Family Plan help!

So I'm currently on a Family Plan with 4 other phones.. mine making the total 5. Right now all of us have basic phones. However, I have an upgrade coming up in a couple weeks and am wanting to get a smartphone but be able to stay on the Family Plan as well.
Can I add a smartphone to the Family Plan, and still have the messaging and minutes billed as they were before: to my parents; yet have the data billed to me? I have a couple friends who have VZW and have their account set up this way, but when I called customer service, they said that wasn't possible. Finally, I chatted with customer service online and they said this was very possible, and I have the transcript saying so.
So I'm confused, can I switch to a smartphone and still share the messaging and minutes with the family plan as I did before, but pay for my share of the data without having to transfer money every month to whoever pays the bill?
Thanks for any help!

UOducks wrote:
So I'm currently on a Family Plan with 4 other phones.. mine making the total 5. Right now all of us have basic phones. However, I have an upgrade coming up in a couple weeks and am wanting to get a smartphone but be able to stay on the Family Plan as well.
Can I add a smartphone to the Family Plan, and still have the messaging and minutes billed as they were before: to my parents; yet have the data billed to me?Verizon only sends 1 bill for an account. How you decide to pay it is up to you, though. I have a couple friends who have VZW and have their account set up this way, but when I called customer service, they said that wasn't possible. Finally, I chatted with customer service online and they said this was very possible, and I have the transcript saying so.If your friends say they get a bill for only a partial amount due each month, I would highly suspect this. Have them SHOW you the bill before you actually believe them. I would believe that it is more than likely that they can just sign into My Verizon and pay what they have been told to pay by the account owner. You can make your own My Verizon account for each line on the account an then go in and pay whatever amount you want. You will not get a separate bill for each line, though.
So I'm confused, can I switch to a smartphone and still share the messaging and minutes with the family plan as I did before, but pay for my share of the data without having to transfer money every month to whoever pays the bill? Why should it matter WHO you make the payment to, just as long as you make the payment. Verizon will accept a payment from whoever wants to make it.
Thanks for any help!

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Getting iphone, Questions about Family Plan. NEED HELP!

So right now I am on a family plan with my Dad and mother and we all have old phones that are basic basic. Our family plan has no Data plan at all, and in fact the plan is so old that it does not exist anymore. However I am moving away soon and I want to upgrade to an iphone. My question is this, If I upgrade, will I have to get my own plan? Or will I be able to just upgrade my phone and add the data charges just to my phone without making my parents upgrade their phones as well?
Any help will be awesome. I don't want to go into the store and talk to a sales person because they are motivated by commission so it would be in their best interest to upgrade all or them. So if I can go in there educated about the specifics of upgrading it would help.
Thanks!!

Steveo15317 wrote:
So right now I am on a family plan with my Dad and mother and we all have old phones that are basic basic. Our family plan has no Data plan at all, and in fact the plan is so old that it does not exist anymore. However I am moving away soon and I want to upgrade to an iphone. My question is this, If I upgrade, will I have to get my own plan? Or will I be able to just upgrade my phone and add the data charges just to my phone without making my parents upgrade their phones as well?
Any help will be awesome. I don't want to go into the store and talk to a sales person because they are motivated by commission so it would be in their best interest to upgrade all or them. So if I can go in there educated about the specifics of upgrading it would help.
Thanks!!
Thanks to our forum member for the great information!
In addition, please note that you will most likely be able to keep your current calling plan when you upgrade your line to an iPhone 4; however, if the iPhone 4 is not compatible with your current calling plan you will be notified when you process your order online if you login to your My Verizon account and you will be presented with your new calling plan options.
If your calling plan is compatible with the iPhone 4, you will be able to simple upgrade to the iPhone 4 device and add the data plan to your line. This does not affect your parents calling plan in any way. You can also separate your line from the family calling plan and have an individual calling plan for your line and have your parents lines stay with their family share plan.
If you do not feel comfortable ordering your upgrade phone online or at a store, you can also order your upgrade from the comfort of your home if you dial 1-800-922-0204 to contact our customer service department.

