Sprint SERO plan holders, upgrade to premium phones for $10-20 a month

My understanding based on VP Russ McGuire's blog is that all discounts applied to the SERO plan will be eliminated if you change phones or upgrade to a new referral plan (SERO or EPRP) or premium plan.

SERO is already a heavily discounted plan and discounts applied to them before were brought about my misinformed customer service reps. Sprint is actually righting this by making several ways to get rid of these discounted SERO plans. So, you may want to hold on to that plan if you are one of the lucky ones who got the discount. Some people are even paying just $15 on SERO plans with their 25% corporate discount on top of other discounts, i'm so jealous!

I don't see why carriers would be losing money on these types of plans because in Europe and other countries, customers are charged the same if not less for the same features to as much as unlimited whatever and a nice free (Sony Xperia Ray) smartphone to go with it plus $200 CashBack and more freebies. Just check T-Mobile plans which is available in Europe and many other countries and compare those plans to T-Mobile USA plans.

http://phonedeals.knowyourmobile.com/networks/t-mobile/sony-eric...

Shipped?

Recent datapoint:
I have a Fair and Flexible SERO plan (but not labeled SERO).
Did a web chat to go to SERO-P, but the rep said I didn't have a SERO plan. Told him I did and to get a supervisor.
Supervisor switched it over easily. Tried to get activation waived, but told no.
Went to a Sprint store to get a Epic Touch 4g and the guy there knew about SERO and how to activate. He even waived activation.
Whole process took an hour (including web chat and going to the Sprint store).

letsee13 said:   kingston said:   Recent datapoint:
I have a Fair and Flexible SERO plan (but not labeled SERO).
Did a web chat to go to SERO-P, but the rep said I didn't have a SERO plan. Told him I did and to get a supervisor.
Supervisor switched it over easily. Tried to get activation waived, but told no.
Went to a Sprint store to get a Epic Touch 4g and the guy there knew about SERO and how to activate. He even waived activation.
Whole process took an hour (including web chat and going to the Sprint store).

I'd REALLY like to know more details of how you got this accomplished!

I'm almost certain I had a SERO plan at first, but I don't know where I would find evidence of that. Many years ago Sprint messed with my account (it was having issues and Sprint claimed it had to be reprovisioned and that somehow removed my unlimited texting) so my bill/plan now and for a long time has read as the "$40.00 FREE & CLEAR PLAN" with 1000 anytime minutes, unlimited night and weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited internet and (this is what Sprint screwed up that I think changed everything) 1000 text messages (originally it was unlimited) and a 23% Sprint employee discount plus the total equipment insurance at $8.

Until last month I was clinging to my Treo 650 (which was after my Treo 600), and when it died I moved to a Treo 700p without changing anything else. Now I'm seriously considering an Iphone but I obviously don't want to pay twice what I've been paying.

Is there a way to know if I had SERO?

Is there a secret number (I've seen so many posted in the pages I've been reading on here) I should call and anything special I need to say/ask?

I assume I would have to upgrade to SERO premium ($10 more) or is my plan already equivalent because it is $40? And then an additional $10 for the Iphone?

Since I'm long out of contract, can I get the discount on the phone too (and does that require a 2 year contract??)?

Do I do the plan upgrade/change by phone and then purchase and activate the phone at at the Sprint Store?

Will I lose the 23% employee discount?

Does the insurance protection help with any of this?

Is there any real hope I can do this (has anyone done this recently)?

THANKS (and sorry for all the questions but I'm sure this will help many people in a similar situation).

IF you could switch to the SERO-P, you're looking at $50 per month, but I don't think you'll have much luck doing that (worth a shot). I don't think there's any way to tell what plan you had previously, unless you could dig up a statement from a few years ago before they switched you over. You need to call employee care, although I'm not sure what that is as I just call *2 from my phone. You would definitely be eligible for the discount on the iphone, so $199 for the 4s in the 16gb. You will almost certainly lose your discount.

As far as I am concerned, the best $40 per month phone is the HTC Arrive, but I'm partial to Windows Phone.

BIG HASSLE UPGRADING MY WIFE'S SERO ACCOUNT...

My wife and I have had $30 SERO accounts for about 6 years. We both had Touch Pros and used a lot of data via tethering while away from home (especially when visiting our parents - neither have the Internet...) However, my wife wanted a newer phone & we decided to get a Marquee. After calling the dedicated SERO number, a very pleasant rep added the $10 data fee to my wife's SERO account and said to call again after we received the Marquee. He assured me that the Marquee would only cost $40 per month, just $10 extra for the data plan, since it was 3G and not 4G. (We live out in the country, so 4G doesn't matter...)

This is where things go downhill quickly...

