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applelvr22

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 21, 2008
20
0
I have had an iPhone since Christmas, I'm not eligible for a new iPhone.

AT&T sucks.

Anyone else have the same problem?
 
What do you mean AT&T sucks; every provider has a 1 year minimum before you can upgrade!

You can still get the 3G, just not at the subsidized price.
 
WTF? I bought iPhone in march, upgraded this month no problem. Why are you having a problem?
 
You can upgrade with AT&T.
As long as you have an iPhone on your account (not 3G and yours wouldn't be since you mentioned Christmas) you can upgrade to the 3G phone at the sub price. Stop by your local AT&T and talk to a rep there. If they disagree ask for a manager.
 
You have to be a certain number of months into your existing contract in order to be eligible for the $199/$299 upgrade price. I've had my current phone since 6/07 & had to pay $399 for an 8gb iphone - the 16gb is $499. I would be eligible in october but I couldn't wait - this is how AT&T makes up for the money they lost when they discounted your first iphone.
 
What do you mean AT&T sucks; every provider has a 1 year minimum before you can upgrade!

You can still get the 3G, just not at the subsidized price.

He says he has the original iPhone which wasn't subsidized so he IS *eligible for a subsidized upgrade.;)

*As long as he didn't buy the iPhone used and replace an AT&T subsidized phone with it.
 
I have been to TWO different AT&T stores. I've talked to managers at both, they have told me it is because of billing history not being in good standing. I asked why then, my mom and sister who are on the same plan were able to upgrade their phones in the past few weeks. They didn't realize that and then said that it wouldn't be the billing issue then.

I have called 611. They could not change my upgrade eligibility. They said that I should be, but they don't know why.

I'm so frustrated because any time I ask a rep why I'm not eligible they don't know. I was also told that I could upgrade to any other phone in the store and they could bypass the date.

My contract started around Christmas 06. I got my iPhone Christmas 07.
 
well, if billing history is the issue, that's different. if you are a first gen iphone user, you are automatically eligible to upgrade to the 3G because you did not buy a subsidized phone. but, you also have to have an account that is in good standing. keep paying your bill on time and you'll be able to upgrade.
 
My mom was late by ONE day paying our January bill because our bill was 600$. It was also AT&Ts fault for billing us wrong. I just think its a complete misconception that any previous iPhone user is eligible to upgrade.

The AT&T dude actually told me that was completely false.
 
My mom was late by ONE day paying our January bill because our bill was 600$. It was also AT&Ts fault for billing us wrong. I just think its a complete misconception that any previous iPhone user is eligible to upgrade.

The AT&T dude actually told me that was completely false.

no, it's not a misconception or false. that att rep is wrong. there's a ton of 3G owners who upgraded from the 1st gen to prove that. the only thing, phone wise, that can keep you from being eligible from an upgrade is being in the middle of a contract for a previous, subsidized phone. there are things related to your att contract that can prevent you from getting a subsidy, like late payments, but they have nothing to do with the 1st gen iPhone.
 
no, it's not a misconception or false. that att rep is wrong. there's a ton of 3G owners who upgraded from the 1st gen to prove that. the only thing, phone wise, that can keep you from being eligible from an upgrade is being in the middle of a contract for a previous, subsidized phone. there are things related to your att contract that can prevent you from getting a subsidy, like late payments, but they have nothing to do with the 1st gen iPhone.

umm actually no..i went the day before the launch and i wasnt upgrade eligable because my grampa didnt pay the bill..i payed it that day and was instantly upgrade eligable
 
I would insist on talking to whoever necessary to get your iPhone. AT&T's system is notorious for having the incorrect information and basically making customer's lives more difficult than necessary. Just to give you some perspective... I purchased my iPhone last year on launch day. I sold that phone on ebay on July 10th and used to proceeds to pay for my new iPhone. After seeing my new 3G iPhone in the store, my dad wanted to purchased one too. After trying to process the transaction for him, the Apple sales person said that he wasn't eligible for the subsidized price.

When we got home he got online and checked our family plan on the ATT website. He was not upgrade eligible until October. I had read online somewhere that ANY EXISTING iPhone account holder was eligble for upgrade pricing, so we put his SIM card from his razr in my first generation iPhone, plugged into iTunes, and activated an iPhone account for him. Needless to say, my dad received the iPhone at the subsidized price. The account was activated on July 11th and he purchased his iPhone on July 12th at an ATT store. Go back and demand a better answer!!
 
Rule 1: Stay polite.
Rule 2: Stay Polite.
Rule 3: STAY POLITE!

I know it's easy to start yelling and cussing on the phone but believe me when I tell you that the madder you get on the phone the easier it is to make it a game to see how mad I can get you. I've done enough customer care work in call centers to know. And yes, part of that was with AT&T. So, stay polite.

Rule 4: Be persistent.

Now that you are a nice guy call AT&T. Explain the situation to the customer care rep. If they won't help you ask for a supervisor. What's the key word? Polite. Explain it to that supervisor. If that doesn't work ask for their supervisor. Keep the politeness going. You may have to move up through quite a few levels to get this done.

Rule 5: Write everything down.

What was the name of the person you first spoke to? Who was the supervisor they passed you to? What day did you call? What time did you call? What was his/her name again? The more information you have the better off you are. It may take a few days to work this out. You might reach a level where the supervisor has to call you back. When that call happens understand they know who you are and who you have spoken to. Stick to the facts, leave opinions out of it, as you keep escalating your problem. Once the problem is resolved feel free to add things like "So-and-So was really polite to me even though I was probably frustrated." No negatives though. The DEL key is always within reach, even after you hang up.

What's the big deal about being polite? Well it's just good manners. Besides that, it helps you. There were times when I knew I could do nothing to help the person on the phone but I knew somebody above me that could. If the caller was being an ass I would send them to somebody above me that I knew didn't care and wouldn't help. If the caller was being decent, and yes I did try to consider their situation, I would pass them up to somebody that I knew would help.

Good luck.
 
Did you use your upgrade eligibility to purchase the first gen iPhone? If so, you've extended your contract by 2 years, leading to a later eligibility date.
 
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