AT&T to Stop Offering Two-Year Phone Contracts Starting January 8

[Craven Morehead]

Something is off. I'm grandfathered on unlimited and still showing as eligible to renew on a 2-year contract. Do you happen to have FAN and if so, you must do it through the online AT&T Premier site rather than the normal AT&T site or physical stores?

AT&T employees are also known to grandfathered unlimited customers away from unlimited so don't listen to them.

Agreed something is way off. I have no idea what FAN even is so I would say that I do not have it. Pretty standard Unlimited plan since the beginning, upgraded every 2 years...

here is the message I get that was not on the site last night:


"Two-year contract pricing on smartphones is not currently available online in your region. For Mobile Share Value plan customers, note that the $15/$25 discounts are not available with an upgrade to a new 2-year contract.

Call 888.333.6651 for details."

 

[Craven Morehead]

Also, I should ad that if I log off, and back on, for a split second, I get the screen I got yesterday which had the radio button option of 2yr plan, but then it quickly snaps to the revised screen that states its unavailable.

 

[Applejuiced]

Most likely they removed the option right now so unlimited data lines cannot get subsidies and be able to cancel etf free 2 months later.

 

[GuardsRed Apple]

Most likely they removed the option right now so unlimited data lines cannot get subsidies and be able to cancel etf free 2 months later.

Pretty sure that's not it b/c the notification from AT&T stated something to the effect that the ability to cancel without ETF after your bill increase was only for people who had signed contracts prior to the notification being sent out. I can't seem to find my letter at the moment for exact wording.

EDIT: But with AT&T, anything is entirely possible.

 

[Applejuiced]

Pretty sure that's not it b/c the notification from AT&T stated something to the effect that the ability to cancel without ETF after your bill increase was only for people who had signed contracts prior to the notification being sent out. I can't seem to find my letter at the moment for exact wording.

EDIT: But with AT&T, anything is entirely possible.

I hear you.
Maybe they pulled the plug now on contracts and will blame it on technical difficulties.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I hear you.
Maybe they pulled the plug now on contracts and will blame it on technical difficulties.

I just renewed my mother's contract for two years to get the iPhone 6s a few minutes ago so they most certainly haven't pulled the plug.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Update!

In typical ATT Sh!tshow fashion, they are lost and confused. After reading this post that the 2yr deals would discontinue on 8 Jan, yesterday I logged on to ATT.com to indeed, confirm I was eligible to upgrade and still select the 2yr plan. I decided I would do it today. However, when I signed in today, I found that the option for the 2yr contract had vanished overnight.

I then called ATT and was told that that I could still do it online (she was wrong, I can NOT), but advised I should go into the store. Made an appt this morn and went into the store and told them what I wanted to do. After about 5 minutes, the agent told me "just so you know, I can't help you with a 2yr contract...nor can my manager..." I was like BS, ATT told me to come into the store....so I asked him to get his mgr. His mgr then came out and tried to talk to me as if I was an 18yr old girls and tech stupid (Im 48yr old male). He tried to tell me that it was probably due to a caching issue on my browser that the 2yr deal showed up yesterday. B!S!

He then tried to sell me on why I should drop my unlimited plan...blah blah blah.

I explained that the only reason Im still with ATT was the unlimited plan I had grandfathered....

So there was nothing he could help me with...

Got home and called ATT directly again and was told that I either had to do it online (which again, does NOT work), or another option is she could transfer me to the store and I could do it over the phone. ONly problem is the store is closed today (which I told her). She then said she would transfer me to "customer retention" and they could do it as well....only to find that that dept too is closed today....


long story short, see ya later ATT. Hello Verizon...what a joke ATT is!

Please enlighten us as to how moving to Verizon is better than sticking with your unlimited plan on ATT?

 

[kagharaht]

What if your 2 year contract expires in March 2016 and your Grandfathered from 2007 with Subsidy? Can you terminate your contract now then upgrade to 2 year plan and pay the ETF? ETF shouldn't be too much with 3 months to go right? Because if you don't, in March you won't have a choice to stay in your Grandfathered Subsidized plan right?

 

[pooleman]

Think they will honor this come April?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Think they will honor this come April?

View attachment 608283

I think you mentioned having a FAN account. I've been unsuccessful in finding out how "Custom IRUs" are any different from "IRUs". Everyone with a FAN account is either an IRU or CRU, but if "Custom IRUs" are the same thing as "IRUs" then you'll still be able to renew on a 2-year contract according to the FAQ in the OP.

