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Does AT&T Next require a data plan (if you don't keep phone)

A

aneftp

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jul 28, 2007
4,379
574
A little odd question I know. But even the ATT CS reps are clueless this morning. Was on the phone with 2 of them last night.

Anyways, going to order ATT next phone (basically using slight loophole) where I will pay off device and than just cancel the line altogher. I had upgraded to iPhone 5S in October 2013 (using a ghost line) that I never use but just use it for it's subsidy upgrade.

So since I am eligible for ATT next. I figure just pay off the phone quickly and cancel the line altogether. The reps both said the line has to stay active for 3 billing cycles to cancel the line. Fine.

But I intend to buy a smartphone with ATT next. Keep it for 3 months. But I don't want to pay for data plan on my ghost line with ATT next. I just will switch out line with flip phone.

So if you finance a phone with ATT next and don't keep that specific smartphone active and put a flip phone on that line. Are you required to keep data.

All over ATT phones I've had using my ghost line I would immediately cancel the data plan (of course, never buy from Amazon or Let's Talk which charges double ETF).

"AT&T Next requires that you sign an installment agreement to pay for the smartphone over 20 or 24 monthly payments. If you cancel your wireless service, the remaining unpaid balance on the smartphone is due. A Wireless Customer Service Agreement (voice and data service) is required."

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rkGmGSdjY74
 
Why not just pay full price for a phone and don't even worry about the hoops you would need to jump through according to your description?
 
EDH667 said:
Why not just pay full price for a phone and don't even worry about the hoops you would need to jump through according to your description?
Click to expand...

Totally agree.

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aneftp said:
A little odd question I know. But even the ATT CS reps are clueless this morning. Was on the phone with 2 of them last night.

Anyways, going to order ATT next phone (basically using slight loophole) where I will pay off device and than just cancel the line altogher. I had upgraded to iPhone 5S in October 2013 (using a ghost line) that I never use but just use it for it's subsidy upgrade.

So since I am eligible for ATT next. I figure just pay off the phone quickly and cancel the line altogether. The reps both said the line has to stay active for 3 billing cycles to cancel the line. Fine.

But I intend to buy a smartphone with ATT next. Keep it for 3 months. But I don't want to pay for data plan on my ghost line with ATT next. I just will switch out line with flip phone.

So if you finance a phone with ATT next and don't keep that specific smartphone active and put a flip phone on that line. Are you required to keep data.

All over ATT phones I've had using my ghost line I would immediately cancel the data plan (of course, never buy from Amazon or Let's Talk which charges double ETF).

"AT&T Next requires that you sign an installment agreement to pay for the smartphone over 20 or 24 monthly payments. If you cancel your wireless service, the remaining unpaid balance on the smartphone is due. A Wireless Customer Service Agreement (voice and data service) is required."

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rkGmGSdjY74
Click to expand...

Just buy the phone, you are bringing to much drama and complication into an effing phone purchase.
 
I believe his intention is to try and cancel his dummy line by purchasing his phone through Next and thus canceling his 2 year contract on that dummy line. It's not about whether he can purchase the phone outright or not.
 
imaginex20 said:
I believe his intention is to try and cancel his dummy line by purchasing his phone through Next and thus canceling his 2 year contract on that dummy line. It's not about whether he can purchase the phone outright or not.
Click to expand...

Yes. That's my intention. Just getting conflicting information.

If it were as simple as paying full price than that's what I would have done.

Some say I have to keep line open for 3 months? Some say I have to keep the data plan? Even with a flip phone line? I am on older 700 min family talk plan and not the newer plans.
 
aneftp said:
A little odd question I know. But even the ATT CS reps are clueless this morning. Was on the phone with 2 of them last night.

Anyways, going to order ATT next phone (basically using slight loophole) where I will pay off device and than just cancel the line altogher. I had upgraded to iPhone 5S in October 2013 (using a ghost line) that I never use but just use it for it's subsidy upgrade.

So since I am eligible for ATT next. I figure just pay off the phone quickly and cancel the line altogether. The reps both said the line has to stay active for 3 billing cycles to cancel the line. Fine.

But I intend to buy a smartphone with ATT next. Keep it for 3 months. But I don't want to pay for data plan on my ghost line with ATT next. I just will switch out line with flip phone.

So if you finance a phone with ATT next and don't keep that specific smartphone active and put a flip phone on that line. Are you required to keep data.

All over ATT phones I've had using my ghost line I would immediately cancel the data plan (of course, never buy from Amazon or Let's Talk which charges double ETF).

"AT&T Next requires that you sign an installment agreement to pay for the smartphone over 20 or 24 monthly payments. If you cancel your wireless service, the remaining unpaid balance on the smartphone is due. A Wireless Customer Service Agreement (voice and data service) is required."

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rkGmGSdjY74
Click to expand...
You can cancel at any time. No such thing as has to be active for 3 months. When you cancel you have to pay off the balance. What's the advantage of using next over just buying full price.
 
aneftp said:
A little odd question I know. But even the ATT CS reps are clueless this morning. Was on the phone with 2 of them last night.

