Does ATT refund activation fees for pre-order iPhones (3 day period)

[aneftp]

ATT clearly states activation fees are refunded/not charged if phone is returned within 3 days.

However, a tricky thing is pre orders.

My contract reset on Sept 14 2012 as "new contract" date when I pre ordered iPhone last Friday.

Obviously there is a 2 week delay in shipping. It's "preparing for shipment" so I can't cancel order. On hold with Apple right now for a long time trying to cancel order but probably can't since it's preparing for shipment.

Anyways, since I probably can't return the phone until it's delivered. I won't open it.

Will ATT refund me the 3 day activation fee of $36.

When does the "3 day activation fee" actually start?

I went and added another line today at apple retail store this afternoon. So don't need the iphone I ordered online.

 

[ace198]

Three days from the time you activated the phone, most likely.

 

[aneftp]

Three days from the time you activated the phone, most likely.

Ok, makes sense.

Cause my contract service online already shows a Sept 14 2012 to Sept 14 2014 date. So I was concerned they started the 3 day clock from Sept 14th.

Since I don't have the phone yet, I guess it's never been activated so the 3 day clock hasn't started yet.

 

[iPhone Addict]

You don't even really have to pay the $36 activation fee. It is just an easy way for AT&T to make some extra money from people who don't want to request it removed.

I have never paid it personally. Just call AT&T and tell them you see no reason to pay them a fee to have the privilege of being their customer for another two years.

Only once I've had a customer service rep say they're not able to waive the fee, in which case you say thank you and end the call and call back 5 seconds later and have the next guy do it.

The majority of the time they don't even put up a fight because their training tells them that its something they can easily waive if the customer says they don't feel like paying it.

 

[aneftp]

You don't even really have to pay the $36 activation fee. It is just an easy way for AT&T to make some extra money from people who don't want to request it removed.

I have never paid it personally. Just call AT&T and tell them you see no reason to pay them a fee to have the privilege of being their customer for another two years.

Only once I've had a customer service rep say they're not able to waive the fee, in which case you say thank you and end the call and call back 5 seconds later and have the next guy do it.

The majority of the time they don't even put up a fight because their training tells them that its something they can easily waive if the customer says they don't feel like paying it.

Last time I got it waived was 2009. ATT has been stingy lately. It's a pain arguing.

We all know the $36 fee is just to pad their wallets.

I am just going to return the phone and cancel my spare line that I had an upgrade on since it was out of contract anyways.

I added another line at apple store today to get new iphone. Didn't want to wait for phone to ship.

Just didn't want to be charge $36 for phone I was going to return unopened.