iPhone FORCIBLY added a DATA PLAN HELP!

[goosnarrggh]

While true, if it is written into the contract that they can add data to your plan if you have a phone that requires it, and you sign the contract, then they can add it.

Rogers' current version of the Wireless Services Guide (the glossy package that accompanies every SIM card they distribute) seems to contradict you.

link:
http://www.rogers.com/cms/pdf/en/ROG_1279_SEPT_UGD_EN_LRez.pdf

(See page 18).

It appears to say that the choice of premium monthly data subscriptions varies depending on whether or not you have a smartphone or a normal POS phone, but that either way, the baseline option is something called a "Day Pass" (which supersedes and replaces the previous per-KB pay-per-use rate), whereby you pay for data by the day (IIRC $2.99 per 20MB per day for smartphones, with each individual $2.99 charge requiring your explicit consent, and no data available at all until you give your consent), and you only pay for those days in which you actually use data.

It could very well be that they may require you to subscribe to a premium-priced data plan for a fixed term as a mandatory condition of receiving an equipment subsidy. And in order to opt out of such a data plan, a "Data Early Cancellation Fee" (DECF) would certainly apply, because the premium-priced data plans do come with their own sets of minimum terms, independent of the minimum term attached to the remainder of your wireless services.

And it may also very well be the case that certain (or even most) stores will have a policy to refuse to sell you a piece of equipment at all unless you agree to buy it at the subsidized price, with all the extra obligations that places on you, and along with all bonuses and commissions that the store will receive.

 

[TheSpaz]

You can't be seriously recommending that!

Ziphone was for firmware 1.1.2+ and caused many problems to people who used it and permanently bricked alot of iphones.
You wouldnt be able to downgrade any iphone to that firmware unless its a 2G version and I wouldnt advise it to anyone cause they might regret it.

I wasn't actually suggesting to use it... I just know that a long time ago, it had a feature to change the IMEI number. Ziphone is long gone, it was just a piece of history I was sharing with you guys.

 

[ucfgrad93]

IOW, if you can't afford $30 extra per month, it's time to find another phone.

Agreed.

 

[TheSpaz]

Agreed.

No other phone has an iPod and web browser built into it. What's wrong with wanting an iPhone, but not wanting to pay for data. Data is useless to me... I hardly ever used it when I had it.

 

[r.j.s]

Well exactly... you aren't signing a contract for THAT phone if you didn't buy it from them, therefore.. they can't touch your account.

As already pointed out, you are signing a contract for service, not a device.

Rogers' current version of the Wireless Services Guide (the glossy package that accompanies every SIM card they distribute) seems to contradict you.

You are pointing out that a specific carrier's contract (not the OP's) says they wont add data onto your plan ... ok. What does that have to do with what I said?

I said, IF the contract says they will add data, then you have consented. If the contract, in the case of Rogers, says they will ask each day, then that is what they will do.

It's not about how other carriers do things, it's about what the OP's contract says.

 

[Applejuiced]

No other phone has an iPod and web browser built into it. What's wrong with wanting an iPhone, but not wanting to pay for data. Data is useless to me... I hardly ever used it when I had it.

Agreed.
People should be able to choose to use their own phone the way they want.
Not how a wireless provider tells them to.
If they're happy with no carrier data so be it.

 

[goosnarrggh]

You are pointing out that a specific carrier's contract (not the OP's) says they wont add data onto your plan ... ok. What does that have to do with what I said?

I said, IF the contract says they will add data, then you have consented. If the contract, in the case of Rogers, says they will ask each day, then that is what they will do.

It's not about how other carriers do things, it's about what the OP's contract says.

I'm very sorry, I was mis-attributing a particular subplot of this thread to you, when you hadn't actually been directly contributing to that line of argumentation. I actually meant to respond to something that started out as a comment Wrathwitch had made. (S)He was specifically referring to Rogers.

Again, I'm sorry for pulling you into the mix.

