$18 Upgrade?

[w00t951]

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AT&T is telling me that I am eligible for an $18 iPhone upgrade. Does this mean that I give AT&T $18 and my iPhone 4, and in exchange they give me an iPhone 5? Or does this mean that I must pay individually for the iPhone 5 and pay $18 to AT&T to upgrade?

 

[braddick]

$199.00 + $18. for the iPhone5 16GB.
$299.00 + $18. for the iPhone5 32GB.

 

[GhostMac24]

The $18 is the fee for "activation" of the upgrade phone (iPhone or any other phone) that YOU buy.

 

[andyx3x]

The $18 is the fee for "activation" of the upgrade phone (iPhone or any other phone) that YOU buy.

This comes on a bill and you don't have to pay this when you sign the contract.

Also, if you are a long time customer they will waive it for you if you call customer service.

 

[Interstella5555]

The latter...I'm really confused why people think they would ever need to give something they own back to the carrier. I've also never paid this fee in upgrading my phones, but YMMV.

 

[diamond.g]

This comes on a bill and you don't have to pay this when you sign the contract.

Also, if you are a long time customer they will waive it for you if you call customer service.

That isn't always true. I got told it couldn't be waived when I got my iPhone 4.

 

[AndrewR23]

That isn't always true. I got told it couldn't be waived when I got my iPhone 4.

Then you didn't get a good customer service rep. I have gotten it waived every year.

That 18$ fee is one of the biggest rip offs with AT&T.

 

[FrankieG889D]

Then you didn't get a good customer service rep. I have gotten it waived every year.

That 18$ fee is one of the biggest rip offs with AT&T.

What do you need to say to get it waived?

 

[Interstella5555]

Then you didn't get a good customer service rep. I have gotten it waived every year.

That 18$ fee is one of the biggest rip offs with AT&T.

Exactly, the thousand (literally) of dollars I've given them over the years and they try and charge me for this? I've never paid it and never will.

 

[Surely]

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AT&T is telling me that I am eligible for an $18 iPhone upgrade. Does this mean that I give AT&T $18 and my iPhone 4, and in exchange they give me an iPhone 5? Or does this mean that I must pay individually for the iPhone 5 and pay $18 to AT&T to upgrade?

AT&T haz iPhone 5s already?!?1?!

 

[andyx3x]

What do you need to say to get it waived?

Just ask them. I've never paid it and they have always waived it instantly when I asked.

 

[bowlerman625]

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We recently upgraded my wife's phone to iPhone 4. I requested a waiver of the upgrade fee. The store rep said I had to call customer service for this. When my bill cycled I called and the Cust service rep did one better. He credited our account $25!

 

[Lindenhurst]

Then you didn't get a good customer service rep. I have gotten it waived every year.

That 18$ fee is one of the biggest rip offs with AT&T.

Same here. I spend about $240 per month for 4 lines, and $18 isn't too much for them to waive.

 

[kilcher]

Is part of the problem going to a corporate store vs. a franchised store? I could see where franchised stores would be less likely to waive the fee.

 

[Bartboy919]

So, do you request the activation fee be waived after you buy the phone, or before you buy the phone?

 

[makefunnyfaces]

So, do you request the activation fee be waived after you buy the phone, or before you buy the phone?

Call customer service once you see the $18 being charged to your account. Politely ask him or her if you can have it waived because you're a "valued customer."

A good attitude can go a long way with anyone. I've never had a problem getting something waived or credited to my account if I am nice, polite, & patient with the representative. After all, they're people, too.