How can I replace a device for someone in another state?

Hello, I am trying to get my sons phone, which in one our plan, replaced. However, he is at school in another state. He went to a Verizon store, but they are making it impossible to do this. They are telling him they need my SS number AND the password to my "My Verizon" account. I find this crazy that they just cannot call me to verify the account info, and giving them access to my account seems an incredible exposure! When I go to a store, they don't seem to end anything more than my cell number and verification of my home address.

This is just to replace a "basic", non-smartphone with another "basic" non-smartphone

My questions:

1. What exactly is the process to get a phone on your plan changed when the account owner cannot personally be in the store?

2. Would it be easier to just order the phone online and have it directly shipped to my son?

3. I have another basic non-smartphone in perfect working condition that was replaced by an upgrade on another line. I can send him this phone. If so, can he easily go to a Verizon store and have it associated with his number?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Accepted answers

veryfrustrated0118

Option 2 is probably the easiest but if you want him to go into a store he needs to be listed as an account manager. You can add him by calling customer service or logging onto your online account and typing account manager in the search and following instructions. They won't do anything in the store for anyone other than you or a designated account manager. Making him an account manager means he will be able to change the plan upgrade and add lines of service but this is how you solve this issue. Even if you send him the phone they won't activate for him without this being done.

All comments

veryfrustrated0118

rcschnoor

I'm not sure I agree with everything sprmankalel has said.

The easiest thing to do would be to send your son the extra basic phone you currently are not using. When he gets it, he simply needs to dial *228, option 1 and follow the instructions. The phone will then be activated on his line.

This is the same procedure if you were to purchase a basic phone and then ship it to him. The ONLY difference would be that you would then be starting a new 2 year contract for that line AND there may or may not be a cost for the new phone. If the extra phone dies at some point, you could then purchase a new phone for the line.

Good luck.

veryfrustrated0118

Yes, rcschnoor there is that but the OP asked about her son going to the store. In that case my information is totally correct.

rcschnoor

Except for the fact when you order a phone and have it shipped to you, instructions are included in the package on how to activate the phone. Those instructions DO NOT include going to a store. So following the instructions included with the phone, you should have pointed out you DO NOT need to go to a store.

You said the easiest thing to do would be option #2. I simply disagreed AND gave an easier method, whether with a NEW phone as indicated in option #2 OR a used phone as indicated in option #3. Simply because someone lists the options of which they are aware, doesn't mean they would prefer to choose one of those options IF an easier method is available, which THERE IS.

I never said your information was incorrect, I simply said I disagreed with what you stated, which I still do.

c_of_c

Thank you both, sprmankael and rschnoor, for your replies.

sprmankael, your reply helps because, if the store had just my son "you need yo be added as an account manager", it would have made things so much simpler. Fortunately I trust this son <grin>, and I would add him until he got the new phone and then remove him as an account manager.

rschnoor, your reply helps as I had forgotten about that procedure - it has been a long time since I performed an upgrade like that.

Both options I can consider. Right now I'm leaning towards first sending the unused phone and then, if that doesn't work, going to the store. This is the "cheapest" option, but if there is some reason that doesn't work I'm glad to get the store info clarified.

Again, thanks to BOTH of you for your response!

rcschnoor

Hope it works out for you. I have personally loaned/given several of my old unused phones to friends/relatives to be activated on their lines in this same manner. I always have a couple of old phones on hand in case my current phone stops working.:smileyhappy:

veryfrustrated0118

I'm glad I could help lear things up. I did actually mean option 3. This is what happens when I don't have my coffee first. I usually think that using an upgrade and entering a 2 year contract for a basic phone is unnecessary especially if you have functioning basic phone to use.