yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cruiserdude:
No, you're NOT one of the reasons Unlimited is no more, it was sold and marketed as unlimited, therefore you're not at fault for using it as such. Any limits arbitrarily "defined" (and since deemed unlawful by the FCC) or otherwise implied (which they did when they started marketing 2gb as more than enough for people who weren't "data hogs") are not the responsibility of the consumer paying for an Unlimited data plan.

The fault for the death of the Unlimited plans lies squarely on the Verizon executives who realized that limiting data usage to tiers slightly before marketing a number of streaming and cloud services that eat bandwidth would be a huge money maker for them. They played on the ignorance of consumers in convincing them that 2gb was a lot, so they wouldn't balk at the basic tier costing as much as the previous unlimited plan, then found ways to make them have to pay outrageous sums to upgrade their tier or face big overages, which they wouldn't have had to do had they kept their previous unlimited plan.

So even with all their massive investment in upgrading their infrastructure, Verizon is still making money hand over fist and laughing all the way to the bank. Only when customers wake up and realize what a scam it is for them to charge you for an Internet connection while forcing you to use WiFi all the time anyway will they be forced to make a change. Until then, we have to keep finding ways to cling to this as long as we can.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
I sold verizon for a long, long time. We tried to assist customers with everything from explaining why a 1 year contract was better than 2, insuring they had their rebates sent by doing it for them. .etc. (note this is just as an indirect retailer so we couldn't do automatic rebates at the time) When unlimited data was being phased out we had people that were dropping plans just transfer liability to us temporarily to allow someone else the chance to have it later.

Those loopholes didn't last long. Currently, every device on my plan has unlimited data. I am ok with purchasing devices at full retail price as a consequence to keeping it that way.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Delakit:
I'm going to guess that unlimited data is over the heads of those who just started their journey with Verizon a few days ago? I ususlly do my research which is why you don't see many posts by me. But I'm going to be lazy right now ;). Thanks.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] erure:
I think you can buy an unlimited data plan off eBay, but I don't know how it works or if it's even allowed. Try searching verizon unlimited data on eBay.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
Unless plans have changed and there is a new unlimited data plan, you can't get it. Grandfathered plans can't have their contracts extended. And liability for the line can't be transferred.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cruiserdude:
Wait, so even when I use an upgrade on another line on my family plan, my contract doesn't get extended? That sounds like it could be good or bad, depending on what Verizon does. I'd rather stay locked in with my unlimited for now though...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
It truly depends on the verizon agent you are speaking with, or that has been my experience. I always allowed alternate upgrades. But I have heard of friends not getting the same treatment. Pay full retail price, or do an alternate upgrade if you get a nice representative. Those are your options for keeping the unlimited data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] graptharshammer:
This thread wins for the most frustrating conversation topic ever.

So, to wrap things up once and for all, the answer is:

If you're LUCKY, you can transfer an upgrade from a limited line to your unlimited line and not lose unlimited.

Is that the consensus we've gravitated to?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] afextwin:
AFAIK Alternate upgrades are a thing of the past, as is Primary account holder upgrade bonus (50 - 100 USD).

So the truth is, if you have unlimited data, gloat about it here, if you don't, ... i'm sorry?

I also use 50+gigs a month on my unlimited :)

I have an iPhone 5 on a 2gb plan on a second line and tether from my unlimited line :D

Plus my iPhone has a better number so it all works out.

edit: I'd rather wait a few month's for device prices to drop than pay full retail at launch.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
I am certain alternate upgrades still exist. Just depends on the rep you get. Other than that, you must pay full retail or buy used.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Delakit:
I miss my "Unlimited" Data on Sprint but I like my 30mb/s speeds on Verizon a lot better. 300kb/s just wasn't cutting it on the not-so"Now" Network. It was a good run but with all of the lies, horrible service, even worse customer service, etc... Sprint had me at "Terminating." It just so happens I now have a new job making double what I was making while I had a Sprint phone ^_^ All works out.

:highfive:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Divine_Madcat:
I don't know about aalternate upgrades.. the best way to do it with a family plan

1) Buy and activate the phone on the NON unlimited, upgradable line.

2) after activation, reactivate your old dumbphone/ smartphone on the non unlimited line you had activated the s4 on. A dumbphone will stop the 2gb data that had been added to the line.

