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Contract ends 2 weeks after release, AT&T won't budge
- Thread starter mdwsta4
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Just because one "could" do something does not mean they "should" do something.
It started on the 9th of the month. Does that matter? It runs from September 9th to October 8th
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are you saying that you are eligible for an upgrade starting on the first day of the last billing cycle (in which your ending contract day is)?
I would ask for a manager or someone in charge. Politely let them know that if they do not move it up you WILL be switching to verizon or other major carrier once your 15 days is up. It would be a horrible business choice for them to loose you over 15 days.
Wow, that's pretty crappy that they wont budge for just 9 days.
True, its still an option.
Perfectly fine and legal to do whether you think they should or not
Hah, crazy. I actually just went through this but with Verizon. Upgrade date is about 2 weeks after the preorder date. We have a family share line with 6 lines and 14gb of data and have been with Verizon for over 9 years, never late with payments, etc. Basically one of the best customers you could ask for.
Called them up for a courtesy to see if they would upgrade my line a measly few weeks early. Went through a bunch of people and everyone said no. I was shocked that they would care that much and how they weren't phased when I said I would be canceling my lines. I wasn't asking them to eat the cost of 3,4,5,9 months of subsidy. Wasn't asking them to waive any ETF. Just move my date up a few measly weeks so I could sign another 2 year contract with them and give them my money.
I understand I signed a 2 year contract and I could be expected to fulfill it. But really, 2 weeks is absurd.
Called them up for a courtesy to see if they would upgrade my line a measly few weeks early. Went through a bunch of people and everyone said no. I was shocked that they would care that much and how they weren't phased when I said I would be canceling my lines. I wasn't asking them to eat the cost of 3,4,5,9 months of subsidy. Wasn't asking them to waive any ETF. Just move my date up a few measly weeks so I could sign another 2 year contract with them and give them my money.
I understand I signed a 2 year contract and I could be expected to fulfill it. But really, 2 weeks is absurd.
Maybe you and the OP of this thread should be roommates:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1775185/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1775185/
Did you check your upgrade eligibility on the apple site? I first checked my contract end date on AT&T (I'm on a grandfathered in unlimited plan, not on the next program) and my account said my contract end date was 9/28 but apples site said I was eligible for the on contract $199, $299, etc. pricing scale. So I gave it a day or two went back to AT&T website and now their website states I'm eligible for an upgrade with the $40 activation fee.
I'm not saying going to check on apples site triggered mine on AT&T to show eligibility, but if one shows and the other doesn't maybe you can use that when your talking to the reps about upgrading early.
I'm not saying going to check on apples site triggered mine on AT&T to show eligibility, but if one shows and the other doesn't maybe you can use that when your talking to the reps about upgrading early.
That's bizarre. My wife's line (which is what we'd use for this upgrade if we were going subsidized) was a launch iPhone 5...in my AT&T I show I can upgrade Next on my line, or full upgrade with subsidy on her line right now. Also shows contract date of 9/21/12, but also shows full upgrade available now.
FWIW, I'm going Next because it works out to essentially the same cost monthly and for subsequent upgrades but I don't have to pay $300 right now for the 6, so I save that up front.
FWIW, I'm going Next because it works out to essentially the same cost monthly and for subsequent upgrades but I don't have to pay $300 right now for the 6, so I save that up front.
Ha ha all the people throwing out entitled.. I swear you guys sound like jealous little kids.
OP, just find a loophole. Buy the phone early, have your fun, return it and get it subsidized when you can. Heck, try both phone sizes and see what suits you best. I worked customer service for a bit at a call center and it's AMAZING how "right" the customer can be regardless if they're wrong in some form. It's obvious they want you off unlimited, so don't budge for them.
OP, just find a loophole. Buy the phone early, have your fun, return it and get it subsidized when you can. Heck, try both phone sizes and see what suits you best. I worked customer service for a bit at a call center and it's AMAZING how "right" the customer can be regardless if they're wrong in some form. It's obvious they want you off unlimited, so don't budge for them.
When I check upgrade eligibility on ATT's site I'm only given the following message:
"Congratulations! This line is upgrade eligible for a new smartphone with $0 down on AT&T Next; a new way to upgrade each year and get our new lower rate plans. Reminder: Taxes are due at the time of purchase."
On Apple's site I'm given the price of $549 for today (64GB 6) or $299 if I wait until October 5th.
To those people throwing out the word 'entitled', I don't feel I'm entitled to anything. I'm just wanting to get a phone when it's first released and am trying to give AT&T my money for another two years. If you have a loyal customer for over a decade and they are telling you they want to stay with you for another 2 years, what are 2 weeks in the grand scheme of things? Any other service industry other than the cell phone industry (apparently) knows the no-brainer answer to this question.
"Congratulations! This line is upgrade eligible for a new smartphone with $0 down on AT&T Next; a new way to upgrade each year and get our new lower rate plans. Reminder: Taxes are due at the time of purchase."
On Apple's site I'm given the price of $549 for today (64GB 6) or $299 if I wait until October 5th.
To those people throwing out the word 'entitled', I don't feel I'm entitled to anything. I'm just wanting to get a phone when it's first released and am trying to give AT&T my money for another two years. If you have a loyal customer for over a decade and they are telling you they want to stay with you for another 2 years, what are 2 weeks in the grand scheme of things? Any other service industry other than the cell phone industry (apparently) knows the no-brainer answer to this question.
I am afraid it is not up to the reps, it is ATT policy. Policy they used to bend but the "warm and fuzzy" ATT left a few years ago.
I am grandfathered into the unlimited plan and my contract ends on the 16th. I'm having no problems upgrading. Tried it online and talked to a rep.
True and I think for Mobile Share customers, they'd probably forgive the 2 weeks. They appear to be taking a hard stance against grandfathered plans with unlimited data, though. AT&T wants those plans gone.
From a business standpoint, I can understand why they'd want to do that. Data is their new cash cow. Unlimited data gives customers 5GB LTE and after that, they can consume even more albeit throttled. Someone grandfathered to a 4-line Family Talk plan could just be paying, say $210/mo ($90 + $30*4) for 20GB (5GB*4) and that amount includes $75 in device subsidies so actual service cost is $135/mo total. Meanwhile, 20GB on Mobile Share would cost $150 just for the data portion and the lines are $60 ($15*4) extra for a total service cost of $210/mo. For the same service, AT&T is getting $1,800 more over the course of 2 years from the Mobile Share customer vs the one on unlimited data.
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NEXT customers just have to have paid off the 12 or 18 payments to be able to get new phone. Has nothing to do with 2 weeks/time.
That is odd.
Verizon not only budged, but moved changed upgrade eligibility last week to available to upgrade. The kicker is that they did this without me calling at all.
Surprised Att isn't doing something similar.
You have three options here.
1. Escalate as high as you can go to see if there is someone who will crack.
2. Realise that the company is doing this because they want you off of your plan. Buy outright or wait it out with the fuzzy feeling that you are sticking it to them by keeping your plan.
3. Walk.
Tbh I would only do the third if it's worth it. Take a look at what you're paying, your data consumption and the choices between AT&T & Verizon. If you have the cash to just cancel 'on principle' then go ahead, but realise that in the grand scheme of things it won't hurt AT&T much.
This is being entitled. You signed a 2 year contract with them. They held up their end of the deal by providing you cellular service and you should honor your part by waiting out the 2 years to end in order to upgrade. I don't get why this is so hard for some people. If they bent the rules for "loyal" customers like you, they'd have to do it for everyone.