Dude, all I am saying is that your title is misleading, it is not a loophole.
AT&T gives me loophole for upgrade elibibility.
- Thread starter cpljwlusmc
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cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
It's not misleading.
It may not be the right word, but it's still not what you can do the way AT&T wants.
I am making an ineligible account have a phone for the subsidized price AND have a data plan, when AT&T would otherwise not allow my account to have it. It's a workaround.
The world is not going to fall apart because I used the word "loophole" to describe my strategy.
You correcting me didn't serve a purpose.
It may not be the right word, but it's still not what you can do the way AT&T wants.
I am making an ineligible account have a phone for the subsidized price AND have a data plan, when AT&T would otherwise not allow my account to have it. It's a workaround.
The world is not going to fall apart because I used the word "loophole" to describe my strategy.
You correcting me didn't serve a purpose.
Darth.Titan
macrumors 68030
To the OP,
ubersalad is just upset because your tip apparently doesn't help him specifically. Therefore, he's belittling your contribution in an effort to release some pent-up frustration. Just ignore him and move on.
I'm sure you're tip will be useful to a few people, therefore thanks for posting it.
ubersalad is just upset because your tip apparently doesn't help him specifically. Therefore, he's belittling your contribution in an effort to release some pent-up frustration. Just ignore him and move on.
I'm sure you're tip will be useful to a few people, therefore thanks for posting it.
Trust me, by upgrading your dad's line, you are doing what AT&T wants. You didn't do any "work around" and you certainly didn't exploited any loopholes.
cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
AT&T wants you to buy the iPhone 3G regardless. WE'RE ALL DOING WHAT AT&T WANTS. In some way shape or form, they're still taking money from our pockets. They're getting what they want from us.
They WANT me to pay extra to get the phone now, because they no how irresistible the device is, and that I will buy it if I have to pay $399. But I know how to piggyback off my dad's eligibility to not only purchase and iPhone for the subsidized price, BUT to create an iPhone Data Plan for an account that isn't even supposed to HAVE an iPhone on it.
Darth.Titan, you're right. He'll still whine and moan because "WAAAH IT'S NOT A LOOPHOLE *cries*". Whatever. Let him go away.
Troll.
This is absolutely a loophole as far as I'm concerned. I am in the same boat...my mom is the primary line on our family plan. She can upgrade, I can't. Just a few questions...I thought the 3g sim card wouldn't work in other phones? Also, when you called att to get the plans switched to the other lines did you just talk to a customer service rep? Were they at all skeptical? Is there any way they wouldn't let me do that? Just trying to get a feel for what types of questions they will ask me when I call them up to transfer the plans. Any advice or help you can give is appreciated!
cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
Here's the thing. The SIM card in the iPhone is the same SIM card in any other AT&T phone. AT&T even acknowledges the ability to switch the iPhone SIM to another phone, as to not damage your iPhone when you take it to work or on vacation.
When you call, its not their job to know whether you've purchased the phone for a subsidized price or not. They really don't care. You can transfer plans and information all you like to all your lines as long as their linked to one account. So, no, they don't act suspiciously. The only way they wouldn't let you do it is if you do not have the sufficient credentials to modify the account, which is only the last 4 digits of the Social Security number that was used to open the account.
All they will ask you for when you call is the last 4 digits of the SSN used to open the account, and then what you want them to do for you that day.
When you call, its not their job to know whether you've purchased the phone for a subsidized price or not. They really don't care. You can transfer plans and information all you like to all your lines as long as their linked to one account. So, no, they don't act suspiciously. The only way they wouldn't let you do it is if you do not have the sufficient credentials to modify the account, which is only the last 4 digits of the Social Security number that was used to open the account.
All they will ask you for when you call is the last 4 digits of the SSN used to open the account, and then what you want them to do for you that day.
Thanks for the info. It absolutely sounds like a loophole to me. I find it interesting that the 3g sim card is the same as any other att sim card. I thought they were supposed to make it different in some way as to discourage people from buying the phone an an eligible plan and then giving it to someone who wasn't eligible? Very good news indeed. Now...I am not a current Iphone owner. What is the process like of taking the sim card out of the 3g. My friend has one and he says its a little different than a normal phone, but its not to challenging. But he is also a wiz at that kind of stuff. Thanks again!
3G sim cards have been in used for a long while, most people that have upgraded their phone within last year should have 3G sim card.