3) activate the s4 on your unlimited line (may need to get a new sim for this)

That's it. As I found, if you have lines to spare, this need not be complicated. Once the s4 is activated on the limited line, just line any other phone, you may move it to other lines and reactivate old phones. This has been VZ standard practice for years.. nothing special in this case.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
That is what I am referring to as "alternate upgrade". Doesn't work for all though. :( All of my lines, for instance, are unlimited. So the other method of paying full price is my resort.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Evil-Eye:
What I have been reading that works is taking an upgrade off of the unlimited line and moving it into a limited line. Not taking it from a limited line and transferring it to the unlimited. Then once the upgrade is on your limited line upgrading. Then device transfer. Can anyone confirm this? A poster said he was going to try this on Friday but hasn't updated us. Although he has said it has worked before. I think theres a lot of confusion in this thread about execution.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cilraaz:
The only thing the alternate upgrade does is add another step prior to your step #1. Transfer upgrade from unlimited line to a non-unlimited line. After that, the procedure is the same.

Don't use the actual device transfer service. Just re-activate the phone that was originally on the non-unlimited line. That will free up the S4 to be activated on the unlimited line with no loss of the unlimited data plan.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Evil-Eye:
Thanks for confirming.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] graptharshammer:
But can you use the VZW site to safely transfer the upgrade from the unlimited line to the limited line and forego human interaction?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
Technically, yes. If I were you, I'd have a rep do it for you though. Or hit up an authorized retailer like best buy to do it. I always had an easier time doing changes like that in eRoes which is the system they use.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] oneandroidnut:
Correct. Heard it works from several friends
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Sara100:
Upgraded to SG4 but no contract extension on unlmited data line?!

Apologize in advance if I missed this in this LONG thread, but I did

see Scoot3r mention something that jives with my predicament.

I went to Costco and used a dumbphone to upgrade to SG4, which

I then had transferred to my unlimited data line. I verified that I still

have unlimited data on my GS4, but noticed my contract will expire in September.

The dumbphone contract expires in 2015.

I guess I can't extend my unlimited data line contract? Or, did I do something

wrong, and it should have been extended.

Lastly, if I can't get an extension...what happens? I heard I go month to month,

but don't know how that affects my data plan or phone bill.

BTW, I went to VZW retail store, and inquired that my contract was about to expire,

and if it automatically renews. The guy was brash, and said, "No! You have to come in

and sign an new contract!" Was like chill out... was just asking a question...

didn't even mention my great grandfathered unlimited data.

Please advise!

Thanks,

Sara! :p
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] arcrox:
It won't affect your data or bill. You are just free to cancel or change things without being penalized, if you so desire.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
You don't want to renew your contract on the line with unlimited data. You just want to perform an ESN change. Renew a spare line if available and swap devices. This will get you the discount without losing the data package.

Some reps will say this isn't possible, but it is. My line hasn't been renewed in over 4 years. If your contract ends then you just proceed on a month to month basis. There is no penalty for this.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jokeefe10:
Just wanted to share my story of upgrading my unlimited data line to the S4.

Line 1: unlimited data (with upgrade available)

Line 2: unlimited data (no upgrade)

Line 3: basic phone

Switched the line 1 upgrade to line 3 and purchased the S4 online. Activated phone on line 3, reactivated basic phone, activated S4 on line 2 (I inserted the SIM from my Galaxy Nexus. I know someone previously said they use different size SIMs but they do not). I did all the steps on the verizonwireless.com website (except for originally activating the S4 on line 3). Both lines 1 and 2 still have unlimited data and line 3 is back to the basic package.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Evil-Eye:
That answers quite a bit thank you
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] nes4r2:
Okay I bought my s4 at full price and my contract expires in 2014 of Jan, so basically I will keep unlimited 4 ever as long as I kerp buying phones at full price? What happens when my contract expires?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] najaboy:
You will keep unlimited until they do away with it completely. When your contact expires, it simply means you are a month to month customer and are free to terminate service at any time without penalty.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] KidJoe:
If your contract expires, you go month to month. I've been that way for a few years.

Too keep unlimited data (until Verizon gets forces users off it...) do one of the following...

1. stick with your current phone

2. buy new phones at full retail,

OR

3. if you also have a spare line that doesn't have unlimited data (like dumb phone, or smart phone with tiered data plan), follow what jokeefe10 said in Post #452 of this thread.

Note: this -> Post #452 is what we did to upgrade my wife's phone a few months ago (using an upgrade on my mom's dumb phone line that I have on my account as part of our family share).

If you purchase a phone at upgrade pricing on a line that has unlimited data, you'll be forced off unlimited data and onto a currently available plan (i.e. share everything).
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] darius0ne:
Unlimted data from costco

Just fyi to anyone considering an upgrade still on unlimited data, i was using an iphone4s and was given an old motorola droid razr to toy with, i called verizon and asked for a new sim card, the rep sent me one overnight and i was able to activate the phone keeping my plan the same just upgrading to LTE. I quickly grew tired of the motorola (terrible screen and awful battery life) so i went back to the iphone. I made this switch then several more times over my verizon with no issues, just requires entering the SIM id#.

