Apple Order and ATT 2 Year Contract

[waynestu]

I have a problem.
I recently ordered an iphone 6 plus through apple.com using my att 2 year contract. the phone is a 64Gig so it cost me $430 with tax.

I just found out that I will now lose my ATT $25 per month discount for not using NXT. I would like to switch to NXT plan but ATT says I must do this through apple because it involves a full refund of my purchase excluding the tax.

After calling apple they have never heard of this problem. they say I would have to return the phone, get my full refund and place another order.

This is ridiculous!

 

[coreytime]

im in the same boat..... the problem is the phone has been paid for technically.

 

[Udh20skier]

I have a problem.
I recently ordered an iphone 6 plus through apple.com using my att 2 year contract. the phone is a 64Gig so it cost me $430 with tax.

I just found out that I will now lose my ATT $25 per month discount for not using NXT. I would like to switch to NXT plan but ATT says I must do this through apple because it involves a full refund of my purchase excluding the tax.

After calling apple they have never heard of this problem. they say I would have to return the phone, get my full refund and place another order.

This is ridiculous!

They're wrong! I spoke with an ATT District Mgr at a corporate store yeaterday and he said to bring my Apple phone to the att store. My phone was purchased via 2yr contract but its being switched to NEXT. They will refund me the $430 (even though i paid through apple) and resell it to me under NEXT.

 

[MR.IPHON]

i just spoke to an att rep about this your options are as follows,
- return the phone within 14 days, and re-order another phone under the next plan through att
- pay 325 in ETF, close the line and reopen it back under the next plan
- keep the phone and pay 25 extra a month

this is just my understanding and there could be other options i'm not aware of

 

[AppleMomma111]

Wanted to bump this, and link to this thread, I'm in the same boat. It doesn't seem like Apple or ATT know for sure.
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=19830474#post19830474

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They're wrong! I spoke with an ATT District Mgr at a corporate store yeaterday and he said to bring my Apple phone to the att store. My phone was purchased via 2yr contract but its being switched to NEXT. They will refund me the $430 (even though i paid through apple) and resell it to me under NEXT.

Was this successful? Friday night ATT store wasn't really sure, then Apple store told me return and rebut but I couldn't rebuy my 6 plus they have to send it somewhere , and obviously the problem there is the backorder

 

[Marc050jimen]

I actually had to this when I did a 2 year contract with in store pickup at an Apple Store. When I arrived I asked to be switched to a ATT Next plan for the very same reason you had described. Initially, the ATT rep at the Apple Store said I would have to return the phone and come back in 2-3 day.

The apple rep refused to do that because they didn't want to have me wait but in all the process took around an hour. So what your going to have to do is go to Apple Store, tell them that you want to switch. Then the Apple rep will have to "refund" the phone and your 2 year contract will cancel since your allowed to refund within 14 days and immediately your upgrade illegibility should show up again. It is at this time that you "repurchase" that same phone but this tim under next and thats it.

Hope that helps.

 

[AppleMomma111]

I actually had to this when I did a 2 year contract with in store pickup at an Apple Store. When I arrived I asked to be switched to a ATT Next plan for the very same reason you had described. Initially, the ATT rep at the Apple Store said I would have to return the phone and come back in 2-3 day.

The apple rep refused to do that because they didn't want to have me wait but in all the process took around an hour. So what your going to have to do is go to Apple Store, tell them that you want to switch. Then the Apple rep will have to "refund" the phone and your 2 year contract will cancel since your allowed to refund within 14 days and immediately your upgrade illegibility should show up again. It is at this time that you "repurchase" that same phone but this tim under next and thats it.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if it was easy for you because you were just picking it up. Mine had been delivered at home. They asked me if I had open the box yet and we had on both our phones but hadn't even turned them on yet (and had the boxes with us) and I think that may have been one of the problems because of something about not being able to sell an opened box phone. If thats the main problem I don't see why they can't just say its unopened if its my phone to begin with and especially because the 6 plus is backordered, it just seems so silly.

Glad you were able to make the change though, I'm not giving up, just waiting for this week during the day when its not so busy.

 

[Marc050jimen]

You should be okay because the apple rep stated to me specifically that whether the box is open or closed should not matter. When you return it all they have to do is refund you as if it's closed box and just resell it to you since in the end it's going to the same person so it shouldn't matter.

 

[Trebuin]

AT&T's newer "mobile share value" plan was a way that they could absorb the subsidy themselves. I ran through the numbers on my plan (it's the nationwide old plan) and the mobile share value plan on a 64GB iPhone 6 regular:

MSV (mobile shared value)

full price: $749.99

Next:
Next (18 month): 31.25*24=$750 for the phone
Next (12 month): 37.50*20=$750 for the phone

2 year contract:
MSV increase of $15 (less than 10GB) or $25 (10GB & greater) per month
phone: $299.99, rounding up to $300
total ($15 discount *24 months): $660 + $40 upgrade fee ($700)
total ($25 discount *24 months): $900 + $40 upgrade fee ($940)

No contract (for 2 years):
phone: $749.99, round up to $750


Older plans 2 year new contract:
phone: $299.99, round up to #300
no increase in plan
$40 upgrade fee
total: $340 over two years for the phone

If you're on a new plan, it's probably better to go to another carrier if the monthly price is lower.

