Before you pay for an "early upgrade" on an ATT family plan.....(Dont do it).

[Maximus831]

I'm sorry about reposting my question but this thread is going fast and I'm afraid my question may be buried. Here it is again...

I'm currently on the 550 min family shared plan with three iphones. Am I eligible to add another line? I just read that the maximum number of lines was 3 on the 550 min plan. Is this correct? If so, then this plan wouldn't work for me.

 

[SeanZy]

ok, you guys have taken this way too personally. The scrubbing toilets thing was not an assault on anyone's financial status or abilities. Sorry if that was offensive, I just do not see why you would possible bother yourself with this hassle. There's no better feeling than to be debt free...is all

What method do you have where you pay ATT no money per month? Because according to your argument, paying an extra 10 per month on the phone bill is not being "debt free". Im wondering where you get free phone service every month

 

[jazoi]

Will this work in my situation? I have 3 phones on my account. Mine, the main account, is not eligible until 05/2013. The two other secondary phones on my family plan account have an iPhone and a regular old flip phone that are both eligible for an upgrade at the discounted price. Can I order the phone for one of the two secondary lines and just activate it on my line without changing the other two secondary accounts at all? I realize one of them will start a new 2 year contract but other than that, this can work?

Edit: Credits to JayLenochiniMac for this bit of info .... "However, keep in mind that adding a line won't be $9.99 per month if you've already upgraded to the mobile share plan as even a dumbphone on that plan is $30 per month. " Let me just say THIS WILL NOT WORK FOR FAMILY PLANS WITH SHARED DATA PLANS.
(Well it will work, it will just be much more expensive).


I just wanted to bring to light an option that a lot of people do not know they have when getting a new iPhone.

For a 16GB early upgrade, you will be paying 450 plus tax, bringing the total to about 500 dollars.

However, one option that you can do is open a new line on the account.

You open the line, and purchase the iPhone 5 on that line. You pay about 250 for the 16GB after taxes. You have to add a data plan when opening the line of course, but you can just add the cheapest one.

You then take the iPhone 5, and put it on your current line that is not eligible for an upgrade yet. You can grandfather the unlimited data plan (if you have it), and you will now have the same number.

So what do you do with the extra line you opened? Well, you just need an old ATT phone that does not need the data. You can put that old phone on the line, and cancel the data plan, making that line 10 dollars per month to have.

Early upgrade: 450 + tax = About 500 dollars.

Adding new line: 36 dollar activation fee, 250 for the new iPhone 5, and 10 dollars a month for 24 months. Total = 526

THE BIG DIFFERENCE HOWEVER is that you do not need to come up with the 500 dollars up front. In addition, your original line is untouched, and will be eligible for an upgrade the next time the new iphone comes out.

This is an option a lot of people do not know about, and it can add a lot of versatility to your family plan for future upgrades. I just wanted to share

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I just also wanted to add you will have to go to the ATT store for much of this because of the new nano sim, but the trouble is worth the amount gained from it.

 

[dweb619]

Edit: Credits to JayLenochiniMac for this bit of info .... "However, keep in mind that adding a line won't be $9.99 per month if you've already upgraded to the mobile share plan as even a dumbphone on that plan is $30 per month. " Let me just say THIS WILL NOT WORK FOR FAMILY PLANS WITH SHARED DATA PLANS.
(Well it will work, it will just be much more expensive).


I just wanted to bring to light an option that a lot of people do not know they have when getting a new iPhone.

For a 16GB early upgrade, you will be paying 450 plus tax, bringing the total to about 500 dollars.

However, one option that you can do is open a new line on the account.

You open the line, and purchase the iPhone 5 on that line. You pay about 250 for the 16GB after taxes. You have to add a data plan when opening the line of course, but you can just add the cheapest one.

You then take the iPhone 5, and put it on your current line that is not eligible for an upgrade yet. You can grandfather the unlimited data plan (if you have it), and you will now have the same number.

So what do you do with the extra line you opened? Well, you just need an old ATT phone that does not need the data. You can put that old phone on the line, and cancel the data plan, making that line 10 dollars per month to have.

Early upgrade: 450 + tax = About 500 dollars.

Adding new line: 36 dollar activation fee, 250 for the new iPhone 5, and 10 dollars a month for 24 months. Total = 526

THE BIG DIFFERENCE HOWEVER is that you do not need to come up with the 500 dollars up front. In addition, your original line is untouched, and will be eligible for an upgrade the next time the new iphone comes out.

This is an option a lot of people do not know about, and it can add a lot of versatility to your family plan for future upgrades. I just wanted to share

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I just also wanted to add you will have to go to the ATT store for much of this because of the new nano sim, but the trouble is worth the amount gained from it.

you seem to know alot about this, can you go to my and look at it and see if you can help me? https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15649325#post15649325

 

[hazelgreene]

I have a couple questions regarding the family plan upgrade scheme.

