So I called to get the Iphone. Currently a customer with 3 lines and paying $160 a month or so. I am not eligible for upgrade. (my problem) SO I figured I would just add a line to get my wife the Iphone. NO GO. Her incredible must have a data plan so I can't just add a line unless I want to pay $39 for an incredible to sit in the drawer. Last option. Full price $649. So they don't really want an existing good paying customer to get the Iphone. Great deal. Can't wait for my contract to be up so I can take my business elsewhere.
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What was your plan that involved adding a line? You talked about getting an iPhone for your wife then you mention getting an incredible and sticking it in the drawer? Wth?
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We have 3 lines. One is my wife's and she has an Incredible and hates it. I was going to get her a Iphone. I am not upgrade eligible.
Verizon told me these are my choices
1)Add another line. If I do that then I would not need the incredible. I said no problem. They said I could not remove the data plan ($29) from the incredible, That would mean the incredible sits in the drawer while paying $9.99 + $29.99 data plan.
That make sense. I don't need 4 lines. I only want 3. None of my lines are upgrade eligible.
Only other option is to pay full price. VZN doesn't give a crap about an existing customer unless you want to pay full price.
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So you are complaining that in order to get another phone at a discounted price, you either have to wait for your upgrade date, or start a new line?
That's how it is with every carrier. You got a substantial discount on that incredible, and now you either need to patiently wait, or pay full price, or add a new line. If you don't want the smart phone package on a new line, activate some old phone you've got on it.
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No I am not complaining that I have to get a new line, that is what I want to do. Why can't I cancel a data plan and just have a $9.99 fee on the phone that I am not going to use any longer.
Are my post really that confusing?
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No. Not confusing. Merely unreasonable. I can provide you with an ESN for a dumbphone. Add a line and when the iphone comes in switch your wifes number over to it. Then we can change the ESN for this dumbphone to your newly activated line. I'll even mail you the dumbphone. That cool?
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would this work? Buy the iphone by adding a new line. Then find someone who would take her old phone and phone number then do a non liability line transfer? I did it when my ODS got his own plan.
Jo
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That was what I was thinking. You just deactivate the Incredible and activate a cheap, used feature phone on that line. Then you are paying $9.99 for the extra line that is not being used. But I am not going to send you that phone.. 🙂 Oh, then sell that Incredible to someone and recoupe some of the money spent on the iPhone. 😁
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Because the phone requires a data plan. No ifs, ands or buts. If you don't want to have a data plan, the line needs a simple phone.
Verizon isn't going to change its smartphone policy for 1 customer. There are still options for you, they just require you to do some leg work.
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Or they require him to have a brain. One or the other. 🤣
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I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would change the Incredible for the iPhone. 😕
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Unfortunately that data plan is part of the 2 year contract it is a contracted feature. It can be removed but you would have to pay the ETF (Early termination fee).
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BS. One only pays an ETF if the line is canceled. Stick to T-Mobile.
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Oh yeah and $649, really $350 more than a 2 yr contract phone price.
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epikFeb 4, 2011, 12:41 AM
It sucks, but it is what it is. The manufacturer gouges the carrier. They make buttloads of money on a phone. It's unlike most any other type of electronic equipment sold to consumers.
In turn, the carrier has to put you under contract to get you to sign. You don't want to pay $650, so they have to pay for $450 of it to get you in the door, and they make back what they paid for your phone sometime between the first six months to two years of your contract.
When we sign the contract, we abide by their rules. Since they paid more for your phone than you did, they get to pick the rules. You have alternatives, but they're not as pretty as two-year pricing.
The whole system needs change.
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Problem here is even if one opts to pay that full retail price the carrier sticks you with those rules and that just plain sucks.
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epikFeb 4, 2011, 1:04 AM
Exactly the problem with the system.
It needs a top to bottom change. It's more than contracts, more than full retail pricing, more than upgrade rules and time frames, and more than required features - it's a total FUBAR.
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Agree to disagree. They do not need to change anything. They don't have to change anything. They can sell poop phones that are 4G and get away with it. Phones made of feces. Consumers need to change.
