Carrier ATT Next: Paying off your installments or 12 months

[marddin]

I'm currently on old legacy data and minutes plan which is destroying my wallet. I guess it's time to jump ship to ATT Next.

My question which I can't seem to find the answer to is, lets say I choose to elect the "upgrade in 12 months" plan for iPhone 6S which means I pay 12 payments of $27.45 and then I can turn the phone in and upgrade next year (equates to $329.40 total).

Like many, I don't like carrying debt, so rather than spread it across 12 payments, I just want to pay the
$329.40 outright so I'm good to go. And then still reap the benefits of discounts on mobile share plan due to next upgrade. I don't want to pay the phone off entirely (20 installments @ $27.45), I just want to pay off what I need to to upgrade, but right then.

Is this possible? Has anyone successfully done this?

Thanks for your help!

 

[AbSoluTc]

I'm currently on old legacy data and minutes plan which is destroying my wallet. I guess it's time to jump ship to ATT Next.

My question which I can't seem to find the answer to is, lets say I choose to elect the "upgrade in 12 months" plan for iPhone 6S which means I pay 12 payments of $27.45 and then I can turn the phone in and upgrade next year (equates to $329.40 total).

Like many, I don't like carrying debt, so rather than spread it across 12 payments, I just want to pay the
$329.40 outright so I'm good to go. And then still reap the benefits of discounts on mobile share plan due to next upgrade. I don't want to pay the phone off entirely (20 installments @ $27.45), I just want to pay off what I need to to upgrade, but right then.

Is this possible? Has anyone successfully done this?

Thanks for your help!

Yes. Did this 2 weeks ago in anticipation of upgrading to the new phone. Options are to turn in your phone or pay the remaining balance. Remaining balance for me was $335 roughly. The phone is now mine. I don't have to turn it in and I can upgrade and start the cycle again.

 

[marddin]

Yes. Did this 2 weeks ago in anticipation of upgrading to the new phone. Options are to turn in your phone or pay the remaining balance. Remaining balance for me was $335 roughly. The phone is now mine. I don't have to turn it in and I can upgrade and start the cycle again.

I think you misunderstood. I mean pay the remaining balance that's required to upgrade - NOT to buy the phone outright like you did.

 

[mb2008]

I don't think this will work, they will continue to charge until you've paid off/returned the phone. I'm basing this on the conversations I've had when paying off Next contracts.

 

[defboob]

I don't think this will work, they will continue to charge until you've paid off/returned the phone. I'm basing this on the conversations I've had when paying off Next contracts.

Sounds about right - even if you pre-pay 12 months worth of payments, they are just going to keep charging the next month until it's 100% paid in full. It's not going to let you skip payments for 11 months and then continue with the normal payments of the remaining balance after that.

 

[lsh]

I think you misunderstood. I mean pay the remaining balance that's required to upgrade - NOT to buy the phone outright like you did.

I think the answer is YES you can as long as you order thru AT&T. I just did a trial and it gives you the option to pay the 1 month (and send back your phone) or the entire balance and keep your phone. Presumably is just adds the month's fee to your transaction.

In my case, my 12th installment was 8/24 but my billing cycle is mid September so I'm pending, not paid. I won't be able to order thru APPLE unless the store has a way to take and register my installment payment when I ask them tomorrow. AT&T online does have a way under 'Make a Payment' to pay my entire installment balance, but not just my upgrade balance (my 12th month).

edit: actually, you can't pay ahead the 12 months (which was your question) but you can pay off the remaining in order to preorder as long as you order thru AT&T.

 

[lsh]

Ok, i just paid off my 12th month so I wonder if you could with x thru 12 after you've set up your phone.
Thanks to a tip on another thread by duaneu: Go to upgrade your phone. It will tell you that you need to payoff thru the minimum or full amount to upgrade. Keep going, pretending like you'll be doing an upgrade - including all the info about the condition of your phone. Then it lets you do the payoff with credit card info. Then when you get to the next screen for the new order, just stop.
The question is does the monthly billing know for those months not to charge you.
Since my new phone won't ship until after my billing date, I'll try to remember to check and see what my bill looks like.

Or you could just stop in a store. The collective staff at a store tends to know more than someone answering a chat in my experience.

 

[nostresshere]

I get you do not want to make monthly payments.

I also think you should realize you are setting yourself for hours and hours and hours on the phone with ATT trying to sort it out. Just make the monthly payment.

 

[dwd3885]

I get you do not want to make monthly payments.

I also think you should realize you are setting yourself for hours and hours and hours on the phone with ATT trying to sort it out. Just make the monthly payment.

You can only make monthly payments or pay the phone off 100%