AT&T Again Raising Price of Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans

[MacRumors]

Starting in March of 2017, AT&T will raise the prices of its grandfathered unlimited data plans by $5, according to information obtained by DSLReports. The price hike is AT&T's second price increase in the last 12 months and will raise prices from $35 to $40.

DSLReports forum users began receiving notifications about the $5 price increase in early January, and the site was able to confirm AT&T's plans. AT&T's statement on the new pricing is below:

Our Mobile Share Advantage plans and our AT&T Unlimited Plan provide several benefits that our legacy unlimited plan doesn't. If you have a legacy unlimited data plan, you can keep it; however, beginning in March 2017, it will increase by $5 per month.

AT&T no longer offers standalone unlimited data plans to customers, but a small number of people continue to hold onto unlimited data plans that were purchased before AT&T discontinued them in 2010. Those plans allow customers to use an unlimited amount of data, but throttling does occur with excessive data usage.

AT&T previously raised prices for its unlimited data customers in February of 2016, increasing data plan costs from $30 to $35. AT&T's data plan costs are charged in addition to voice and text plan costs for unlimited customers, putting the minimum price on an unlimited data plan with text and voice (not unlimited) in the neighborhood of $90.

Over the course of the last several years, AT&T has used price hikes, data caps, and throttling to attempt to get its grandfathered unlimited customers to switch to new plans. In 2014, the FTC launched a federal court complaint against AT&T for its throttling practices, which led AT&T to scale them back.

At the beginning of 2016, AT&T reintroduced $100 unlimited data plans but limited them to AT&T users who subscribe to an AT&T DirecTV or AT&T U-Verse plan.

Article Link: AT&T Again Raising Price of Grandfathered Unlimited Data Plans

 

[Number 41]

I expect everything AT&T does to be the absolute worst -- yet, somehow, they still manage to exceed my expectations.

 

[Naimfan]

All to maximize profit . . .

 

[cariacou]

I switched to T-Mobile a couple years ago. Couldn't be happier.
They have similar unlimited plans, and none are anywhere close to $90/user.
I think it's about $140/4 users?

Oh, and did I mention they've never raised my plan's cost? Actually they've "lowered" it several times (added very useful benefits for free, like free international texting/free international data and a lot more).

Disclaimer: I don't work for T-mo, don't own any shares. Just enjoy how they have been treating me.

 

[Deep Dish]

Why does anybody still use AT&T? I switched to Cricket a couple years ago, I'm still on the AT&T network, and I pay $30/month for unlimited everything. Yeah, my friends make fun of me for using Cricket, but I haven't noticed any difference in quality of service despite paying less than half of what I used to.

 

[twocents]

Hmm looks like CEO Randall wanted a raise

 

[ToneDriver]

Yep, I finally gave in and got off my old unlimited plan last week. Tough move, but my monthly bill will now be much easier to swallow.

 

[avanpelt]

At the beginning of 2016, AT&T reintroduced $100 unlimited data plans but limited them to AT&T users who subscribe to an AT&T DirecTV or AT&T U-Verse plan.

I think you can only get that $100 rate if you're a new customer. I have AT&T Fiber and DIRECTV and when I browse the plans, it quotes me $140 for the unlimited plan before our 24% FAN discount. I'm not losing sleep over it because the unlimited plan is useless to me since there is no personal hotspot allowed. Having personal hotspot is much more important to me than having "unlimited" consumption ability on a 4.7" screen.

Edit: Nevermind...the extra $40 is because we have two smartphones off contract ($40.00 each for the access fee). $40 each month for each phone...just to be able to get on their network. Ugh.

 

[Statusnone88]

Incoming **** storm of people complaining about the price increase. Like, I get it. I absolutely do. But how is this a surprise? Apple raises the price of their Plus iPhone $29, and no one blinks an eye.

But these telecom companies raise the price on your plan, and this one they haven't offered for almost 7 years and you're surprised? I'm not defending what they're doing, and I know this is going to trigger a lot of people, but getting worked up over a trivial amount of money just isn't worth it. Especially when you knew it was coming.