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MennoFeb 4, 2011, 8:49 PM
That's what he was saying if you actually read his posts.
You'd also find that he's answered your questions multiple times as well.
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Simple solution.
Add another line for $9.99. Deactivate the incredible and activate a smartphone. Get rid of the data plan. Sell me the incredible for cheap since I gave you the idea.
One question though.
How much would the iPhone be if you add another line and get an iPhone?
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Step 1) Add another line for $9.99.
Step 2) Turn off the incredible.
Step 3) Activate a simple feature phone that doesn't require a data plan. Just use this phone for emergency use for your mistress.
Step 4) Get an iPhone!
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🤣 Ok that is the best idea yet. Thanks I think this is the ticket. Now I need a cheap Verizon old phone
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Or we can trade. I have a Blackberry 8830 World Edition that I just got replaced last week with a Certified Like New Replacement. It's impossible to use over 150MB, so get the $15 data plan. I, also, just unlocked it for international use. You can now use a sim card with it. :-) let me know
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$15 plan no longer exists.
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It still does. Why the hell did customer care switch me over to it last week? Is it going to default to $30 once they get rid of the $15 plan.
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It ended on the 30th. You can keep it as long as you stay on it but if you move off you can't get it back. It was always a limited time offer.
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Yep, it ended the 30th. Keep it as long as you like, but its gone if you ever change it.
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wait wait wait
Can I keep it if I upgrade to HTC THUNDERBOLT!!!?
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epikFeb 4, 2011, 12:44 AM
Considering no information pertaining to 4G data plans exist, you don't even know what it WOULD be. All you can do is guess. But I can assure you, the $15 data plan is going to be 100% incompatible with 4G smartphone plans.
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Oh yea. That's right. I forgot. I hope the 4G Data Plans have something like that.
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Epik, you killjoy! Unfortunately, I would tend to agree with you which is why I anticipate being on 3G until 2020.
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epikFeb 4, 2011, 12:59 AM
Sorry, I'm just sick of the same questions over and over again from him. He gets an answer, and asks it again tomorrow. He gets no answer, and asks it again in a few hours. And in the middle of it all, he comes up with the most inane and ludicrous claims.
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I'm beginning to think tis may be a Phonescooper having fun at your expense.
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If I get an HTC Incredible, will I be able to move my existing $15 plan to it, without it going away?
Will I be able to use the WIFI if I deactivate the HTC Thunderbolt, if I choose to get that?
Epik, please answer those questions, and I will stop.
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epikFeb 4, 2011, 7:24 PM
#1) No. The $15 plan is grandfathered on your line, so once you take off the device that the grandfathering is associated with, it goes away.
#2) WiFi will work even when the phone is not active on your mobile number. You won't be using it for more than Web and email.
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there is an app on the market that lets you text over wifi as well.
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Ah thank you Epik. I appreciate your help. I believe I can work for Verizon Wireless know with all this knowledge you have given me. The verizon wireless logo has appeared on my forehead. Weird.
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If you get a 4G phone, you'll have to get a 4G plan, and that will be you changing the plan, not VZW. So no, you won't have the $15 plan unless they resurrect it for 4G. Which I highly doubt.
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goin2drt said:
So they don't really want an existing good paying customer to get the Iphone.
It sounds to me like you've been given several options, and just don't want to do anything to get the phone.
Because they won't bend over backwards doesn't mean that they don't want you to get it.
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649 or pay for a data plan when I don't need you. Really those are options for a current loyal customer when a new customer can get it for 299.
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It works the same way with every carrier. Equipment is subsidized. You get a discount once every 20 months or on new lines. Nobody said you had to put the Incredible on the new line. Put a feature phone there. I'm sure you can find an old junk one that you or someone else may have. A dummy ESN is also a possibility. The equipment discount is given because you agree to stay for two years. You can't get another discount until you fulfill the 2 years you got with the current phone. They are actually nice and let you do it after only 20 months. All carriers work this same way. If you want new equipment outside of that time frame you have to pay normal retail price which is the $649.
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why you stealing my advice, you wanna go?
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He apparently didn't get the message the first time. Just trying to explain things to him.
