Weird

tgabb

Not even a question, just a weird interaction. Crazy that I traded in a phone, received a new one, but I cant upgrade until I pay off a phone that I received at 0 dollars because I traded in a phone in near perfect condition. After over 10 years as a customer, it just keeps going downhill

SynthpopAddict

If your new phone was received under a "free phone" promotion, it is only free if you keep the phone on the contract for 36 months, as you must be receiving some kind of credit offset each month for the phone. If you login to My Verizon > Device Overview > My Devices > [pick the phone in question], your contract end date will be displayed near the image of the phone.

Leaving a contract early stops all the credits and you would be responsible for the remaining balance on the phone before you can get a different one. There may or may not be additional early termination penalty fees to pay on top of that too.

Sometimes people get a promotion when they are 18 months in on a contract for an "early upgrade". This allows you to pay off your old phone immediately and get a newer one, where you start a new contract with the new phone, so is like getting a new phone for 50% off and not being penalized otherwise for breaking the first contract.