Help! Trying to start a family plan with 3 lines and 2 iphones

Help!
I am a new customer trying to start a family plan with 3 lines. I only want 2 iphones. However, when I get into the "select phones" screen, it dosen't allow me to choose an iphone.
When I click on the iphone it takes me to a completely different part of the website where it only allows me to buy individual plans for each iphone.
Help! Thanks!

I am having the same problem but only want 2 lines and 1 iPhone. But for you I think you can order the 2 iPhones and checkout and then just add another line. I am not sure but what I got from other people is that would work.

Why do i have a family plan when i did not sign up for a family plan i feel like what ever walmart employee helped me should have showrd more concern and information to show me of and espically explained nmy plan

Mad customer

You would have to be more specific. You though you were getting only one phone and you somehow have MORE than one phone???? If you only have one phone, you are not on a Family plan. You may be on the More Everything plan, but you can only have one phone and still be on the More Everything plan. You do not have to have multiple phones to be on the More Everything plan. It all depends on how you want to use the phone.
Yes, Verizon has single line plans, but they do not have all of the same features as the More Everything plan. Single line plans are not the best solution for all customers who only want one phone.

Have family plan with 250 data which I almost use each month. Going on vacation and will be on the road for two weeks. Should I up my data for a month then change back. Is it worth it or should I just run over and pay the extra 15 per gig?

have family plan with 250 data which I almost use each month. Going on vacation and will be on the road for two weeks. Should I up my data for a month then change back. Is it worth it or should I just run over and pay the extra 15 per gig?

Hello mlazaretti. Vacation time is awesome. (Especially a road trip!) Since you will be going out for two weeks, you never know if having extra data may come in handy. I highly recommend switching to the next tier up so this way you have more data. This way it is only $10.00 more versus $15.00, and you dont have to worry about overages. Then change back at the start of the next billing cycle.
If you need help making this change let us know! Have a safe trip!
NicandroN_VZW
Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

Questions on porting family plan lines and a prorated final bill?

Hey there! I've done some searches on the board before posting and encountered tidbits of information I found useful, but I couldn't get all of my lingering questions answered from older posts so here's my situation:
My number is the primary number on a family plan (3 lines, mine included) with Verizon, and I'm considering porting it along with the two other lines elsewhere. All three lines are no longer in a contract and are month-to-month (the 2-year agreements ended many months ago and none of the lines have been upgraded or anything since then). I'm planning to move them all to separate prepaid services through another carrier.
I'm doing my best to gather enough information about how to go about moving all three of these family plan lines with the least amount of hassle , so I've got some questions I hope I can get answered. Thanks for any assistance!
This is my understanding:
-I'll need to contact my new carrier to have a given number ported, correct? And that line will be subsequently cancelled on Verizon's end, with no ETFs since none of the lines are tied to a contract?
-Should I port the second and third lines first and not port the primary number (mine) first, so asto not cancel all the lines of service before they're ported? I'm okay porting one number at a time AKA separately instead of all at once if that simplifies the transfer process.
-When the porting process takes place and my Verizon service is cancelled, does Verizon prorate the remaining days on my billing period from the date it's cancelled, or do they still bill up to the end of the cycle? I hear it's better to wait until the end of my billing cycle (which for me is the 9th of every month) to initiate the transfer(s) so that I don't have any billing issues, but moving all three numbers on one day (even separately) sounds kinda daunting.
-Do the phones I currently have under Verizon simply "disconnect" or deactivate once service is cancelled? Will they no longer be associated with my family plan lines and therefore be free to be resold or handed off to other family members who are using Verizon? I notice many phones on eBay/Craigslist list a "cleared ESN" as a requirement for someone to activate a used phone on Verizon and wanted to know what that was about.
Thanks for any help on these concerns!