 

[xmomox]

Wow, so much hefty information. I read every relevant post that helped my cause.

Well my decision was to just call ATT and make sure I'm on the 30$ unlimited data plan, not some kind of crazy overthe price one.

I'm probably just going to stick with this plan for the next three months, since I am switching carriers in 3 months, (FINALLY). Two years is FOREVER..

Since I am going to sell my iPhone then, I'll just make back that money.

Thanks for all the replies you guys!

I'm sure this thread will be helpful to other people that had this happen to them.

 

[goobot]

Nope, they know from the phones IMEI number which the baseband deasl with and transmits to the network when it negotiates connection, iphone OS has nothing to do with it, only way it would be possible is with hacking the baseband to fake an IMEI, and here at least in UK, that is flat out illegal to do even if/when possible.

thats what i was saying before with unlocking but using the exploit a bit different.

 

[bjb.butler]

Agreed.
People should be able to choose to use their own phone the way they want.
Not how a wireless provider tells them to.
If they're happy with no carrier data so be it.

Right. Wireless carriers in the u.s. are a joke. I'm pretty sure that in the united kingdom, you can buy whatever unlocked phone you want, and use it without the risk of a data plan being tacked on... Is this correct?

 

[Applejuiced]

Right. Wireless carriers in the u.s. are a joke. I'm pretty sure that in the united kingdom, you can buy whatever unlocked phone you want, and use it without the risk of a data plan being tacked on... Is this correct?

In many countries worldwide you can pick and choose the services that you want and dont want.
If you dont want data then you wont get any.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Wow, so much hefty information. I read every relevant post that helped my cause.

Well my decision was to just call ATT and make sure I'm on the 30$ unlimited data plan, not some kind of crazy overthe price one.

I'm probably just going to stick with this plan for the next three months, since I am switching carriers in 3 months, (FINALLY). Two years is FOREVER..

Since I am going to sell my iPhone then, I'll just make back that money.

Thanks for all the replies you guys!

I'm sure this thread will be helpful to other people that had this happen to them.

I read this as "I called AT&T and guess what they said?" Since you're switching, you may want to review the TOS of the next carrier you go to so that you're better acquainted with what you can and cannot do. It'll likely make life easier.

 

[RedTomato]

I always thought in the USA consumers had more rights. Guess not.

Here in the UK, I regularly use my iPhone without a data plan. I pay £15/month for unlimited data and text. That comes as a bonus, meaning that if I don't make any calls, at the end of the month, I still have the £15 I paid remaining in credit on my account, after using the unlimited free data and texting.

Sometimes I forget to pay the next month's £15 in time (o2 aways text me a reminder at the end of the month) and they just cut off the data automatically, so my iPhone won't connect to the net, and text messages become 10p each.

After I pay £15 (takes a couple of seconds online) it takes about 5 minutes for the next month of free data and texts to be activated.

02 set it up for me, knowing it was for an iPhone, no sneaking about needed. I'm up to £45 now in credit as I don't make many calls. At the end of the year i might have £200 or so in credit, and hopefully I can use that as a discount for a new 4G iPhone. PAYG of course. It's the only way to roll for me.

I'm pretty certain you can use an iPhone on most UK networks without having to pay for a data tariff.

 

[bigbrowntruck]

If ATT forces you to have a data plan. If you are on the unlimited $30 plan, just jailbreak, install MyWi and ALWAYS share you data connection. Apartment complexes, gym, coffee shop, at sporting events, at the mall food court. Make sure you get your moneys worth then

 

[ct2k7]

If ATT forces you to have a data plan. If you are on the unlimited $30 plan, just jailbreak, install MyWi and ALWAYS share you data connection. Apartment complexes, gym, coffee shop, at sporting events, at the mall food court. Make sure you get your moneys worth then

until you end up with a massive phone bill, or they put debt collectors on you.

 

[bigbrowntruck]

until you end up with a massive phone bill, or they put debt collectors on you.

