VZW without data plan?

[djhcmd]

I couldnt track down a post directly relating to this subject but something tells me there is one.

Currently I am on VZW with the pay as you go data plan. I deleted the connection from my i760 and only use wifi. I have no need for anything but wifi as I live on a college campus and therefore always have wifi. I need to upgrade phones as my i760's screen is badly cracked. Verizon told me today that even if I bought a phone off ebay they would know what it was from the esn and would bill me for a data plan. Is this true? Is there anyone currently doing what I would like to do? I do not want to resign a contract and I really do not want to pay 30 dollars a month for something I wont use! Thanks