 

[Craven Morehead]

Please enlighten us as to how moving to Verizon is better than sticking with your unlimited plan on ATT?

here's how. when your (my) 2yr contract expires with ATT and you have the grandfathered unlimited plan, you get zero reduction in your bill. my contract was up in Oct. My bill was and still is around $100/mth with an Iphone 5s. although, the unlimited plan is nice, i just looked up my data usage and i have never used more than 2.5gb in a single month.

now figure in the $5 increase announced last month... the price of data should not be going up, it should be going DOWN! I dont care that they have not had an increase in X years, they should not have had one.

end of the day, if i get on a Verizon plan a 3GB data, i get a 6S Plus and am still saving $. Plus getting the NFL on Verizon...

 

[bommai]

I was in a subsidized plan for 6 years with AT&T. I paid $110 (out of pocket) including employee discount for two lines. When my contract ended in September, I switched to cricket and pay $40 for two lines (out of pocket) as part of a 5 line group save plan (group save includes my friend who had 3 lines - works out to 5 lines for $100). Each line comes with 2.5 GB of data and unlimited voice and text. Pretty sweet huh. I bought iPhone 6s Plus for my wife and me and sold our old 5s in craigslist. Still works out to be cheaper than my AT&T plan.

 

[imlynxy]

I don't understand Att logic at all. A lot of people already upgraded with 2-year contract with iphones 6s.Next huge iphone sales comes September 2017. Christmas sale is over. Why not to wait till the end of August and annonce that 2-year terms no longer available, so Att will loose the majority of customers in August-September 2016, not February-March2016. They are going to loose profit for 6 months from me and people in my situation who are going to switch February. if I don't know anything about contracts I stay till the next iphone upgrade. So this is the proof that somebody doesn't like UDP so much that he/she wants we cancel them even if the company looses money. Or... I forgot they don't want to chase every customer. They need one, but very rich guy. Or... may be a couple of rich guys

http://www.cnet.com/news/as-wireless-wars-cool-down-at-t-says-it-wont-chase-customers/

This is the proof again that Att wants to be alone with DirectTV and valueble Mexican customers. So ... Good luck!


P.S. Increase UDP 5 dollars, get me out of contract, anyway I wait till the next model of iPhone... and surprise me in September, just before iphone 7 comes. This is how it should be to maximize profit out of the situation. Who cares?

 

[Applejuiced]

I just renewed my mother's contract for two years to get the iPhone 6s a few minutes ago so they most certainly haven't pulled the plug.

Weird.
Maybe isolated issue then with the particular users account not being able to purchase on contract.

I don't understand Att logic at all. A lot of people already upgraded with 2-year contract with iphones 6s.Next huge iphone sales comes September 2017. Christmas sale is over. Why not to wait till the end of August and annonce that 2-year terms no longer available, so Att will loose the majority of customers in August-September 2016, not February-March2016. They are going to loose profit for 6 months from me and people in my situation who are going to switch February. if I don't know anything about contracts I stay till the next iphone upgrade. So this is the proof that somebody doesn't like UDP so much that he/she wants we cancel them even if the company looses money. Or... I forgot they don't want to chase every customer. They need one, but very rich guy. Or... may be a couple of rich guys

http://www.cnet.com/news/as-wireless-wars-cool-down-at-t-says-it-wont-chase-customers/

This is the proof again that Att wants to be alone with DirectTV and valueble Mexican customers. So ... Good luck!


P.S. Increase UDP 5 dollars, get me out of contract, anyway I wait till the next model of iPhone... and surprise me in September, just before iphone 7 comes. This is how it should be to maximize profit out of the situation. Who cares?

They are not that bright.
They could have done what verizon did and raise the unlimited data cost on unlimited lines once their current contract has expired.
But by them raising it now immediately on all customers they will let go ETF free millions of people
I got 3 lines on my account that have a year left but in february we're all getting out without any charges.

 

[sallenthornton]

Maybe its been answered, but will I be able to cancel my 2 unlimited data plans, enroll in NEXT USING the same phones I just ETF'ed and reduce my monthly bill by 40.00 a line? I tried using the plan comparison on ATT website, but it keeps factoring in the 40.00 for each phone, which raises my monthly rate from 180.00 to 220.00 a month. What if I stay on my current pan, will the monthly rate be reduced due to not getting a subsidy any longer.

Any help would be appreciated. I am just trying to figure out my options. My 3 month average for data on 2 lines was just shy of 20gb... Thanks!

 

[Applejuiced]

Maybe its been answered, but will I be able to cancel my 2 unlimited data plans, enroll in NEXT USING the same phones I just ETF'ed and reduce my monthly bill by 40.00 a line? I tried using the plan comparison on ATT website, but it keeps factoring in the 40.00 for each phone, which raises my monthly rate from 180.00 to 220.00 a month. What if I stay on my current pan, will the monthly rate be reduced due to not getting a subsidy any longer.

