Update: It does appear this was a glitch, as it’s no longer available. It’s not yet known whether those who upgraded while it was available will get to keep their unlimited data.
Contrary to Verizon’s stated claims that it is ridding itself of unlimited data plans on iPhone upgrades, a few readers have been able to upgrade to the iPhone 5S or 5C and keep their unlimited data (which is all the more valuable in the age of LTE).
[tweet https://twitter.com/icon1969/status/384335500124762112]
Folks at HowardForums and Engadget are hearing the same thing.
Is this a glitch or is Verizon doing this unadvertised to sidestep some government regulation (like it is selling its iPhones unlocked again this year). We’re not going to reach out to Verizon on this one because if it is a glitch, folks with the ability to upgrade to unlimited plans should find out first.
Thanks Glaze!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Of course this happens after I already paid for my new 5s.
I was told by Verizon that I could keep my unlimited data plan ONLY if I purchased a new UNSUBSIDIZED phone outright. Two women I know (who also had unlimited data plans) did just that. Both were told that they would continue to receive unlimited data after they bought their new UNSUBSIDIZED phones, paying full price. Both then both found themselves being billed by Verizon as if they had a new LIMITED data plan. One of these two women called Verizon, and got them to correct her bill, but she did this quite some time ago (way before the release of the 5s & 5c). The other woman bought her new unsubsidized phone very recently, and is now going through data hell with Verizon, her data running out only a week or two into the month.
I closed a business plan awhile back and switched my phone over to our personal one a kept my unlimited plan. My daughter gave me an iPhone 4s after that and when I switched phones, I again kept my unlimited plan.
This is BS, I tried to upgrade and it said right through the web portal they would kill my unlimited data plan.
Wow — OK, verizons web portal just changed. They’re not making you drop the unlimited data plan any longer if you want to upgrade. Holy crap….I *just* checked it just now. Boy am I glad I didn’t buy the phone at full price lol.
I just tried going through the web portal and it said I couldn’t keep my unlimited…
Last year when I upgraded to the Galaxy Note 2 they let me upgrade and keep my unlimited. But now that I do not have an upgrade, I am having to pay full price for the new 5s.
I just pulled the trigger…upgraded to a 5S, and yes, it’s letting me keep my unlimited data. A lot of people are saying that they may screw you over once you actually get the phone, but I screen captured the entire process, so there’s no way theyre’ doing that to me.
Just ordered my wife’s new iPhone 5c and was able to keep the unlimited plan. Ditto on the screenshots though. If they try to hose us when we activate the phone…it is on.
Oh yeah…I took an entire screen video capture of me doing the entire upgrade process PLUS a chat with the verizon rep specifically saying “If it allows you to keep it then you are allowed to keep it.”
Would you mind posting some of those pictures and giving us the links, just in case Verizon tries to screw us later on? The more backup we have, the better.
Yep, no problem:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/poyz3eeq5fjh32b/original.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mwt6hpdny1gdhkh/worked.png
Just orders a 5c and was able to keep my unlimited as well. Screenshot the final order screen and made sure to get the receipt emailed with all the details.
Just took the plunge with a 5S silver 64 gig… Got screen shots taken and will be sending it to myself in the mail (x2)…
Just tried it with my girlfriends plan and ordering a new 5S and it wouldn’t let me??
They actually just moved the error. The initial screen shows that you get to keep unlimited but later in the process it gets an error saying unlimited is no longer available and defaults you to 2GB/$30 plan (friend just tried this and sent me a screenshot).
If this is a glitch, they will probably cancel all the orders and refund the purchase price before the phones are shipped. Hopefully they will honor the deal, but chances are they wont. I hope they do, because they make enough damn money. Give us a break already VZW!
I sure hope not. Apple had a pricing error in iTunes a few weeks back. I was able to purchase the entire Harry Potter movie collection for $10 and Apple just let it be for those that got the rate… cause it was THEIR fault.
If Verizon tries to chalk this up to a “typo” I’m canceling service.
they say its a glitch on the website, verizon sucks.
I purchased a 5S as an upgrade for my wife on Verizon last weekend. I was not able to keep her unlimited data plan, but I was able to get 6 GB for $30 instead of the 2GB plan I expected. That amounts to unlimited data for my purposes. The plan is called “Verizon Max 6GB”. I was told all I had to do was ask for it.
Best Buy actually took my money and the whole time I was being told I was getting to renew my unlimited plan for further two years. I have screenshots of the entire process, included my receipt. I picked the 5S up at the Best Buy store on launch day (again, I had already PAID and been issued a receipt that said I was keeping my unlimited data plan) and when I got back home they’d switched me over to a shared data plan.
When I contacted customer service they told me it was a “typo order” and that my only option was to return the phone.
Surely I have some other recourse?
After bugging them on the phone about it, they finally told me I could bring in my supporting documents (receipts, etc.) to a Verizon store for examination. When I did, the rep there seemed confused as to why they would tell me to go to a store … but he did make notes on my account confirming that he’d seen the documentation.
I guess we’ll see. I’m going to contact them again on Monday.
Even the acknowledgment e-mail I got after I picked up the phone said I was keeping my unlimited plan. This is such baloney.
Looks like it’s back up. Many are reporting that it started working again this morning, ~8am.
I ordered a 5S this morning and was able to keep my unlimited data plan. It actually has a line item in the receipt titled “RTR for Unlimited Data Plans.” I’m assuming that’s the rate and that it’s not a website glitch.
i like to see if verizon is going to let people keep the unlimited plan when the first bill comes. can you guys keep me updated.
Found on some other news sites, that Verizon is honoring these upgrades…
“Over the past weekend, there was a software issue involving some orders for customers seeking to upgrade their devices. A number of customers who were upgrading devices were able to maintain an unlimited monthly data feature while paying a subsidized price.
Verizon Wireless will honor those orders that were approved this past weekend, allowing those customers to retain their unlimited plans for the duration of their contract and receive their new device.
Verizon Wireless corrected this software issue today (9/30). The company no longer offers unlimited data plans and customers who want to retain existing unlimited data plans, must pay full retail price for a replacement phone.”
Still looking for something on there website, but it is looking good…
what websitewas that? i notice if you upgrade with the two year contract the phone is $199 and data is 2gb for $30 and if you choose the full price of the phone for $30 you get 6gb.
The whole upgrade thing was this weekend only … I read somewhere that they fixed it by 3pm PST…
All these have the same supposed press release… I think Droid Life was the first one to get the statement from Verizon…
http://www.droid-life.com/2013/09/30/verizon-will-honor/
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/09/verizon-brought-back-unlimited-data-plans-but-it-was-an-accident/
http://www.phonedog.com/2013/09/30/verizon-issues-statement-on-unlimited-data-upgrade-glitch-says-phone-and-plan-can-be-kept/
http://www.wirelessandmobilenews.com/2013/09/verizon-weekender-unlimited-subsidized-smartphone-sales.html
http://stopthecap.com/2013/09/30/verizon-wireless-agrees-to-honor-website-glitch-that-offered-subsidized-upgrades-unlimited-data/