Sprint was OOS on the Marquee, so I ordered it FREE AR online from BB. BB called back and said that they could not ship me the phone because they could not access my Sprint_ account since it was an SERO account. I called the Sprint_ SERO number and they said that our numbers could only be changed by Sprint_ since they were SERO lines. He said that since I already added the $10 data to my wife's account, her account was already a SERO-P and he could sell me a Marquee for $100 AR. I purchased the phone. He told me to call back when my phone arrived and he would swap-out phones. This rep was great & I asked if there was a way I could work directly with him, but there was not. You just get the next available rep in the phone pool...

After the phone arrived, I called the SAME SERO number. This time a nasty rep said that my accounts were NOT SERO, but Friends & Family. I told her I had the 2006 phone bill in-hand that said SERO and I gave her the order number from my initial SERO contract. I asked for her supervisor. Over & over & over again the nasty supervisor repeated the words, "Sir, your plan is obsolete and it will not work with ANY Smartphone." I told her over & over again that I already had a Smartphone & was just updating to a newer one. For years & years I have been using unlimited data, but am willing to pay $10 extra since the newer phones generally use more data. She insisted that both plans would have to be updated to new $70 plans. This would cost us $140 per month plus taxes vs. just $60 that we had been paying for nearly 6 years...

I hung-up and called back again, getting a different SERO rep. Same hassle. Asked for supervisors. Same hassle. I called again about 12 more times until I found someone who would actually work with me. IT TOOK 3 HOURS FROM START TO FINISH, but I was finally able to update my wife's account to a SERO-P and pay $50 per month. I kept my account at $30. This was $10 more/month than I had planned, and $100 more for the phone since I could not get it FAR from BB. That's $340 extra plus tax over the contract's 2 year life.

When my phone's contract is over, I am looking long & hard for a new carrier. I have been with Sprint for 6 years and I have never been treated so poorly by ANY company, let-alone one I have been with for 6 years...

Free and Clear plans are not SERO. Fair and Flexible are.

1. If you were on a SERO plan that morphed into something else call 1-888-603-7981. That department and ONLY that department (not customer service, not company Sprint stores) can check if you were ever on SERO and move you to SERO-P or otherwise get you back on track. See my tale of want, woe and redemption here.

2. Sprint's really cracking down on discounts that were applied to SERO and EPRP plans. Their official policy is that SERO and EPRP plans aren't eligible for additional discounts and any discounts that may have been given were given in error. If you make any changes to your account be prepared to lose your discount.

letsee13 said:   
Two questions: 1. If I call to ask them to check, and if for whatever reason they don't or won't put me back on SERO, then is there a chance they would mess with my current discounts?
2. Your earlier email mentions selling a SERO plan. If someone is on SERO and is willing to sell it, how would that be done?

Number 1 is a gamble. Since discounts are not supposed to be there, I would imagine they may do what the company tells them to do and take care of it.

You can transfer SERO lines (or any line / plan) using what is called a TOL or "transfer of liability". This just means they transfer the line and contract to someone else to take over it. Ive done them several times with Sprint and it is hit or miss finding someone who knows wtf to do. It is way easier in store, but since the person you are buying from may live across the country that may not be possible. basically you both are on a three way call with a call rep.

just a quick question, but was Sprint/sero always prepaid? I upgraded to seroPP in December and I just got my bill; it says I already paid for December-January at the old $30 sero price and thus they prorated the additional $20, plus I have an additional $50 for Jan-Feb.

isn't it supposed to be post-paid?

FooDew said:   What other phones would you all recommend that qualify for the $40/month plan? I mean, aside from those of you still using the TP2 for $30/month...
CURRENT (as of 1/09/12) requirements for SERO premium data charge:

All 4G smartphones and these 3G smartphones will also require $10 add-on: iPhone, Samsung Transform Ultra, Express from Sprint

The info comes straight from Russ McGuire, VP at Sprint - scroll to the bottom of the page and see his comment of 1/09/12.

For folks wanting to not pay the $10/mo. premium data fee for a new 3G smartphone that leaves:

Blackberry phones
HTC Arrive
Kyocera Milano
LG Marquee
LG Optimus S
Motorola Admiral (Several SERO customers report being able to activate the Admiral on the $40 plan, but Russ remarked on 1/26/12 that it isn't eligible.)
Motorola ES400S
Motorola XPRT
Samsung Replenish
Samsung Transform

Many users complain of a "cheap feel" to the LG phones. The best phone for you will depend on your priorities, but I prefer the XPRT's 9 hours of talk-time over the Marquee's 5.5 hours.

