23 November 2009 ~ 192 Comments

How To Activate A Prepaid Phone On A Post Paid Verizon Plan

Gadgets phone deals Verizon

There’s nothing worse than watching your Verizon phone slide off into the water – until you realize that water damage isn’t covered by your Verizon insurance and you’re going to be paying a full un-subsidized price for a replacement. With GSM carriers like AT&T or T-Mobile replacing a phone is as easy as swapping out the SIM card contained in the old phone. Unfortunately Verizon doesn’t use any such SIM so you have to follow this trick to replace your damaged phone without going to Verizon and buying an absurdly priced replacement. This works by obtaining a prepaid phone (typically on sale weekly at many stores such as Walmart or Target).

The first step in swapping a phone onto your Verizon account is to find a cheap phone. Either eBay or one of the deal sites will work for uncovering phones for sale without contract.

Purchasing a prepaid phone (sold as InPulse) that works with Verizon. These are readily available at nearly any discount store. The phones go on sale frequently – search Fatwallet and Slickdeals for the latest available deals.

After you’ve obtained your replacement phone – log into your Verizon account.

Next find the link on the right said that reads “Activate my phone”. Use the activate phone screen to enter in the new ESN/MEID data (instructions will be shown on how to find this – typically the numbers are listed on the box).

When you turn the new phone on, it will have a prompt on the screen to program your phone by pressing send.

DO NOT PRESS SEND! PRESS END.

Then,  dial *228 and:

  • if you have activated it online choose No.1
  • If you are doing it on the phone choose No.3

According to several people who’ve done this the official Verizon policy is you must own the prepaid phone six months before it can be swapped onto a regular Verizon account. However many people have spoken up to say they’ve gone into Walmart or Target, purchased a prepaid phone, gone out to their car and been able to swap it immediately onto their Verizon account.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Source: Howardforums

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

About

Wayne Schulz is a CT CPA and consultant. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, New York City, blogging, technology and searching for the perfect smartphone. He lives in Glastonbury CT with his two children. Contact Wayne by email at wayne@wayneschulz.com. (Important: We are not the manufacturer or seller of any items we've blogged so unfortunately we are unable to provide support or answer questions about them).

Tags: , , , , , ,
← Older Comments
  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”rn

  • Nursekja

    When trying to do this with LGVX5600 purchased from Target , I received a message that said “Prepaid phones must be active for 6 months on a prepaid plan before they can be used on contract.”

  • Ranzowaters

     The same situation here. Walmart screen said “Activating” when I bought it. and got the same message as Nursekja. Be careful before you try this. 

  • Bar Foo

    Any luck with VX6500 (Accolade) recently? Can one bypass the 6 month clause for prepaid phones and activate for a contract plan?

  • Timquick1

    Accolade is VX5600. I have the same Q. Any answers?

    • Timquick1

      The above worked for me: the online procedure followed by *228 and press 1 to activate.

← Older Comments