Now, on that note, i recently upgraded to the galaxy S4. Knowing verizon would do whatever they could to overcharge me and screw me out of my grandfathered plan, i chose to go to costco. The rep in their mobile kiosk was more than happy to work some magic and upgrade my line without changing a single feature. Verizon reps at verizon stores just flat out lie to the customer (costco girls words) and they can totally keep your plan. I walked out of costco with a white GS4 for 220$. Instant rebate, unlimited data, plan unchanged, free case, free screen protector, free wall/car charger.

Tl;dr: costco was more than happy to upgrade my line without any changes to my unlimited data from 3g to LTE, for a substantial difference in price, and no mail in rebate scheme they hope you will forget about.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Forgetfull:
Which line had the contract extended by two years?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] graptharshammer:
Which Costco (city, state) did you do this in? You were out of contract and month-to-month on a 3g phone, then used discounted pricing to get a GS4 and kept unlimited?!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Cilraaz:
The line that originally had the upgrade available will have the contract extended. In my case, I had an upgrade available on my unlimited data line. My wife's 2GB line did not. I transferred the upgrade to her, got the S4, activated on her line, re-activated her Note 2, and activated the S4 on my line. I retained my unlimited data, but, since it was technically my upgrade being used, my line had its contract extended.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] darius0ne:
Yes sir. This was in Eureka CA. I cannot guarantee this from every costco obviously, but i am enjoying unlimited LTE and have burned thru over 8gbs since getting the gs4 approx 3 weeks ago. Hope you can find a similar situation at your local costco!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skiddingus:
When you say line 3 is back to the basic package, do you mean one of the old $10 family share packages with no data? I tried to do something similar and was told I would need to have a data package on the #3 phone to pull this off. I have 2 unlimited phones and 2 $10 family share phones. One of each phone types has upgrades available.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Forgetfull:
I did basically the same thing and yes the "dumb phone" line is back to dumb phone prices. Don't believe vzw, 95% of Xda knows more than a vzw employee.

I bought the phone in store on my dumb phone line then walked outside and immediately on vzw.com put the dumb phone back on the line. Then simply popped the SIM from my S3 into the S4.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skiddingus:
I tried to do that both on-line and in the store but you are forced to choose a data package to buy the smart phone on the dump phone line. My dumb phones are only $10 a month.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] najaboy:
Yes, you have to add a data package when upgrading that line. When you reactivate the dumb phone, you drop the data package.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Forgetfull:
Yup, you do have to get a data package but as soon as you transfer back to the dumb phone the data is dropped.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] skiddingus:
So Verizon doesn't hold you committed to a 2 year contract on the data package that you used to get a discount on a smart phone? That is so unlike them.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Forgetfull:
Ya weird Hu?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] cushingmd:
So would this work if I used my Verizon Home Phone Connect upgrade. On Verizon's web site the only upgrade devices showing available for that line are a new home phone connect device, or a hot spot, no smart phones. I haven't tried calling or going to a store yet.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] kgmperss:
I was also able to keep my unlimited data plan using Costco. My girlfriend wanted to check out new phones so we went to the kiosk and she asked if she would lose her unlimited data. I told her yes, but the rep overheard and said he could work around that. Ended up transferring her upgrade to her sister's (dumb phone) line, upgrading it on that account, deactivating, and putting it on her account. I ended up buying 2 more as well. My brother and I both had upgrades, he switched the upgrades to my mom's (dumb phone) line one at a time and now we have one big happy family of unlimited data S4's.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
Ordered my 32gb in store to get the twelve month installment plan. When my phone was delivered, all I did was turn off my S3, remove the sim card and put it in the S4. When I turned the S4 on it activated automatically. No call or online process needed.

I still have unlimited data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] pfunk26:
Unlimited is working great...wonder how long it will be around for?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Bait-Fish:
Here are my two cents. I bought a GS4 outright to preserve my unlimited plan but in the process my wife wanted to upgrade her dumb phone. While getting my sim card, the corporate store guy said he couldn't upgrade her line on our family plan without affecting my unlimited. It would affect the whole family plan.

But he said there was a "loophole," that if you went to a retailer like Best Buy, they could upgrade the other lines without affecting my part of the plan, retain my unlimited. So after getting my free sim card at the corporate store, we drove to the Best Buy next door got my wife her new phone. It worked. My unlimited stayed and she's happy with a new subsidized smartphone of her own.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
Suggest perhaps taking your business to another store. I deal only with corporate stores so if there is an error, it is easier to fix. Since the unlimited change, I have not ran into this issue. My son recently went from a dumb phone to an iPhone and has the 2GB plan for $30 (geesh what a rip-off). I still have unlimited and that was never brought up as an issue. The unlimited is based on you own phone and not the phone family plan for calls and texts. Same for my son who recently used one of our lines to get a new phone and keep his unlimited.

