Getting a new phone from a Verizon store

[Theodore]

Ok I need someone to clear this up for me please. I am a Verizon prepaid customer and I went to a Verizon Wireless store to buy a new Verizon prepaid cell phone because my old one is starting to fall apart. I was told at the store that if I wanted to get a new phone that I would have to get a new account and a new #. And that if I don't want to change my account or # then to go to a store like walmart or radio shack to buy a Verizon prepaid phonr and switch my account and # to the new phone my self. Has anyone heard of this? Is this really true? Thanks!

[SuzyQ]

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Theodore wrote:

Ok I need someone to clear this up for me please. I am a Verizon prepaid customer and I went to a Verizon Wireless store to buy a new Verizon prepaid cell phone because my old one is starting to fall apart. I was told at the store that if I wanted to get a new phone that I would have to get a new account and a new #. That store was only dealing with post-paid accounts then, not pre-paid.

And that if I don't want to change my account or # then to go to a store like walmart or radio shack to buy a Verizon prepaid phonr and switch my account and # to the new phone my self. Has anyone heard of this? Is this really true? Thanks!  That's exactly what you can do - buy a new pre-paid model, then call pre-paid customer service or follow the directions to activate it with your current number.  Any money on account will transfer to the new phone...

Minniehaha is the pre-paid "expert" on here - she may see this and chime in with further advice!!

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[Minniehaha · Accepted solution]

Suzy Q is right in her response and Thank You Suzy for the compliment.  The Verizon Stores get paid to sell contract phones so thats the last place a prepaid person should go for help.  So you can buy a new phone as long as its a prepaid and call customer service at 1-888-294-6804 or you can activate the phone from your new phone or online. There will be a activation fee $25 or $35 and like suzy said your balance will be moved over to the new phone.

[SuzyQ]

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Minniehaha wrote:

... There will be a activation fee $25 or $35 and like suzy said your balance will be moved over to the new phone.... even with an existing number?  Seems like the "activation fee" should be part of the cost of the new phone, seems pretty steep  each time you need to replace or activate a different phone on  prepaid.

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[Minniehaha]

Its been awhile since I changed phones but I'm almost sure I was charged for a second activation fee even though I was keeping the same number,  but I could be wrong, they can call customer service to verify that.  It was a few years in between the time that I changed phones.  

[Theodore]

Thanks for that helpful info both of you. And to Minniehaha I got a Verizon phone from walmart and and swich everything over to my new phone from the Verizon website and everything work out great and they didn't even charge me a activation fee. Thanks for your help.

[Minniehaha]

Your Welcome and thanks for letting me know you didn't get charged for the activation fee I wonder if they changed that or its because I bought my online. Well anyway its great to hear everything worked out for you.

[SuzyQ]

Thanks for reporting back, Theodore, and I'm happy it all worked out well for you!

[Doxen]

That's Bull. You can go to any store and buy any phone at full reatail price, not contract price. They're just trying to get you on a contract. Would go to a different store.

[Theodore]

Ha I wanted to reply to your post but forgot my login. Took to long for me to find out what it was. About the activation fee. I found out that they only charge you a  activation fee if you buy a prepaid  phone from their website or from their store. Any other stores besides their store and web site there is no activation fee. And that is a good thing. So yeah I wont go in to their store ever again to try and upgrade my phone unless I really want a prepaid that they have and I cant find it else where. lol

Also note! Found out too if you want to upgrade your prepaid  phone and want to buy it from their website. They will make you get a new account and new number. So it seems that their web site and store are only for new prepaid customers. And after you leave the store or website you are on your own.