I've been trying to stay informed about the phone choices available for SERO customers, but it's been VERY frustrating since there's no one place to get accurate, current information. My faith in Russ's blog was misplaced, since his list of phones that require the premium data charge changes frequently and there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason as to which phones are included or why:

As of 11/07/11:

The premium data fee for SERO (the extra $10 above SERO-P) currently applies to all 4G handsets and the iPhone.

As of 1/09/12:

All 4G smartphones and these 3G smartphones will also require $10 add-on: iPhone, Samsung Transform Ultra, Express from Sprint

As of 1/26/12:

...all 4G smartphones and all smartphones launched after 10/4/11 such as the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, Samsung Transform Ultra, Express from Sprint, and Motorola Admiral.

Some general observations that MAY help:

1) What phone you can activate on your plan depends on what rep you get. Several SERO customers report being able to activate the Admiral without premium data even after it was added to the exclusion list.

2) Most Sprint reps know nothing about SERO and will try to treat you like a non-SERO customer when you activate your phone (ie. ALL smartphones require a $10 premium data charge). Don't argue, don't ask to speak to a supervisor you'll only raise your blood pressure and risk having a stroke - just think of it as playing the slots in Vegas, only substituting your redial key for pulling the lever.

3) The closest thing to a set of rules for not incurring the premium data charge I've been able to compile is:

No 4G phones
No iPhones
No phones launched on Sprint after 10/04/11

Of course, the Motorola XPRT was launched on 06/05/11 and meets the other requirements but when I try to order it online it gives me the, "Plans for this phone require our $10/mo. Premium Data add-on charge in addition to one of our plans with unlimited data.” message.

anyway I can get the $50 plan for iphone 4S now. Currently on a grandfather plan for $50 before tax for two htc touch pro 2 with data and text and 700 minutes.
They tell me I have to upgrade to $140 for 2 iphone after my 25% discount and tax

The iPhone is going to be $50/month when all is said and done because it is an "iconic" device.

TheMouse said:   Is there an activation fee if I buy a phone off eBay and try to activate it? I keep reading it's for new customers and upgrades... but mentions nothing about bringing your own phone.No activation fee for that. I just activated for free an HTC Snap through Sprint website that I bought off eBay for $23. Love this little phone.. It replaced my LG Rumor Touch with cracked screen.

Just went through the entire process. I was also looking for an Android that worked well with the $40/month plan, but couldn't find anything to my liking. I ended up getting the Epic 4g Touch (which I just got yesterday, and it is pretty great) despite the $50/month cost.

I read really bad reviews of the Marquee, and it was out of stock anyway. The others available are really pretty basic (see the list a few posts up), and since no new phones will ever be available on the $40/month plan again, it was time to make the jump.

FWIW, the whole process of changing my plan and activating was entirely painless. I chatted with a Sprint rep about the situation ahead of time so I had a record just in case, but when I called the normal activation number the guy knew exactly what I was talking about. Activation took less than 5 minutes.

I've heard you can do it via chat, but when I asked ahead of time the rep just said they'd take care of it when I got the phone and called to activate it. It made me nervous, but it worked perfectly.

In worse news, I tried to upgrade my girlfriend's phone yesterday and the rep we chatted with said the Optimus S would be $50/month, not $40. He said that all "Smartphones" (his quotes, not mine) would be $50/month for SERO now. Has anyone had any luck in the last day or two upgrading to just SERO premium without the $10 add on?

Tried to do the sero-p upgrade at Sprint store, and was told that that sero-p ($40) basically died and all smart phones (3g or 4g) now require sero-pp ($50) plan, even the HTC Arrive.

I like the Arrive, however, missed the bus. I think I will keep my golden HTC TP2 forever.

The front page still says the $70 loyalty credit is available. Is that accurate?

Unless you're dealing with employee customer service you will get regular customer service reps - folks who know NOTHING about SERO and will try to charge you activation fees, premium data fees and otherwise subject you to the abuse regular customers receive. It's true that regular plans have to pay a $10 premium data charge for any smartphone, but that doesn't apply to SERO. Your safest bet on not being charged an activation fee is to activate your phone online. I've done it and wasn't charged.

The best phones on SERO $40:

LG Marquee - Big, bright display, front-camera but poor battery life. Gingerbread may be upgradeable to ICS.
$150.00+$50MIR
Motorola XPRT - Blackberry-style keyboard, good antenna and battery life. Froyo to be upgraded to gingerbread.
$79.99+$50MIR
Blackberry Torch 9850 - Blackberry touchscreen (no keyboard). Plastic screen. BB7.1 NOT upgradeable to BB10.
$199.99+$50MIR

Long live TP2!!! Can you tell me how the insurance thing works? I've always purchased replacement phones on eBay for around $60-70 out the door and they've been in great condition.