Primary number

[ktwelts]

How do you switch the primary number on your account? Switching from one number to another on the same plan?

[cstrait001]

You must call Customer Care at *611 from your mobile or 800-922-0204, option 4 and then option 5 to speak to a representative. That's not something that can be done online.

Why do you wan to do this? Before changing your primary number. Some things for you to consider. The New Every Two discount will be reset.  If you have reached your NE2 upgrade date or it's soon approaching, you will loose that discount and your NE2 date will be reset on the new primary line. 

Changing your primary line can cause pro-rated charges, and allowances for minutes and messaging plans. You may get just a partial allowance of your plan which could cause overages, Also, your bill will not look neat. So if you are going to do this, then have VZW make the change effective on the first day of your billing cycle to avoid pro-rations.

[ktwelts]

I want to swtich to a different family share plan with someone else. I was listed as the primary number when I shouldn't of been and now I was told by a customer service representative that I would have to change the primary number to another number on my account before this can be done. They told me that I can do it online.

[ktwelts]

Also I will be using my discount to buy a new phone once I switch plans. So your saying this will be null and void if I change plans? These are none of the things the VZW representative said to me when I asked him these questions. He said that I would not incur any charges. Also why would I lose these privileges if I am remaining with Verizon? They said these things wouldn't matter.

[cstrait001]

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ktwelts wrote:

Also I will be using my discount to buy a new phone once I switch plans. So your saying this will be null and void if I change plans? These are none of the things the VZW representative said to me when I asked him these questions. He said that I would not incur any charges. Also why would I lose these privileges if I am remaining with Verizon? They said these things wouldn't matter.

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Your upgrade eligibility date for a discounted phone won't change. However, if your line currently gets an extra NE2 discount, you will loose the extra discount if you don't use it before the transfer of your line to the other account. Any time the primary is changed, the New Every Two clock is reset -- the NE2 discount doesn't carryove to the next account, it's reset.

There is no charge for an assumption of liability (AOL).

[ktwelts]

What is an extra NE2 discount? All I have right now is the online deal of $100 off. Will that be gone if I switch? Should I order my phone before I switch? What qualifies as a discounted phone? I was going to get the droid or a blackberry.

[ktwelts]

Sorry this just seems way more confusing that it needs to be. I don't want to get a new phone and renew my contract until I am with the new family share plan. I don't see how this can't be easier. I can see how I would incur issues if I were leaving Verizon but I am staying with them and signing on for even longer!

[cstrait001]

Go to VerizonWireless.com and in the search box in the upper right hand corner type in the search term New Every Two. There is a lot of info there that will answer your questions.

NE2 is an extra discount that primary lines and single lines on a qualifying plan get. The discount is off of the standard 2 year contract price. Depending on the cost of your price plan, the discount is $30 or $50. The discount was changed recently from $100 and $50, so you may qualify for the higher discount if you enrolled in the NE2 program before Feb 15, 2009.

You can check your discount by signing into your account on My Verizon, and from the Overview page under the Quick Links section on the right side of the page click on the link for Upgrade to a new a Phone.

Yes, if you don't use that discount before you switch you will loose it. So best to use it now. The contract will follow you to the new account -- it won't affect the contract on the remaining line(s) from the account you are leaving.

Your discount applies to all phones. Droid or Blackberry, either one are great. Blackberry is an email machine. I have the Storm so I am partial to BB.

[ktwelts]

Okay. The way that it's a problem for me is because my current family share plan doesn't carry a data plan. I don't use one right now. I will be signing up for that with my new family plan. It just seems that upgrading the phone and signing a new contract that is more expensive, would just mess up my current plan. Then I would be turning around and leaving shortly after, once the next billing cycle is over. Where my new family share plan would be for me and someone who is willing to share a good unlimited date and message plan. Would all of this transfer smoothly?

[cstrait001]

You don't always have to change the plan to upgrade your phone. I don't know what type of plan you have now, but it may be as easy as adding the $29.99 data plan to your line.

I think you might be comfortable discussing this again with someone from Customer Care, get a fresh perspective.

The least disruption would be to time the switch on the first day of your billing cycle. Upgrade your phone a day or two earlier, so the extra data plan you have on your line will only be pro-rated for a day or two, so no big spike on the following bill.

[cstrait001]

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ktwelts wrote:

I want to swtich to a different family share plan with someone else. I was listed as the primary number when I shouldn't of been and now I was told by a customer service representative that I would have to change the primary number to another number on my account before this can be done. They told me that I can do it online.

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Okay, so it sounds like you want to do a couple of things: 1.) transfer liability of your line to another account and 2.) the remaining line on the account your leaving needs changed from a secondary line, which it is currently, to a primary line.

First of all,  whatever that rep told you about changing primary lines on My Verizon, that information was wrong. It can't be done online. It's too confusing for customers because of the possible adverse billing impact VZW does not give that functionality to its customers.

When your line goes off the account, will there still be two or more lines left on the account you are leaving? Because if there is only one line left, then it can't be a primary, because share plans require two lines or more. That remaining/orphan line needs changed to a single line plan. Again, that's not something you can do online.

Only the account owner (AO) can give permission to release the line. VZW Care will need to get the verbal okay from the AO of the account you are leaving and the verbal okay of the AO of the account you are joining. Once call can take care of everything you need if you VZW can reach all parties. You wil be transferred to a special department within VZW that handles the transfer of liability. They can make all the changes needed to make it happen.

[ktwelts]

There are currently three lines on my present account. They will remain a family share plan. Once the primary line gets settled I will have my account owner submit an AOL. They told me I would then have 30 days, but I will do it immediately. My new account owner will then call and pick up my line. Now what are these fees you are talking about. Do I have to wait until the end of a billing cycle? Will I lose my ability to upgrade my phone?

[cstrait001]

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ktwelts wrote:

Now what are these fees you are talking about. Do I have to wait until the end of a billing cycle? Will I lose my ability to upgrade my phone?

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There are no fees for the AOL. None. I can't say it clearer than that.

No, you don't have to wait until the end of the bill cycle, but to avoid pro-rated charges and minutes it's better to time the change of primary lines and the switch to the new account on the first day of your next bill cycle.  The account you are joining most likely doesn't have the same bill cycle as the one you are leaving, so keep in mind that there will be pro-rated charges on the next account but that's not something you can avoid.

No, you don't loose your ability to upgrade. As I stated previously, you keep your upgrade eligibility when you switch accounts. What you loose, however, is the extra NE2 discount. If you got that NE2, then you would be foolish not to use it now, especially when you want a more expensive phone like the Droid or BlackBerry. The NE2 is not written in stone. Though I don't see it going away anytime soon, VZW reserves the right to discontinue that perk at anytime.

[ktwelts]

Okay. Thank you. I am not even close to the new every two discount. So as long as I can still upgrade for $100 off I'm fine with that. And I can wait until the start of my billing cycle to do this. Thats only 18 days away. Thanks for your help.