Are you thinking about switching cell phone carriers? If so, Verizon wants your business – and they‘re willing to pay you hundreds of dollars to get it. Verizon is currently offering up to $650 in credits for new customers who switch and bring their own phone. They‘ll even pay off your current phone and contract when you make the move.
As a savvy shopper and consumer expert, I dug deep into the details of Verizon‘s latest promotion to see how it stacks up. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down exactly how much you can get when you switch, the fine print requirements, and how it compares to other carriers. Let‘s get into it!
Verizon Switcher Promotion: Up to $650 Per Line
Here are the key details of Verizon‘s current switch and bring your own phone promotion:
- Get up to a $350 Verizon e-gift card to help cover the cost of switching (for early termination fees from your current carrier)
- Get up to $300 off a new 5G Verizon phone when you trade-in your old device
- Verizon will send you a prepaid Mastercard worth up to $650 to pay off your old device and contract
- Must port-in your number and activate a new line on Verizon‘s 5G unlimited plan
Basically, Verizon is offering you two chunks of change to make the switch. First, they will give you a Verizon e-gift card worth up to $350 to help offset the cost of early termination fees from your current carrier. Second, they will give you up to $300 off a new 5G phone when you trade-in your old device. Finally, after you make the switch and submit your final bill, Verizon will send you a prepaid Mastercard worth up to an additional $650 to cover the remaining cost of your old phone and contract.
When you add it all up, you‘re looking at up to $1,350 in credits and discounts for bringing your own phone and switching to Verizon. That‘s one of the most generous switcher promotions I‘ve seen from any carrier. But of course, there is some fine print to be aware of.
What‘s the Fine Print?
To qualify for the full $650+ in credits, there are some key requirements and limitations to keep in mind:
- You must port-in your existing number to Verizon from an eligible carrier
- You must activate a new smartphone line on a Verizon 5G unlimited plan
- You must trade-in your old device within 30 days (device must have a minimum trade-in value of $35)
- You must submit your final bill from your old carrier showing early termination fees and device payment plan balance (if applicable)
- The $350 Verizon e-gift card for early termination fees is sent after your new line is active for more than 45 days
- The $300 trade-in credit is applied as a promo credit over 36 months and requires you to keep your new line active
- The prepaid Mastercard for up to $650 is sent within 8 weeks of receipt of your final bill from old carrier
So while the headline number of $650+ is eye-catching, you‘ll need to follow some specific steps to get all the credits. And keep in mind that the $300 trade-in credit is doled out monthly over 36 months – you don‘t get it all at once.
One other thing to note: if you‘re on an older plan with your current carrier, you might actually save money in the long run by switching to one of Verizon‘s newer unlimited plans. I‘d recommend comparing the total 2-year cost of your current carrier and device payment vs. what you‘d pay with Verizon. In some cases, even without the promo credits, Verizon can be cheaper over two years for high data users.
Verizon Switcher Promo vs. the Competition
Verizon isn‘t the only major carrier offering big bucks to switch. The other big players like AT&T and T-Mobile have similar deals. Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Carrier | Max Switcher Credit | Trade-In Credit | Early Termination Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon | $650 | $300 | $350 |
| AT&T | $800 | $800 | N/A |
| T-Mobile | $650 | $300 | $350 |
All of the major carriers offer a similar structure: trade-in credit for your old phone plus a credit or gift card to cover your early termination fees and phone payoff amount. The main differences are in the max trade-in amounts (AT&T offers the most) and whether you get the switching credit as a lump sum (AT&T) or a monthly bill credit (Verizon and T-Mobile).
Ultimately, I think Verizon‘s promotion is very competitive – especially if you‘re looking to upgrade to a 5G device. The main advantage of Verizon is their superior 5G network coverage compared to the other carriers. If 5G matters to you, Verizon is the way to go.
