Verizon $5/mo renew method has changed?

I have two MiFi hotspots. One is a 4620L and the other is a 6620L. The Verizon voice prompt used to say if I did not pay within 90 days of the expiration date I may lose my phone number. Since the 4620 is basically a backup, I decided to let it expire then refill 90 days later. I still had internet access 90 days past the expiration date. I then added $5 and the expiration date advanced to 30 days past the date I refilled. I had 4 months of service for $5. Right now I am 10 days past the second expiration date. I have been refilling the 6620 every month through CallingMart. I will continue refilling the 4620 every four months and see what happens. If I lose the account I would have the 4620 reflashed. I have not used the Verizon Inpulse Refill yet, but will have to do it come June 30.

Has anyone been successful doing a renewal lately via the phone?

On Jun 17, one day before my hotspot expiration, I tried the 6804 phone number. Same new msg that allows no entry of a PIN renewal. So, I used the CallingMart RTR method to post my $5 directly to my hotspot phone number. Appears to have worked, as I still have a connection today. Of course, maybe it still works because of what Tom M found (above). :)

Note: Just tried 6804 phone number and still get the "new" msg (not allowing PIN entry).

Bummer! I wonder if the guys who peddle this service have any idea of what is going on? Of course they are difficult to communicate with anyway. I guess CallingMart is about to get another RTR user

In anticipation of needing renewal on Friday, I tried the 6804 number again. The messages have changed again. The first response is a question asking are you calling about the phone number you are on (1) or another number (2). I picked #2 and they asked for the 10 digit number. I gave them the one associated with my MiFi and they then responded with:
"You are on a $15 plan with 300 minutes...." and "would what would you like to do?" Then they gave sample things to do such as make a payment. I said that and they went to the old drill of entering the code from a pre-paid card or your credit card number. I then bailed as I was not ready to do that.

So, I conclude you can renew via phone for $15. But will the CallingMart RTR route for $5 still work? I didn't spend enough time with the automated attendant to determine if you can determine when the next renewal date is. Maybe later when I have more time.

Reading this thread with interest, I have one question: why is "going to a Verizon Store" never mentioned?
There surely are stores all over....can't they do what is wanted? Or am I missing something ?

Carl n Susan wrote:
So, I conclude you can renew via phone for $15. But will the CallingMart RTR route for $5 still work.

It worked for me, as mentioned in my previous post.

it might work
or
you might get no we can't, that doesn't exist and '20 questions'

the $5 data plans are dubious at best, i had one for a while, it quit working, and the seller went away

i did not get lucky and find 'other suppliers' for renewal

somewhere some how, this was some kind of 'special' it might have been for virtual re-sellers, government, low income ?

not stolen not illegal, but NOT out on the open market available OTC at the verizon store

and not intended for 'hotspots'

MrWizard wrote:
and not intended for 'hotspots'

All MiFis are hotspots, so I don't know what you're saying. I have had one of the $5/mo MiFis for almost two years with no problems. I purchased a second one about a year ago and recently had it flashed for unlimited 4G for $5/mo.

jerseyjim wrote:
Reading this thread with interest, I have one question: why is "going to a Verizon Store" never mentioned?
There surely are stores all over....can't they do what is wanted? Or am I missing something ?

What you're missing is that the reflashed hotspots are using a grey market service that makes the Verizon system see them as an older phone that's eligible for the low cost data plan. A Verizon store isn't going to help you circumvent their system.