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Upgrade pre-paid to smart phone?

I had a Treo 650 I loved until it stopped ringing or buzzing! Have been trying pre-paid cheapie phones since and have had enough! Need a smart phone again.

Can I upgrade from my pre-paid and if so, what happens contractually? I don't mind losing what's left in the pre-paid when I switch - but need advice on how to do it and what to get. Calendar, Emails, Addresses will be main uses - don't want games, apps, much data time - need buttons to not be too tiny - or should I try a screen type? Probably need "only when used" plan or minimum monthly use. Advice please??? Thanks!

Comments

pollix11

Hi gml,

You won't be able to 'upgrade' technically from pre-paid, however there really isn't a need to. You may be eligble for better deals than your average upgrade by starting a post-pay account with Verizon. You might be able to get a little money back from your old phone by going to Verizonwireless.com and under Plans, Deals & More at the bottom of the page there is a link to a trade in program. There they will ask you a few questions and depending on current value of your phone offer you a Verizon gift card. They will send you an addressed,postage-paid,padded envelope to send your old phone in and mail out the card after they have recieved it.

Contractually, for the benefit of a deeply discounted or even free smart-phone, you would be required to agree to a two year Customer agreement that you will continue to be thier customer and maintain the line that you have activated on your new smartphone, depending on your credit they may require a deposit. You don't have to agree to stay on the same rate plan that you originally choose, you can change that at any time without effecting your contract, and 20 months into your agreement you will become eligible for an upgrade to a new phone at a deep discount, which will renew another two year agreement. Post-pay is awesome, you can control your own phone plan via the "my Verizon" website. I say go for it! You won't regret it!

Hope that covers some of the info you were looking for.

-Pollix11

gml

Thanks for all the info. I've been browsing online at phones and did LiveChat a couple of times. It SOUNDS like I could achieve what I'm after without a smart phone if I buy the Samsung Bright. Has no data plan, seems to have as much as I need - and although I don't expect anything from the pre-paid I have now (which I hate :smileyhappy:), I'll certainly try your idea. Live Chat told me though that I have to speak to Customer Service in order to keep my existing phone number. Don't see why - but I've spent about an hour on this, and where I am it's bedtime! Thanks so much for your advice - which I'll pursue tomorrow morning!

pollix11

I'll save you the trouble of calling about porting. If you are on a Verizon prepaid phone, there is no way to port it to post-pay. Inter-carrier ports cannot be done. :smileysad:

Get an android, you will thank yourself! :smileyhappy: (Just my opinion, I love mine)

Good night!

Minniehaha

You can port your prepaid cell over to the post $50 phone. You do have to call the toll free number at 1-888-294-6804 because you are changing your account that is why you can not do it on you cell or online, do call customer service and you will beable to keep your cell number.

pollix11

Hi Minnie,

It is impossible to port any Verizon number to another Verizon account. You can do an Assumption of Liability and split off of a post-paid plan, but you cannot port from Verizon to Verizon. It is just not going to happen. If it's a non Verizon Pre-Paid number it is totally possible.

gml

Hi - I took your advice - and thank you and the others for taking the time to reply. FYI - I stayed with Live Chat - and was able to stay with Pre-paid, transfer the money left in my old phone to the new one, and pay no fees. I did decide to change my number AND get one in our local exchange for landlines, so I only have to learn 4 new numbers :smileyhappy: - and had only given my old one to a couple of people anyhow.

I've got with the LG Extravert as one of two suggestions the Live Chat folks showed me. Contrary to some other anti-Verizon support folks, I used Live Chat 4 times (MY problem - I kept thinking of new questions to ask - am a slow learner!!) and each customer rep was terrific!!

I couldn't figure out how to say my issue had been resolved - only found one click to say "assumed resolved" or something. Thanks again for everyone's advice - Gail

Minniehaha

I have ported a verizon to verizin and also a non verizon to a verizon cell so it is possible.

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