Long story short, I'm thinking about buying a cell phone from an individual, not the service provider, to replace my existing phone. If I show up with the both phones (new and existing), will the servie provider do all the hocus-pocus to switch the number over and activiate it? I have Verizon and don't feel like showing with both phones only to have them tell me that I need to buy from them. I realize that the phone that I buy will have to be the same service as current (ie a verizon version). Thanks in advance.

 

No problem buddy. You do not have to buy the phone from them, as long as it is a Verizon phone you are buying it wont be an issue. They will activate it for you.

 

If your current phone uses a sim, you don't have to activate the new phone as long as your sim card fits. Switch and your done.

 

Verizon doesn't have a SIM card. To save you the trip to the store, you can try calling customer service.

 

The thing about that is that you shouldn't be using either of the two phones involved. Make sure you're on a landline or using someone else's phone.

 

It's easier to just trek down to verizon, you'll have to anyway to transfer numbers. They'll probably charge you $10-15 for it. Complete rip off for 2 minutes of work, but it beats the hell out of manually inputting all the numbers.

 

They want to keep your business so they'll take your money no matter what phone you use. However they may charge you a fee to do it.

 

Cool, thanks for all the info. I'd rather give them $15 than extending my contract for another couple years. Not that I may not stay with them after I expire, just like that flexibility. Plus that iphone looks awful good.