If have family data, you would not have unlimited anyway.

This reminds me of clueless stores telling people they can not do the 12 month installment plan unless the phone is in stock in the store- wrong. The phone has to be in stock at their direct ship warehouse and they must ship to your residence. I ordered my 32Gb S4 in store, have the installment plan and kept unlimited.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] oldmanwrigley:
I tried to post my image as an image to the link, but I can't post outside links yet.

So I attached it. I couldn't live without my unlimited data.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ddemlong:
I paid full retail for my S4 week and a half ago just to keep my unlimited data. Maybe if T-mo gets an LTE network here in Phx I would switch but not till then. Think this S4 will last me until that day comes.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] amir-info:
I don't have unlimited data with Verizon before ,if I want to get it with new gs4 with 2 year contract what can I do ?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jagrave:
My wife and I are both available for an upgrade. I have unlimited data, she only has 2Gb. Is there a way for us to both upgrade our phones and for me to keep unlimited?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] 4ktvs:
The guy said a corporate told him to do that. I for one 100% hate Verizon's corporate stores the 4 of them in my area are full of crap holes who should be grilling meat at KFC for a living because all they do is screw every one over. ( They love to kill unlimited plan's, all ways blame YOU first for any issues that pop up and will not stop blaming you even if you proof them wrong. Can't see a broken phone if it was shoved up there butt then got hit in the face with it. Sure I am getting 500kbs becuase that speed test.net app just wants to F*** Verizon, not becuase the S**t is running at 144F after a full hard reset and can't hold a signal for more than a few sec.)

P.S I used to work very close to one, so I know how they are.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mngdew:
Good for you that it worked out on your favor. I had the similar case as you did. I had two lines with unlimited (both with eligible for upgrade) and one basic phone. I wanted to upgrade one line with unlimited data using the same method you used. I discussed the method with a rep at a local corporate store, vzw online rep and a best buy rep. They all told me the same thing, that it would kill the unlimited data on the line its upgrade being transferred to the basic line.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
They told me that too. But when I told him to go ahead and still do the upgrade because I could revert any changes within 14 days he conceded and here I am, still with unlimited data. I just did this yesterday.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] rushless:
I guess service depends on the leadership of the store and/or market. Perhaps the Kentucky area has better store leadership than some others, since I have not had any of the issues articulated here. That would be a logical explanation for such wide gaps of service perception. That said, all corporate stores use the same Point Of Sale system and the same store bulletin and internal forum information. They can not do anything in that system if not allowed or approved by their corporate home office. Store level has very limited scope for over-rides, unless the manager wants to eat the cost on their own P&L - or worse.

Same thing with Best Buy. My experience has been good, but others the complete opposite.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Divine_Madcat:
Unfortunately, if you do not currently have an unlimited plan, you cannot get one. The only plans they offer are limited plans.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mssam:
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/07/1...y-new-phones-once-50-of-previous-is-paid-off/
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] charlesrogers74:
What I always do is purchase my phone from eBay. There is always a deal there you tell the csr you purchased your phone outright! Works like a charm!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] PaintDrinkingPete:
I'm not sure how this happened, but somehow I've managed to keep unlimited data without doing anything...

When I bought the S4 I decided to bite the bullet and surrender my unlimited data plan. To be honest, I simply don't use enough data to justify paying full retail, nor would my current budget allow that to happen.

I ordered the phone online...my account only has my one, single line associated with it. I went through the entire procedure, and as expected I was instructed to change my current plan. I choose the 2GB/month plan, completed each step, finalized the order and waited for my new phone to arrive.

Well, here we are into my 3rd billing cycle since I activated my S4, and according to Verizon, my data usage still shows as "xxxKB out of 'unlimited'" as it did before, and when I view my current plan online it still shows as my original unlimited data.

I'm not sure what happened...but I'm certainly not about to call them and bring it to their attention either!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] blefendic:
I couldn't imagine my life without unlimited data
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] dmoses1969:
VERIZON UNLIMITED DATA PLAN / RARE 200 Loyalty Plan

Anyone interested in a Verizon Unlimited Data Plan? I bought one off of ebay but soon discovered service isn't that great where I work or in my house. It's decent 4G all around my town but constantly goes back to 3G.....SLOW 3G at home/work.

I will sell it for $275.00. Completely legit, just requires Assumption of Liability (AOL).
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scoot3r:
I don't mean to belittle this offer in any way or denounce the credibility of it or yourself. Hell, if I am wrong just tell me I am an idiot.

It has been my experience as an indirect agent in the past that transfer of liability requires changing of plans as well. My store used that work around for at least a year before finally being disallowed by every rep we ever got in touch with to perform the transfer. This may be different when dealing with a corporate rep. Just a bit of forewarning.

If there are places still capable of this then great!