Pros and Cons of Switching to Verizon
As a consumer expert, I always like to break down the key benefits and drawbacks of any major purchase or switching decision. Here‘s my take on the pros and cons of switching to Verizon:
Pros:
- Get up to $1,350 in total credits and discounts for switching
- Verizon has the best 5G network coverage and speed
- Keep your phone number and device with Verizon‘s bring-your-own-device option
- Verizon‘s unlimited plans offer premium data, hotspot, and streaming perks
- Verizon consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction and network quality
Cons:
- Verizon‘s plans tend to be more expensive than competitors (especially the older tiered data plans)
- Must trade-in your old phone to get the trade-in credit (fine print limits your options)
- Locked into 36-month Verizon contract to get full promo credits
- 5G coverage is still relatively limited geographically
- Switching process and submitting final bill can be complicated and time-consuming
In my opinion, if you are looking for the best cell phone plan and don‘t mind paying a small premium, Verizon is an excellent choice – especially with the current $650+ switcher promotion. However, if saving money is your top priority, you may want to consider cheaper prepaid options like Mint Mobile or Visible (which actually runs on Verizon‘s network).
When to Watch for Verizon Deals
Verizon offers some type of switcher or new customer promotion year-round. However, the best deals tend to be during these key times:
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday: This is consistently when Verizon offers their most aggressive deals and discounts on both new lines and phones.
- iPhone launch: Whenever Apple launches a new iPhone, Verizon tends to up the ante on switcher promos to attract new customers looking to upgrade.
- End of financial quarter: To boost subscriber numbers, Verizon often increases its deals and incentives near the end of a financial quarter.
If saving money is your biggest priority, I‘d recommend waiting until one of these key deal times to switch. You can often stack multiple promotions together to save even more.
5 Tips for a Smooth Switch to Verizon
Having helped many consumers switch carriers over the years, here are my top tips for ensuring a seamless transition to Verizon:
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Check your current contract: Before you initiate the switch, make sure you know exactly how much time is left on your current contract and what fees you‘ll face for leaving early. This will help you budget for the switch.
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Evaluate your trade-in options: Verizon will give you up to $300 for trading in your old phone, but that might be less than you could get by selling it directly on a site like Swappa. Do some research to see what your phone is worth before trading it in.
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Back up your data: To avoid losing important info during the switch, make sure to back up your contacts, photos, and other key data before initiating the transfer.
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Gather key info: When you activate your new Verizon line, you‘ll need to provide some key pieces of information like your current account number and PIN. Having this info handy will make the process much smoother.
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Submit your final bill ASAP: To get your switching credits as quickly as possible, make sure to submit your final bill from your old carrier to Verizon as soon as you receive it. You don‘t want to miss out on the credits due to a technicality.
FAQs on Verizon‘s Switcher Promotion
Still have questions? Here are answers to some of the most common questions I get about Verizon‘s current switch and save promotion:
How long does it take to get the Verizon switcher credits?
According to Verizon, you should receive your $350 e-gift card within 8 weeks after your new line has been active for 45 days. For the trade-in credit, you‘ll see it applied to your monthly bill over 36 months. And for the final prepaid card worth up to $650, Verizon says you should receive it within 8 weeks of submitting your final bill from your old carrier.
Can I combine the switcher promo with other Verizon deals?
Yes, you can stack the switcher promotion with other Verizon deals and discounts on new lines, phones, and accessories. However, keep in mind that some discounts may be mutually exclusive, so read the fine print carefully.
What if I have multiple lines I want to switch?
Verizon‘s $650 switcher promotion is a per-line offer. So if you have multiple lines you want to bring over, you can get the credits for each eligible line – up to $1,300 total if switching two lines.
Do I have to trade-in my phone or can I keep it?
To qualify for the $300 trade-in credit from Verizon, you must trade-in an eligible device in good working condition within 30 days of activation. If you‘d rather keep your old phone, you can – but you won‘t get the trade-in portion of the credits.
What happens if I cancel my Verizon service early?
If you cancel your Verizon line or service before receiving all of the credits, you‘ll forfeit any remaining credits. For example, if you cancel after 24 months, you‘ll lose out on the final 12 months of trade-in credits. So make sure you‘re ready to stick with Verizon for the long haul before switching.
The Bottom Line
Verizon‘s $650+ switcher promotion is one of the most generous I‘ve seen from any carrier. If you‘re looking for the best 5G network and some serious cash to offset the cost of switching, it‘s definitely worth considering. Just make sure to read the fine print and follow the requirements closely to get your credits.
I hope this in-depth guide has been helpful in breaking down the details of Verizon‘s switch and save promotion. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments!
