Got iPhone 6, Want to Switch to Installment Plan

[technopple]

Hey guys,

I was in line this morning, super excited. Never considered the Installment plan, and I have the 10GB Mobile Share Value Plan. Upgraded to iPhone 6 on 2 yr contract. Came home, did the math, and installment plan is both cheaper and doesn't require $300 down.

Is it possible to switch back to the installment plan?

 

[Velin]

Is this phone contract-free?

 

[bruinsrme]

I haven't opened my phone yet. Hope to do the same thing tomorrow.
I was going to add a line with att next

 

[technopple]

Is this phone contract-free?

I signed a 2 year contract.

 

[Velin]

I signed a 2 year contract.

It is going to be very difficult to switch. Once they got their hooks into you with the two-year, they won't let go. To switch, it's going to cost big; the cancellation fee will be the pike they poke you with. Two-year contracts are their profit bread-and-butter.

 

[technopple]

It is going to be very difficult to switch. Once they got their hooks into you with the two-year, they won't let go. To switch, it's going to cost big; the cancellation fee will be the pike they poke you with. Two-year contracts are their profit bread-and-butter.

Called their support and they said they could probably do it if I went into the store and explained the situation

 

[minifridge1138]

How does the math come to be cheaper with the installment plan?

2 year contract = $299 up front + 0$ per month = $299
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 20 month = $749.04


????

 

[Shadowbech]

You do know that they would have to process this as a return and you'd have to wait for the eligiblity to reset and then repurchase the phone.

I'm not sure how Apple does this but AT&T manager told me that when you return the phone, it becomes a non-saleable device and they go back. At least that's what AT&T said but I could be wrong.

 

[technopple]

How does the math come to be cheaper with the installment plan?

2 year contract = $299 up front + 0$ per month = $299
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 20 month = $749.04


????

Both include tax, let's disregard it for simplicity.

Monthly cost on 2 yr contract is $40/month. So I've spent $300 on the phone + $40/month for 24 months.

Next:
$0 + $15 base monthly cost + $31 for device, so per month is $46 but $0 down on the phone.

 

[shox2k2]

How does the math come to be cheaper with the installment plan?

2 year contract = $299 up front + 0$ per month = $299
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 20 month = $749.04


????

Att charges an upgrade fee and there is an extra 25$ per month charge on phones receiving the subsidy. Basically they over charge you to urge you to switch to mobile share and lose the subsidy.

 

[sallenthornton]

I never see the 25.00 on my family plan. Where would I find it? I have 2 lines, each with unlimited data and my rate hasn't changed in 5 years. Still pay 170.00 is for 1400 minutes, unlimited text and data. I upgrade, with a subsidy every year. Am I missing something?

 

[Rob9874]

I never see the 25.00 on my family plan. Where would I find it? I have 2 lines, each with unlimited data and my rate hasn't changed in 5 years. Still pay 170.00 is for 1400 minutes, unlimited text and data. I upgrade, with a subsidy every year. Am I missing something?

You don't see it, the $25 is baked in, unless you switch to a shared plan and give up your unlimited. The 10GB shared would be $100 + $15/line, or $130. You'd save $40/mo total. But not on contract.

 

[sallenthornton]

Ok. Thanks. I ran the numbers and you are correct, I would save 40.00 a month by changing plans. I guess that I'm worried about losing my unlimited and the subsidy. Phones aren't getting any cheaper.

 

[Rob9874]

How does the math come to be cheaper with the installment plan?

2 year contract = $299 up front + 0$ per month = $299
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 20 month = $749.04

They're right, if you're on a shared plan, add $25/mo. So it's:

2 year contract = $299 up front + $25 per month + $40 activation fee= $939
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 24 month = $749

Assuming you upgrade after 12 months though, you give the phone back after 12 months, and only pay $450 for it before upgrading to the 6S. You're allowed to pay the remaining $300 if you want, to keep the phone and sell it for $300, but I think that's pointless.

So your options are:
$300 up front, $939 total, have to keep it for 24 months
$0 up front, $749 total (or $450 if you upgrade), and allowed to upgrade after 12 months.

It was a no-brainer for me.

----------

Ok. Thanks. I ran the numbers and you are correct, I would save 40.00 a month by changing plans. I guess that I'm worried about losing my unlimited and the subsidy. Phones aren't getting any cheaper.

Yes, but shared 10GB is plenty. Check your history. Have the two of you ever gone over 10GB? And if you do, it'll likely be throttled.

 

[minifridge1138]

Oh, I agree that the bake in a charge for the subsidized phone. But guess what? It' there no matter what plan you have and no matter how you buy the phone.

Also, I pay significantly less than $130 for 2 iPhones with unlimited data.

And yes, I did omit tax. But you'd also be paying more tax per month due to the $30+ per month added to the bill. Not much each month, but added up and it will be ~$75.

I still don't see the savings.

----------

They're right, if you're on a shared plan, add $25/mo. So it's:

2 year contract = $299 up front + $25 per month + $40 activation fee= $939
ATT Next 12 = $0 up front + 37.45 per month * 20 month = $749
ATT Next 18 = $0 up front + 31.21 per month * 24 month = $749

All that does is make me happy I'm not on a shared plan.

 

[Rob9874]

Oh, I agree that the bake in a charge for the subsidized phone. But guess what? It' there no matter what plan you have and no matter how you buy the phone.

Also, I pay significantly less than $130 for 2 iPhones with unlimited data.

