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@Decimotox Thanks for the tip. Made my eligible-for-Next-upgrade payment (12th installment) and now am able to pre-order online.
Spoke with an AT&T rep, he told me that I'd either have to pay off the device or trade in the phone at a local store—nothing in between. /smh. Found your post, followed the steps, and now am upgrade eligible. Thumbsup.

Happy to help! Glad you're ready to pre-order. Best of luck! :cool:
 
I may have overlooked it in this thread, and I apologize if I have, but if I go ahead and pay off my 12 installments and pre-order through Apple (I had a terrible experience pre-ordering through AT&T last year), how do I get my old phone back to AT&T? Do I simply take it into the store or do the send me a box to return it?
 
I may have overlooked it in this thread, and I apologize if I have, but if I go ahead and pay off my 12 installments and pre-order through Apple (I had a terrible experience pre-ordering through AT&T last year), how do I get my old phone back to AT&T? Do I simply take it into the store or do the send me a box to return it?

Based on what others are saying you take it into a store.
 
I may have overlooked it in this thread, and I apologize if I have, but if I go ahead and pay off my 12 installments and pre-order through Apple (I had a terrible experience pre-ordering through AT&T last year), how do I get my old phone back to AT&T? Do I simply take it into the store or do the send me a box to return it?

If you pre-order through the Apple Store, you'll get a box and shipping label with your new phone in which you send back your old one. You have 14 days from the time you receive the new phone to send back the old one.
 
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That's great, thanks!

No problem! The poster above is correct, as well. You can take the old phone back into any AT&T Corporate store and do it that way. However, I'd just send it in the mail. Saves a trip and probably a lot of time, considering there will probably be LOTS of people in the stores around launch day and the days after.
 
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Yep - did the trade-in last year going from 5s to 6.

I did mine last year in-store. I had to pay the remaining balance to be eligible to do the trade-in upgrade...it was like $120-something. Not horrible. I chose the longer payment plans to lower my bill. But this year I'm doing the 12 month plan so I can upgrade to the 7 next fall.

If you're not showing as eligible for Next upgrade yet, here's what you do:

-Go into your account online and choose the line you want to upgrade.
-You should see a some dollar amount that you need to pay in order to be eligible to upgrade WITH phone trade-in.
-Go through the process of the upgrade (this means picking a new phone to "upgrade" to, but you won't be upgrading today, don't worry - just making yourself eligible to use the Apple Store app/online store.)
-You'll come to a screen where you must pay that remaining balance in order to be eligible. It's a separate transaction and will ask for your credit card number.
-Pay that amount and then right after, cancel the rest of the "upgrade".

Wait a second, and check your eligibility through the Apple Store. Should be good to go! :)


Great directions - unfortunately no dice. I can SEE the radio button next to pay to upgrade but it will NOT let me select it. The radio button is defaulted to pay off entire device and the other empty radio button next to pay to upgrade just sits there mocking me. Not grayed out or anything. ARGGGHHH.

Frustrating.
 
Great directions - unfortunately no dice. I can SEE the radio button next to pay to upgrade but it will NOT let me select it. The radio button is defaulted to pay off entire device and the other empty radio button next to pay to upgrade just sits there mocking me. Not grayed out or anything. ARGGGHHH.

Frustrating.

Their site can be kind of funky. Try logging out and logging back in, perhaps?

I had some troubles with it yesterday, too.
 
Ok, so here's where I'm at...

I currently have AT&T unlimited data plan. Everything rolls together to be about $75/month, but it can fluctuate because I don't have unlimited texting (I rarely go over my limit, but if someone sends me a picture I'll get charged for it). My actual data usage is usually between 3GB-4GB, occasionally going slightly higher than 4GB. A 5GB/month Next plan with unlimited texting would be $75/month.

I know giving up the unlimited plan is generally not a smart thing to do, BUT, if I were...

Are phones on the Next plan unlocked?
Do I own my phone after I pay all my installments?

I found two similar, yet contradicting statements on AT&T's website:

"Once you pay the balance of 24 installment payments, you have the option to trade in a fully functional and in good physical condition AT&T Next smartphone to upgrade to a new one."

"If you wish to keep your AT&T Next smartphone, you have the option to pay off your installment agreement at any time and keep the smartphone. After your smartphone is paid off, you're upgrade eligible as long as you are in good standing."

Can someone explain the difference of these statements to me?
 
Ok, so here's where I'm at...

I currently have AT&T unlimited data plan. Everything rolls together to be about $75/month, but it can fluctuate because I don't have unlimited texting (I rarely go over my limit, but if someone sends me a picture I'll get charged for it). My actual data usage is usually between 3GB-4GB, occasionally going slightly higher than 4GB. A 5GB/month Next plan with unlimited texting would be $75/month.

I know giving up the unlimited plan is generally not a smart thing to do, BUT, if I were...

Are phones on the Next plan unlocked?
Do I own my phone after I pay all my installments?

I found two similar, yet contradicting statements on AT&T's website:

"Once you pay the balance of 24 installment payments, you have the option to trade in a fully functional and in good physical condition AT&T Next smartphone to upgrade to a new one."

"If you wish to keep your AT&T Next smartphone, you have the option to pay off your installment agreement at any time and keep the smartphone. After your smartphone is paid off, you're upgrade eligible as long as you are in good standing."

Can someone explain the difference of these statements to me?

Phones on the Next plan are not unlocked until you pay them off in full - then AT&T will unlock it for free.

