AT&T Grandfathered family plan - Help?

[mr99]

I am currently in a 5 line AT&T family plan from many years ago, family talk 1400 with unlimited text and various data levels with each line. 2 lines have unlimited data and the rest of them have 2GB or less data plans, we use about 16GB total data each month.

I'm really struggling to figure out what's the best path for me to get a 6S Plus 64GB.

Currently if I choose ATT NEXT, my line and/or plan won't benefit from the $15 or $25 discount since we aren't on a family share plan. I also can't order via Apple.com and renew a 2 year contract, whether or not that makes financial sense or not anymore, i'm not sure.

I usually use 5-7GB of data per month, on my line alone. I'm wondering do I switch carriers, do I remain with AT&T and move to a family share plan or stay with my current family plan?

Our current plan costs us $300/month therefore my portion is $60. If we move to a share plan, I save $25/month. If I choose Apple's financing plan, it costs me ~$45/month. In the past I would renew a 2 year contract and sell my current gen iPhone and repeat yearly.

I'm looking for the help of any experts around here who can help shed some light or help me figure out the best way to get the 6S Plus.

edit: Also contemplating buying the new device outright for $899 plus tax and selling my 64gb 6 plus for ~$500 for a net cost to me of ~$460?

 

[AMDENCO]

I am currently in a 5 line AT&T family plan from many years ago, family talk 1400 with unlimited text and various data levels with each line. 2 lines have unlimited data and the rest of them have 2GB or less data plans, we use about 16GB total data each month.

I'm really struggling to figure out what's the best path for me to get a 6S Plus 64GB.

Currently if I choose ATT NEXT, my line and/or plan won't benefit from the $15 or $25 discount since we aren't on a family share plan. I also can't order via Apple.com and renew a 2 year contract, whether or not that makes financial sense or not anymore, i'm not sure.

I usually use 5-7GB of data per month, on my line alone. I'm wondering do I switch carriers, do I remain with AT&T and move to a family share plan or stay with my current family plan?

Our current plan costs us $300/month therefore my portion is $60. If we move to a share plan, I save $25/month. If I choose Apple's financing plan, it costs me ~$45/month. In the past I would renew a 2 year contract and sell my current gen iPhone and repeat yearly.

I'm looking for the help of any experts around here who can help shed some light or help me figure out the best way to get the 6S Plus.

edit: Also contemplating buying the new device outright for $899 plus tax and selling my 64gb 6 plus for ~$500 for a net cost to me of ~$460?

I actually just talked to an AT&T rep about this. I can utilize the att next plan and still keep my unlimited data, she stated it will not change my plan besides adding the installment payment each month.

 

[Apollonian]

I am in a similar situation as the OP with a family plan, 5 lines, and grandfathered data however due to where I am in my contract NEXT does not appear to be an option for me based upon the tool on Apple.com.

 

[DrBwell]

I'm in the same boat as mr99, 4 lines, 2 with 1400 min., unlimited data and 2 without data. I currently pay $230/ month. I traded my iPhone 6 for $350 plus I got his 5S to use until the 6S plus comes out. I don't think changing over to the Next plan will be any good because you end up paying the full price of the phone over 2 yrs and it never ends. I like the way I do it, every year I get a new iPhone and it doesn't cost me anything as long as I sell my current iPhone and don't go for a bigger or higher memory device.

 

[Applejuiced]

Whatever you do don't lose the unlimited data plan.
I would not.

 

[DrBwell]

Whatever you do don't lose the unlimited data plan.
I would not.

Agreed!

 

[Apollonian]

I'm in the same boat as mr99, 4 lines, 2 with 1400 min., unlimited data and 2 without data. I currently pay $230/ month. I traded my iPhone 6 for $350 plus I got his 5S to use until the 6S plus comes out. I don't think changing over to the Next plan will be any good because you end up paying the full price of the phone over 2 yrs and it never ends. I like the way I do it, every year I get a new iPhone and it doesn't cost me anything as long as I sell my current iPhone and don't go for a bigger or higher memory device.

This is exactly why I plan to continue my contracts with my unlimited plans.

 

[xyxinc]

Why not just pre order via atts website and choose the 2 year option? Their pre order starts the same time as Apple.

 

[mr99]

Why not just pre order via atts website and choose the 2 year option? Their pre order starts the same time as Apple.

I might, but I'm not sure it makes the most financial sense right now or if I'll have any luck pre ordering with the anticipated madness.

 

[hbenitez09]

If you upgraded your contract after att next launched as an option in February 2014 than you had an opportunity to jump on next already at a point of upgrade and bypassed therefore you aren't eligible for an upgrade again whether 2 year or next until your contract is up.

When is your contract date?

I am in a similar situation as the OP with a family plan, 5 lines, and grandfathered data however due to where I am in my contract NEXT does not appear to be an option for me based upon the tool on Apple.com.

 

[hbenitez09]

if you are averaging 16gb of data now move to mobile share value 20 gb. As long as all lines qualify to receive be 25 dollar per month discount for being out of contract you'll be at 215. Whether your lines qualify or not depends on when you signed their 2year agreements anything after Feb 2014 can't get discounts at this point. Anything before that time can. So your monthly plan will be 215 plus whatever installments you opt for depending on how many renewals.


P.s buying the phone at full retail is the same as doing next. What you are doing instead is buying in bulk att next takes full price of device and you are allowed to pay it monthly. For essentially a one time cost of 15 dollars.

What you gain from next is that in a year when Apple launches the 7 you can trade in for that by just paying taxes and another 15 dollar fee. (As long as you choose next 12). You won't have to deal with the hassle of selling it yourself on Craigslist or eBay or whatever.