Anyways, going to order ATT next phone (basically using slight loophole) where I will pay off device and than just cancel the line altogher. I had upgraded to iPhone 5S in October 2013 (using a ghost line) that I never use but just use it for it's subsidy upgrade.

So since I am eligible for ATT next. I figure just pay off the phone quickly and cancel the line altogether. The reps both said the line has to stay active for 3 billing cycles to cancel the line. Fine.

But I intend to buy a smartphone with ATT next. Keep it for 3 months. But I don't want to pay for data plan on my ghost line with ATT next. I just will switch out line with flip phone.

So if you finance a phone with ATT next and don't keep that specific smartphone active and put a flip phone on that line. Are you required to keep data.

All over ATT phones I've had using my ghost line I would immediately cancel the data plan (of course, never buy from Amazon or Let's Talk which charges double ETF).

"AT&T Next requires that you sign an installment agreement to pay for the smartphone over 20 or 24 monthly payments. If you cancel your wireless service, the remaining unpaid balance on the smartphone is due. A Wireless Customer Service Agreement (voice and data service) is required."

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/next.html#fbid=rkGmGSdjY74
Click to expand...

aneftp said:
Yes. That's my intention. Just getting conflicting information.

If it were as simple as paying full price than that's what I would have done.

Some say I have to keep line open for 3 months? Some say I have to keep the data plan? Even with a flip phone line? I am on older 700 min family talk plan and not the newer plans.
Click to expand...
If this is indeed your plan, Why not simply make one more call to AT&T and ask to have your call escalated to the level 2 techs or billing for clarification. I don't really think you have to and would just do what others here are advicing you to do. When you get ready to do it, You are going to know from the Carrier right away.
 
aneftp said:
Yes. That's my intention. Just getting conflicting information.

If it were as simple as paying full price than that's what I would have done.

Some say I have to keep line open for 3 months? Some say I have to keep the data plan? Even with a flip phone line? I am on older 700 min family talk plan and not the newer plans.
Click to expand...

If AT&T is like how Verizon has been the last year and a half or so, if you purchase a phone through Next (or make any changes to your plan, really), you lose your old plan and will have to choose a new style plan with unlimited talk & text and a limited data bucket with however much you think you need.

So are you trying to upgrade the phone on your main line and get rid of the extra line and keep your current plan somehow? Good luck. My boyfriend had a second line on his plan with AT&T that he would let friends use. He tried to cancel it when it had an off-contract phone, and they wouldn't do it in order to keep their subscriber numbers up. He ended up leaving for T-Mobile but is now thinking about Verizon if his new job will give him a discount. T-Mobile's service just isn't as good in our area even though it's a bit cheaper.
 
617aircav said:
You can cancel at any time. No such thing as has to be active for 3 months. When you cancel you have to pay off the balance. What's the advantage of using next over just buying full price.
Click to expand...

The advantage of next is that my existing contract right now runs to October 2015. I used subsidy upgrade on iPhone 5s in October 2013.

Att is letting people "out of contracts" if they signed before Jan 18 2014 and it's been 6 months into contraxt. U buy next phone.

http://about.att.com/newsroom/early_smartphone_upgrades_now_available_for_att_customers.html

So I have been waiting for lg g3. It just launched. That's why I want to buy it on next.

If I buy it full price. I cannot "cancel" my current 2 year contract. It's a subtle but important to go into "att next". I don't care about the phone number if I terminate the line. It's a "ghost" line I have had for 6 years to stagger subsidy upgrades in between my 4-5 lines I carry. So I pay only $10 a line (plus still get 24% discount).

So even with taxes. It only costs me around $10-11 to keep that line open each month.

I am just setting up this:

Use att next to get lg g3. Than "pay off/terminate line" as soon as I can.

In 2 months I will "open up" "new subsidized" to get iPhone 2014 in September for $199/299 on my "new line".

I am on old 700 min family talk plan. I will immediately cancel data plan on that new iPhone 2014 and put new iPhone onto my other lines that has data.

This way I essentially am getting 2 subsidy upgrades (one in October 2013). Pay off lg g3 on that line. And open new line to get another subsidy by starting new line in 2014. And than continue paying $10/month in sept 2014
 
Last edited:
Does AT&T even allow you to use NEXT on the older grandfathered plans? I thought that was for Mobile Share plans only.
 
rui no onna said:
Does AT&T even allow you to use NEXT on the older grandfathered plans? I thought that was for Mobile Share plans only.
Click to expand...

They do let you keep your older plans.

Att has tweaked the att next program 3-4 times in the past 12 months since it launched.

It's very consumer friendly surprisingly now.
 
I had a similar situation. I used a regular upgrade subsidy to get a phone in May of last year, then a few months later, my line was eligible for NEXT so I got a 5S. I am still in that NEXT plan and will pay monthly for 12 months, then trade in for a new device.

It is my understanding, that if I were to pay off my 5S that is currently on a NEXT plan, I would still be held accountable for the original contract for the subsidy upgrade from last May (which would effectively expire in May of 2015).

Paying off the 5S would get me off the hook for the NEXT plan, but I don't think ATT would just let you be contract free since you took a subsidy on the original device in exchange for a new 2 year agreement.