Isn't it "Unlimited Data". Unlimited means I can use a gazillion GB's if I want, right? Not really. I think ATT gets after you after 5GB in a month. Just make sure and share your data up to 4.99GB per month to be safe Whats the most data anyone has used in one month and not had ATT bother you?

 

[iMacDragon]

I always thought in the USA consumers had more rights. Guess not.

Here in the UK, I regularly use my iPhone without a data plan. I pay £15/month for unlimited data and text. That comes as a bonus, meaning that if I don't make any calls, at the end of the month, I still have the £15 I paid remaining in credit on my account, after using the unlimited free data and texting.

Sometimes I forget to pay the next month's £15 in time (o2 aways text me a reminder at the end of the month) and they just cut off the data automatically, so my iPhone won't connect to the net, and text messages become 10p each.

After I pay £15 (takes a couple of seconds online) it takes about 5 minutes for the next month of free data and texts to be activated.

02 set it up for me, knowing it was for an iPhone, no sneaking about needed. I'm up to £45 now in credit as I don't make many calls. At the end of the year i might have £200 or so in credit, and hopefully I can use that as a discount for a new 4G iPhone. PAYG of course. It's the only way to roll for me.

I'm pretty certain you can use an iPhone on most UK networks without having to pay for a data tariff.

I don't believe you can use PAYG credit towards an upgrade? I think they just give you 10% of topped up credit towards an upgrade, but can't use credit itself. I'd check on that if I were you, before you end up with tons of credit you have little use for.

 

[jtara]

They can do this? I thought they needed your permission first?!

You didn't read the fine print, did you?

A data plan is required. At least on ATT.

 

[hexonxonx]

Isn't it "Unlimited Data". Unlimited means I can use a gazillion GB's if I want, right? Not really. I think ATT gets after you after 5GB in a month. Just make sure and share your data up to 4.99GB per month to be safe Whats the most data anyone has used in one month and not had ATT bother you?

There is no 5GB cap and never has been. The 5GB cap applies only to phone plans that include tethering. There have been a few months where I have used over 7GB.

 

[bigbrowntruck]

There is no 5GB cap and never has been. The 5GB cap applies only to phone plans that include tethering. There have been a few months where I have used over 7GB.

7GB, Nice work. You certainly got your $30 worth that month. Around 4 GB is all I have done. I have to stream A LOT of slingbox to get up there.

 

[ct2k7]

Isn't it "Unlimited Data". Unlimited means I can use a gazillion GB's if I want, right? Not really. I think ATT gets after you after 5GB in a month. Just make sure and share your data up to 4.99GB per month to be safe Whats the most data anyone has used in one month and not had ATT bother you?

I had a £820.04 bill for something very menial.

 

[hexonxonx]

7GB, Nice work. You certainly got your $30 worth that month. Around 4 GB is all I have done. I have to stream A LOT of slingbox to get up there.

Well there are many days when I will have my XM app going for several hours. I've used up 300MB just after a few hours doing that.

 

[Nicksd84]

7GB, Nice work. You certainly got your $30 worth that month. Around 4 GB is all I have done. I have to stream A LOT of slingbox to get up there.

If you read the TOS the 5GB cap is there. It gives them the option to charge. They just never did.

 

[slippery-pete]

You had to agree to AT&T's terms of service before your account was ever activated. You've also been notified on your bill every time they changed/update the terms, and by keeping your service active you agreed to the new terms. In those terms, you agreed to two important things:

If you use any smartphone you have to have a data plan.
If you start using a smartphone and don't add the data plan, AT&T can add it automatically.

IOW, if you can't afford $30 extra per month, it's time to find another phone.

+1

 

[hexonxonx]

If you read the TOS the 5GB cap is there. It gives them the option to charge. They just never did.

Someone here posted a link to the iPhone TOS and there was no mention of a data cap on the unlimited iPhone plan. The iPhone was the only AT&T phone offered that had it's own TOS. I'll find it after I get home from work tonight. I don't have time now.