Carrier Has AT&T received your old “Next phone”?

[eagleglen]

i mailed my iPhone X back to AT&T as part of my upgrade through their Next Program two weeks ago, and it still has not been received. The shipping label, which I got from Apple when I picked up my XS Max, has a tracking number that can be viewed from a site called newgistics.com and it says the phone is still in transit. I’m in Phoenix and the phone is only going to Fort Worth, TX, so it seems like it should not be taking this long. In the mean time, I’ve received a text message from AT&T saying the cost of the old phone will be on my next bill if they don’t receive it soon.

Last year I keep my old phone and sold it myself, so this is the first time I’ve mailed the old phone back to AT&T, but I recall several posts here in the forums saying there were mishaps. I was hoping AT&T had improved the process this year. Admittedly, my problem seems to be just getting the phone to them, so they haven’t had a chance to process it yet, but I’m since I’m still on the hook for it right now, I’m nervous.

How has the return process gone for other people who use the Next Program?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

My previous girlfriend would always go to an AT&T store and do the upgrade in person and everything went smoothly. I wasn’t aware you could do everything through Apple

 

[Lsmachado]

i mailed my iPhone X back to AT&T as part of my upgrade through their Next Program two weeks ago, and it still has not been received. The shipping label, which I got from Apple when I picked up my XS Max, has a tracking number that can be viewed from a site called newgistics.com and it says the phone is still in transit. I’m in Phoenix and the phone is only going to Fort Worth, TX, so it seems like it should not be taking this long. In the mean time, I’ve received a text message from AT&T saying the cost of the old phone will be on my next bill if they don’t receive it soon.

Last year I keep my old phone and sold it myself, so this is the first time I’ve mailed the old phone back to AT&T, but I recall several posts here in the forums saying there were mishaps. I was hoping AT&T had improved the process this year. Admittedly, my problem seems to be just getting the phone to them, so they haven’t had a chance to process it yet, but I’m since I’m still on the hook for it right now, I’m nervous.

How has the return process gone for other people who use the Next Program?

Mine took about a week before receipt was acknowledged by at&t, but I tracked it’s shipping progress directly through USPS tracking, so I knew it was delivered the next day after I shipped it back. I made sure I hung on to all the available paperwork and shipping receipt so I would have all my ducks in a row if they said they hadn’t received it.

Here is the text I received when it was finally processed:

“AT&T Free Msg: Thank you for returning your IPHONE 7P 128GB RED for xxx-xxx-xxxx. It's in good working condition, so there's nothing else to do! We appreciate your business.”

 

[eagleglen]

Mine took about a week before receipt was acknowledged by at&t, but I tracked it’s shipping progress directly through USPS tracking, so I knew it was delivered the next day after I shipped it back. I made sure I hung on to all the available paperwork and shipping receipt so I would have all my ducks in a row if they said they hadn’t received it.

Here is the text I received when it was finally processed:

“AT&T Free Msg: Thank you for returning your IPHONE 7P 128GB RED for xxx-xxx-xxxx. It's in good working condition, so there's nothing else to do! We appreciate your business.”

A week sounds reasonable. My label was for USPS too and when I dropped it off I tried to get delivery conformation and insurance, but was told that wasn’t possible because the pre-paid label could not be altered to include additional services. Also, it appears USPS passed the package off to an unknown “Shipping Agent” two days after they received it, so the package can no longer be tracked by USPS, therefore, you must use the tracking site I mentioned previously.

It’s good to hear someone was processing correctly, so thank you for replying.

 

[sydia21]

I was able to track mine back to Ft Worth but it took more than a week to get there. It has been there now for two days so anxiously awaiting the text from AT&T. This is my second time sending in an iPhone and I sent in a Note for my husband.

I’ve already gotten the text saying if my phone isn’t returned by Nov 1 I’ll be charged the difference.

 

[Baldilocks]

I was able to track mine back to Ft Worth but it took more than a week to get there. It has been there now for two days so anxiously awaiting the text from AT&T. This is my second time sending in an iPhone and I sent in a Note for my husband.

I’ve already gotten the text saying if my phone isn’t returned by Nov 1 I’ll be charged the difference.

If you have the tracking number, what can they do? Is it insured?

 

[eagleglen]

If you have the tracking number, what can they do? Is it insured?

You mail the phone to them with their prepaid label, and there is no way to add insurance since it’s prepaid. I asked. But yes, you do have a tracking number.

 

[circlel05]

I sent mine in on the 22nd. Just got the email yesterday that they received it. Post office told me that Fedex picks them up and they all go to a warehouse and sit until the pallet it is on is gone through.

 

[Evangelistman]

I mailed mine on the 23rd and got a text acknowledging receipt yesterday. From Phoenix to Ft. Worth, although it went to NV and CA before finally getting to TX.