And if you want to flame me, keep it civil please. There's worse things in the world than getting worked up over $5.

 

[0815]

I switched to T-Mobile a couple years ago. Couldn't be happier.
They have similar unlimited plans, and none are anywhere close to $90/user

Same here ... paying 120 for 4 people on the 6GB plan (per phone) - thanks to most streaming services not counting against the data plan I have basically unlimited. Was always lucky and never had any coverage issues. Bad areas exist, but way less than most expect. The free Europa data also saved me a ton of money this year.

 

[fyun89]

Kinda out of subject but has anyone using Verizon actually seen their bill increased? I was told that they'd increase unlimited grandfathered plan by $20 more dollar (thus $50 per month) but my bill still states $30..

 

[yg17]

The best thing I ever did was leave AT&T both as an employee and customer.

 

[freediverx]

This will not persuade me to switch to one of their newer, ******** plans. It will merely lead me to switch to T-Mobile.

 

[chriscrowlee]

I switched to T-Mobile a couple years ago. Couldn't be happier.
They have similar unlimited plans, and none are anywhere close to $90/user

1 line of unlimited including hotspot and hd video is $95 a month, that's pretty close if you ask me. And even if you crank it up to 4 users at $160 on TMO, that's $160 plus $100 for hotspot\hd video, so $260.

My biggest gripe is how awful the TMO network still is, or yeah, I'd move everyone over. I have 9 lines on ATT and 3 on TMO... the TMO lines are only for intl travel. Sad the phones work better in the mountains of Thailand than they do in downtown Los Angeles.

 

[Born Again]

ever notice how the at&t logo looks like the death star?

 

[goobot]

Incoming **** storm of people complaining about the price increase. Like, I get it. I absolutely do. But how is this a surprise? Apple raises the price of their Plus iPhone $29, and no one blinks an eye.

But these telecom companies raise the price on your plan, and this one they haven't offered for almost 7 years and you're surprised? I'm not defending what they're doing, and I know this is going to trigger a lot of people, but getting worked up over a trivial amount of money just isn't worth it. Especially when you knew it was coming.

And if you want to flame me, keep it civil please. There's worse things in the world than getting worked up over $5.

$5 dollars monthly isn't the same as 5$

 

[thadoggfather]

this is disappointing but hardly surprising,

-grandfathered unlimited user

if things ever get real ugly, no biggy. no more contracts everyone's phne in my family is unlocked, so we may go to T-Mobile,

options at least!

 

[kellen]

So can I cancel my contract as they changed their rules?

 

[WestonHarvey1]

ever notice how the at&t logo looks like the death star?

People noticed that in 1983.

 

[gugy]

Yep, I finally gave in and got off my old unlimited plan last week. Tough move, but my monthly bill will now be much easier to swallow.

I did couple years back. It saved me a ton. In my case it wasn't worth. I am most of the time home/office so I have wifi. 6GB is plenty for my case. I feel for people who travel a lot. That sucks.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

They'll just keep raising it until we switch. Still gobbling up tons of data each month on mine.

 

[BeSweeet]

I'd be shocked if they didn't increase prices, since this is what they do. Someone has to feed their overpaid executives, you know!

There apparently aren't enough people ditching them for AT&T to consider not increasing them. So, I guess they're doing what they have to do, even though it's a not-so-nice move.

 

[Asarien]

Looking forward to seeing what they truly unleash during this upcoming Administration.

 

[v0lume4]

Yeah, my friends make fun of me for using Cricket, but I haven't noticed any difference in quality of service despite paying less than half of what I used to.

They're just salty that they know they're getting ripped off so badly.

 

[thadoggfather]

Looking forward to seeing what they truly unleash with this upcoming Administration.

lol, an ambiguous statement but clearly specific, very streep of you.. as if obama admin helped keep at&t/telco's/fcc in line,