expired Posted by aytekins • Aug 14, 2022
Aug 14, 2022 3:20 AM
Item 1 of 1
expired Posted by aytekins • Aug 14, 2022
Aug 14, 2022 3:20 AM
Verizon: BYOD, Choose Select 5G Unlimited Plan or Add a Line, Get Up To
(Port-In Not Required)$500 Verizon eGift Card
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Ported in Nov 26 2021 with 6 line; mix of the Get More and Play More lines at $40 per line. I therefore expected to have a yearly bill of $2880 + taxes and fees for 12 months) against gift cards worth $3000; so expected to cover a full year of unlimited phone plan. Actuals were slightly different.
1) Upfront, there is a $35 activation fee per line.
2) You get the gift card only about 7-8 weeks after the sign up; deal requires you to stay for 45 days to qualify for the e-gift card (and to stay for total 12 months in order not to lose it to clawback).
3) As such, you have to pay upfront for the first month (cash or bank debit to get the $10 per line discount). Note that most credit cards do not qualify for the auto-pay discount; only debit cards / bank payments or Verizon's own co-branded credit card qualify. You can use the e-gift card that you get from this deal to pay for the bill or for any merchandise you buy from Verizon (phones / accessories etc.)
4) Initial bills (from start to May 22 : 6 months) were at $267.xx per month (40 x 6 lines + approx $4.5 in taxes and fees per line). From May onwards, Verizon increased the taxes and fees and total bill coming in at $275.xx (taxes and fees at approx $6 per line).
5) First bill total was $ 442 ($175 for activation + $267 for service) : paid from BANK.
6) Next 11 months expected to be $2985 ($267 x 5 months + $275 x 6 months) : paying from e-gift cards of $3000 received, so essentially free service.
7) If you plan to move out after all gift cards are exhausted; need to plan for a partial month to avoid any clawback of the $500; so allow for upto 1 month paying cash ($275 for a month in my case).
Net for 13 months service : $3702 : less $3000 e-gift cards : $700 for 6 lines of unlimited service; or approx $9.7 per month per line, which is still a good cost relative to other unlimited plans.
Additional benefits :
1) 1 subscription for DisneyPlus + Hulu + ESPN included : that's worth about $150 (when I signed up) to $240 (current pricing); since I did have a subscription earlier, that is a saving.
2) 6 x $5 gift card through Verizon Up and a phone case for 1 cent; I haven't been rigorously monitoring the Verizon Up rewards, may have missed some.
3) After the initial 45 day period, you can upgrade your phone / take advantage of any discount offers from Verizon. Note that most of the offers directly from Verizon are with 36 month bill credits; however, Best Buy occasionally has discounted full payment offers. I took advantage of the recent Flip 3 offer at $299 (and traded it in for a $900 discount on a Flip4 bundle at Samsung). Note that each "upgrade" with a Verizon branded phone attracts a $35 activation fee; swapping your own unlocked phone is free with eSIM, I was told by the Verizon store that they got a circular that physical sim may be charged going forward, not yet verified.
4) If you do have a cracked phone and can get one of the discounted / trade in offers with a cracked phone - that MAY be worthwhile to take the bill credits for upto 11 months, especially if your cracked phone will get you nothing in normal trade in offers elsewhere. You'd have to take the bill credit route and pay off the balance in full when you choose to cancel service; but getting around $220 as the effective trade in value for a cracked phone is still decent.
For those looking at this as a "free 1 year service on Verizon" - hope this helps you. Compared to any alternative options for unlimited, it's still a very low cost (< $10 per line for a 13 month period); even if you are looking at alternatives like the Mint 4 GB / month, it's still competitive (Mint 4 GB / month at $180 for a year x 6 = $1080 vs $700 here along with Disney and discounted phones).
Also - note the advice from mser4fun : You need to comply with the "keep the device active for 45 days" and avoid the clawback / chargeback of the $500.
I'd add to that too that anytime I go into a Verizon store I feel like I'm walking into a room full of scammy used car dealers. I never felt that way with the local AT&T store. No offense to used car dealers but there's a certain group of you that you know who you are and what you do.
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The egift card can only be used on verizon stuff. I use it to pay my bills.
I am sorry I went back to verizon because their service is horrible now in upstate ny. The sad part is you have to stay for a full year or you have to pay them back the full amount.
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Get $500 Gift Card
Activate your own 4G / 5G eligible smartphone
Select a premium consumer Unlimited plan (5G Get More for example)
How to Redeem:
Instructions will appear on your receipt - submit within 30 days of activation
You are eligible for a $500 Verizon Gift Card.
5G Ultra Wideband available in select areas. 5G Nationwide available in 2700+ cities. Receive a $500 Verizon eGift Card when you add a new smartphone line with your own 4G or 5G smartphone on any premium unlimited postpaid plan (5G Get More for example) between 7.12.22 and 9.8.22. Redeem via your Notifications on the My Verizon app or vzw.com/myverizon. Customer must submit for redemption within 30 days of activation and device must remain activated for 45 consecutive days. May not be combined with other promotional offers. We reserve the right to charge the amount of the Verizon Gift Card to your Verizon Wireless account if, within 12 months, service is canceled, price plan changes from an eligible unlimited plan, or the line is connected to a device payment plan regardless of whether the new device is activated. Your $500 Verizon Gift Card will be sent via email within 8 weeks after receipt of claim to the submitted email address. This gift card can be used to buy merchandise & services at stores/kiosks operated by Verizon or at verizon.com. Gift cards cannot be used at Verizon Authorized Retailer locations. Gift cards can be used to pay a Verizon Wireless or Fios bill by visiting Verizon.com or using the My Verizon app (wireless bills only) or My Fios app. Do not mail printed copy of digital gift card with your bill. For card balance call 1.800.876.4141 or dial #GIFT (#4438) from your wireless device. Gift cards are non-refundable and cannot be returned for a cash refund, except in those states as required by law. Use of gift card constitutes acceptance of all terms & conditions. Treat this card like cash. Verizon is not responsible for gift cards that have been lost, stolen, or damaged. Gift cards do not expire and are not subject to dormancy or other fees. Gift cards may not be used for resale, advertising, marketing, sweepstakes or other promotional purposes without consent. Offer not available to Visible customers. Valid at participating locations only."
https://slickdeals.net/e/14751227-verizon-wireless-port-in-a-phone-and-bring-your-own-device-byod-on...
The cheapest Verizon plan is about 3X what I am paying now, and the rebate will only compensate for the first 7 months. What I have is adequate. Oh well.
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1- DO NOT replace your BYOD device within the 45 days of activation. If you break your phone and replace it, you lose the $500 rebate.
2- Likely you have to remain activated for 13 billing cycles as opposed to 12 since it's risky to port out to a different carrier exactly at 12 months. If you port out a day earlier, they'll charge the $500 to your Verizon account.
3- Visible is not an eligible carrier you can port from.
You can take advantage of the typical bill credit subsidies Verizon offers during the period following the 45 days mentioned above.