iPhone upgrade Eligibility - Stealing an upgrade?

Question

iPhone upgrade Eligibility - Stealing an upgrade?

Alright, so heres the deal. I'm currently in a family plan of 6 total phones. My plan isnt up until next year, but one of my sisters and my stepfather are eligible for an upgrade. Through VZW's site you can swap upgrades, but it wont let you choose the iPhone for a phone option (I see what you did there VZW.. you are very sneaky.) When I throw my # into apple's site for the upgrade option, it shows $799 which isnt worth it at all. When I throw my sisters or stepfathers it shows the correct, $199 or $299. If I want to pick it up in store, lets hypothetically say I order it via my sisters or stepfathers phone #... when I go to pick the phone up in the Apple store, can I just say "I'll do the setup at home," and go to verizon and swap ESN's? Or can I do it through iTunes? Or is this idea just farfetched and stupid.

Thanks for reading this and thanks for answers (if I get any)

Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 9, 2011 8:32 PM

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Answer 1

sn4p2k

Level 4

1,228 points

Feb 9, 2011 9:56 PM in response to Anthony Bauer

I think that if you explain the situation they will just do it and you dont have to be sneaky about it at least at&t did it I would assume Verizon would be the same

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Answer 2

JPD61386

Level 1

125 points

Feb 10, 2011 5:24 AM in response to Anthony Bauer

When the phone is ordered, the phone number of the account you are upgrading will be associated with the serial number and MEID number of the iPhone you are picking up, or getting shipped to you. When you get the phone it can only be activated thru iTunes, and during that process iTunes checks with Verizon to match up the serial and MEID numbers to the phone number that was upgraded. Your new iPhone will have the number of your sister or stepfather, and you might be charged the extra money if you try to use your number when the phone is setup.

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Answer 3

OVB

Level 1

15 points

Feb 10, 2011 7:50 AM in response to JPD61386

Twice I have ordered a new upgrade phone from an eligible number in my family plan then switched the new phone to my number. When I activated the phone by *228, One of the options was to switch numbers. I can't say for certain if this applies to the iPhone but it probably does although, the exact process may differ. Call Verizon tech or sales - they will have the definitive answer and the "how to". You may only be allowed to do this if YOU are the primary on the account.

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Answer 4

JPD61386

Level 1

125 points

Feb 10, 2011 7:56 AM in response to OVB

The iPhone can only be activated thru iTunes, you can't use *228 to activate an iPhone.

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Answer 5

Feb 10, 2011 6:19 PM in response to Anthony Bauer

Well, just got back from the Apple store. Switch was fine, there was a Verizon guy on site answering questions and he said that VZW was cool with it. Stole my sisters upgrade, all they did was activate the iphone to my sisters #, then simply swapped ESN's all in store. Quite painless. Hello iPhone!

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Answer 6

sn4p2k

Level 4

1,228 points

Feb 10, 2011 6:42 PM in response to JPD61386

JPD61386 wrote:
The iPhone can only be activated thru iTunes, you can't use *228 to activate an iPhone.

this isnt true my iphone was not activated through itunes at all.. I registered it through itunes but I had to call my carrier to get it activated

Message was edited by: sn4p2k

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Answer 7

sn4p2k

Level 4

1,228 points

Feb 10, 2011 6:43 PM in response to Anthony Bauer

Anthony Bauer wrote:
Well, just got back from the Apple store. Switch was fine, there was a Verizon guy on site answering questions and he said that VZW was cool with it. Stole my sisters upgrade, all they did was activate the iphone to my sisters #, then simply swapped ESN's all in store. Quite painless. Hello iPhone!

thats exactly what I thought would happen they dont care who upgrades what you still have to sign a new 2 year agreement and thats all they care about

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Answer 8

Billbarr

Level 1

11 points

Feb 11, 2011 12:15 PM in response to sn4p2k

I was very painless to do Monday. Call VZ customer support give them the number you ordered under and the one you want it switched to..they will have you hook the phone to iTunes and accept the terms and conditions..after you do that they will have you unplug the phone and dial 228 or whatever it was and you will see the phone programming..then you plug it back into iTunes and it activates under the desired number.."Sherry" stayed on the line and walked me thru each step called the iPhone after activation and then called the original # to make sure it still worked.

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