Bought iPhone 4S on launch day... AT&T's upgrade policy question.

Lots of threads about upgrading on AT&T already; have you looked over those?

Just out of curiosity, when you were speaking to the rep., did you specifically mention that you were wanting an early upgrade for an iPhone? Or did you just say that you were wanting an early upgrade?

 

Most have found that AT&T is willing to play ball with early upgrades at times, but since the 4S, they emphatically WILL NOT allow early upgrades for new iPhones.

 

Not since 4s. AT&T quietly changed and got rid of 12 month fully subsidy upgrade (the $199/299 pricing full subsidy) way back in early Spring 2011.

Not many people notice cause they were all waiting for iPhone (4S/5th gen). They let those grandfathered in old policy. So if u upgraded to iPhone 4 say in Feb 2011. U were still grandfathered in one last 12 month upgrade.

But those who upgraded after policy went into effect (I believe March/April 2011) lost their last chance for 12 month upgrade.

But considering most upgraded to iPhone 4 way before deadline and were waiting for iPhone 5th gen. No one really felt the effect unless they were die hard blackberry or android fans.

 

I was able to upgrade every year with my single-line plan until the 4S. They didn't budge last year.

 

There are things retention can do outside of early upgrade. Like give u $30x 6 months free texting. That's like giving u $180 free money.

 

dial *639# on your AT&T phone.
You will get a text with your upgrade date and more info.
AT&T is not doing that yearly full upgrade any more but you can try anyway.

 

Depends how much your bill is and if you're on a family plan. If you pay over $100 a month (I think) you can upgrade every year. I am the main person on my family plan and I can upgrade every 12 months, but I wait because I have a phone that works fine and going from a 4 to 4s isn't really worth it for me.

 

I'm confused at what you are responding to. Elaborate?

 

Call and say "cancel account". U will get rententions. They can offer u a goodie once e dry 6 months or so. I could gave gotten an samsung S3 for $99 plus them waiving $30/month texting for 6 months

Waiving 6 months OC texting is $180 in savings. Thru can get u discounts on non iPhones also. No discount on iPhone.

The S3 is normally $199 on contract with AT&T corp.

 

Those days are over.

 

This. (It never hurts to try if you've got the time & patience.)

 

You know what, I lied. They did give me cash last year, they just couldn't bump my date. I forgot all about that! It was a damn fair amount too. I don't think I had to pay a bill for 3 months or so.

 

Listening to what an AT&T rep said is like the wether man.
Hit or miss and most of the times miss.
Hope they do change their policy but I'm not holding my breath.

 

I have two lines. One, my 4S line, says that I'm eligible for an early upgrade now (2 year contract price + $250) or a full discount in May. The other line which is off contract (the iphone 4) says that I can get the full discount now, but says that "some services on the current device may be replaced with similar services on the new contract." Great. There goes my unlimited data.

Yeah, I think I'll just buy the phone outright.

 

Don't even get me started. One time I had a case and I got three different stories from three different reps.

 

Is that AT&T or Verizon?

Lol
They make things up as they go.
The stuff that they come up with is nuts.
They will tell you whatever just to get you off the phone or off their back.

 

At&t

 

Perhaps it'd be different if unlimited data was important to me, but I don't care if I made 7 digits, I don't think I would ever spend $700 on a phone. And this come from someone who upgrades all of their iDevices annually.

 

Weird.
It says that on their site?
One of the lines on my account is ready for an upgrade, I'll check what it says.
I don't think AT&T will force users off unlimited like Verizon, but you never know.
They start copying each other.

 

Yep, when I type the phone number into the upgrade checker.

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You are paying it one way or another.

 

Safe to say a lot of customers will be upset when they realize the yearly option is done and they have to early upgrade to the 5.