Any help would be appreciated. I am just trying to figure out my options. My 3 month average for data on 2 lines was just shy of 20gb... Thanks!

Yes you can use next. If you stay on your current plan the rate will stay the same. It will not go down.
You will just keep paying what you are now but not get subsidized upgrades every 2 years.

 

[sallenthornton]

It seems like I should cancel in Feb, hang on to my current phones and move over to NEXT, use my current phones and save myself the 40.00 charge x 2.... I can't see any reason to stay on UDP and not get a subsidy or reduction of my monthly rate. Ugh!!!

 

[aristobrat]

How in the universe is a $65 monthly bill "going towards my phone"?
Again, do the math.... $299 for the phone plus $65 a month for 24 months = ~$77.45 a month and I have unlimited data.... how is this more expensive than NEXT?

I never said your grandfathered $65/month 2-year contract was more expensive than Next.

So let's do the math. AT&T sold you a $749 phone for $299. There's a $450 difference (loss on AT&T's part) there. Perhaps not exactly $450 (as AT&T undoubtedly buys the phone from Apple for a bit less than $749) but there's a several hundred dollar difference (loss) happening here.

The way wireless carriers make up that difference is to inflate the price of the monthly bill (on 2-year contracts) to include the cost of service and the cost of recouping that several hundred dollar loss.

That's 'how in the universe' part of your $65 monthly bill is "going towards (paying for) your phone". Most of the $65 goes towards paying for the service, and a portion of it goes towards paying towards recouping that several hundred dollar loss.

That's the rub with 2-year contracts. At the end of the contract (when AT&T has recouped the money that loss), your monthly bill doesn't decrease. So if you're not constantly renewing these contracts and buying new subsidized phones, you're overpaying in the sense that the part of your $65 monthly bill that previously went towards recouping the loss on that phone now goes to AT&T for .. nothing.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I never said your grandfathered $65/month 2-year contract was more expensive than Next.

So let's do the math. AT&T sold you a $749 phone for $299. There's a $450 difference (loss on AT&T's part) there. Perhaps not exactly $450 (as AT&T undoubtedly buys the phone from Apple for a bit less than $749) but there's a several hundred dollar difference happening here.

The way wireless carriers make up that difference is to inflate the price of the monthly bill (on 2-year contracts) to include the cost of service + the cost of recouping the loss of selling $649+ phones for just $199+.

That's how in the universe part of your $65 monthly bill is "going towards (paying for) your phone". Most of the $65 goes towards paying for the service, and a porting of it goes towards paying towards recouping that loss.

That's the rub with 2-year contracts. At the end of the contract (when AT&T has recouped the money they lost up front on the phone sale), your monthly bill doesn't decrease. So if you're not constantly renewing these contracts and buying new subsidized phones, you're overpaying in the sense that the part of your $65 monthly bill that previously went towards paying for the phone now goes to AT&T for .. nothing.

Yeah, I'm surprised by how many members in this thread seem unable to grasp this concept.

 

[Rayfire]

It seems like I should cancel in Feb, hang on to my current phones and move over to NEXT, use my current phones and save myself the 40.00 charge x 2.... I can't see any reason to stay on UDP and not get a subsidy or reduction of my monthly rate. Ugh!!!

I'm in the same boat, but I'm thinking not to use Next on top of my monthly rate, which now has no subsidy. Like others said, other MVNOs might be a better option like Cricket since it's still At&t coverage for only $30-50/mo for one line. Of course this all depends on your usage and budget.

 

[mrmike316]

Yeah, I'm surprised by how many members in this thread seem unable to grasp this concept.

It's very easy to grasp,but it should be just as easy to grasp that some of us that have the old old plans with the 2 year commitment are much cheaper. There isn't really much built into them old plans for Att to recover the cost, I have been told by a few att reps that the new data share plans would cost me more money... This is the reason they are getting rid of the 2 year commitment price there not making money on it.... Pretty simple to grasp

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It's very easy to grasp,but it should be just as easy to grasp that some of us that have the old old plans with the 2 year commitment are much cheaper. There isn't really much built into them old plans for Att to recover the cost

That's not in dispute. We're talking about members who are convinced there's somehow no cost built into the monthly payments for at&t to recoup to cover the subsidy over time, even if it's not as much compared to the newer plans.

 

[rdlink]

Caught in a lie and still lying and trolling. I expected you not to be able to man up. You are wrong, there are people that this will affect.


Substandard experience? Still trolling. I can customize and do things you cannot, the walled garden is substandard and boring. Believe me I am older and been using cell phones from the beginning, iOS is nothing for a vehicle to run apps, android is customizable and fun. I never used my iPhone for more than making calls, 1000.00 for a dumb phone is ridiculous. My phone now I am constantly using. I hated my iPhone, my wife hates her iPhone. Everyone is different. It's my 10 year mold niece that is having a substandard smartphone experience, she just doesn't know it yet.

