Employee Disc and Upgrade Headache

[gobugo]

I have an Alltel BB 8330 that is 6 months old. We had a family plan with Alltel for my BB and two regular phones.

When Verizon took over, we found out about my husband's employee discount that could save us 15% per month...but the store csr says we can only get the discount if we make him the primary and if he is on contract with Verizon. Of our three phones, his of course is the only one not on contract.

The 800# Verizon csr said she could make him primary, give us a discount and put him on contract with a new phone but she could not upgrade the other phones.

The store csr said we can make him primary, get the discount and upgrade all three phones at new contract prices.

Problem is the other two phones are only six months old. Seems silly to pay for upgrades. Do I really need to "trash/sell" my Alltell BB? The store csr was quoting after rebate anywhere from $50 (curve) to $150 (storm) to tour ($200).

I must admit I just do not use my BB to its fullest...I get so frustrated with the slowness of the the browser and just have not found any apps that make me happy. Mostly I use email and the calendar and texting. (The csr was telling me to save money and dump the BB and get a env Touch).

Any advice is welcome. Thank you. Sorry for the cross post...did not see alltel carrier forum at first.

[AZBBFAN]

EnV touch is a POS, especially for a current BB user. The CSR is a head case! As far as upgrading, it is up to you what you want to spend. The Tour is a awful nice phone.........

[gobugo]

So what is going on here...is VZW trying to get Alltel customers to switch to their VZW phones? Is there an official offer out there for all of us Alltel people with a deadline? I thought it was weird to go in for the first time and be told "oh you can upgrade all three phones on the account now" especially when two of the three phones are only 6 months into their contracts. So what are other people finding when they talk to Verizon? (Ok, ok forget I mentioned the EnV).

[Kaylajoy21]

I would wait in your area until (if any) promos start running regarding porting over. In CERTAIN areas, promos allow customers with at least ONE line in the renewable state (and this is the 4 months before contract end) to bring all lines to Vzw.

There is nothing wrong with the EnvTouch, but it would take some getting used to if you are used to the BB.

Please remember...information will change depending on your geographic location. Some areas will be further along in the process than others. I would say for the most accurate information, I would visit your local CORPORATE retail store since they will be most well aware of what you are eligible for. With CSR's, they are managing their entire nation of calls.

[TheMiz]

Originally Posted by gobugo

I have an Alltel BB 8330 that is 6 months old. We had a family plan with Alltel for my BB and two regular phones.

When Verizon took over, we found out about my husband's employee discount that could save us 15% per month...but the store csr says we can only get the discount if we make him the primary and if he is on contract with Verizon. Of our three phones, his of course is the only one not on contract.

The 800# Verizon csr said she could make him primary, give us a discount and put him on contract with a new phone but she could not upgrade the other phones.

The store csr said we can make him primary, get the discount and upgrade all three phones at new contract prices.

Problem is the other two phones are only six months old. Seems silly to pay for upgrades. Do I really need to "trash/sell" my Alltell BB? The store csr was quoting after rebate anywhere from $50 (curve) to $150 (storm) to tour ($200).

I must admit I just do not use my BB to its fullest...I get so frustrated with the slowness of the the browser and just have not found any apps that make me happy. Mostly I use email and the calendar and texting. (The csr was telling me to save money and dump the BB and get a env Touch).

Any advice is welcome. Thank you. Sorry for the cross post...did not see alltel carrier forum at first.

Did they say anything about losing your current phone number ?

[Kaylajoy21]

Originally Posted by TheMiz

Did they say anything about losing your current phone number ?

This is, again, something the local store would know more about. In my particular area, I have a dual pos store. Depending on certain prefixes, the number cant be ported.

If you really want to call in, I'd just ask them straight out if they can check your number portability. That way you'll know immediately. If your number isn't portable right now, it should be in the future.

[TheMiz]

Originally Posted by Kaylajoy21

This is, again, something the local store would know more about. In my particular area, I have a dual pos store. Depending on certain prefixes, the number cant be ported.

