AT&T Doubles Upgrade Fee from $18 to $36! [Was: At&t - go screw yourself!]

[mrsir2009]

Sorry for my ignorance... But I'm wondering why a carrier would have to do anything when a customer takes a SIM card out of one phone and puts it in another. I switch SIM cards round all the time, even putting SIM cards into phones that are branded by a different carrier. As far as I know, and what has seemed to hold true in my experience, the carriers have no control (or if they do, they don't use it) over flicking SIM cards into different phones. So how is it different in the US of A?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Sorry for my ignorance... But I'm wondering why a carrier would have to do anything when a customer takes a SIM card out of one phone and puts it in another. I switch SIM cards round all the time, even putting SIM cards into phones that are branded by a different carrier. As far as I know, and what has seemed to hold true in my experience, the carriers have no control (or if they do, they don't use it) over flicking SIM cards into different phones. So how is it different in the US of A?

Carriers don't do anything, especially with iPhones because the sim cards are preinstalled. They are charging 36 dollars to make a change on the computer. It's insane.

 

[nfl46]

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I'm okay with it. Most of us iPhone users sell our iPhone for 400-600 and only pay 199 for the upgrade. I'm sure AT&T has noticed by reading online.

Every carrier will eventually up it.

 

[Mlrollin91]

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I'm okay with it. Most of us iPhone users sell our iPhone for 400-600 and only pay 199 for the upgrade. I'm sure AT&T has noticed by reading online.

Every carrier will eventually up it.

Only people willing to give up their phone before the announcement make that much. Plus AT&T got rid of the every year upgrade for the +100 dollar a month bill. They are screwing us in every way.

 

[mrsir2009]

Carriers don't do anything, especially with iPhones because the sim cards are preinstalled. They are charging 36 dollars to make a change on the computer. It's insane.

Oh, I would have thought there wouldn't be a change to be made... Or when I've done it would it have been done automatically?

Thanks

 

[Mlrollin91]

Oh, I would have thought there wouldn't be a change to be made... Or when I've done it would it have been done automatically?

Thanks

I'm sure it is automatically done. As it is they have no right charging an 18 dollar fee, let alone 36. What is new activation fee going to be, 72 now???

 

[In Like Flynn]

ATT is making it harder and harder for me to stay. This might just do it...

i HATE att, (but they have the fastest data by far in my area, so it would be stupid to switch)

 

[mrsir2009]

I'm sure it is automatically done. As it is they have no right charging an 18 dollar fee, let alone 36. What is new activation fee going to be, 72 now???

Oh, ok. Thanks you

 

[KentuckyHouse]

This pushes me to nix upgrading and pay outright for the phone...

My thought exactly. Never signing another contract with them.

Add me to the "I won't upgrade again, but buy outright instead camp". Hell, I've already got the money set aside for the iPhone 5 (I had already planned to buy it off-contract since I used my upgrade on the 4S on launch day). But this just reinforces the idea that you should buy the phone for full price and unlocked. That way, when your carrier pulls crap like this, you can say screw it, I'm out.

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I'm okay with it. Most of us iPhone users sell our iPhone for 400-600 and only pay 199 for the upgrade. I'm sure AT&T has noticed by reading online.

Every carrier will eventually up it.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to come along and basically say "I'm ok with AT&T bending me over, pulling down my pants, and doing whatever they want". Jeez, man...seriously? You're actually justifying them DOUBLING the upgrade fee because they may or may not have been reading about their customers selling their old iPhone for more than they paid for it??? And may I add...an iPhone that those customers OWN and can sell if they so choose? I'm just trying to make sure I'm understanding you...

You're actually saying it's OK for AT&T to pillage MORE money from their customers pockets because they've sold a piece of their personal property that once belonged to AT&T? Have I got that right?

WTF?

 

[magicbrain]

lol-tt

lol ... bravo #attFail - truly hilarious, but only $36 per new subscriber?

assuming 1/2 of your "new" subscribers are upgrading, 4.8 million x $36 = only 172.8mil ... way too short to cover 4 billion failed t-mobile merger!

that fee needs to be $3,600 (you're welcome)

 

[rjohnstone]

I'm sure it is automatically done. As it is they have no right charging an 18 dollar fee, let alone 36. What is new activation fee going to be, 72 now???

To play devil's advocate, they ave every right to charge what ever the market will bare.
I'm fortunate to have a decent FAN account... haven't paid an activation fee in my 7+ years with them.

Buying your phone outright still doesn't get you out of the "activation" fee as you still need to have a SIM card activated before the phone will work.

If you don't like it, vote with your wallet. Go to another carrier before they jack their rates up too.

 

[Apple Expert]

Only people willing to give up their phone before the announcement make that much. Plus AT&T got rid of the every year upgrade for the +100 dollar a month bill. They are screwing us in every way.

That's the one thing I hated they changed. That and the throttling.
Why does AT&T want customers to leave?