I currently just have the 4s and want to add a line to get the 5. Do I need to have a preexisting family plan or can I set that up after I get the 5? From everything I have read it seems like I can set it up after but one of the 3 choices listed above in a comment was to add a phone to an existing family plan.

The second question has to do with the ATT family plans. What is the lowest priced family plan you can have for 2 phones?

The ATT site shows 59.99 for 550 minutes.
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/familyplans.html

If you go to Apple iPhone page and click BUY it takes you to a page where at the bottom it has a link to view Rate plans and they show 69.99 for 700 minutes as the lowest price.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

Thanks for any answers.

 

[CrAkD]

I'm just saying the method of adding a new line for $9.99 per month is not possible if you're on or move to the newer mobile share plan (rather than the older plans). So don't upgrade to the mobile share plan because that'll cost you $30 per month instead.

The mobile share plan is obviously designed to make the "workaround" in the OP too expensive to accomplish, as even a dumbphone is $30 per month on that plan.

I don't have it as I still have unlimited data so I wasn't going to switch to it anyway. Just doesn't make any sense.

 

[SeanZy]

I'm sorry about reposting my question but this thread is going fast and I'm afraid my question may be buried. Here it is again...

I'm currently on the 550 min family shared plan with three iphones. Am I eligible to add another line? I just read that the maximum number of lines was 3 on the 550 min plan. Is this correct? If so, then this plan wouldn't work for me.

It looks like the maximum number of lines is 3, but regardless of this, it would cost you 30 a month for a new line. This isnt a viable option for people with the new shared plans.

 

[CoriG]

Yes you can.

The three options when purchasing or preordering an iphone are create a new account, upgrade an exiting line, or add a new line to an existing family plan.

Thanks for this info...I have been trying to find this out. Can I add a line to an individual plan to make it a family plan during preorder on apple.com or the apple store app?

 

[labman]

you can add the ease of ordering the iPhone 5 getting it and then selling your iPhone 4 or 4S when you get your iPhone 5 and putting that against your bill a 4S roughly around $400.

 

[SeanZy]

Will this work in my situation? I have 3 phones on my account. Mine, the main account, is not eligible until 05/2013. The two other secondary phones on my family plan account have an iPhone and a regular old flip phone that are both eligible for an upgrade at the discounted price. Can I order the phone for one of the two secondary lines and just activate it on my line without changing the other two secondary accounts at all? I realize one of them will start a new 2 year contract but other than that, this can work?

Yes! This will work perfectly. You can upgrade the flip phone line (for example), and then just transfer the phone over to your line. The flip phone line will now be in a new two year contract, but your line will still be available for upgrade in5/2013. No new line needed

 

[CrAkD]

I have a couple questions regarding the family plan upgrade scheme.

I currently just have the 4s and want to add a line to get the 5. Do I need to have a preexisting family plan or can I set that up after I get the 5? From everything I have read it seems like I can set it up after but one of the 3 choices listed above in a comment was to add a phone to an existing family plan.

The second question has to do with the ATT family plans. What is the lowest priced family plan you can have for 2 phones?

The ATT site shows 59.99 for 550 minutes.
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/plans/familyplans.html

If you go to Apple iPhone page and click BUY it takes you to a page where at the bottom it has a link to view Rate plans and they show 69.99 for 700 minutes as the lowest price.
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone

Thanks for any answers.

I don't think its doable from a single line plan. because going from the cheapest single line plan to the cheapest family plan is like $30 a month I think.

 

[SeanZy]

you can add the ease of ordering the iPhone 5 getting it and then selling your iPhone 4 or 4S when you get your iPhone 5 and putting that against your bill a 4S roughly around $400.

A lot of us give our old iPhones to family members, or have cracked screens etc. What I have found most of the time is that in family plans, old iphones are passed down, and since this is a family plan method, I treat it as such. I know you can sell the old phone, but this is for people who will not be doing that (like me, giving my 4S to my mom).

 

[CrAkD]

ill be selling my 64gb 4S but will probably only recoup the subsidized price or a little more.

 

[SeanZy]

Thanks for this info...I have been trying to find this out. Can I add a line to an individual plan to make it a family plan during preorder on apple.com or the apple store app?

I will suggest this to you and the other guy in your boat....

Go the apple store right now, and select to purchase an iphone 4s. Select ATT and hit continue.

Then select the option "Add a new line to my existing account"

it will ask for info to check eligibility of adding a line to your account.... you will know from there what your options are. If you could report back and let me know what it says, Im interested!

 

[Maximus831]

It looks like the maximum number of lines is 3, but regardless of this, it would cost you 30 a month for a new line. This isnt a viable option for people with the new shared plans.

I don't have the shared data plan but I just called ATT customer service and they said that I already have the maximum number of phones (3) so I cannot add more unless I change my plan to 700 min. Oh well, looks like I will pay $449 for the "early" upgrade.