If you really want to call in, I'd just ask them straight out if they can check your number portability. That way you'll know immediately. If your number isn't portable right now, it should be in the future.

I have had the number for 58 years, and I am not ready to let that go.
I was told that my number is now property of VZW.

[Kaylajoy21]

Then don't let it go. You just have to wait longer to port over to a verizon phone and plan. You've said in other posts you are under contract anyway.

Do you not understand how this merger works? Just because the sale is complete doesn't mean all the details are complete. This would be why your number may not be portable over to verizon at the present time. So yes, Verizon may "technically" own the number you have, but things are still separate on some level.

You've indicated on some level in other posts that you are clearly under contract, and would have to buy out to switch to the Tour now, and get a new number. Im not sure why I'm still hearing about this scenario. Nothing anyone posts will change any of those factors. Only time will do that.

My best suggestion would be to be patient and wait the few months til your number is portable. At that time, perhaps different promos might be offered regarding getting a verizon phone and plan. Plus, there may be better prices on the tour in the future rather than the $200 and number change, which you clearly do not want.

[TheMiz]

Originally Posted by Kaylajoy21

Then don't let it go. You just have to wait longer to port over to a verizon phone and plan. You've said in other posts you are under contract anyway.

Do you not understand how this merger works? Just because the sale is complete doesn't mean all the details are complete. This would be why your number may not be portable over to verizon at the present time. So yes, Verizon may "technically" own the number you have, but things are still separate on some level.

You've indicated on some level in other posts that you are clearly under contract, and would have to buy out to switch to the Tour now, and get a new number. Im not sure why I'm still hearing about this scenario. Nothing anyone posts will change any of those factors. Only time will do that.

My best suggestion would be to be patient and wait the few months til your number is portable. At that time, perhaps different promos might be offered regarding getting a verizon phone and plan. Plus, there may be better prices on the tour in the future rather than the $200 and number change, which you clearly do not want.

Question , can I buy an unlocked Tour and use it on the Alltel network?
Maybe I should ask if I pay full price for a Tour are they unlocked ?

[Kaylajoy21]

Originally Posted by TheMiz

Question , can I buy an unlocked Tour and use it on the Alltel network?
Maybe I should ask if I pay full price for a Tour are they unlocked ?

no and no. I can't speak for everywhere else, but in my particular area, we cannot activate a verizon phone on alltel and vice versa. It literally gives an error message; its not just us being a pain. I tried for someone and it wouldn't push through.

I know someone who has a Storm on Alltel and he can use it but he has said his data always acts strange. Could be he didn't go far enough in with regard to programming, idk.

[forkup]

When I went to the verizon website and checked available upgrades from my alltel account it showed that the Tour was available on the line I have BIS on altho I'd have to pay full retail. This is one reason why us alltel folks are having such a hard time, for every question we ask we get a different answer according to who we ask.

forkup

[Kaylajoy21]

Originally Posted by forkup

When I went to the verizon website and checked available upgrades from my alltel account it showed that the Tour was available on the line I have BIS on altho I'd have to pay full retail. This is one reason why us alltel folks are having such a hard time, for every question we ask we get a different answer according to who we ask.

forkup

I know its really confusing. Again, to my knowledge, it cant be done. My area already is dual pos, so I do both verizon and alltel. From everything I have been told, verizon ph with verizon plan, alltel ph with alltel plan. I just sent TSguy52 a pm regarding some of his posts.

I understand that for every situation, someone will think of some backwards way in and around to try and work something out. I guess anyone is welcome to that option and can do the extra leg work.

My guess (and please take this lightly as I have no official idea) is that in your area, you're able to be on vzw depending on where your contract is. So my guess is that the site would show you the option to have the Tour, and then you'd be be prompted to pick a vzw plan. Again...please don't take that too heavily as different areas of the country are at different stages.