Question on upgrading: Family Line

A

Avory

New member
Okay, so I'm under my dad as part of a Family Package. I already know that since I'm not the primary line, I cannot upgrade, correct?

Well, being the spoiled idiot that I am, I've had my LG Chocolate for 2 years and a few months back the bottom and top sliding parts separated and were merely held together by the data strip that goes to the screen. Well, we decided to go to this location called Wireless Toyz. There, my dad talked to a guy about fixing it as well as upgrading. My dad gave him all the information for his Verizon account and for some reason the guy said I could upgrade in July, even though we started our Verizon lines in November 2006. I found this to be weird because:

1. That's not 2 years.
2. I'm not the main line, so why did he say "he can upgrade" in July.

Anyway, eventually my older brother managed to fix it by tightening the screws holding the sliding plates together, apparently they had come loose. Well, now it's July and I'm not only just tired and bored of the Chocolate (here's me talking like a spoiled prick), but some of its functions are not working, and it tends to lose signal a lot, not to mention freeze every now and then.

The whole point of my story was to find out this: Can I upgrade or not? I'm interested in the LG Dare (I don't need opinions on it, thank you!) and I would like to get it, but since I can't upgrade, what's the normal price of it? I heard it was around $400 without the 2 year activation. I'm really confused and I wouldn't mind having a phone to show off to my friends for once, with all of them and their stupid iPhones and Blackberrys (no offense, I just like to be unique and I hate all of these people that jump on the bandwagon and get iPhones and Blackberrys, it's really what all of my former classmates have [we graduated by the way, I know I don't sound 18 hehe]).

Thanks in advance, extremely sorry, but it's just the way I am, I have an obsession with technology and watching all the videos of the LG Dare on Youtube excite me even more, plus I'm tired of my Chocolate, not that it hasn't treated me well.
 
If you are unsure about your upgrade eligibility, go onto My Verizon and try to upgrade there; it will tell you what upgrades apply to you.

And the Dare is $409.99 at full retail.
 
I am just speaking from personal experience but on our Family Plan we have the primary # set to 'new every two' on phones but the rest of us get a 'discount' if we upgrade our phones. Last I did it this was approx $100 off on the phone cost, or matching what it would cost to get the phone when signing up for a new contract. The kicker is .... if you buy the new phone through Verizon they will extend the contract for that line. Oddly enough they will adjust the contracts for individual lines. My husband and I have one date, my father another and my son a third date. This was due to us adding new lines at different times. We were also able to close my daughters at a different date! My guess is that if you were to decide to go off Verizon you would cancel each line as it ends and the final line would switch to non-Family Plan for duration.

The website can give you all the info AND tell you if you are due for a new phone discount. Again from personal experience, I have found it better to call and talk to a rep. They have been very knowledgable and helpful. If you do want to do the upgrade, I'm sure they will require your dad to authorize.

BUT ... I'm a bit of a phone junkie and I don't have the excuse of being young :laugh: ... I have, often, gone to ebay and bought another phone, just cuz. You can easily call and switch to the new phone, either online or by calling. I've always bought used but they do sell new there. If you are buying used watch the Seller ratings (always) and, if you aren't familiar with ebay, I've found that the shipping costs are sometimes inflated. This is fine if you consider in what you are willing to pay BUT BEWARE, if you end up needing to send the phone back for an issue you will get socked for the return shipping and only get credits for the phone cost, not the shipping. I had only one bad experience with this and learned to check out the Seller return policy closely too. [Note: this does NOT require extending contract]

Good Luck!

P.S. Oh yeah, they usually provide for upgrades about 3 months prior to end of contract (still doesn't fit your situation though :confused:). I'm sure this is to get you to re-up that contract!
 
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