Question about switching carriers

[aviators99]

I have t-mobile, but my wife and kids have Verizon. My wife now wants a G1. She would also like to keep her phone number, and she is in a contract with Verizon. Can someone who is expert in such things let me know if you think it would be possible for her to:

- Leave the kids (2 lines) on Verizon for the term of the family plan contract
- Port her number to T-mobile and get a G1?

I don't think this will help, but I have a 2nd T-mobile line I am not using and was planning to cancel. But like I said, she doesn't want to change her phone number.

[solidstar]

Im not an expert but am pretty sure she can keep her number only IF she cancels her line with Verizon. After cancellation, the verizon number will be available to her to port for a period of time i think 30days... you may want to verify that. hope this helps!

[aviators99]

Im not an expert but am pretty sure she can keep her number only IF she cancels her line with Verizon. After cancellation, the verizon number will be available to her to port for a period of time i think 30days... you may want to verify that. hope this helps!

So, the question is: can she cancel her line with Verizon (leaving the other two lines on the account) without violating the contract, and then port the number over?

[tread]

Im not an expert but am pretty sure she can keep her number only IF she cancels her line with Verizon. After cancellation, the verizon number will be available to her to port for a period of time i think 30days... you may want to verify that. hope this helps!

in order to move a phone number over from a different carrier, whether it be landline or wireless, the account MUST be active... so no, DO NOT cancel the service then port the number, verizon will say screw you, we won't do it...

it IS possible for you to port you number after cancellation, especially with verizon, but it is NOT recommended, you'll get the runaround

[tread]

So, the question is: can she cancel her line with Verizon (leaving the other two lines on the account) without violating the contract, and then port the number over?

each phone line has its own seperate company pretty much with any major US wireless carrier... so if the contract is ended on your wife's line, it may not have ended on your kids' lines... check with your verizon dealer or customer service...

in order to have the cancellation fee waived, you have to have a valid reason to do so to get it waived... you can't say "i want the g1, so i'm going to go to t-mobile ... don't charge me a cancellation fee that i agreed to pay..."

valid reasons are for example:

1.) low minute useage (pretty much zero for several months in a row)

2.) moving to a different address that verizon does not cover (good luck with that)

3.) on military leave (typically they will not cancel, but will suspend your service for your leave and resume your contract from when you reinstate it when relieved of duty)

4.) and another obvious one, if the end user of the line is deceased, cancellation fee will be waived...

i'm sure there are more, but these are gonna be the situational ones that most people may come across... other than that, you're stuck with paying the cancellation fee... only other way at this point that i know of is if you live in california, and jump on the lawsuit bandwagon that verizon has going up against them... i don't really know much about it, but apparently thousands of people have signed a petition saying that verizon's cancellation fee is illegal in the state of california (EULA, end user license agreement, mandatory arbitration agreement etc) and that customers should be able to cancel without paying a cancellation fee...

yes only in commiefornia... retarded i know

[aviators99]

But can I avoid cancelling the contract by keeping the kids' lines active and just porting the wife's line? I'm willing to keep the kids on the contract.

[aviators99]

each phone line has its own seperate company pretty much with any major US wireless carrier... so if the contract is ended on your wife's line, it may not have ended on your kids' lines... check with your verizon dealer or customer service...


Maybe you meant "own separate *contract*", in which case I guess it answers my question.

[darthbuddha]

If you want to port the number into T-mobile it can easily be done, but you will have to keep her line active with Verizon till the port is done. Once the number ports over to T-Mobile it will automatically cancel the line from verizon so wanna check with them about ETF's. Usally this port process takes about 24 hours to complete and goes pretty smooth you should have any worries other than if she is inder contract.

[aviators99]

If you want to port the number into T-mobile it can easily be done, but you will have to keep her line active with Verizon till the port is done. Once the number ports over to T-Mobile it will automatically cancel the line from verizon so wanna check with them about ETF's. Usally this port process takes about 24 hours to complete and goes pretty smooth you should have any worries other than if she is inder contract.

Good info. So, how do I check on the ETFs? Do I call Verizon and say, "Hey, what if I have T-Mobile port one of my lines, is that ok?" Seems like that could cause a problem, and I don't know if I would trust their answer.

[ren857]

Good info. So, how do I check on the ETFs? Do I call Verizon and say, "Hey, what if I have T-Mobile port one of my lines, is that ok?" Seems like that could cause a problem, and I don't know if I would trust their answer.

Just call them and ask "how much is the etf?". Now they may ask you why do you want to know - tell them that you're curious about it. The ETF is usually per line, so even if you leave your kid's lines, you would still have to pay the etf for you wife's line.

[DKYang]

Does Verizon do prorated ETFs? Anyways, it would be $175 standard, then $5 off every month if it is prorated. Just call Verizon and ask "how much would the ETF be if I canceled my wife's line?" They'll give you an exact amount. And yes, you can still keep your children's lines on Verizon if you didn't get a clear answer about that.

FYI, each line has it's own contract.

I'm doing the same with my Helio contract. Gonna cancel it and just pay the ETF. Good riddance.

[tread]

Good info. So, how do I check on the ETFs? Do I call Verizon and say, "Hey, what if I have T-Mobile port one of my lines, is that ok?" Seems like that could cause a problem, and I don't know if I would trust their answer.

if you are under contract and you port your number effectively cancelling your service like buddah said, then they will charge you the ETF, which i think with verizon is 175 dollars per line of service... that is one of the main reasons they have a contract, so you can't just up and leave after they probably gave you a discount on a handset by signing up for a contract...

and yes i meant contract, not company in my other post...

[tread]

Does Verizon do prorated ETFs? Anyways, it would be $175 standard, then $5 off every month if it is prorated. Just call Verizon and ask "how much would the ETF be if I canceled my wife's line?" They'll give you an exact amount. And yes, you can still keep your children's lines on Verizon if you didn't get a clear answer about that.

FYI, each line has it's own contract.

I'm doing the same with my Helio contract. Gonna cancel it and just pay the ETF. Good riddance.

yes they do have prorated cancellation fees, not sure how they prorate though