 

[fishmd]

Thanks for your reply. I wonder if it was easy for you because you were just picking it up. Mine had been delivered at home. They asked me if I had open the box yet and we had on both our phones but hadn't even turned them on yet (and had the boxes with us) and I think that may have been one of the problems because of something about not being able to sell an opened box phone. If thats the main problem I don't see why they can't just say its unopened if its my phone to begin with and especially because the 6 plus is backordered, it just seems so silly.

Glad you were able to make the change though, I'm not giving up, just waiting for this week during the day when its not so busy.

Hum, yeah, I have seen quite a few posts like the guy above where people ordered for instore pick-up and then switched it to Next when they went to pick up the phone. I am seriously contemplating doing the same thing as I still have not even placed an order yet for my upgrade as I wanted to check the phones out in person before committing to it. (I am almost there where I will go for it rather than the Note 4.) But yes, in that case, it is an unopened box that you are returning which then allows Apple to "resell" you the same phone. If it was opened, it will have to go back. You may be stuck...

 

[AppleMomma111]

Hum, yeah, I have seen quite a few posts like the guy above where people ordered for instore pick-up and then switched it to Next when they went to pick up the phone. I am seriously contemplating doing the same thing as I still have not even placed an order yet for my upgrade as I wanted to check the phones out in person before committing to it. (I am almost there where I will go for it rather than the Note 4.) But yes, in that case, it is an unopened box that you are returning which then allows Apple to "resell" you the same phone. If it was opened, it will have to go back. You may be stuck...

Yea I get the whole opened box thing, but it still just sounds dumb, especially considering theres only a 14 day window and the Plus is so backordered. The computer or system doesn't know if the plastic is still on the box or not, hoping they can make an exception. Also ATT didn't send me the text saying my bill would go up $50 (or $25 a line) until 2 days before scheduled delivery. I definitely would have chosen Next when I placed the order.

I also spoke with ATT and Apple over the phone the day before delivery and wasn't told not to open it, only told not to activate it. Gonna have to put up a fight I suppose, getting different experiences/answers from different people and threads in the same situation.

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You should be okay because the apple rep stated to me specifically that whether the box is open or closed should not matter. When you return it all they have to do is refund you as if it's closed box and just resell it to you since in the end it's going to the same person so it shouldn't matter.

I hope so, the computer system doesn't know if the plastic wrap is still on the box , so basically it comes down to the employee/management.

 

[fishmd]

Yea I get the whole opened box thing, but it still just sounds dumb, especially considering theres only a 14 day window and the Plus is so backordered. The computer or system doesn't know if the plastic is still on the box or not, hoping they can make an exception. Also ATT didn't send me the text saying my bill would go up $50 (or $25 a line) until 2 days before scheduled delivery. I definitely would have chosen Next when I placed the order.

I also spoke with ATT and Apple over the phone the day before delivery and wasn't told not to open it, only told not to activate it. Gonna have to put up a fight I suppose, getting different experiences/answers from different people and threads in the same situation.

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I hope so, the computer system doesn't know if the plastic wrap is still on the box , so basically it comes down to the employee/management.

Yeah. I got ya. Bring in a nice latte from Starbucks and offer it to the worker. They will likely help you out then. ;-)

 

[Udh20skier]

FYI...i bought a 6+ and it arrived friday on the 2yr contract with AT&T. Activated it Friday as well. Phone bought on apple store app.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I actually just left an Apple Store. Brought the box in, the specialist returned it then resold it to me under the NEXT option. They refunded my credit card $427 and charged me now for the tax on the NEXT phone. $57 i believe. Gave me paperwork and was on my way. 15min total. Oh and he had to put a new sim card in.

Painless and easy

 

[AppleMomma111]

FYI...i bought a 6+ and it arrived friday on the 2yr contract with AT&T. Activated it Friday as well. Phone bought on apple store app.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I actually just left an Apple Store. Brought the box in, the specialist returned it then resold it to me under the NEXT option. They refunded my credit card $427 and charged me now for the tax on the NEXT phone. $57 i believe. Gave me paperwork and was on my way. 15min total. Oh and he had to put a new sim card in.

Painless and easy

Glad to hear! I will be trying again tomorrow, Friday night was probably not a good day for me to have tried but we wanted to play with our new toys. AT&T and the Apple store are both in the mall, hopefully I can get it done like you have, mine was exactly the same, even bought on the apple app.

So you were going to do the exchange at AT&T store but then were able to at Apple?

