Tips that could solve little issue's you may be having

Try these:

1) *Tip* Dialing *228 for relatively small problems.
*How to* Dial *228 and you will be promted to select one of two options, 1. Progamming your phone or 2. Update roaming capabilities, it's about a 1 minute and 10 second wait for both options, after the wait the phone will reset itself and your problem might be fixed.
*Fixes* This could fix lagging and basic phone "act up's" if you will, as well as other problems.
*Side effects* None, this will not cause any type of data loss or corruption.

2) *Tip* Taking out the phone's battery
*How to* Take out the battery and leave it out for a minute or two, then reinsert it and turn the phone back on.
*Fixes* This could fix small issue's like freezing as well as other minor problems.
*Side effects* None, this will not cause any type of data loss or corruption.


3) *Tip* Resetting your phone
*How to* Tap "Menu" then tap "Settings & Tools", "Phone Settings", "Security", for security purposes, enter in the last four digits of your wireless number (default), "Reset Default".
*Fixes* This could fix internet browsing problems, No/poor signal, and things in tips 1 and 2, as well as others.
*Side effects* This will cause your phone to reset back to factory settings for instance, your wallpaper will be reset, your menu themes will be reset, and other user preferences will be reset, however once again this will not cause any type of data loss or corruption.

If none of these work for you, here's number four

4) *Tip* Take it back to Verizon!
*How to* Walk-in and tell them what's up with your phone
*Fixes* You'll have your lemon Dare traded for a brand new Dare.
*Side effects* It may be tough. And you will have lost data from your original Dare (with an exception of what they can transfer for you)

Note: Although my tips are pretty much fool proof, do these at your own risk.

Hope this helps.

Did I forget something? Feel free to add onto what i have posted.

in response to returning the Dare at the V-store for a replacement.....
how long is this valid for? i purchased my dare back in july when it was released.
got some minor dings and scratches on the battery cover.... if i can trade it in for a better cleaner one.. i'll do it..

 opt'd out for no insurance...so no replacement i guess.
maybe an aftermarket battery cover will come out.

I think the only additional tip is the standard turn it off, wait, turn it back on.  I know ... taking the battery out forces the same thing.  But I don't turn my phone off unless it starts doing something wacky ... and that's what normally fixes it!

A very wise comment sammycerv.  Most people when in and around home think about doing a 228 call once in a Bluemoon if then.  Unless you have radical NIMBY types Verizon is installing towers constantly and you need to let your phone know about them.  When you travel away from your home area you definitely need to make that 228 call as your phone is searching for towers with both eyes closed and its hands tied behind its back.  I have lost count of the number of people I know that have gone two to three thousand miles from home on vacation and then griped about the poor reception they had while gone. 

Both doesn't hurt.  Update info is at settings and tools>phone info>Software update

The one updates any minor software and the other is updating your phone for any new towers in your area.  If I remember though one includes the other (but cannot remember which of the two).  Kildars? 

I believe it's option 1 that incorporates both.

What you are doing is a PRL(Preffered Roaming list) update. Pressing #1 is the procedure for programming a new phone and # 2 is used for updating. This is NOT a software update! Doing it more than once a month does absolutely nothing. As a VZ employee I can assure you that 99.9% of the time this will not fix your issues. If you did this and your phone started working correctly it either just needed to be rebooted or it was a coincidence.  This is the first thing they tell you to do when troubleshooting. When it completes the update it even says "your ROAMING capabilities have now been updated." Don't be fooled. 
When looking up your account VZ employees see this under your service info:
OTHER Information
PRL Index: 218
ID:51101 
OTA Date: 10/02/08 <-(Last time you dialed *228)

With that said,  it is a good idea to do *228 #2 after adding or subtracting a feature.  Will get into more detail if asked.
 
SO they see this and say oh Mr.? didn't do a PRL update since 2007....