AT&T.. Benefits of buy off contrat???

[Muscle Master]

What are the pros and cons of buying.. lets say the iPhone 5 or a GSIII off contract and wanted service with AT&T

Would I still have to sign a two year contract... is there no month to month?

what are the pros and cons?

I have pay a $800 deposit... ughh

 

[JoshGlzBrk]

The benefit is that you don't have to sign a contract.

 

[madsci954]

Only difference is you would not be tied to a contract, you can cancel the line if you need to without additional costs.

 

[articulatefool]

What are the pros and cons of buying.. lets say the iPhone 5 or a GSIII off contract and wanted service with AT&T

Would I still have to sign a two year contract... is there no month to month?

what are the pros and cons?

The benefit is being off contract, and getting cheaper rates with straight talk, t-mobile, and the many other GSM prepaid services out there.

For example, I get unlimited everything for $45 per month. Once t-mobile flips the 1900 mhz switch I will be getting all I need for #30 per month.

Compare that to on-contract AT&T pricing.

 

[Muscle Master]

Only difference is you would not be tied to a contract, you can cancel the line if you need to without additional costs.

I was told.. by a rep that, if I got a iphone 4 or 5 off contract from wherever.. when I go to get service.. I have to get 2 year contract

is this is because I have to pay a deposit

For example, I get unlimited everything for $45 per month. Once t-mobile flips the 1900 mhz switch I will be getting all I need for #30 per month.

Compare that to on-contract AT&T pricing.

My whole thing is... Tmobile, is thier 1900mhz service going to be everywhere? not everywhere but at least in my main city and tri state area for example

 

[MacManTexas56]

I was told.. by a rep that, if I got a iphone 4 or 5 off contract from wherever.. when I go to get service.. I have to get 2 year contract

is this is because I have to pay a deposit

it may be different if you are required to pay a deposit. we signed back up with AT&T and brought our iPhones and don't have a contract.

 

[KPOM]

Another benefit is that you can get it unlocked to use on other carriers:

http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532#fbid=1NJhACJ8_1b

https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/client/en_US/

 

[articulatefool]

I was told.. by a rep that, if I got a iphone 4 or 5 off contract from wherever.. when I go to get service.. I have to get 2 year contract

is this is because I have to pay a deposit

My whole thing is... Tmobile, is thier 1900mhz service going to be everywhere? not everywhere but at least in my main city and tri state area for example

You must sign a contract for most post-paid services. However; you can get pre-paid without a contract.

The T-mobile thing is a guessing game. The whole risk-reward bit.
I am sure T-Mobile will have a press release shortly detailing coverage areas of the 1900 Mhz refarm.

 

[Muscle Master]

The benefit is being off contract, and getting cheaper rates with straight talk, t-mobile, and the many other GSM prepaid services out there.

For example, I get unlimited everything for $45 per month. Once t-mobile flips the 1900 mhz switch I will be getting all I need for #30 per month.

Compare that to on-contract AT&T pricing.

You must sign a contract for most post-paid services. However; you can get pre-paid without a contract.

The T-mobile thing is a guessing game. The whole risk-reward bit.
I am sure T-Mobile will have a press release shortly detailing coverage areas of the 1900 Mhz refarm.

That would be wise for them... thank you for the info

If I do go with at&t... I would get the deposit back and I also would get 17% off from my discount with them

 

[articulatefool]

[/U]

That would be wise for them... thank you for the info

If I do go with at&t... I would get the deposit back and I also would get 17% off from my discount with them

I'm curious why the $800 deposit is needed. That is ridiculous!

have you considered just getting the GS3 through t-mobile?

 

[KPOM]

I'm curious why the $800 deposit is needed. That is ridiculous!

Probably bad credit. That's usually when carriers will request deposits.

 

[articulatefool]

Probably bad credit. That's usually when carriers will request deposits.

If this is the case, then that is your reason to buy off-contract...
Get the phone for $649 from the apple store and get whatever pre-paid gsm service you want.

You won't be out $800 this way.

 

[Muscle Master]

Probably bad credit. That's usually when carriers will request deposits.

halfway right..

I owe AT&T money... made the mistake of getting my sister a phone and she didn't pay the bil.. called at&t to see if I can pay them whatever and be done with it... but they wrote my debt of to an agency *facepalm* (why don't macrumors have a facepalm emoticon?)

so I done some digging and the debt agency is very shady so in all honesty I rather pay the $800 (getting it back)

 

[articulatefool]

halfway right..

I owe AT&T money... made the mistake of getting my sister a phone and she didn't pay the bil.. called at&t to see if I can pay them whatever and be done with it... but they wrote my debt of to an agency *facepalm* (why don't macrumors have a facepalm emoticon?)

so I done some digging and the debt agency is very shady so in all honesty I rather pay the $800 (getting it back)

You mean he is 100% right.
Once AT&T reassigns your debt, they have turned you into the credit bureaus. Even if you didn't owe them money, you would likely still need the deposit.

I would punch my sister in the mouth for that neat move if she ruined my financial security.

 

[Muscle Master]

You mean he is 100% right.
Once AT&T reassigns your debt, they have turned you into the credit bureaus. Even if you didn't owe them money, you would likely still need the deposit.

I would punch my sister in the mouth for that neat move if she ruined my financial security.

lol.. tried, settled for her husband again

She would never get a penny from me

 

[kevink2]

If I didn't want a subsidized new iPhone, I would go straight talk. But for my usage plan, it would take me 25 months to make up the subsidy.