And yes, I did omit tax. But you'd also be paying more tax per month due to the $30+ per month added to the bill. Not much each month, but added up and it will be ~$75.

I still don't see the savings.

----------



All that does is make me happy I'm not on a shared plan.

Yeah, if you're paying less than $130 for 2 phones, then there is no savings for you. Next works for people who could save money by switching to a shared plan.

 

[sallenthornton]

That 170.00 is with a 15% discount. Lol. The break down is as follows - prices are approximate

68.00 for minutes (after discount)
60.00 unlimited data (2 phones)
30.00 unlimited text
9.99 for extra line
Taxes

Not sure how I could get it for 130.00.

 

[technopple]

Yeah, if you're paying less than $130 for 2 phones, then there is no savings for you. Next works for people who could save money by switching to a shared plan.

Yeah I have 4 lines on my account that share 10GB.

 

[55test55]

I would also like to know this. Im thinking of switching to the mobile share plan and this would be a better deal in that circumstance.

 

[Drelldrell]

Go to a store and you can do it. I just did. Took freaking forever. But I did it. I am told you have to go to a corporate or AT&T owned store. I had not opened the box yet so it was easier as they had to return the phone, restore upgrade, and then process as a Next account. If you have opened the phone, there may be a $35 restocking fee.

 

[dharadvani]

Oh, I agree that the bake in a charge for the subsidized phone. But guess what? It' there no matter what plan you have and no matter how you buy the phone.

No, it's not. If you're on a plan that doesn't include the subsidy, then it's not there anywhere. That's why you pay full price for the phone on those plans (and why it doesn't make sense to use Next if you're using an old plan with a subsidy, because you'd be paying twice for the phone).

But you'd also be paying more tax per month due to the $30+ per month added to the bill.

Not really. Virtually none of the bill is subject to sales tax. You're talking about a difference of pennies a month.

That 170.00 is with a 15% discount. Lol. The break down is as follows - prices are approximate

68.00 for minutes (after discount)
60.00 unlimited data (2 phones)
30.00 unlimited text
9.99 for extra line
Taxes

Not sure how I could get it for 130.00.

You could switch to the $130 plan that gives you 10GB shared data and unlimited talk/messaging, but it'd only be $130 if you kept your current phones or bought the new ones at full price.

It'd be more like $190 if you switched plans and got two new phones (which is pretty much what you currently pay if you spread the $199+ down payment over 24 months as well. It's of questionable worth in your case since you'd lose the unlimited data.

 

[RollTide1017]

Got iPhone 6, Want to Switch to Installment Plan

They tried to get my wife to switch to a Next plan because she's not eligible for a new 2 year contract until June but, the math didn't make sense to me.

She's currently on a value or loyalty plan, $66 a month for 1GB of data, unlimited text. The Next plan would increase her bill to just over $90 a month or, she waits until June and pays $199+40 for activation out of pocket but our bill stays at $66. The Next plan would just be more expensive in the long run for us.

Plus, Best Buy normally runs special trade-in deals a few times a year so, if she waits for one of those then that reduces our out of pocket cost which makes Next even more expensive.

It just didn't make much sense to us. The ATT guy couldn't explain how increasing her bill to just over $90 was suppose to be cheaper then waiting until June and keeping her bill at $66 but, he kept trying to say Next was cheaper.

 

[hexum23]

Oh, I agree that the bake in a charge for the subsidized phone. But guess what? It' there no matter what plan you have and no matter how you buy the phone.

Also, I pay significantly less than $130 for 2 iPhones with unlimited data.

And yes, I did omit tax. But you'd also be paying more tax per month due to the $30+ per month added to the bill. Not much each month, but added up and it will be ~$75.

I still don't see the savings.

----------



All that does is make me happy I'm not on a shared plan.

The next plan is cheaper if you have a 10gb or larger plan, and the more lines you have the better the deal. Check out this link, which shows pricing for just one line. http://attcalc.com/next/#calculate
If you have multiple lines, you continue paying just $15 per month per device for the access fee instead of $40 a month so the savings grow.

 

[dharadvani]

She's currently on a value or loyalty plan, $66 a month for 1GB of data, unlimited text. The Next plan would increase her bill to just over $90 a month or, she waits until June and pays $199+40 for activation out of pocket but our bill stays at $66. The Next plan would just be more expensive in the long run for us.

Presumably, you'd switch to the $65 MSV rate plan and then be doing the Next 18 ($27/mo for the 16GB phone), for a total of $92.

In that case, you'd pick up unlimited calling, free tethering, and an additional 1GB of data. Your current plan, including the $240 to upgrade, is $76/mo. So the question is whether those extra features are worth $15/mo to you for the next two years.

Once your phone is paid off, the $27/mo goes away and Next actually is cheaper for your wife by $1/mo (and the MSV plan includes more for that money).

Plus, Best Buy normally runs special trade-in deals a few times a year so, if she waits for one of those then that reduces our out of pocket cost which makes Next even more expensive.

Why would the trade-in make Next more expensive? You can trade in or sell your current phone as soon as you switch, and in fact the current iPhone will be worth more now than six months from now.

 

[AppleMomma111]

Go to a store and you can do it. I just did. Took freaking forever. But I did it. I am told you have to go to a corporate or AT&T owned store. I had not opened the box yet so it was easier as they had to return the phone, restore upgrade, and then process as a Next account. If you have opened the phone, there may be a $35 restocking fee.

Did you originally buy it from Apple or Att? 6 or 6 plus?