michae2414 wrote:
Hey there! I've done some searches on the board before posting and encountered tidbits of information I found useful, but I couldn't get all of my lingering questions answered from older posts so here's my situation:
My number is the primary number on a family plan (3 lines, mine included) with Verizon, and I'm considering porting it along with the two other lines elsewhere. All three lines are no longer in a contract and are month-to-month (the 2-year agreements ended many months ago and none of the lines have been upgraded or anything since then). I'm planning to move them all to separate prepaid services through another carrier.
I'm doing my best to gather enough information about how to go about moving all three of these family plan lines with the least amount of hassle , so I've got some questions I hope I can get answered. Thanks for any assistance!
This is my understanding:
-I'll need to contact my new carrier to have a given number ported, correct? And that line will be subsequently cancelled on Verizon's end, with no ETFs since none of the lines are tied to a contract? All correct - the port happens via the NEW carrier.
-Should I port the second and third lines first and not port the primary number (mine) first, so asto not cancel all the lines of service before they're ported? I'm okay porting one number at a time AKA separately instead of all at once if that simplifies the transfer process. You can do it this way - but based on your next question, you wouldn't want to do it this way. You can't do both!!
-When the porting process takes place and my Verizon service is cancelled, does Verizon prorate the remaining days on my billing period from the date it's cancelled, or do they still bill up to the end of the cycle? You have already paid for the current month's service - you are billed in advance for the coming month. What WILL be billed is any texting, roaming calls, data charges, etc, that have occurred during the month that were NOT billed in advance. I hear it's better to wait until the end of my billing cycle (which for me is the 9th of every month) to initiate the transfer(s) so that I don't have any billing issues, but moving all three numbers on one day (even separately) sounds kinda daunting. But YOU don't have to do anything - your new carrier will deal with it, and it seems to me it would be better to end the service on all three at one time, since it is one account. You can ask your new carrier what they recommend. There should be no issues with porting all three lines at once.
-Do the phones I currently have under Verizon simply "disconnect" or deactivate once service is cancelled?Yes - once the number is ported to the new carrier, the phones will no longer work until they are activated with another number. Will they no longer be associated with my family plan lines and therefore be free to be resold or handed off to other family members who are using Verizon? This is correct, and another reason for doing the port at the end of a billing cycle. Issues have come up with transfers done mid cycle - and because the account had been billed and paid for the full month's service, the phone's ESN was not released until the end of the billing cycle. I notice many phones on eBay/Craigslist list a "cleared ESN" as a requirement for someone to activate a used phone on Verizon and wanted to know what that was about.
Thanks for any help on these concerns!
It may take several days for the numbers to fully port over and have all services working correctly, and for the old phones to be fully "released" from your account to be used on another Verizon account. I would wait a week or so after the port, then call CS and check the ESN status of the old phones to see if they are "clear".
Hope this answers most of your questions. Post back if you need further clarification.

If You Have A Family Plan Beware Of Social Beat App!!!!!!!!!

We have a family plan with 5 phones. In January of 2011 after noticing some extra charges on our bill we went to the Verizon store to investigate. We found that these charges were from texting and accessing the internet. At that time, after talking with a sales rep we upgraded our plan with more voice minutes added texting plans and blocked (we thought) the internet and bought 5 new phones.
Last month we received bill for over $1100. So we immediately drove to the store to find out what was going on. The customer service rep brought up our bill on the internet and said that one of the lines had gone way over on there minutes. When we looked at the usage screen it showed hundreds of data airtime minutes used. When I asked what they were they said someone was accessing the internet. I told them that I had blocked the line from the internet. They said they could see it was blocked but somehow they were still accessing it. By that time there were several agents gathered around the computer and all had puzzled looks on there faces. They said they would have to dig further into this and call us sometime the following week. That was a Friday and I heard nothing for 9 days. So I returned to the store, all they could tell me then was that they found that the charges were legitimate and if had any other questions I would have to call the customer service line.
After calling the customer service line and getting no answers I went to a different Verizon store and found a very helpful sales rep who helped me dig further into this and was told by someone that the the line in question was using an app called social beat to access face book over the phone. I said that I had blocked the internet from this line. They said that this was different and that these were legitimate charges. Any way, I'm still trying to get an answer that I can understand.
But you should be aware that this app comes preloaded on certain phones and that anyone can sign up and start using it without the approval of the plan administrator.
We are still trying to get something done about this and I know Verizon doesn't care but I want them to know that I am logging complaints with the BBB, the FTC, and the FCC. It may not do any good but it will make me feel better.

