procedure for unlocking & merging lines in TF account

[SaOn]

Currently I have five active lines under my TF account:

(phone A) one old moto E
(phone B1-B3) three TCL flex
(phone C) one moto G power

What I want to do:

(Want #1) unlock (phone B1-B3) AND (phone C)

(Want #2) combine the balance & due date of all the phones and eventually (see below) move everthing --- including the phone number of (phone A) --- to (phone C).

I have never done this before so I appreciate any advice + warning + chat scripts for doing this.

(Q #1) Phone (B1-B3) have be active for 61 days and are eligible for unlocking (I checked). Phone (C) will be reach 61 days in a few days.

(Q #2) Should I unlock the phone first before I merge the lines, and if so, should I do that in separate chat sessions?

(Q #3) Should I merge the lines one at a time, or can I all the merging in one go? And if I should merge the lines one a time -- how many days should I wait before I merge another one?

(Q #4) Is there a chat script I should follow? Anything I should check before/after the merge? (balance, end dates, reward points ... ?)

THANKS!

[PaulCrawhorne]

Unlocking can happen anytime after 61 days and has nothing to do with combining or even the device being in a MyAccount or not, in the void.

Combine is the correct term not merge, result is one less line active, one more deactivated device in that MyAccount. Internally CSRs may use "transfer"

Definitely only do one combine at a time. Personally I would wait a day in between each, but that is arbitrary, not objective.

As for the details of the process, read this https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...1#post17235741

also threads

https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...Combining-safe

https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...nes?p=17241218

https://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=17233317

and best to post your topic-specific questions to an existing thread on that topic

[tomseys]

The term "merge" meaning the same as "combine" has been used here on the forum for a long time.

Recently though when Tracfone launched the new site Tracfone added a "merge an exising line" feature as part of "Add a line" in the manage lines section of the account manager and in this context "merge" means to add an existing line to an account, usually from another account.

So some may want to use the combine term to avoid confusion with TF's "merge" meaning.

I've noticed too that TF chat reps will often use the word "transfer" when talking about adding balances and time to another line but when I hear the word transfer I will usually confirm that is what is meant esp if rep has not made me feel confident in any way.

I recall in the past that one danger when doing a combine/merge was instead of that being done a transfer was done wiping out the balance and number on the second phone. Usually a TF support headache and a half to fix.

[PaulCrawhorne]

Yes adding the txt/min/MB buckets from line A on top of line B

is what many reps refuse to do

Often stating, we are not allowed to do that anymore.

Or simply, I am unable, my tools do not allow that.

And many just don't know how to do it, act as if they never ever heard if that being possible.

I predict this combining procedure will become more and more difficult, one day effectively eliminated.

[PaulCrawhorne]

Adding

https://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=17243965

As for the details of the process, read this https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...1#post17235741

also threads

https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...Combining-safe

https://www.howardforums.com/showthr...nes?p=17241218

https://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=17233317

and best to post your topic-specific questions to an existing thread on that topic

[SaOn]

First, thanks for all the inputs! Here is an update of my attempt to merge these lines, and two follow-up questions.

(1) I sucessfully merge two of the TCL flips to my existing line using chat. I waited 24 hours before adding the next line.

(2) On the third day when I tried to merged the third TCL flips, the TF rep said that there was an error, and when I checked my account in real time I noticed that this third TCL flip became "inactive", and the 10000 reward points became "pending". She arranged to have an account specialist to call me to fix this.

(3) The call finally came through after many hours. The person on the phone said that it is impossible to merge two lines that are already active, even though I successfully did so twice. Eventually I got her to reactivate the TCL line and restored the balance + due date.

Question:
(Q1) I belatedly realized that while the TCL line was reactiviated, I lost the 10000 points. What can I do to get that restored? Do I still have to wait 60 days all over again?

(Q2) What can I do to merge the TCL line to my main line?

This is really frustrating, and yes I have seen the posts in recent days on this very topic.... Your help and suggestions are most appreciated!

[PaulCrawhorne]

OMG you likely threw away all pending AAL points.

**Never!** mess with lines in a MyAccount with significant points pendiing!!

All the RP threads have dozens if not hundreds of warnings to the effect...

