How to switch family cell phone plans

There are some things that become more complicated when you do them as a family. Vacations are harder to modify when you’re not traveling solo, moving into a new home takes a lot of work when you’ve got multiple bedrooms to assign and changing your family’s cell phone plan may seem a bit daunting too. We’re not travel agents or realtors, but we can tell you that switching your family to a new wireless carrier can actually be pretty simple, especially if you plan ahead. In this blog we’ll go over how to switch family cell phone plans, from prep to execution and everything in between. Then, when you do switch, you can put the money you save toward another one of those family vacations we just talked about. 

What to do before leaving your current family plan

There are certain things you need to consider before making the leap from one family phone plan to another. Put your checklist hat on and let’s go over the essentials. 

Evaluating your family’s current plan and needs

• Review your current usage
  How much talk, text and data does your family really need? Many wireless users don’t actually need unlimited data, so the first step to seeing how much you can save by switching is finding out how much data everyone in your family actually needs.
• Confirm any financial obligations
  Are you on a contract with your current family plan? If so, there may be early termination fees (ETFs) to consider. And if you want to bring your phones to your new carrier, they’ll need to be unlocked, which means they may need to be fully paid off too.   
• Gather your account information
  If you’re planning to bring your phone numbers along with you, you’ll need to provide some account details to your new carrier for them to transfer over correctly. Make sure you have your account number, billing ZIP code and “number transfer PIN.” This is different from your account security PIN, and you will likely need a different number transfer PIN for each number on your family plan.

Pro tip: Number transfer PINs can be time-sensitive, so we recommend not generating one with your current carrier until you’re ready to transfer your numbers. 

Comparing new phone carriers and plans

• Start by evaluating your must-haves
  Make sure you’re switching to a network that provides coverage everywhere you and everyone in your family needs it (home, work, school, etc) as well as features you know you’ll need (hotspot, Wi-Fi Calling, etc).
• Decide which perks are essential
  Do you need your family phone plan to include streaming services? Are you buying new phones for anyone and want a discount or monthly payment options? Make sure these “perks” don’t actually cost more than they would if purchased separately along with a different family phone plan. 
• See what family plan options they have
  Sometimes, family plans offer greater discounts the more lines you have—so don’t just look at the per-line cost. And see if the carriers you’re looking into offer the option to mix-and-match plans for all your lines (like unlimited data for you, but maybe lower data plans for the kiddos… which is something we offer at Mint Mobile).  
• Look for new customer promotions
  Many carriers offer a special rate for new customers so you can save more when you switch. Just be sure to also determine what the rate is going to be once the promotional period ends, so you aren’t taken by surprise when a full-price bill arrives. 

Pro tip: Request a firm quote that includes all taxes and fees. Some carriers offer “all-in” pricing so you know exactly what to expect, while others may hide additional charges in the fine print.    

Checking phone compatibility

• If you want to bring your current phones to your new carrier, you’ll need to make sure they are unlocked and compatible with the new network.
• If you’re buying any new phones, there may be discounts available from the carrier you’re switching to, or trade-in programs if you have a phone you’re willing to part with.
• You can also purchase a phone directly from the manufacturer or from a third party, just make sure it’s compatible with your new carrier and be ready to assume any risks if you’re buying it from some person on an online auction site.

Executing the family plan switch

You’ve gathered the info you need, decided on a new family plan with a new wireless carrier, and now you’re ready to make the switch.

Don’t cancel your current service yet

Not only do you want to avoid going without service for any amount of time, but if you’re wanting to keep your current phone numbers, don’t cancel your current service until all numbers have been successfully transferred to your new carrier. Now, it’s almost time to have your account info and those number transfer PINs ready.

Purchase your new family plan

Once you’ve decided on the new carrier you’re going to switch to, it’s time to choose the right plan for your family. Purchase the plans for all your numbers and choose your SIMs. Your new carrier will either provide you with physical SIM cards (via mail, or in-person if you purchase these plans at a store), or they may email you instructions to activate via eSIM. We do everything online here at Mint, so you can get set up and activated in minutes, anytime, right at home… just saying. You’ll transfer your numbers to the new carrier during activation.  

Request a number transfer

When getting set up with your new family plan, your new carrier should ask if you would like to transfer any numbers over from your current carrier. This is when they’ll ask you for those details we mentioned earlier: your account number, billing ZIP code and number transfer PINs. The steps and info can vary slightly depending on your current carrier, so feel free to take a look at our other blog all about switching. Note: make sure to transfer the primary account holder’s number last to avoid any potential disruptions to your account and service. 

Complete activation of all lines

Once you’ve gone through the steps to activate all of your lines and transfer all your numbers to your new carrier, your previous plan should be canceled automatically. You may want to log in to your account just to make sure though. Most number transfers go through in a few minutes, but some can take longer. 

Pro tip: Once you’ve activated all your phone lines, test your new service by placing a phone call, sending a text message, accessing the internet, etc.

The family that switches together, saves together

Now you have a general idea of how to switch family cell phone plans to a new carrier, you can start planning the big, exciting—yet, quite simple—move for your family. Whether you’re looking to leave an AT&T family plan, leave a Verizon family plan, or leave anyone else, the steps are all essentially the same. And if you plan accordingly, you should be pleased with the results. But while we have you here, in “shopping for a new family plan” mode, why not take a moment to check out Mint Family. We offer great deals on family plans, with coverage on America’s largest 5G network, the option to mix-and-match data amounts, unlimited talk & text and no overages. Plus we have a fun mascot, so the kids will love it.