I know exactly how you feel, i checked my account this month and I had overage charges and called to find out and was told it is Social Beat. I said but we blocked all MB usage charges and they told me the same thing. I see that it is blocked but social beat is something else. Well then why did my phone come with it and why are yall still charging me for MB when they are blocked? There is nothing they can or will do to fix it. So now I had to upgrade to a smart phone and pay even more money per month. Its unreal at the charges Verizon can come up with.

Address Book + .Mac Family Plan

On my laptop I have one address book - my family uses my laptop. When I go to sync - everything including my kids friends are sync into my address book. It's odd when you scroll through and see Bobby's name. I'm considering signing up for .Mac Family Plan. I already have an individual account which I planned to let run out. If I get a family plan - wife, kids me - how does that work? Do we each have our own address book online? And if so, can my son have his own address book on the desktop - so when he sinks his stuff as I do - everything stay seperate. In other words 4 .mac accounts online and 4 address books on the desktop. One for each person? Please help....

O c'mon somebody must have a thought, idea or solution.

Is there any way to combine 2 seperate lines on the same account into a family plan?

My wife and I have our phones on the same account, but the Verizon Wireless salespeople signed her up as 4 separate lines instead of a family plan. I admit she was an easy mark for the salesperson, because she went in to get two smartphones and walked out with 3 smartphones and a home voip device. I was at work and wasn't expecting her to be taken advantage of in such a way, or I would have had her wait to join when we both had the time to do it together. Now we have a smartphone collecting dust in a drawer, and a home phone that only rings when telemarketers call.
Long story short, we are going to have to cancel two of the lines that we don't use, probably pay etf's, and all that fun stuff. If we are to keep Verizon, we will need to switch our lines from being separate services to a family plan or it just won't be worth keeping this carrier. 2gigs of data just simply isn't enough for us both, considering the family plans for 2 people that are comparably priced have 10gigs.
Has anyone here run into a similar situation? Any help you can give in fixing this would be greatly appreciated.

How are you on the same account if they are separate lines?
Were any of these lines on the Edge payment option?

