verizon to MVNO
January 25, 2016 8:45 AM Subscribe
I'm on a grandfathered unlimited data plan on Verizon. I use <1GB of data a month, and I'm paying $90/mo for it. I should go to an MVNO, right? Help me wade through the details.
I'm under contract on the current plan, and it has a $300 early termination fee. But I think I can escape by:
1. Sell the unlimited data plan on howardforums or ebay. In this process, I port my number to Google Voice to keep it, get a new number assigned to the unlimited line, and give that new number to the buyer (who has to verify that they qualify for a Verizon account) who does an assumption of liability for my plan. I profit a bit, and avoid the early termination fee.
2. Port my number to a cheaper carrier (MVNO). This is where I'm a bit confused by acronyms. I have a Samsung S5 I want to keep and use (which I think limits me to Verizon MVNOs and their data bands?). I know I want fast (4G/LTE) data. I text seldomly, and talk even less often.
It looks like Selectel, EcoMobile, and PagePlus will all do this and sell me a line with voice, text and 1GB of data for ~$40/mo.
Is this a good strategy? Are MVNOs a good alternative (there are a few bad reviews of PagePlus out there, about double payment charges and bad customer service)? I just haven't paid attention to cell phone plan options or details in forever, but I think it's time. Please help me get up to speed here!
I'm under contract on the current plan, and it has a $300 early termination fee. But I think I can escape by:
1. Sell the unlimited data plan on howardforums or ebay. In this process, I port my number to Google Voice to keep it, get a new number assigned to the unlimited line, and give that new number to the buyer (who has to verify that they qualify for a Verizon account) who does an assumption of liability for my plan. I profit a bit, and avoid the early termination fee.
2. Port my number to a cheaper carrier (MVNO). This is where I'm a bit confused by acronyms. I have a Samsung S5 I want to keep and use (which I think limits me to Verizon MVNOs and their data bands?). I know I want fast (4G/LTE) data. I text seldomly, and talk even less often.
It looks like Selectel, EcoMobile, and PagePlus will all do this and sell me a line with voice, text and 1GB of data for ~$40/mo.
Is this a good strategy? Are MVNOs a good alternative (there are a few bad reviews of PagePlus out there, about double payment charges and bad customer service)? I just haven't paid attention to cell phone plan options or details in forever, but I think it's time. Please help me get up to speed here!
Just as a data point, I've been using Page Plus for 4 years now on three phones (two mine, one my wife's). They've been great and I've never had a complaint. One of the most pleasant phone calls I've ever made was to Page Plus. I chat with their online support people about twice a year when I buy a new phone or need help with a bill (always my own goof up) and they are super helpful.
I've never had any network problems with either data or voice. As you know they are on Verizon so I can use my phone where others (even non-MVNO) can't.
So yeah, it's been great. I usually buy the phones off of either eBay or the PagePlus affiliate store, where there is a bit of markup but things are more likely to work without a hitch. (I've never had eBay phone problems but for a cheap phone I don't really want to chance it and would rather just purchase worry-free).
You won't be able to use the phone's built-in Verizon features like visual voice mail, btw. That hasn't been a problem for me.
posted by circular at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2016
I've never had any network problems with either data or voice. As you know they are on Verizon so I can use my phone where others (even non-MVNO) can't.
So yeah, it's been great. I usually buy the phones off of either eBay or the PagePlus affiliate store, where there is a bit of markup but things are more likely to work without a hitch. (I've never had eBay phone problems but for a cheap phone I don't really want to chance it and would rather just purchase worry-free).
You won't be able to use the phone's built-in Verizon features like visual voice mail, btw. That hasn't been a problem for me.
posted by circular at 10:16 AM on January 25, 2016
I also went from Verizon to PagePlus and had a good experience. I only ended up using it for about 6 months because I switched to another MVNO when I got a new GSM phone but was happy with PP overall and I didn't notice any change in service for the phone or data with Page Plus, just paying about half of what I was for my Verizon plan.
posted by camcgee at 2:22 PM on January 25, 2016
posted by camcgee at 2:22 PM on January 25, 2016
Talez: "Your biggest problem is your Verizon S5 only supports bands 13 and 4. Band 4 coverage varies based on geographical location since AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile share parts of the frequency depending on the region. T-Mobile's "expanded" network is on band 12, AT&Ts largest coverage is on band 17.
If you want to keep your phone you need to use an MVNO that uses Verizon's network. Page Plus, Straight Talk and Tracfone are probably your go to options. If you want to switch networks you'll probably need a new phone."
Side point, is there a coverage map showing the different bands per carrier?
posted by wcfields at 2:22 PM on January 25, 2016
If you want to keep your phone you need to use an MVNO that uses Verizon's network. Page Plus, Straight Talk and Tracfone are probably your go to options. If you want to switch networks you'll probably need a new phone."
