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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. It turns out the guys in the Verizon store were wrong, either through incompetence or greed.

I called customer service and got a code that let me transfer my phone number and balance to a replacement phone purchased off the shelf at Target. I didn't even have to threaten to leave, just said I wanted to upgrade my phone.

I got a prepaid phone from Verizon when I came to Houston because I wanted a local number but didn't know how long I would be here. A recent incident rendered my phone hors de combat. I went to a nearby Verizon Wireless store to buy a replacement phone, and the salesman said I would have to pay approximately $200, instead of the $30-40 the phone cost originally. I looked at him like he was nuts, but he assured me that was correct. Naturally, I left the store empty handed rather than an empty wallet.

Let me get this straight. I can go to Target and buy a new Verizon prepaid phone for less than $50 if I'm willing to get a new number. If I'm attached to my number, I can buy a new prepaid phone from another carrier for less than $50, and transfer my number to the new carrier. under the number portability law. However, if I want to stay with Verizon and keep my number it will cost around $200. How does that make sense?

Does anyone want to suggest a prepaid plan with good coverage in the Houston area?