My experience, frustrated and next step is cancelling our family plan

This is my experience, as frustrated as it makes me, I wanted to post so others don't have to endure this...
I have been a customer of Verizon for a long time (had the same number since 1993 and Verizon for a big part of that time). We have had a family plan for our boys, my wife and I with I phones, air cards, I-pads you name it. I had a single air card on a different account for using at work and never used it, so when my wife and I visited a store to upgrade her phone, I decided to cancel the card.
This was in January 2012 and when I asked at the counter what I needed to do to close it. I was told that I owed a couple of months and there was a couple of months more on the contract and I said "ok whatever is left". They charged me and said, ok sir, it is all taken care of. I paid $176 that day and have the receipt.
Fast forward to March. They send me a bill for $75, to which I respond by calling and talking with Customer Service. They say, well let us call the store to verify. Then they call me back the next day and say Well the store verifies so we will remove this from your account.
Fast forward to May and I get another Bill --- so repeat the process and call the customer service dept. We talk, and then supervisors for what was probably hours. Result was "we are so sorry sir, we will credit your account right away".
Another Fast Forward to June. I get a bill for $140 (late fees now). We have a longer discussion, more supervisors and end up with "You are right, we talked with the store and they can't remember, so we are going to go ahead and credit this for you....Give us a call on Monday just to confirm everything"
That next day, "sir I am so sorry you had to go through all of this, I will personally take care of this for you...you may not know me, but I stand behind my promises, so don't worry" (seriously).
Fast forward to September Collections Notice from CBE (wow really?)
Called and explained it should have been credited and told they could see all the notes in the file and that a credit was applied, but I would have to call back during the week.
Just called today and spent two hours being on hold and having repeated new people read through the file. Finally ending with Helen who says "I'm sorry, sir but you have an outstanding bill. I said what do you mean, it should all be in the notes, I have been told countless times it was all going to be credited. She says "No I don't see that here". I ask for a supervisor and she says she is sorry they have left for the evening (My call started at 3pm and this is now 4:45pm). She says I need to put you on hold for a few minutes...10 minutes she gets back on the line and says "sir I am filling out a form, you should get a call from a supervisor in 24 to 48 hours" I said "I am trying so hard to be nice, but I am extremely frustrated with this whole thing and considering switching our family plan to any other company that values a loyal customer". She says, well I am sorry sir, but I just can't help you.
This company is so big and so out of touch and now stepping on me for a wrongful $75 and stand to lose $325 a month for the next 10 year easy (3 cell phones and an air card). If I was their manager, I would do anything I could to keep a loyal customer that had been with us so long (not to mention not billing for things that have been paid and agreed to be taken care of)
I don't think I can take another 30 minutes of being on hold and listening to that same music only to explain everything to the next rep. At this point my only option is to email the local tv station customer advocate Jesse Jones. And then to start the process of switching our accounts to another company (I can hardly wait). It is too bad a good customer was driven to leave.

Hi bobwina!
It saddened me to read your post, and see that your issue is not yet resolved. I'm here to make sure we work together on a resolution. Please send me a DM including your name, your mobile number, and a good contact number for you. I'll be able to review everything and work this out once and for all!
Christina B
VZW Support
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

Upgrade non-smartphone line to iPhone 4S and then transfer to different phone line on family plan

I am on a family plan where I have a smart phone and my father and mother have normal non-data phones.
My line is not due for an upgrade until June 2012.
A verizon rep told me that I could use my father's upgrade to pre-order and activate an iPhone 4S and then re-activate my father's non-smartphone on his phone # and activate the iPhone 4S on my own phone #.
Once activated on his phone number they will add the Data plan; but once I reactivate his old non-data phone I will no longer need the data plan.
Will this work? I'm not sure the rep I spoke to understood that my father has a non-data phone when she explained this procedure.

If you have an online account with Verizon Wireless, you can transfer the upgrade from one number on your account to another number on your account (for example, transfer the upgrade from your father's phone to your phone).
Sign on to verizonwireless.com. Log in with your user ID and password. Click on My Verizon, and select Upgrade Device. Below each phone on your account, there will be an upgrade device date, and a link to Transfer Upgrade. Click the link and it will ask you which line you want to transfer from, and you can transfer the upgrade to your phone. You won't need to switch the data plan on your father's phone at all.
I just did the same thing on my account to be ready for the new phone tomorrow. Hope this helps!

Part of a family plan but branching out to an individual account.

Here is the Story.
I have been Part of a family plan for 2 years. The upgrade is due this week. My parents plan to upgrade in the Verizon store, but
I will be purchasing from the Amazon Wireless store. (cheaper prices, etc). I will be going on a individual account.
However, in the line of work that I am in, its not smart to get a new number. If I purchase a plan as a new customer from Amazon Wireless (Verizon) can I use my old cell phone number? Also could I do this a few days before my family upgrades?
I don't know very much about buying a cell phone plan online so this is new to me.
I did ask a Verizon rep (chicagoland area) and they were confused as to why I would want to buy with amazonwireless. Not much help so far. From reading these forums I understand there is a *_ _ _ number I can call to switch phones but what about numbers?
Any help would be excellent!

