How do I get a SIM card

AubreyH

I am attempting to activate a byod on a pre paid plan. I supply the IMEI and it will work with the service however it can't be activated because it doesn't have the original SIM installed nor is it available to use. Support said go to the local store and get a free SIM install it and call back to get it going. Well I visit the store and I'm told they don't just give away SIM cards without first verification of the IMEI. So my next trip to the store I have the device show the lady she says it will work but still tells me that she won't supply the SIM card without activating the phone. I say let's do it after all that what I been trying to do. Then comes time to pay and online all I had to pay was the plan price and taxes, at the store there's a activation fee yeah $40 more dollars. I still haven't gotten it connected and have not figured out how to request just a SIM online yet. The support lady said any Verizon SIM would work to get it setup and going using eSIM but it won't connect to the network without the SIM to get the eSIM installed and activated. Oh yeah it can't access the network through Wi-Fi because it is not yet setup and because of the new frp bypass prevention efforts it never gives me the option to connect to Wi-Fi it must have a physical SIM to access the network for activation.

SynthpopAddict

I'm going to guess you are a new customer, trying to bring your own phone to Verizon on prepaid service, and port your number in from elsewhere? If you are an existing customer wanting to swap out the phones on your line, that's a little different.

SIM cards are available at all corporate Verizon stores. Third party "authorized retailers" may not stock SIM cards at all. Could it be possible the store you visited was a 3rd party one? You can also order a replacement SIM card in My Verizon, but I want to say that applies only to postpaid customers because I don't recall seeing that feature in my prepaid account.

The $40/line activation fee only applies to postpaid service. If the store employee was doing something with your phone and it still wouldn't activate, maybe she was trying to set it up for postpaid instead of prepaid. Hope you didn't pay that $40. See the link below:

Bring Your Own Device to Verizon Prepaid (BYOD)

Or if you have a completely different phone (not the number you're trying to activate), contact Prepaid CS at 888-294-6804. Hours: 8 AM - 7 PM CDT (Mon - Sat), 8 AM - 5 PM CDT (Sun). The "activate or switch device" feature in My Verizon doesn't work for prepaid accounts for some reason.