This is still not a loophole. As far as eligibility is concern, this is no different than you opening up a line to buy an iphone at discounted price and then give the phone to your son who is 13.
lol Wow this was a fun read! What's the matter wife won't let ya upgrade to an iphone?
You may want to look up the world loophole. He did circumvent his obligation to ATT, thereby making this a loophole. Here are the facts:
Under his contract with ATT he is not eligible for an upgrade. He then took one line which was eligible and purchased equipment under special (nothing the nice word in bold letters) pricing. He then bypassed his contractual obligation by swapping SIM cards and having his data plan moved. Where is the loophole for those that are slow? Well his line should not have an iphone for the 199 price, but yet he does. Hence he avoided his obligation of paying 399 for the phone and thus we have a loophole.
FYI this is different... you see in your anology you used the example of a new customer. New customers are not yet bound by any contractual obligation. The OP, however, IS currently under contract. Thereby your analogy has no merit.
Only thing I have to apologize was my initial rudeness.
But the fact is, this is far from a loophole. Buying the phone with eligibility and then transferring it to someone that isn't eligible is not a loophole. AT&T doesn't mind, and they don't care. If this is an issue, then EBay won't be selling iPhones.
This is the way to go if you don't have an upgrade on your number. If you go to a store on your own and do this, however, the phone that has the upgrade will be disconnected until you return to the AT&T store to get that phone a new SIM Card. So to avoid any disruption in service, bring your phone and the upgradeable phone and you will have your iPhone!
The dictionary disagrees with you. :-D
I guess I'll clarify it further. AT&T doesn't mind removing your $30 data plan, and I am sure they have no problem adding it. So when you purchase the phone, you are essentially free to do whatever you want with it, and AT&T doesn't care. Therefore when you pay someone else for the phone or in this case, ask your parents to give you the phone. This is not a loophole.
Loophole is to deceive the system by running 1G phone and giving yourself eligibility to upgrade when you are clearly not eligible.
cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
Wow, watching you try to prove yourself is like watching a WWII ship getting blown up, yet still trying to shoot at stuff.
Can't you just admit you're wrong and go away; and stop flooding my thread with posts of you trying to prove that this isn't a loophole or whatever other garbage your saying?
Big whoop, what I said didn't help you. But it has helped some people. That's all I wanted.
swordfish5736
macrumors 68000
My dad called me yesterday saying they did the same thing for him. Except they just used another eligible line on his account to allow him to get the subsidized price.
Btw, I have been doing this for years...I have 5 lines under my family plan and I just randomly upgrade as needed. iPhone is no different than any other phone I have upgraded to in the past. AT&T doesn't care as long as I renew my contract of each line, and that's where they make the money.
I have a question and hopefully someone can shed some light. Me and my wife are on a family plan together. I currently have an Iphone 1st generation and she just has a regular mobile phone. I want to give her the iphone 3g, i coul go in and activate it, switch sims with her at home an call at&t an have them switch the iphone plan and have hers subsidize and working? then i would be left with her RAZR. then i could just switch that sim out and put it back into my 1st generation iphone, and add the iphone data plan and then have both the iphone 3g with her and 1st generation iphone back with me? Would that work?
That SHOULD work. My gf who isn't on my plan was shown as "ineligible" on her phone upgrade, and after I got my 3G, I gave her the 1st G phone and since then she has became "eligible". I could go in details, but whatever you say does work, and THAT is a loophole.
cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
Clarify on that. Which part, the part where you become eligible for upgrade, or it doesn't work period?
Both worked for me just this past week.
cpljwlusmc
macrumors regular
Enabling upgrade eligibility by lacing a SIM into a first gen iPhone no longer works.
jmpmntwnty3
macrumors 6502
Yeah, my family's been doing this for YEARS. We've been with AT&T since it was Bellsouth mobile lol. I don't think anyone has ever used their own upgrade, except of course when we first got the lines lol.
And yes, this is considered a LOOPHOLE
AT&T doesn't advertise doing this, but the option of doing it is still possible, which makes it a loophole. Anyone who thinks different and attempts to correct someone in a childish manner through a friggin messageboard should really evaluate their sole purpose on this here planet earth.
And yes, this is considered a LOOPHOLE
AT&T doesn't advertise doing this, but the option of doing it is still possible, which makes it a loophole. Anyone who thinks different and attempts to correct someone in a childish manner through a friggin messageboard should really evaluate their sole purpose on this here planet earth.