The way you described wanting to do this, would not be possible. You would not be able to start a new account with your same number without paying an ETF. Your upgrade is available at 20 months of your 24 month contract, and that is not the same as being eligible to cancel your current line. You would have to wait until your contract is up, or do an AOL (Assumption of Liability) to create a new account.
Some have said that doing this makes you lose your upgrade, and others have said it does not. To be safe, you'll want to upgrade BEFORE doing the AOL (just do a normal upgrade, still on your family account) and then you'll be able to do an AOL and get onto your own account.

How can you create an online account for a family plan of 3?

Hey there,
I recently switched from T-mobile to Verizon and got a family plan(10 GB More Everything Plan with Verizon Edge) for my parents and myself at the store. Unlike T-mobile where you can see activities of all 3 phones, the Verizon online account is only for 1 phone (or I am not doing it right ?!!! ).
And by looking at each individual account, it doesn't look like I have a family plan sharing 10 GB data ($80 montly account access fee + 3*$15/line monthly access fee=$125), but instead each phone has 10 GB ( $80 montly account access fee + $15/line monthly access fee=$95, which totals to $95*3=$285 for the family).
Is there a way I can check to see if I have a family plan? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Christy

If all 3 phones are on the same More Everything plan, the account owner only would be able to see the activity of all 3 lines. The other 2 lines would only be able to see the activity from their own line. Have you tried logging into the MyVerizon account from each line? Possibly the line you have been logging in with is not the account owner line.
Either calling CS as indicated above or stopping by a Verizon store would be able to remedy your situation if you are on separate accounts instead of just one.

Porting a Verizon number from a family plan to a different carrier

Hello everyone,
Basically, I have a line with Verizon under a family plan, I am not the owner of that plan, but I am looking to port my number to T-mobile since I don't think that the price-service ratio is not fair for the mediocre service that I get.
I was wondering if I would be able to port my number even if I am not the owner of the family plan. I only have a few months left until the contract terminates, and I am willing to pay the ETF.
I also wanted to know if the owner would have to be involved during the porting process, since I would not like to bother the plan owner to complete this action.
Lastly, my billing cycle ends the 26th of each month, when do you think I should start the process in order to not pay the bill for the following month?
Thank you very much for your help, I greatly appreciate all your responses and I apologize in advanced for the amount of questions, but I am new to this and just want the entire process to go as smooth as possible.
Thanks again.

kimw317 We surely don't want to see you leave us! Our goal here is to help resolve the service issues that you're experinceing. Would you mind telling us more about what specific reasons are causing you to want to switch. You mentioned the price and service but please elaborate and we can review your options. To answer your question, the only people who can make changes to the account are those listed as the account owner or account manager. We would like the opprotunity to discuss your options further. Please follow us and then we can work together in a private message.
Sheritah_vzw
Follow us on Twitter
@VZWSupport

Break Up- removing family plan--costly??

Hey folks, first post here- i appreciate in advance anyone reading this and or helping me figure this out
so-- my and the fiance are splittin in a few days, her plus both of her parents are on my account- as a family plan--we both have data plans plus her dad does- three data plans total
the contract is not up for at least 6 more months-
how can i minimize any default/early cancellation charges
what if all three of them started a new family plan- or they keep mine and i start a new one--
this is one of those ancillary things about a breakup that isnt always thought about right away--
so-- any advice would be appreciated
thanks

MickeyB wrote:
thanks for the prompt reply Mr. d-g,
no, we're totally splitting amicably, and her parents are beyond honest and cool.
i understand about them doing the AOL,
but when you say i need to get a new individual plan, does this mean i lose my unlimited data like i have now?
i hope not.
thanks again for any help
You *shouldn't* but there have been reports of people losing it by doing an AOL. Technically, you should be able to keep it. So, I would ask the rep you speak with multiple times just to make sure you can keep it.

Family Plan help!

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