What you gain from full retail is the option to have it unlocked directly from Apple at the time of purchase. If this is actually a benefit for you or not is up to you.
Next and full price purchase is the exact same thing minus the 15 dollar upgrade fee on next that's one time when you upgrade.

apples lease option is interesting. It's essentially carrier financing bypassing the carrier. I think it's apples first step into maybe offering mnvo service. The lease option through Apple hasn't covered what's being paid up front do you pay taxes at store or is it all financed. What they have said is that's it's being ran by citizen bank and requires credit approval. It's essentially a personal loan that will always exist if you trade in. Will require credit pull and will appear on credit report. What you gain from this is Apple care plus, mildly useful but a much better option if it covered lost or stolen especially since most Apple devices needing replacement is due to lost or stolen and you gain an unlocked phone.

Failed to mention as the CSR at att told you. You can do next and keep your plan exactly the way it is if you choose too. But with that amount of data usage for 5 lines makes more sense to do mobile share you guys aren't heavy data users at all.

I am currently in a 5 line AT&T family plan from many years ago, family talk 1400 with unlimited text and various data levels with each line. 2 lines have unlimited data and the rest of them have 2GB or less data plans, we use about 16GB total data each month.

I'm really struggling to figure out what's the best path for me to get a 6S Plus 64GB.

Currently if I choose ATT NEXT, my line and/or plan won't benefit from the $15 or $25 discount since we aren't on a family share plan. I also can't order via Apple.com and renew a 2 year contract, whether or not that makes financial sense or not anymore, i'm not sure.

I usually use 5-7GB of data per month, on my line alone. I'm wondering do I switch carriers, do I remain with AT&T and move to a family share plan or stay with my current family plan?

Our current plan costs us $300/month therefore my portion is $60. If we move to a share plan, I save $25/month. If I choose Apple's financing plan, it costs me ~$45/month. In the past I would renew a 2 year contract and sell my current gen iPhone and repeat yearly.

I'm looking for the help of any experts around here who can help shed some light or help me figure out the best way to get the 6S Plus.

edit: Also contemplating buying the new device outright for $899 plus tax and selling my 64gb 6 plus for ~$500 for a net cost to me of ~$460?

 

[mr99]

I'm still trying to figure out if I should abandon my old family plan and abandon unlimited data. Currently only 2 lines are not under contract. We typically pay $300/month on average.

 

[nostresshere]

The family share plan for 5 phones (assuming they are not on any equipment contract) is $175 a month and it now includes 15gb of data - shared across all phones. And, all phones then have hotspot (are you paying for ipad data?).

You can pick up some more data if really needed. Since you are the biggest data user - could that be on wifi vs cellular? My daughter was racking up usage, only to find out she was not using the office wifi (free).

We dropped unlimited a year ago and saved well over $1000.

 

[mr99]

The family share plan for 5 phones (assuming they are not on any equipment contract) is $175 a month and it now includes 15gb of data - shared across all phones. And, all phones then have hotspot (are you paying for ipad data?).

You can pick up some more data if really needed. Since you are the biggest data user - could that be on wifi vs cellular? My daughter was racking up usage, only to find out she was not using the office wifi (free).

We dropped unlimited a year ago and saved well over $1000.

All lines are on equipment contracts except for 2 of them. I am not paying for hotspot or iPad data. I use wifi at home and anywhere it's available. My biggest usage is music streaming in my truck. I know I can save a little money but is it really worth abandoning unlimited data for a minor savings?

Maybe I can remove my line from the family plan and go to another carrier but I just don't know. I need help finding an easy answer because right now I'm boggled.

 

[Applejuiced]

The family share plan for 5 phones (assuming they are not on any equipment contract) is $175 a month and it now includes 15gb of data - shared across all phones. And, all phones then have hotspot (are you paying for ipad data?).

You can pick up some more data if really needed. Since you are the biggest data user - could that be on wifi vs cellular? My daughter was racking up usage, only to find out she was not using the office wifi (free).

We dropped unlimited a year ago and saved well over $1000.

15gb for 5 people is not much and leaves you open to many data overages in the future.
And buying 5 phones full price can cost over $3500.
So you really think you saved $1000 where in reality you lost over $2250 in device subsidies and have to pay full price for your devices or make payments on them each month?
You sure saved by switching. That's what the carriers want you to think while they're lining up their pockets

 

[DrBwell]

If you upgraded your contract after att next launched as an option in February 2014 than you had an opportunity to jump on next already at a point of upgrade and bypassed therefore you aren't eligible for an upgrade again whether 2 year or next until your contract is up.

When is your contract date?

I have 4 phones on my cooperate plan, so I can take an upgrade every year since I pay the bill.

 

[mr99]

15gb for 5 people is not much and leaves you open to many data overages in the future.
And buying 5 phones full price can cost over $3500.
So you really think you saved $1000 where in reality you lost over $2250 in device subsidies and have to pay full price for your devices or make payments on them each month?
You sure saved by switching. That's what the carriers want you to think while they're lining up their pockets

So you are ordering through the ATT site or their app correct? What's the fastest way to do so?

 

[DrBwell]

So you are ordering through the ATT site or their app correct? What's the fastest way to do so?

I spoke to an AT&T rep last night and she said we can order on line from either AT&T or Apple. In the past as corporate customers, we were only allowed to order direct from AT&T, now she said we can also order from Apple. I still don't believe that, so I'm going online at midnight to AT&T Premiere corporate website to place my order.