month, which is the Early Upgrade threshold.

Something to keep in mind.
 
Lines eligible for early upgrades are on voice plans of $44.99 or higher. To be eligible for a NE2 credit, you would need to be on a line of $34.99 a month or higher. A secondary line on a standard family share at $9.99/month is not eligible for a ne2 credit. A secondary line on an unlimited talk family share at $49.99/month would be eligible for a ne2 credit. Standard upgrades are at 20 months, not 24 months.

Also, if you are going to be doing an assumption of liability from one account to another,here is something you need to carefully consider: if you upgrade your phone prior to moving it over to the new account, YOU WILL LOSE your warranty when you move that phone onto the different account. Phones are warrantied to the original purchaser. When you move the device to an account under someone else's name, the warranty becomes invalid. Please, do not even waste your time calling customer care to find out if that is correct. It is 100% correct. Many customers and reps do not know this unless they deal with these issues regularly.

So, carefully consider if taking advantage of that new every 2 credit is worth it if you lose your warranty. And pass that info along should the opportunity arise so people understand all their options. These phones are expensive :D
 
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