If it works for you, that is awesome. In my experience in wireless, (from being an employee as well as a consumer) I would bet that if you use the NEXT plan, then turn around and pay that off, then try to cancel that line, you will still see a partial termination fee for the remainder of that original contract due to the subsidy you took.

The customer service reps are generally clueless to policy. For example. I have an extra line that has a device financed through NEXT (added it for my mom who didn't end up needing it). I wanted to do a transfer of responsibility to a friend of mine who has ATT and wants a new phone for his mom. He would essentially take over the remainder of payments on the NEXT plan, and pay the monthly service on it. I had 3 different ATT reps tell me that this would not be a problem. I call in to release the line to him and low and behold, lines with NEXT devices are not eligible to be transferred from one account to another.

It was a lot of misinformation that ended up being a headache. Of the 3 that originally said we could, 2 of them were "supervisors."

I really hope it works out for you but don't be surprised to find an ETF on you bill after cancelling.
 
You cancel the line after 14 days (Buyers Remorse Period). No you don't need data on that line if you don't have the phone attached to that phone number.

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capathy21 said:
I had a similar situation. I used a regular upgrade subsidy to get a phone in May of last year, then a few months later, my line was eligible for NEXT so I got a 5S. I am still in that NEXT plan and will pay monthly for 12 months, then trade in for a new device.

It is my understanding, that if I were to pay off my 5S that is currently on a NEXT plan, I would still be held accountable for the original contract for the subsidy upgrade from last May (which would effectively expire in May of 2015).

Paying off the 5S would get me off the hook for the NEXT plan, but I don't think ATT would just let you be contract free since you took a subsidy on the original device in exchange for a new 2 year agreement.

If it works for you, that is awesome. In my experience in wireless, (from being an employee as well as a consumer) I would bet that if you use the NEXT plan, then turn around and pay that off, then try to cancel that line, you will still see a partial termination fee for the remainder of that original contract due to the subsidy you took.

The customer service reps are generally clueless to policy. For example. I have an extra line that has a device financed through NEXT (added it for my mom who didn't end up needing it). I wanted to do a transfer of responsibility to a friend of mine who has ATT and wants a new phone for his mom. He would essentially take over the remainder of payments on the NEXT plan, and pay the monthly service on it. I had 3 different ATT reps tell me that this would not be a problem. I call in to release the line to him and low and behold, lines with NEXT devices are not eligible to be transferred from one account to another.

It was a lot of misinformation that ended up being a headache. Of the 3 that originally said we could, 2 of them were "supervisors."

I really hope it works out for you but don't be surprised to find an ETF on you bill after cancelling.
Click to expand...


There would be no ETF if he paid off the device. Once it's paid off he is free to cancel with no penalty.
 
Ghostbuster386 said:
There would be no ETF if he paid off the device. Once it's paid off he is free to cancel with no penalty.
Click to expand...

Yes I understand that is the case regarding the NEXT device, but what happens to the original 2 year agreement for the device he got last year? I don't believe AT&T will just let that go.
 
OP here. I went ahead and went to ATT store and got the LG G3 for $29/month x 18 months ATT next (full price of phone is $580).

They (this is corporate store) are still saying I need to make 3 installment payments before I can cancel and pay off phone and cancel line together.

This is so stupid. I am going to just make one payment (my billing cycle ends July 24th). Than call ATT up and pay in full and cancel the line altogether.

Need to set this up for iPhone 6 subsidy with "new" line that I will re-add in September when it launches.
 
aneftp said:
OP here. I went ahead and went to ATT store and got the LG G3 for $29/month x 18 months ATT next (full price of phone is $580).



They (this is corporate store) are still saying I need to make 3 installment payments before I can cancel and pay off phone and cancel line together.



This is so stupid. I am going to just make one payment (my billing cycle ends July 24th). Than call ATT up and pay in full and cancel the line altogether.



Need to set this up for iPhone 6 subsidy with "new" line that I will re-add in September when it launches.
Click to expand...


You can pay it off after 14 days. You don't even have to wait the full billing cycle.
 
OP, I understand exactly what you're trying to do. You will still be held under the original terms of your initial contract (2 years). Someone a few post above me stated the correct info as well..

Also, you will end up paying activation fees plus the usage - you might as well put those funds towards paying the ETF for that line...



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Ghostbuster386 said:
They do. They let you out of the contract to go into Next.
Click to expand...

That's false. They allow you to go into their ATT Next Program with new plan but still follow the remaining contract terms...
 
bwsteg said:
OP, I understand exactly what you're trying to do. You will still be held under the original terms of your initial contract (2 years). Someone a few post above me stated the correct info as well..

Also, you will end up paying activation fees plus the usage - you might as well put those funds towards paying the ETF for that line...



----------



That's false. They allow you to go into their ATT Next Program with new plan but still follow the remaining contract terms...
Click to expand...


That is false. There are no activation fees for AT&T Next. When you sign up for Next it replaces your original contract and makes the phone out of contract and when he pays off the device he is free to cancel the line with no ETF.
 
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