Is the basic phone upgrade loophole still usable?

I have a 3 line account, 2 smartphones with unlimited and one basic. All three are out of contract. I would like new smartphones but obviously want to keep unlimited. Is it still possible to use the basic phone line to process the upgrades, then drop that line back to a basic phone and activate the smartphone on the unlimited line? This process would involve doing this twice and a transfer of one upgrade since I want 2 new smartphones. Has anyone had success lately?

Accepted answers

rcschnoor

Since you only have 1 basic phone, you would only be able to do it once.

All comments

rcschnoor

Since you only have 1 basic phone, you would only be able to do it once.

themick30

Is this because regardless of what line is upgraded the original line the upgrade came from is the one that the contract gets renewed on, and hence loses unlimited? If that is the case, then to do both lines you would need two basic phones that have upgrades available on their lines? so I wouldn't even be able to use the loophole once if the only upgrades available were on lines I wanted to preserve unlimited on? Thanks for the input.

rcschnoor

You had stated previously all 3 lines were out of contract. That means you would be able to do it once, or are all 3 lines NOT out of contract? If the basic phone is out of contract, then it is available for a discounted upgrade. You should be able to upgrade that phone to a smartphone, reactivate the basic phone on the line and then activate that new smartphone on one of the lines with unlimited data without losing unlimited data.

themick30

I just spoke with an online chat rep and she stated that it is possible to upgrade the basic phone, activate the upgraded phone on a smartphone line, then transfer an upgrade and do it again, and after all this the unlimited data plans would not change. I plan on double confirming this info with a telephone rep and carrying out the process at a corporate store in person to make sure nothing changes with the unlimited. Bu so far, according to reps it is possible.

Heretic1989

Verizon closes loophole that allowed upgrades with unlimited data

http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-closes-loophole-allowed-upgrades-unlimited-data

themick30

I just spoke with a customer rep on the phone and got a different story. She said I could definitely do it once, but once the upgrade on the basic phone line is done, if I tried to do the second one I would lose unlimited on one of the lines. So the phone said I can do one, but not both. Now to the store to see what they say..

themick30

Not what I was referring to.

Heretic1989

My bad. :smileysad: In that case be very careful. There are plenty of horror stories out there and on this forum about fellow customers who've lost their unlimited data plan because of misleading information, and even because of outright lies.

themick30

No prob. Yeah, I am going to be very deliberate about this process so that the plan doesn't change. Will be making a second phone call and a trip to the Verizon store later today. Also welcome any official input on here from a Verizon rep.

themick30

Called back and spoke with a different rep on the phone. I am pretty sure she understood fully what I was asking and clarified that I would only be able to do one upgrade without losing unlimited data on either line. So you can still use upgrades on basic phone lines then activate those phones on unlimited data lines without losing unlimited data, but the upgrades have to originate on the basic line, or basically you can't transfer an upgrade from a line you are trying to keep unlimited data on, or you lose the unlimited.

Verizon_Support

themick30,

We understand how important it is to keep unlimited data to those customers who still have it; I'm pleased to say we have a great option for you to do it! With our Device Payment Program, you will be able to keep unlimited data without having to use any upgrades on your account and without a 2-year agreement. Please visit our website to view all the details http://vz.to/ZILXBT .

AdaS_VZW

Follow us on Twitter at @VZWSupport

Verizon_Support

themick30, no need to find a loophole. Our Share Everything plans actually give you so much more. It includes Unlimited talk and text messaging, the data allowance can be shared, and allows you to use the Hotspot feature. Click http://vz.to/W24dla for more details.

LasinaH_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

themick30

C'mon Lasina,

I know you have to tow the company line but compared to what i have the Share everything plan is awful. I would get less and pay significantly more for it. And really, what good is the ability to use your 4G as a hotspot without unlimited data. I'll keep the unlimited for as long as I can, thanks.

themick30

Not the best option, but better than converting to Share Everything. Thanks for the input Ada.