Side point, is there a coverage map showing the different bands per carrier?
posted by wcfields at 2:22 PM on January 25, 2016
Best answer: Following up: the switch got me $800 up front, and I will save $60/mo going forward. So, pretty worthwhile, but not painless. Verizonforums had a "guide", but it took a few more things for me. Here are the steps as I would tell them someone else:
0. Shop, decide on, and buy a new plan. You also need to buy a new SIM card for that plan (not having switched plans for 14 years, this eluded me at first), or you won't be able to use that plan.
1. On your Verizon account online (turn off script blockers), set a billing PIN. You'll need it later. Stay logged in (see 2b).
2a. (read 2b first): From Google Voice, port your phone # in. This costs $20.
2b. IMMEDIATELY request a "change number on your line" on your Verizon line. The new # is the one you'll be selling. You MUST do this immediately (as in, within minutes, not hours or days), otherwise Verizon will notice and cancel your unlimited data plan.
3. Wait 24 hours for Google to confirm your port-in. For me this was exactly 24 hrs.
4. Call the Verizon assumption-of-liability 800-number (888 832 4540). Tell them you want to set up someone else to assume your line. Here you'll need your Verizon billing account # and the PIN you set up in (1). For me, the first Verizon person messed this up, so I had to call again.
5. Sell your phone plan. For me, this took about 5 minutes on howardforums.com and I hear ebay is also an option. The buyer MUST qualify (credit-wise) for a Verizon account. You'll need the buyer's name and a phone number for them.
6. Once you've been paid, give the buyer the new phone # your got in (2b). They call the assumption-of-liability 800-number from step 4, and take over your line and contract.
7. For me, I had to call Verizon again, because they had not released my device. The rep had to assign a fake device to the new person, so that my IMEI# (phone ID) could be reassigned to new carrier. Otherwise my phone would show up as still under contract.
8. On Google Voice, set a PIN. The new carrier needs this.
9. Activate your new service. For this, you'll need the SIM card you bought (see 0), the IMEI for your phone (see 7), and your account # and PIN for your number for them to retrieve it from Google Voice. Your account # is your phone #, and your PIN you set in step 8.
10. The port from Google Voice takes another day. For me, this involved several frustrating chats with customer service from the new carrier while my phone said "SIM card not readable". It was readable (you can check by going to the phone's settings>>about>>network, and reading the SIM number there -- which proves that your phone is reading the SIM just fine), but that was the error message until it activated.
It's been a long week (I did not do 0 first) of frustrating errors, but hopefully this will save at least one person out there, or it was therapy for me to write it out. Whichever.
posted by Dashy at 6:36 PM on February 10, 2016
0. Shop, decide on, and buy a new plan. You also need to buy a new SIM card for that plan (not having switched plans for 14 years, this eluded me at first), or you won't be able to use that plan.
1. On your Verizon account online (turn off script blockers), set a billing PIN. You'll need it later. Stay logged in (see 2b).
2a. (read 2b first): From Google Voice, port your phone # in. This costs $20.
2b. IMMEDIATELY request a "change number on your line" on your Verizon line. The new # is the one you'll be selling. You MUST do this immediately (as in, within minutes, not hours or days), otherwise Verizon will notice and cancel your unlimited data plan.
3. Wait 24 hours for Google to confirm your port-in. For me this was exactly 24 hrs.
4. Call the Verizon assumption-of-liability 800-number (888 832 4540). Tell them you want to set up someone else to assume your line. Here you'll need your Verizon billing account # and the PIN you set up in (1). For me, the first Verizon person messed this up, so I had to call again.
5. Sell your phone plan. For me, this took about 5 minutes on howardforums.com and I hear ebay is also an option. The buyer MUST qualify (credit-wise) for a Verizon account. You'll need the buyer's name and a phone number for them.
6. Once you've been paid, give the buyer the new phone # your got in (2b). They call the assumption-of-liability 800-number from step 4, and take over your line and contract.
7. For me, I had to call Verizon again, because they had not released my device. The rep had to assign a fake device to the new person, so that my IMEI# (phone ID) could be reassigned to new carrier. Otherwise my phone would show up as still under contract.
8. On Google Voice, set a PIN. The new carrier needs this.
9. Activate your new service. For this, you'll need the SIM card you bought (see 0), the IMEI for your phone (see 7), and your account # and PIN for your number for them to retrieve it from Google Voice. Your account # is your phone #, and your PIN you set in step 8.
10. The port from Google Voice takes another day. For me, this involved several frustrating chats with customer service from the new carrier while my phone said "SIM card not readable". It was readable (you can check by going to the phone's settings>>about>>network, and reading the SIM number there -- which proves that your phone is reading the SIM just fine), but that was the error message until it activated.
It's been a long week (I did not do 0 first) of frustrating errors, but hopefully this will save at least one person out there, or it was therapy for me to write it out. Whichever.
posted by Dashy at 6:36 PM on February 10, 2016
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If you want to keep your phone you need to use an MVNO that uses Verizon's network. Page Plus, Straight Talk and Tracfone are probably your go to options. If you want to switch networks you'll probably need a new phone.
posted by Talez at 9:06 AM on January 25, 2016