How to get rid of ETF fee for giving up unlimited?

[Sonmi451]

I am basically going to give up my unlimited plan since it's not cost effective to use the old plans. I want to switch to a 5GB mobile share plan, which I was told would cost me about $90/month + taxes for 2 lines.

The only problem is I have 2 lines under contract. One ends 9/2016, and my unlimited plan ends sometime in 2017. These will cost me an extra $40 or so per month. I think I will have to wait until September, but is there a way I can get out of paying my device subsidy by cancelling my contract directly with AT&T, or would I have to switch to another carrier then come back and start fresh? Of course, I would like to keep my same phone number.

 

[Applejuiced]

Only the unlimited data line can get out etf free.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I am basically going to give up my unlimited plan since it's not cost effective to use the old plans. I want to switch to a 5GB mobile share plan, which I was told would cost me about $90/month + taxes for 2 lines.

The only problem is I have 2 lines under contract. One ends 9/2016, and my unlimited plan ends sometime in 2017. These will cost me an extra $40 or so per month. I think I will have to wait until September, but is there a way I can get out of paying my device subsidy by cancelling my contract directly with AT&T, or would I have to switch to another carrier then come back and start fresh? Of course, I would like to keep my same phone number.

If you switch carriers, you have to wait 90 days before you can open a new account with the same phone number again on AT&T. Only the unlimited plan allows you the loop hole out of the ETF, but that requires porting or cancelling your number all together. You are able to switch from unlimited to mobile share any time, even if you are under contract, but as you said, you won't get the Next or BYO device discount off of service until your contracts are fully fulfilled.

 

[geoff5093]

Sell your plan, they were going for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Sell your plan, they were going for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

That requires giving up your number.

 

[geoff5093]

That requires giving up your number.

Port out to Google Voice first

 

[Mlrollin91]

Port out to Google Voice first

The unlimited plan is tied to your phone number. If you want to sell the plan, you must sell the number. There is no way to separate the two.

You can change the number, which I think AT&T charges $25, but then your old number is still lost.

 

[Sonmi451]

Thanks for the replies this has bee. Helpful. I'll need to wait until Sept before I can opt out maybe I'll do that.

 

[scaredpoet]

If you're willing to deal with the hassle, you could always look into deals with other carriers that offer to pay off your ETF. You'd be on another network for three months, but if you REALLY want to get off contract, this would be the way to do it.

It might also get you an opportunity to try out other networks to see if are better off with that other option.

 

[PLin]

The unlimited plan is tied to your phone number. If you want to sell the plan, you must sell the number. There is no way to separate the two.

You can change the number, which I think AT&T charges $25, but then your old number is still lost.

I don't know if this is possible today, but a few years ago even when you couldn't get unlimited anymore, I was able to port my number to Google Voice without closing my line and have AT&T assign me a new phone number with my unlimited plan.

I wanted to switch area codes, and I didn't want to lose my phone number, so I told them that I was selling my business and I had to give the buyer my phone number as part of the deal, but I didn't want to leave AT&T or lose my unlimited data plan. I had to speak with multiple departments, but they actually pulled it off. I was even under contract still. These were the steps they did:

1. Add a line to my family plan with a new phone number.
2. Transfer contract to that new line so the line with unlimited data wouldn't be charged an ETF when ported out.
3. Port the number with unlimited data that I wanted to keep to Google Voice.
4. Add unlimited data and 200 message plan back to new line.

I was skeptical when they told me they could do it, but it worked. The only problem I ran into in the end is that my upgrade date was based on the date all this took place, so they had to fix it and manually set it to the original upgrade date.

Again, I don't know if they will still do this today or if they did it for me because I was with AT&T for 10+ years, but it did happen.

 

[Applejuiced]

I don't know if this is possible today, but a few years ago even when you couldn't get unlimited anymore, I was able to port my number to Google Voice without closing my line and have AT&T assign me a new phone number with my unlimited plan.

I wanted to switch area codes, and I didn't want to lose my phone number, so I told them that I was selling my business and I had to give the buyer my phone number as part of the deal, but I didn't want to leave AT&T or lose my unlimited data plan. I had to speak with multiple departments, but they actually pulled it off. I was even under contract still. These were the steps they did:

1. Add a line to my family plan with a new phone number.
2. Transfer contract to that new line so the line with unlimited data wouldn't be charged an ETF when ported out.
3. Port the number with unlimited data that I wanted to keep to Google Voice.
4. Add unlimited data and 200 message plan back to new line.

I was skeptical when they told me they could do it, but it worked. The only problem I ran into in the end is that my upgrade date was based on the date all this took place, so they had to fix it and manually set it to the original upgrade date.

Again, I don't know if they will still do this today or if they did it for me because I was with AT&T for 10+ years, but it did happen.

Yeah good luck with that now.
They will not transfer the unlimited data option to the new line and jump thru 100 hoops to save your unlimited data option.
They're dying to get everyone off of it. As soon as they hear unlimited data they'd be like sorry you'll lose it.