 

[KentuckyHouse]

Buying your phone outright still doesn't get you out of the "activation" fee as you still need to have a SIM card activated before the phone will work.

If you don't like it, vote with your wallet. Go to another carrier before they jack their rates up too.

No, buying the phone outright doesn't get you out of the activation fee, but it DOES allow you to take your phone and go elsewhere if AT&T pulled any more BS stuff like this (and they will). In other words, you're not tied down to a contract for 2 years.

 

[rjohnstone]

No, buying the phone outright doesn't get you out of the activation fee, but it DOES allow you to take your phone and go elsewhere if AT&T pulled any more BS stuff like this (and they will). In other words, you're not tied down to a contract for 2 years.

Where else can you go?
T-Mobile with EDGE and spotty 3G.
Can't go to Verizon or Sprint since the unlocked iPhones are GSM unlocked only.

 

[ap3604]

Buying your phone outright still doesn't get you out of the "activation" fee as you still need to have a SIM card activated before the phone will work.

Wait... with ATT isn't it where when you can simply move your sim card from phone to phone?

If so then why would you say there would be an activation fee for this? Simply:
- let your contract end
- go month to month on the same sim card
- pop the sim card in your new contract-free phone you just bought

Am I missing something here with what you were saying above?

 

[cyks]

I'm loving these "forget upgrading then, I'll just buy the phone outright" comments.

Instead of buying the phone on contract for $200 and paying an additional $36, you'd rather pay $650? I'm sure that will show them who's boss!

 

[Apple Expert]

I'm loving these "forget upgrading then, I'll just buy the phone outright" comments.

Instead of buying the phone on contract for $200 and paying an additional $36, you'd rather pay $650? I'm sure that will show them who's boss!

You show them who's boss by taking your business else where.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I'm loving these "forget upgrading then, I'll just buy the phone outright" comments.

Instead of buying the phone on contract for $200 and paying an additional $36, you'd rather pay $650? I'm sure that will show them who's boss!

Yes it's more expensive but you don't have to give AT&T the satisfaction of making 36 after each upgrade. Plus then I'm not tied to a contract. Besides I planned on doing it anyway from the 4S to the next one because of AT&T dumping the yearly upgrade. So they missed out on me extending for 2 years, and now doing the early upgrade for $250 more.

 

[cyks]

You show them who's boss by taking your business else where.

That would makes sense, but that doesn't seem to be the intention of most of the 'I'm just going to buy it outright' comments. Most seem upset with AT&T, but still planning on staying.

True, by buying it outright, people wouldn't be strapped down to a contract... but, considering that the extra $400 is far more than the ETF, that's just as silly.

The only exception is if you are in between upgrades and have to buy it at full price anyway, but, if that was already the plan, it's not like this increased cost factored into your decision anyway.

 

[boshii]

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I'm okay with it. Most of us iPhone users sell our iPhone for 400-600 and only pay 199 for the upgrade. I'm sure AT&T has noticed by reading online.

Every carrier will eventually up it.

How does that justify them doubling the upgrade fee? Do you know which carrier that carrier-locked AT&T iPhone gets activated to?

 

[pezasied182]

Every major carrier in the US sucks. AT&T and Verizon are always trying to nickel and dime you over every little thing, and Sprint's service is (usually) horrendous.

 

[Vegasryn]

You guys are a little ignorant. If course there is no sustainable cost with switching a SIM card. This is just simply a way, with costs rising in ALL areas of running the company to recoup the cost. Cost of equipment, cost of salaries of network staff to keep it running, cost of renting the land that the tower goes on, cost of the CSR rep that gets to hear you call in and bitch, the cost of agreements with the phone manufacturers, I can go on....all the cost is going up.

The people saying I'm glad I left ATT, where did you go? Verizon, Sprint? They charge the same damn fee. So don't be hating on ATT when ALL (read ALL) of the carriers like to nickel and dime their subscribers and its because they can, and we'll continue to pay it.

 

[famoussasjohn]

Nope.
You are not impacted by it unless you upgrade.

in which, signing the new agreement would mean you agree with the fee..

 

[pezasied182]

You guys are a little ignorant. If course there is no sustainable cost with switching a SIM card. This is just simply a way, with costs rising in ALL areas of running the company to recoup the cost. Cost of equipment, cost of salaries of network staff to keep it running, cost of renting the land that the tower goes on, cost of the CSR rep that gets to hear you call in and bitch, the cost of agreements with the phone manufacturers, I can go on....all the cost is going up.

The people saying I'm glad I left ATT, where did you go? Verizon, Sprint? They charge the same damn fee. So don't be hating on ATT when ALL (read ALL) of the carriers like to nickel and dime their subscribers and its because they can, and we'll continue to pay it.

AT&T is still making billions of dollars in profits every quarter so this isn't exactly necessary, just another way to make money. And yes, I agree every major cell phone company does it. It's like texting. If they can overcharge you for something, they are going to.

 

[matttye]

Costs £0 here