ergalthema
Well-Known Member
Last December, I upgraded to a Galaxy Nexus and kept the same plan. My friend just went to a Verizon store and they told her she'd lose it. Is that correct?
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Friend was told they couldn't keep their unlimited data plan and upgrade her phone. Did something ch
- Thread starter ergalthema
- Start date
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
Yes unfortunately, as of mid-June, unlimited data users cannot upgrade their phone at a subsidized price and maintain unlimited data.
P.S. I moved your thread into the Verizon forum. Thanks for understanding.
P.S. I moved your thread into the Verizon forum. Thanks for understanding.
rott3np3anut
Newbie
Yes, if you buy a phone at full price, you can keep your plan. You never know when they might change that thought!
Doit2it
Android Expert
You can also buy a phone used (Verizon CDMA compatible) and put it on your account without losing unlimited data. I doubt they will change the policy. Verizon is doing their best to phase out the old unlimited accounts because they are not as profitable as the new Share accounts.
Rachel A
Android Expert
It is worth pointing out that, once your contract has expired, VZW do have the legal right to force you to change to another plan at any time. So just because you have it today does not guarantee you'll still have it come New Years day 2013 (for example).
Just worth bearing in mind before anybody drops $600 on a new phone to get around the new plan policy.
Just worth bearing in mind before anybody drops $600 on a new phone to get around the new plan policy.
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
Can you imagine the ****storm of complaints if they did?
Rachel A
Android Expert
No more so than currently. They'll not worry especially if they give something like 3 months notice.
This is VZW remember. For them the perceived view held by the general public about how stable and fast the network is is all that matters. Everything else is superfluous.
Folk left currently on unlimited are becoming increasingly irrelevant to them (in terms of wanting to keep them) . Not saying they will do this though, just that they have the right, and the desire. Deadly combination for Big Red.
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
What they have done so far has just been shady and underhanded, but the majority of the tech people knew about the upcoming dates and got set up before they went into effect. Completely denying these people their preferred plans would probably push many towards another carrier that are on the fence due to having the unlimited with verizon. I would be stuck with Verizon due to the coverage at the places where my hobbies are, but I would be waiting for the best new deal on Data and use the upgrade that I didn't get to use due to the plan changes back in June.
Those last 90 days of unlimited I would put to good use as well >_>
Those last 90 days of unlimited I would put to good use as well >_>
nomarsgirl
Android Enthusiast
I fully expect that's what they are going to do. We went ahead and switched over to the share plan and it is actually saving us money since we don't use a lot of data and have wifi available most of the time. Got a nice new phone at the subsidized price. Will get my daughter one soon. She wants the iPhone 4S (since the price dropped with the introduction of the 5). Not sure where I went wrong with her.
kyler13
Android Expert
They're not forcing people off unlimited while they can simply convert on upgrades, especially with the iPhone 5 just released. Imagine how many unlimited folk just transferred to a limited plan. When the distribution shift stagnates, then they might end up pushing people off unlimited.
On that note, any new tricks to minimize your costs on an upgrade if you choose not to go the subsidized route? There was once a few innovative ways though a lot of loopholes have been closed. Was thinking of getting the iPhone 5 for the wife but no chance I'm switching my plan. If I buy it subsidized on a whole new line ($199) and cancel 15 days later, I pay the ETF ($350). $550 is better than paying $650 to Verizon. It burns me that Apple fixes their price up until the next release.
On that note, any new tricks to minimize your costs on an upgrade if you choose not to go the subsidized route? There was once a few innovative ways though a lot of loopholes have been closed. Was thinking of getting the iPhone 5 for the wife but no chance I'm switching my plan. If I buy it subsidized on a whole new line ($199) and cancel 15 days later, I pay the ETF ($350). $550 is better than paying $650 to Verizon. It burns me that Apple fixes their price up until the next release.
jhawkkw
Chinchillin'
There would be an activation fee of like 30-35 dollars that I believe is not refundable, but you will come out +65 dollars.
But overall I feel that you are right about them eventually forcing even with people under contract. Once they feel that the number of people left with unlimited plans is small enough that it doesn't hurt their bottom line that much if they leave, they will simultaneously terminated all the remaining plans. Of course you'll be able to terminate your contract etf free. At that point you'll either have to look else where for service, or keep letting big red mug you every month.
Verizon won't kick people off unlimited. There is no upside for them to do that. If you are off contract and still paying for service, it's essentially free money to Verizon. Any harm done by the extra data usage is more than offset by that extra income (essentially the $400-600 per line every other year that would have paid off your phone subsidy is instead pure profit). Not only would Verizon be giving up that profit stream (no company would without a dammed good reason), but they'd almost certainly loss just about everyone the did this to as customers, along with family members.
Remember that the move to the tiered data plans was an effort to boost profits for data. Cutting off peoples unlimited data wouldn't boost profits, since more likely than not they would take their business elsewhere.
I do suspect they might become more serious about enforcing the terms of service for unlimited customers. purge the people who rack up 100+ Gb a month, and the unlimited users footprint drops substantially.
Remember that the move to the tiered data plans was an effort to boost profits for data. Cutting off peoples unlimited data wouldn't boost profits, since more likely than not they would take their business elsewhere.
I do suspect they might become more serious about enforcing the terms of service for unlimited customers. purge the people who rack up 100+ Gb a month, and the unlimited users footprint drops substantially.
euph_22 is correct. The actual number of Verizon Wireless customers with unlimited data is dropping substantially every week. I'm sure hundreds of thousands will loose unlimited data as they upgrade to the iPhone 5. Because, after all, how many iPhone users are going to pay $600 to $800 for the newest iPhone. Sure, a small number will take advantage of the loophole to upgrade a different line on their plan, or "bite the bullit" and spend $700 for the phone in order to keep unlimited, but they are a small number compared to all Verizons iPhone customers.
The handwriting is on the wall people, unlimited data is going the way of the dinosaurs.
I still have unlimited, but when I upgrade to the Razr Maxx HD and my wife upgrades to the iPhone 5, we will be getting a shared data plan.
Now, Verizon/motorola, release the Razr Maxx HD, I'm patiently/impatiently waiting!!! :smokingsomb:
edshropshire
Newbie
My Guess is they will just start throttling the unlimited accounts sometime in the next six months, once all the LTE iPhones start eating up lots of LTE Data and causing network congestion. I know of several unlimited users that use up what 3-5 family plans would use in a month. If the network gets congested Verizon will start putting throttling in place to encourage their few heavy unlimited users to move to Sprint or T-Mobile.
Yes, and with Sprint still offering unlimited they will get some of the diehard heavy data users. (PC way of describing "data hogs") And then when thier network gets overloaded and starts to bog down, they will start cracking down on the heavy users, or most likely, like all other carriers, do away with unlimited altogether.
I remain,
Patiently/impatiently waiting for the release of the Razr Maxx HD. :smokingsomb:
kyler13
Android Expert
Loophole? Do tell...
Little Green Robot
Well-Known Member
I think what he is referring to is the ability to transfer upgrades. For example, I have an upgrade, but I also have unlimited data that I do not want to lose. My sister has an iPhone on a tiered plan. I could transfer my upgrade to her line, buy a new phone on her line, and then reactivate her iPhone. Then I could take that new phone and activate it on my line.
AntimonyER
CHANGED FROM AF ADDICT MIKESTONY
Nope, you can transfer a phone (or upgrade) from any line. Even if they do stop the upgrade from being transferred, all you have to do is upgrade the line, activate the phone on the first line, then return the line back to the old phone. Then as far as VZW is concerned, you are now activating a used phone on your unlimited line.