AT&T Contract Questions

[andreab35]

Hi everyone!

As I am patiently waiting like all of you for the new iPhone to arrive, a question just crossed my mind that I had to ask.

It's exciting to have a new iPhone on my hands. However, I currently don't plan on purchasing the new iPhone when it arrives, since I bought my 3G back in December, and it suites me well.

If I did buy the new iPhone that arrives, for the expected $199 upgradable price, I know I'd have to add yet another 2 years to my contract with AT&T.

When I bought the 3G for $199, that added me up to having 4 years of service with AT&T since I had the 2G iPhone for less than a year. But if by chance I purchase the new iPhone for some reason, I'll be up to 6 years on my contract (yikes! ).

Now my main question is: is there a limit to the number of years you have in your contract for a carrier? I'd love to buy iPhone after iPhone for the upgrade price if I could!
Say in a miracle Verizon comes into the picture with the iPhone in a couple of years. Say I had that 6 years on my contract with AT&T. Do I still get to pay the same termination fee, or does the fee get higher since I have more years on my contract with them?

I'd be surely happy to pay a termination fee any day if Verizon came to the iPhone.

Sorry if I confused you all, but I needed a little clarification.
Thanks!

 

[Roy Hobbs]

Call at&t

 

[bruinsrme]

I find it difficultto believe that you will have a 6year contract with ATT

if u have att wireless account set up on their siteit tells you how much longer you have on your contract. I would believe that when you got the 3G you started a new 2yr contract not an additonal 2 years.

but as the other poster recommended call att

 

[skubish]

Hi everyone!

As I am patiently waiting like all of you for the new iPhone to arrive, a question just crossed my mind that I had to ask.

It's exciting to have a new iPhone on my hands. However, I currently don't plan on purchasing the new iPhone when it arrives, since I bought my 3G back in December, and it suites me well.

If I did buy the new iPhone that arrives, for the expected $199 upgradable price, I know I'd have to add yet another 2 years to my contract with AT&T.

When I bought the 3G for $199, that added me up to having 4 years of service with AT&T since I had the 2G iPhone for less than a year. But if by chance I purchase the new iPhone for some reason, I'll be up to 6 years on my contract (yikes! ).

Now my main question is: is there a limit to the number of years you have in your contract for a carrier? I'd love to buy iPhone after iPhone for the upgrade price if I could!
Say in a miracle Verizon comes into the picture with the iPhone in a couple of years. Say I had that 6 years on my contract with AT&T. Do I still get to pay the same termination fee, or does the fee get higher since I have more years on my contract with them?

I'd be surely happy to pay a termination fee any day if Verizon came to the iPhone.

Sorry if I confused you all, but I needed a little clarification.
Thanks!

if you bought the 3G iPhone in December, most likely you aren't going to be eligible for upgrade pricing. Usually upgrade pricing is available after 18 months into a contract so the most people are looking at is a 2.5 year contract. The first iPhone was the exception. Someone could buy that and then buy a 3G iPhone the next day and end up with a 4 year contract.

 

[TheNewsPaperBoy]

If you got your 3G in december you will not be eligible for the 199 2 yr agreement price. You possibly will be eligible for the iphone "exception" upgrade which will be a 399 phone price. You will not be on for 6 years. When you do an upgrade the contract is a "new" two year from date of start. They replace your existing two year with the new one it doesn't keep tacking on time. Im a rep at an ATT store so thats how it works.

 

[AiralynRose]

i'm pretty sure is just renews your contract 2 years from the day you got the upgrade. it doesn't add 2 years on every time.

 

[Rayfire]

i'm pretty sure is just renews your contract 2 years from the day you got the upgrade. it doesn't add 2 years on every time.

Precisely. This what happened when I got the 3G and I was a regular AT&T customer who just started around April of 2008. They just renewed my contract so instead of April 2010 as my end date, it became July 2010 (2 years from I got the iPhone 3G)

You could go to your OLAM and check your contract end date.

 

[andreab35]

Thanks for the precise info guys! I appreciate it very much, and I understand completely.

What I originally posted is the story that I was told by a friend, and I got confused because it didn't sound right. But thanks again for the clarification!

 

[yg17]

Thanks for the precise info guys! I appreciate it very much, and I understand completely.

What I originally posted is the story that I was told by a friend, and I got confused because it didn't sound right. But thanks again for the clarification!

Yeah, there's no such thing as a contract longer than 2 years with AT&T. If you're still under contract and buy a new iPhone in July 2009, they don't add two years onto your existing contract, they just change it so your contract ends in July 2011.

 

[iRich1G]

If you got your 3G in december you will not be eligible for the 199 2 yr agreement price. You possibly will be eligible for the iphone "exception" upgrade which will be a 399 phone price. You will not be on for 6 years. When you do an upgrade the contract is a "new" two year from date of start. They replace your existing two year with the new one it doesn't keep tacking on time. Im a rep at an ATT store so thats how it works.

I called AT&T two weeks ago about my upgrade options. Here's my situation, and what they told me. I got iPhone 1st gen on release day of June '07. In October of '08 I upgraded to iPhone 3G, which started a new contract. Of course firmly believing a new phone is around the corner, I called AT&T about my current upgrade options. The rep told me I am eligible for an early upgrade in October '09, since that would be one year from the date of when I started it. HOWEVER, I did have the option to do an early iPhone upgrade. This meant I could upgrade from my iPhone 3G to another iPhone 3G 8GB for $299 plus a $79 early upgrade fee and sign a new 2 year contract. So of course I saved the best for last and asked if this would apply to the new model of iPhone being released. Her response was laughable she said, and I quote, " Oh no there's no new phone coming out. They have that app store that they're concentrating on. You can upgrade your phone through software now. Theres no need to wait, and I'd take advantage of that offer while you can."