Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

rumorman69

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 25, 2010
211
0
Hey guys. So what happens if I buy an iPhone 4 from at&t and never activate it? Will they cancel my contract? Will I not have to pay for the data plan cause it was never activated? Will they force me to pay an ETF? I might buy an iPhone 4 and never activate it and then cancel the contract after 1 month so I can keep the phone and pay the ETF, is that possible or will something "bad" happen if I never activate it (during the first month at least). Thanks.
 
Hey guys. So what happens if I buy an iPhone 4 from at&t and never activate it? Will they cancel my contract? Will I not have to pay for the data plan cause it was never activated? Will they force me to pay an ETF? I might buy an iPhone 4 and never activate it and then cancel the contract after 1 month so I can keep the phone and pay the ETF, is that possible or will something "bad" happen if I never activate it (during the first month at least). Thanks.

I'm pretty sure you will still be charged for your data plan as it is part of your monthly service.
 
as a former at&t employee (this was 3 years ago so things may or may not have changed)

If you never activate your phone within 30 days, AT&T will charge you the FULL price of the phone. Obviously if you cancel AFTER 30 days you pay ETF and BEFORE you are not charged it.

But you will owe 700 bucks for that iphone

you could just activate it, wait until after your first month (so the phone is then yours) then you would cancel, pay your first months service+ETF

there is NO WAY to get around paying the ETF and keeping the phone for the 200 or 300 dollar price. You will be paying one or the other.
 
as a former at&t employee (this was 3 years ago so things may or may not have changed)

If you never activate your phone within 30 days, AT&T will charge you the FULL price of the phone. Obviously if you cancel AFTER 30 days you pay ETF and BEFORE you are not charged it.

But you will owe 700 bucks for that iphone

you could just activate it, wait until after your first month (so the phone is then yours) then you would cancel, pay your first months service+ETF

there is NO WAY to get around paying the ETF and keeping the phone for the 200 or 300 dollar price. You will be paying one or the other.

Interesting. I already pay $200 for the phone. Are you saying att will try and charge me an extra $600 (price of an unsubsidized 16 GB iPhone 4) or will they charge me $400 ($600 -$200 I alreayd paid). So if they charge me all that money I'm guessing I wouldn't be chared a $325 ETF right? Thanks
 
Hey guys. So what happens if I buy an iPhone 4 from at&t and never activate it? Will they cancel my contract? Will I not have to pay for the data plan cause it was never activated? Will they force me to pay an ETF? I might buy an iPhone 4 and never activate it and then cancel the contract after 1 month so I can keep the phone and pay the ETF, is that possible or will something "bad" happen if I never activate it (during the first month at least). Thanks.
The ETF of $325 plus the $200 cost of the phone plus 1 month data and voice service plus the $36 activation fee you may as well just buy one outright without a contract for $599 for 16gb or $650-$700 off eBay. Why go through all the hassle? Just return what you have, cancel your service and buy one full price.
 
Obviously the scam wont work.
AT&T and their legal team have thought of that way before any of us even had an iphone4.
Either way you will pay the ETF, one months bill and the $200 or the full $599
It wont make much of a difference what you pick.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.