You own your phone after you pay the installments in full.

The difference in the statements is that one is referring to the Next 24 plan, and the other is referring to how to pay off and own the device.

There are 3 Next programs - 12, 18, and 24. These numbers mean that's how many months you have to pay before you're eligible to trade-in your phone and get a new one. For example, the Next 24 plan has 30 total monthly payments, but after 24 payments, you can trade in your current phone for a new one.

You can pay off your device under any of those plans at any time and fully own the device. I hope that helps!
 
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QUESTION:

Does anyone know if after fulfilling the payment obligations for NEXT 12 (12 months of payments) I can return the phone to AT&T and NOT upgrade through them, but instead switch to Apple's Upgrade Plan?

I am fulfilled and show Qualified for Upgrade in AT&T and Apple's systems, but in comparing the two options (another AT&T Next purchase for 6s Plus; or Apple Upgrade Program) and considering how much I hate AT&T, upgrading through Apple's plan seems better (AppleCare +, Unlocked Phone, Easier upgrade next year since APPLE knows the timing of release and that you'll want the NEW iPhone 7 whereas AT&T are idiots)...

I presume as long as I return the phone within 14 days of getting the new one (through Apple) I've fulfilled the obligation and should be able to order through Apple's program.

Thanks!
 
Their site can be kind of funky. Try logging out and logging back in, perhaps?

I had some troubles with it yesterday, too.

Will keep trying, using different browsers too. My problem may be that I'm getting a ~25% discount via work and it seems that while I start on the normal ATT site, when I'm doing the upgrade I appear to be on a business/premier portal.

Anybody else get that and still able to pay last payment?
 
Will keep trying, using different browsers too. My problem may be that I'm getting a ~25% discount via work and it seems that while I start on the normal ATT site, when I'm doing the upgrade I appear to be on a business/premier portal.

Anybody else get that and still able to pay last payment?

Yeah, that happened to me too. I have a 20% discount through work. I had to pay through the Premier site and it still worked just fine. :/
 
Phones on the Next plan are not unlocked until you pay them off in full - then AT&T will unlock it for free.

For example, the Next 24 plan has 30 total monthly payments, but after 24 payments, you can trade in your current phone for a new one.

You can pay off your device under any of those plans at any time and fully own the device. I hope that helps!

Thank you! The total 30 payments part is what I had missing from the equation. Now it makes sense!

Keeping my unlimited data plan still seems to make the most sense, so hopefully I can make that happen.
 
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i'm eligible for an upgrade, but i want to keep my current 6 Plus. Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade and then pay the remaining balance on my phone with the two week period? that way i get a new phone on my current plan and then i keep my old 6 plus.
 
i'm eligible for an upgrade, but i want to keep my current 6 Plus. Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade and then pay the remaining balance on my phone with the two week period? that way i get a new phone on my current plan and then i keep my old 6 plus.
I'm guessing this is possible but I don't have a copy of my Next contract with me so I can't check what happens if you don't turn in your device.

Of course, you can just pay off your 6 Plus now so you don't run into any issues.
 
At this time I have an ATT Next plan and an iPhone 6+.

I thought I would get on apple upgrade, get a new 6S+, then sell my old 6+ on eBay and pay whatever is owed to ATT so I don't have to phone monthly payments. Is that an option? I read somewhere that in order to get a phone with the Apple Upgrade plan you need to open a new line with a carrier. Is that true?
 
how do i pay my remaining balance so i can upgrade?? i only need one more payment of $47.50

I was told you can go into an AT&T store or go to your account online, choose check upgrade eligibility and you'll be given the option to make a payment in order to upgrade.
 
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I have never preorder from at&t website before and I'm forced to do it now

Do we get the phone delivered on the 25th like we would ordering from Apple ?
 
I have never preorder from at&t website before and I'm forced to do it now

Do we get the phone delivered on the 25th like we would ordering from Apple ?
If all goes well there is a possibility. I did last year but I know a few people that didn't. The earlier you order the better off you will be.
 
I have never preorder from at&t website before and I'm forced to do it now

Do we get the phone delivered on the 25th like we would ordering from Apple ?

Last year was a real mess for customers that ordered through the AT&T website: delivery was well past launch date for many.
 
I plan to preorder using another lines eligibility for next plan , that's why I have to do it from at&t

But what I want to do is preorder from the eligible phone line in the apple website
And when I get the phone I just put my SIM card in there , and give my old iPhone 6 to the other person


Anybody here done this without any trouble ?
Do I have to activate the new phone first on the other line before putting my SIM card in there ?
 
So I have 2 installments left to pay at $85 before I'm upgrade eligible. After speaking with AT&T reps on the phone and in-store it looks like I can't pay off the $85 unless I'm upgrading to the 6s in the same transaction. I'm a little wary of going through the upgrade loophole with the iPhone 6 (is this a safe method?).

I'm wondering if I'll be alright just ordering it through the AT&T website when pre-orders become available and doing it all in one transaction (paying off the $85 balance and pre-ordering the phone), or if I should just avoid the hassle and go to an AT&T store on launch day? I'm in a major city so there's a million of them.

Anyone had this same issue in years' past or having it this year?
 
i'm eligible for an upgrade, but i want to keep my current 6 Plus. Anyone know if it's possible to upgrade and then pay the remaining balance on my phone with the two week period? that way i get a new phone on my current plan and then i keep my old 6 plus.
Same issue here. I was thinking of calling att after upgrading to let them now what I wanted to do.
 
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