iPad Pro Anyone having activation problems with Verizon?

[jjudson]

I tried to activate my cellular plan today on my new iPad Pro with Verizon. I first tried a Verizon store, but was told that the unit required an eSim and they couldn't do it there. The rep told me I should contact customer service. When I contacted customer service, they couldn't find the IMEI number in their system and the rep escalated me to the next level support -- at which time I heard a recorded message saying their systems were experiencing problems and I was immediately disconnected.

Seriously...

WTF?

 

[Rafterman]

I tried to activate my cellular plan today on my new iPad Pro with Verizon. I first tried a Verizon store, but was told that the unit required an eSim and they couldn't do it there. The rep told me I should contact customer service. When I contacted customer service, they couldn't find the IMEI number in their system and the rep escalated me to the next level support -- at which time I heard a recorded message saying their systems were experiencing problems and I was immediately disconnected.

Seriously...

WTF?

Did you try the built in activator, under Settings, Celular Data? You shouldn't have to visit a store.

 

[jjudson]

Did you try the built in activator, under Settings, Celular Data? You shouldn't have to visit a store.

Hmmm… didn’t know that was a thing. I’ll give it a shot. Thanks!

 

[Rafterman]

You just pick your cellular service, Verizon, AT&T, etc, and follow the prompts. If nothing messes up, it will activate for you through your online account right on the iPad.

 

[jjudson]

You just pick your cellular service, Verizon, AT&T, etc, and follow the prompts. If nothing messes up, it will activate for you through your online account right on the iPad.

Something’s whacky. It comes back and says my device can’t be activated. On hold again with Verizon. This is kinda ridiculous…

 

[Rafterman]

Something’s whacky. It comes back and says my device can’t be activated. On hold again with Verizon. This is kinda ridiculous…

Make sure your account plan is set up to support 5G. It should still activate without a 5G plan, but if you want 5G, you will need an account that supports it.

 

[jjudson]

Make sure your account plan is set up to support 5G. It should still activate without a 5G plan, but if you want 5G, you will need an account that supports it.

So Verizon finally activated the iPad, but now they're having trouble switching my plan to support 5G. What a cluster this has been. After being on the phone with them for 27 minutes yesterday and 1 hour and 31 minutes today, I'm waiting on a callback in 20 minutes to give me an update on whether they were able to sort this out.

 

[Rafterman]

So Verizon finally activated the iPad, but now they're having trouble switching my plan to support 5G. What a cluster this has been. After being on the phone with them for 27 minutes yesterday and 1 hour and 31 minutes today, I'm waiting on a callback in 20 minutes to give me an update on whether they were able to sort this out.

My iPad on AT&T wouldn't recognize 5G support (it would just allow LT), so AT&T had to re-provision my device.

 

[jjudson]

My iPad on AT&T wouldn't recognize 5G support (it would just allow LT), so AT&T had to re-provision my device.

Got my callback and the cluster continues. So apparently, the system won't recognize me upgrading to the 5G plan because of technical issues in the area I live. Now, mind you, I'm getting this for travel, so I'm not sure why it matters where I live as to whether I can get on the plan (I'm in North Carolina, not the remote wilderness of Zimbabwe). The support person said it would be 10-14 days before I could get access to the plan. I'll wait it out and see. I'm not hopping on a plane for a couple more weeks anyway.

I don't think I've seen this level of ridiculousness from Verizon before. It seems like they really don't know what to do with adding iPads to their plans. The customer service rep did thank me for my 25 years of loyalty...

So there's that.

 

[Rafterman]

Got my callback and the cluster continues. So apparently, the system won't recognize me upgrading to the 5G plan because of technical issues in the area I live. Now, mind you, I'm getting this for travel, so I'm not sure why it matters where I live as to whether I can get on the plan (I'm in North Carolina, not the remote wilderness of Zimbabwe). The support person said it would be 10-14 days before I could get access to the plan. I'll wait it out and see. I'm not hopping on a plane for a couple more weeks anyway.

I don't think I've seen this level of ridiculousness from Verizon before. It seems like they really don't know what to do with adding iPads to their plans. The customer service rep did thank me for my 25 years of loyalty...

So there's that.

10-14 days? That's bull. Changes to plans normally happen in seconds. With carriers, I have found you need to speak to the "right" person, i.e., one who haas a clue. Too often I got a person who wants to send it to support for investigation or whatever, while another person would solve the same issue in a minute or two.

 

[jjudson]

10-14 days? That's bull. Changes to plans normally happen in seconds. With carriers, I have found you need to speak to the "right" person, i.e., one who haas a clue. Too often I got a person who wants to send it to support for investigation or whatever, while another person would solve the same issue in a minute or two.

Yeah. Ironically, the woman I talked to today was the one to solve the activation issue, while the one yesterday sent it to escalation. But, when it came to the plan, she needed to send it to escalation.

I guess everyone has their specialty. Meanwhile, I'm getting dizzy...