 

[Udh20skier]

Glad to hear! I will be trying again tomorrow, Friday night was probably not a good day for me to have tried but we wanted to play with our new toys. AT&T and the Apple store are both in the mall, hopefully I can get it done like you have, mine was exactly the same, even bought on the apple app.

So you were going to do the exchange at AT&T store but then were able to at Apple?

Yeah i just happened to be at the mall and stopped in at Apple.

 

[Stein357]

I have a problem.
I recently ordered an iphone 6 plus through apple.com using my att 2 year contract. the phone is a 64Gig so it cost me $430 with tax.

I just found out that I will now lose my ATT $25 per month discount for not using NXT. I would like to switch to NXT plan but ATT says I must do this through apple because it involves a full refund of my purchase excluding the tax.

After calling apple they have never heard of this problem. they say I would have to return the phone, get my full refund and place another order.

This is ridiculous!

The Apple store should be able to change your contract terms from a 2-year agreement to an AT&T Next. We are able to do this in corporate AT&T stores within the 14 return/exchange period if it was purchased at an AT&T store.

 

[Udh20skier]

The Apple store should be able to change your contract terms from a 2-year agreement to an AT&T Next. We are able to do this in corporate AT&T stores within the 14 return/exchange period if it was purchased at an AT&T store.

You're also able to do it at an at&t if it was purchased through Apple. I confirmed this at 2 at&t locations Friday.

 

[AppleMomma111]

Yeah i just happened to be at the mall and stopped in at Apple.

Which Apple Store was it? We only have 1 here in Delaware. I haven't gone in yet still have over a week. I did call the store yesterday and was still fed the line about not being able to sell back a used phone to me even though it's mine.

 

[dokindo]

FYI...i bought a 6+ and it arrived friday on the 2yr contract with AT&T. Activated it Friday as well. Phone bought on apple store app.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I actually just left an Apple Store. Brought the box in, the specialist returned it then resold it to me under the NEXT option. They refunded my credit card $427 and charged me now for the tax on the NEXT phone. $57 i believe. Gave me paperwork and was on my way. 15min total. Oh and he had to put a new sim card in.

Painless and easy

I tried to do this by phone with ATT and Apple, but no luck. Will try in the Apple store today. Thank for the suggestion!

 

[iregret]

So, I'm still waiting on my phone to get here I have the grandfathered unlimited plan with a discount through my employer. I bought with the discount/2 year contract.

Obviously, I haven't activated it yet, but are you guys saying that when I do, I'll lose my employee discount? I haven't heard this anywhere. It wasn't mentioned at checkout or anything.

 

[waynestu]

FYI...i bought a 6+ and it arrived friday on the 2yr contract with AT&T. Activated it Friday as well. Phone bought on apple store app.



As I mentioned in my earlier post, I actually just left an Apple Store. Brought the box in, the specialist returned it then resold it to me under the NEXT option. They refunded my credit card $427 and charged me now for the tax on the NEXT phone. $57 i believe. Gave me paperwork and was on my way. 15min total. Oh and he had to put a new sim card in.



Painless and easy

This

Apple took care of it right away
Their customer service is top notch

 

[Chele]

So, I'm still waiting on my phone to get here I have the grandfathered unlimited plan with a discount through my employer. I bought with the discount/2 year contract.

Obviously, I haven't activated it yet, but are you guys saying that when I do, I'll lose my employee discount? I haven't heard this anywhere. It wasn't mentioned at checkout or anything.

I believe that it's only the people that on are the Mobile Shared Value plans that are losing their discounts. I have a super old family voice plan and I pay for my data on my line only (the other phones on the plan aren't smart phones) and my bill is staying exactly the same. It's just that the Mobile Shared Value plan were giving you a discount and if you buy a phone with the subsidized discount, you don't get both. You should be fine.

 

[iregret]

I believe that it's only the people that on are the Mobile Shared Value plans that are losing their discounts. I have a super old family voice plan and I pay for my data on my line only (the other phones on the plan aren't smart phones) and my bill is staying exactly the same. It's just that the Mobile Shared Value plan were giving you a discount and if you buy a phone with the subsidized discount, you don't get both. You should be fine.

Oh good. I was freaking out for a second. I was considering returning my phone, buying it outright, and going with tmobile's $30 plan.

 

[AppleMomma111]

This

Apple took care of it right away
Their customer service is top notch

What Apple Store was this? I'm prepared to put up a fight when I go to mine this week since they've already said no in store on Friday night and again on the phone. Did they allow you to repurchase the same phone?

 

[dokindo]

This

Apple took care of it right away
Their customer service is top notch

I just switched from a 2yr plan to next on an iphone 6 bought via apple.com.
The Apple staff were great!

I walked in the store, told them what I wanted. They processed the return and purchase without any problems. I didn't bring anything with me other than the phone. They replaced the SIM.

Did this at the Century City store.