Port number from Verizon Pre-Paid to Post-Paid

I just returned from the Verizon store, where I wanted to buy an Iphone 5 on a post-paid plan, and port my phone number from a Verizon pre-paid phone.

I was informed that since I did not have the pre-paid phone for 6 months, they were unable to do this.

As a little history, we've had these phone numbers for over 10 years, first on a Sprint post-paid plan, then ported to a Verizon prepaid, because we had bad service in our area, and the Iphone 5 wasn't out yet.

They informed me that their systems would permit the transfer from a Verizon pre-paid to a Verizon post-paid until after I've had the pre-paid for 6 months. I told them this was unacceptable and that I wanted to switch now. If I had a different company's prepaid they would be able to do this. How ridiculous!

Anyone with any advice. I don't want to lose my numbers. Any work-arounds?

Thank you,

Michael

Accepted answers

Minniehaha

This has been in affect for many years. In the prepaid Manual you received it states in the Disclaimer part that you must have the prepaid cell for 6 months before you can switch to a post paid account.

All comments

timk1

I am running into the exact issue myself - not only is it ridiculous like you said, but they made no mention of that while I got the the prepaid account. Furthermore, if you go onto their website (which I did) it is not menioned there either. They spin a nice story about no contracts and no fees, but no mention of the 6 month no pre-paid to post-paid porting.

Port to another prepaid plan at Sprint/Virgin/Boost or whomever and port back after a few days.
Port to Google Voice ($20 fee) - which is basically a call forwarding service. Get a new phone and number and use Google Voice to forward to the new phone.
Port to Google Voice, wait a couple of days and port back to a Verizon post-paid plan.
Port to AT&T (their LTE service is ramping fast) - probably the simplest.

If anybody has a simpler work-around I would love to hear it.

Minniehaha

Hamunaptra

WHY does a prepaid phone need to be prepaid for 6 months before they can post pay the phone? A reason other then, that is the way they do it, would be great.

dimap52

Probably to establish a payment history since no credit checks are done on pre-paid accounts.

But then Verizon is the gorilla in the room. So they can pretty much set any policy they damn well please for their own interests. If you read some of the provisions in their TOS, they clearly state that those terms are for their interests and benefit.