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why do "long time loyal customers" think the phone purchase rules at Verizon are supposed to be different for the Iphone then any of there other new releases? This concept has been mind blowing 😲 .. The Iphone is supposed to have different rules? I keep reading "Long time loyal" over and over on boards and Facebook, and its not gonna change the new phone purchase plan that Verizon or any other carrier has.
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There are no Loyal customers. Long-time? Yes but Loyal? No. They are all ready to jump ship as soon as they don't get their way. This guy is a perfect example. They all feel this sense of entitlement because they pay their bill every month.
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I'm long term. And loyal. Sometimes to my detriment. It's pathetic, actually. 🤣
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I agree with you. If someone was "loyal" they wouldn't threaten to jump ship. They would just wait until they could upgrade and stay wit the carrier they claim they "love".
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A person would have to be a straight idiot to love a carrier. They don't love you. They just want your money.
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People just shouldn't throw around "loyal customer" because they don't get their way and the company doesn't break their "rules". That's all I meant.
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Just pay the 649 if you love your wife at all you would do that! It's the IPHONE after all!
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Okay. Start from the beginning. What phones do you currently own and when are they eligible to upgrade?
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no worries, i already answered his question. he owes me his life.
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1 - incredible. Mine renewal 5/12
2 - Incredible. Wife renewal 5/12
3 - Samsung ?. Son's phone renewal 5/12
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Yes. As others have stated elsewhere all you need is a basic Verizon phone. Something old and worthless like a Motorola V265/276 would be easy to acquire. Then just purchase an Iphone. Perform an ESN change from the Iphone to the basic handset. Then perform an ESN change from the Incredible to the Iphone. Sell the Incredible on Ebay or keep it for a spare.
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I would still you to add a line to do this correct? Or else the phone would be 649. Can I do the esn swap on my own via the Verizon website or do I need to call Verizon to get that done?
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NEVER call Verizon unless it is an absolute necessity. No you can do it online. When you're ready I will walk you through it.
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Just switch to a feature phone on the new line as others have suggested. Even a dummy esn is possible.
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MennoFeb 4, 2011, 8:45 PM
Sell the incredible for 200+ on ebay
Apply that to retail price.
OR
Buy a cheap basic phone on ebay (under $100) and use that on the line you're adding to get the iphone.
Lastly, I don't get why you're so pissed off. EVERY single company requires data on smartphones. Every single company has strict upgrade polices. and the iPhone is an APPLE product, meaning you don't get any special discounts, period. That's the Apple way.
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But Menno, you're missing the point. He's a loyal customer that has been with verizon since 1983. he always pays his bill on time and never causes a fuss. Now that the iPhone is on verizon, he is entitled to one at the discouted price.
Shame on verizon for not changing policy for this poor, loyal customer.
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And what would another carrier have done here? ... Same thing...
We have 3 lines of service as well and our monthly bill is $300...I'm not eligible either but I didn't blame verizon...I'm the one that started a 2 year contract last summer.
(of course, I found a way around it though; upgraded on my data plan for my laptop; those plans have been available for upgrades for years - the iphone however is going back).
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Dude, you're late. The record's over.
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Is this suppose to make sense? Cause, ya...it doesn't.
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Having to explain it to you would lessen the pleasure for me.
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Try selling your incredible on ebay or craigslist and then use the money to pay the cancellation of the incredible line. Then you can add a line for the Iphone. I do not know what the incredible is selling nor do I know what the cancellation is with VZW for the incredible line. It's just an idea to help with your problem.
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epikFeb 15, 2011, 5:35 PM
If you did this, which I'm not advocating, you'd want to add the line before canceling the other. If you cancel first, they will reactivate that canceled line because it's within 90 days of being disconnected, meaning the number and contract would be reset as they were when you canceled the line.
Adding the new line first would avoid this scenario. Those of us who do this work on the front line will try to avoid doing anything like this, as it is considered commission fraud and could result in that sale being yanked from us (meaning you cost us money that we worked for), or some kind of discipline being levied against us.
Hence, I'm not advocating this. No rep should be sticking out their neck for a customer to work the system whe...
(continues)
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So he should add the line online. I hate going into the store.
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