 

[cableguy619]

No you will not be charged another activation fee when putting an old phone on that dummy line... you will only be charged a 36 dollar activation fee for opening the line initially. This is just like giving a family member an old iPhone to use on their line, nothing is changed, just the SIM card is switched.

You actually are charged the connect fee at start of out for activation 36.00 dollars for your dummy phone.

you also pay the 36 to activate the new phone. since it is a new phone thru an upgrade. they will charge you unless you can convince them otherwise.

 

[SeanZy]

I don't have the shared data plan but I just called ATT customer service and they said that I already have the maximum number of phones (3) so I cannot add more unless I change my plan to 700 min. Oh well, looks like I will pay $449 for the "early" upgrade.

Ah okay. Thanks for clearing that up. If money is tight for you, What I also may suggest is seeing what the price is to cancel one of those lines (the cheapest they get down to is 95). Then you can maybe cancel it, and add a new one, making the price about 250+36 activation+ 95 which is still much cheaper than an early upgrade. Also when you inquire about canceling a line, many times they will bump you up

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You actually are charged the connect fee at start of out for activation 36.00 dollars for your dummy phone.

you also pay the 36 to activate the new phone. since it is a new phone thru an upgrade. they will charge you unless you can convince them otherwise.

I was told on the phone that I would pay 36 to open the line, and putting an older phone on it would cost no money.

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you seem to know alot about this, can you go to my and look at it and see if you can help me? https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=15649325#post15649325

i just replied to your thread.

 

[CoriG]

I will suggest this to you and the other guy in your boat....

Go the apple store right now, and select to purchase an iphone 4s. Select ATT and hit continue.

Then select the option "Add a new line to my existing account"

it will ask for info to check eligibility of adding a line to your account.... you will know from there what your options are. If you could report back and let me know what it says, Im interested!

I just tried it and the apple website is trying to put me on a mobile share plan, not create a family plan.

 

[hazelgreene]

I will suggest this to you and the other guy in your boat....

Go the apple store right now, and select to purchase an iphone 4s. Select ATT and hit continue.

Then select the option "Add a new line to my existing account"

it will ask for info to check eligibility of adding a line to your account.... you will know from there what your options are. If you could report back and let me know what it says, Im interested!

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I have the 4s on the individual plan and I went to buy another 4s and add an existing line and it gave me the option to add an Individual plan or a Mobile Share plan. There is no mention of the family share plan.

The Mobile Share plan looks like a good deal as it includes both phones, I believe. I have unlimited data currently though and I have a feeling with the Mobile Share I will lose that. Is the pricing for the Mobile Share for both phones?

 

[SeanZy]

I just tried it and the apple website is trying to put me on a mobile share plan, not create a family plan.

Looks like you might be out of luck then. Did you buy a 4S when it came out? Also maybe JayLeno can shine some more light into this one

 

[dansante]

I just tried it and the apple website is trying to put me on a mobile share plan, not create a family plan.

I'm in the same situation and I've looked into this on the AT&T website. When you go to add a line to an individual plan, it says the following:

"To add a new line of service to your account, or to add another line to your FamilyTalk account, begin here.

Note: For customers with one line of service wishing to add another line and convert to a FamilyTalk plan, please follow these steps:
1. Add a new line of service.
2. After your new service has been activated, log in and click 'Convert to FamilyTalk.'"

So I don't see why it wouldn't work the same way if you want to order through Apple - set it up as an individual plan (choose the cheapest options) and then after you have both lines with service convert them to a family plan.

 

[SeanZy]

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I have the 4s on the individual plan and I went to buy another 4s and add an existing line and it gave me the option to add an Individual plan or a Mobile Share plan. There is no mention of the family share plan.

The Mobile Share plan looks like a good deal as it includes both phones, I believe. I have unlimited data currently though and I have a feeling with the Mobile Share I will lose that. Is the pricing for the Mobile Share for both phones?

A couple things...

1) Yes you will lose unlimited if you switch to a mobile share plan.
2) Yes, the mobile share plan numbers (lets say you pick the 6GB data), that is 6GB data total for both phones on the plan. So 3Gb each if you divide equally.

3) It is 30 dollars a month extra for extra lines on mobile share plans. It is not 10 dollars extra like the old family plans (like the one I am on).

 

[CoriG]

Looks like you might be out of luck then. Did you buy a 4S when it came out? Also maybe JayLeno can shine some more light into this one

I did buy the 4s. I would rather use the apple website to preorder vs AT&T if possible.

 

[cableguy619]

I just tried it and the apple website is trying to put me on a mobile share plan, not create a family plan.

no matter what plan you put yourself onto you can change it in your account settings. If you are generally worried go into an ATT store.

 

[SeanZy]

I did buy the 4s. I would rather use the apple website to preorder vs AT&T if possible.

I would call ATT and see what they can do for you. Apparently over in the other thread, people who bought the 4S are being told once the phones are in store and in stock, they can bump up their eligibility to buy it at a subsidized price.

This is very YMMV, but it is worth a shot. Check out what people are saying here: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1427206/