You MIGHT be able to get them restored, if you call the relevant corporate CS lines likely to take many tries and many hours maybe days, but I've had 3-4 cases flat out denied no matter what I tried even BBB/FCC followup.

_____

Also best to avoid the term "merge".

Use transfer for straightforward moving Line A to Device B, wiping out Line B, way every CSR will want to do it.

Use "combine" for (attempts at) adding time/buckets together, still wiping out the B phone#.

[kaZZoo]

I believe the points already vested,

The lesson hear is, cash in before moving things around.

[PaulCrawhorne]

No need to prematurely cash out.

Once vested RPs are secure.

Unless maybe if you were doing dodgy stuff and get caught out by retroactive database mining / AI investigations

e.g. self-referral RPs

[kaZZoo]

If SaOn verifies that the points were already vested, it didn’t work out, as being safe.

[SaOn]

Thanks for all the reply.

(1) These (attempted) merges took place after 61 days of activation, so I assumed that points were vested (??). And all points were earned fair and square by activating new lines; there was not a single referral point.

(2) So sounds like the 10000 points are gone and I shouldn't waste time trying to get them back?

(3) Independent of (2): What should I do to transfer the balance + due date of the reactived line to my mainline?

(4) I still have one more active line with vested points that I would like to transfer. What is the safest way to proceed (and keep the vested points)?

(5) @kazzoo mentioned something about "cashing in". I have never done that. Is that the best way to proceed? Is there instruction somewhere? Do these "cashing in" have expiration date?

Thanks!

[kaZZoo]

Couple things,

Go to your account, rewards, web or app, go to activity,
It will show, earned and pending points. also in the drop down menu will show redeem points, there you can choose the options, to redeem.

Also in activity, check thru the dates, and see if any info on the points you lost.

I believe the coupon code ( cash in ) is good for 90 days.

[PaulCrawhorne]

These (attempted) merges took place after 61 days of activation, so I assumed that points were vested (??)

Sorry I misunderstood I assumed not yet vested. So, are you saying they might have just evaporated on day 61? This is very common.

Never assume anything with TF

Least of all that AAL points vest properly, that needs to be confirmed and documented with screenshots, text messages etc.

May not have anything to do with your COMBINING (not "merging") activities.


> And all points were earned fair and square by activating new lines

That is almost irrelevant with TF.


> So sounds like the 10000 points are gone and I shouldn't waste time trying to get them back?

That is a personal judgment, how much do you enjoy jousting with idiots on the phone for hours? How much do you value your time?

Or maybe it gets restored in one short call, worth a try?


> I still have one more active line with vested points that I would like to transfer. What is the safest way to proceed (and keep the vested points)?

Lines have no RPs only My accounts containing the relevant lines.

AGAIN do NOT mess with ANY lines in a MyAccount waiting for AAL RPs to vest. Only proceed after all RPs are vested


> Independent of (2): What should I do to transfer the balance + due date of the reactived line to my mainline?

Read the threads I gave you, in detail.

"Cashing in" or out =
redeeming, exchanging RPs (after they vest) for coupons with a dollar value, whole different topic, see the RP thread...

[jet1000]

(2) On the third day when I tried to merged the third TCL flips, the TF rep said that there was an error, and when I checked my account in real time I noticed that this third TCL flip became "inactive", and the 10000 reward points became
"pending".

Obviously the standard procedure is to make sure that all add a line points have moved to the Available total and are no longer in the Pending total before doing any combining of balances. Some people refer to that as the points vesting. Did you actually see all of your points in the available total and then came back after the unsuccessful combing of balances and saw 10,000 had been deducted from available and moved back to pending??

Have you looked at the full activity log? When you add a device to the account it should have said:

Date 10000 Earned Bonus: ADD A LINE

In fact it should still say that even if the points were removed from the total. Are you sure you calculated the 61 days correctly from the date shown in the activity log?

[PaulCrawhorne]

Did you actually see all of your points in the available total and then came back after the unsuccessful combing of balances and saw 10,000 had been deducted from available and moved back to pending??

Wut?

RPs never go back to pending after vesting.

They just get deleted, sent to that big bitbucket in the sky

and very very hard to get them restored, often simply impossible if you have messed around with any lines in that MyAccount while there are any AAL RPs pending.