1. Grow up and learn everyone is different, your ideal is so me one else's substandard.
2. Grow up and quit trolling.
3. Not everyone is still in school and live for flashing brands at the other kiddies.
4. I put trolls on ignorre.

Everyone's idea of substandard is different. To me iOS with it being so closed is substandard, to others it is not. I can accept that, there are narcissist's that cannot. Have a good life, but you are in for a shock. I refer you number#4.

Anger issues much? No need to ignore me. Since you can't get over your anger issues, and insist on continuing personal attacks although I admitted that I mistakenly confused you with another poster I'm finished communicating with you. And I've reported you to the Mods for your personal attacks and other violations of forum rules. Have a nice day.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

I don't understand Att logic at all. A lot of people already upgraded with 2-year contract with iphones 6s.Next huge iphone sales comes September 2017. Christmas sale is over. Why not to wait till the end of August and annonce that 2-year terms no longer available, so Att will loose the majority of customers in August-September 2016, not February-March2016. They are going to loose profit for 6 months from me and people in my situation who are going to switch February. if I don't know anything about contracts I stay till the next iphone upgrade. So this is the proof that somebody doesn't like UDP so much that he/she wants we cancel them even if the company looses money. Or... I forgot they don't want to chase every customer. They need one, but very rich guy. Or... may be a couple of rich guys

http://www.cnet.com/news/as-wireless-wars-cool-down-at-t-says-it-wont-chase-customers/

This is the proof again that Att wants to be alone with DirectTV and valueble Mexican customers. So ... Good luck!


P.S. Increase UDP 5 dollars, get me out of contract, anyway I wait till the next model of iPhone... and surprise me in September, just before iphone 7 comes. This is how it should be to maximize profit out of the situation. Who cares?

Most likely these choices were made by different departments. Or it's possibly AT&T saw how little 2 yrs were sold with the 6S and dedicated it was more profitable still.

They are not that bright.
They could have done what verizon did and raise the unlimited data cost on unlimited lines once their current contract has expired.
But by them raising it now immediately on all customers they will let go ETF free millions of people
I got 3 lines on my account that have a year left but in february we're all getting out without any charges.

Like I keep saying. I am 99% sure that is not true.

As soon as we got the courtesy notice stating our plans would be increased, we received the right to cancel without fee. The notation that we have to wait until February to experience the increase and then cancel makes no sense. As the entire reason we are able to cancel is that we reject the price the increase. Which is the reason for the 2 month courtesy notice in the first place. This is legal speak 101.

As I said, I already ported my numbers over so my service is cancelled. I am waiting for the fill bill now and if there is an ETF fee for the unlimited plans then I'll call support to waive it.

 

[Sappharad]

It's very easy to grasp,but it should be just as easy to grasp that some of us that have the old old plans with the 2 year commitment are much cheaper.

I'm randomly interjecting into this thread that's gotten pretty big at this point, but I fall into the same category. It's going to be much cheaper for me to stay on the subsidized plan, even though I'll be technically getting ripped off once my contract is over.

I pay $75/mo right now for my legacy AT&T plan. This is before taxes, service fees and discounts. It's just the individual services added up (smallest legacy voice plan, smallest legacy text plan, unlimited data), so it would be their advertised price for the plan. Obviously, this will increase to $80/mo after the unlimited data price increase.

I used 5.5GB of data last month, and my data use is usually between 4 and 6GB a month. If I were to switch to a modern plan, I'd have to pick between 5GB of data or 15GB of data, since they don't offer anything in between right now. Although rollover data could help, I would be forced into the 15GB option because I need to assume my data use will continue to slowly rise over time. The cheapest 15GB plan costs $115/mo, so it would cost me $40/mo more than I'm paying right now to switch to an unsubsidized plan.

If I could somehow ensure that I'm always below 5GB a month, the cheapest 5GB plan appears to be $75/mo, which matches what I pay now. I'd gain unlimited voice and text by switching to a modern plan, but I definitely don't need those things since I always use less than 20% of the limits on my current plan. I'm totally in favor of them moving to unsubsidized plans, it makes sense not to bundle the phone into the plan. But I'll be saving a lot of money by remaining on my current plan, even after my contract ends.

I wanted to switch carriers last time my contract ended, but nobody else gets service here. I'm kind if in a dead-zone with good service a mile in any direction. 1 to 2 bars from AT&T, but anyone with Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon doesn't get service at all. I don't know anyone with a T-Mobile 6S to see if their new 700mhz band would allow it to work here, but I might want to find out at some point.