Is a dummy line with AT&T the cheapest way to upgrade?

[redsoxguy676]

I currently have the 5s on AT&T and my contract is due to end on 9/21/15.

I have read about getting the $10 dummy line with AT&T, that way every other year one of the lines is eligible for full upgrade pricing.

Is this a good way to upgrade without having to do AT&T next or the early upgrade price of the subsidized price plus $250.00?

Also can someone tell me the easiest way to sign up for the second dummy line to pay $10 a month for it?

 

[Slicktype]

X2

 

[Blueline29]

When I did it for the 5, I just added a new line and got the new phone on it. Supposedly, there's a way to then switch the numbers from your 5S to the 6 once you get it just by calling AT&T, but the woman I spoke to with AT&T at that time screwed something up and I had to run into an AT&T wireless store to have them do it. It was no big deal; they took care of it in about 3 minutes. So then the new line was attached to a RAZR and the iP5 moved to my main line.

I did call back in to make sure that there was no data or messaging or anything enabled on the dummy line (I'd be fire-pissed if I got dinged for a spam text or something), just to make sure that it stayed at $9.99 + tax per month.

 

[jtp098]

I currently have the 5s on AT&T and my contract is due to end on 9/21/15.

I have read about getting the $10 dummy line with AT&T, that way every other year one of the lines is eligible for full upgrade pricing.

Is this a good way to upgrade without having to do AT&T next or the early upgrade price of the subsidized price plus $250.00?

Also can someone tell me the easiest way to sign up for the second dummy line to pay $10 a month for it?

https://www.wireless.att.com/cloudexpress/upgrade/crossUpgrade_faqs.jsp


ATT has a new feature to make this easier.

 

[karmatourer]

I added a 2nd line for $9.99 2 years ago and couldn't be happier.I get a new phone every year now and sell the old one for big $$$$.

 

[beebo87]

haha i've been trying to get this answered as well. this is probably the route i'm going... i just want to make sure that after i go to apple and add the line, i can swap numbers and cancel one of the data plans.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

yes it is. the best part is you can sell your old phone to pay for the new phone upgrade. free upgrades FTW.

 

[Usertame]

Have you checked to see if your able to upgrade on Next? something like 80-90% of on contract customers are able to upgrade using Next. I very rarely see someone not available for next. If that's an option that is what I would do.

Otherwise, you can add a line (next or 2yr) use the new phone and have your number put on the new Iphone. ( just tell them you want the Iphone 6 on your number).

You can also sell your old phone if you wanted. It wont be able to be unlocked until your contract ends tho.

If you tell me a breakdown of your bill and plan and can check to see the options and prices.

Or use this yourself: http://www.myattmst.com/MST-HOME.html

Go to
> calculators > consumer > Choose your plan and follow the instructions.

 

[redsoxguy676]

So basically I can go into a store next Friday and tell them I want to add a $10 line and have the 6 or 6+ transferred to my current number?

 

[Statusnone88]

This does not work when you're on an individual nation plan. People that used to do this were already on family plans. And now that those are gone, this method is no longer a viable option.

 

[beebo87]

This does not work when you're on an individual nation plan. People that used to do this were already on family plans. And now that those are gone, this method is no longer a viable option.

If you're already on a FamilyTalk plan you're still eligible to keep it and add lines to it. So it still is an option for some of us I believe.

 

[nostresshere]

So, you pay another $10 or $120 a year to have that other line?

 

[rui no onna]

Is this a good way to upgrade without having to do AT&T next or the early upgrade price of the subsidized price plus $250.00?

Also can someone tell me the easiest way to sign up for the second dummy line to pay $10 a month for it?

Just something to consider:

Early upgrade:
$450

Dummy line:
$200 + $10*24 = $440 + taxes and regulatory fees

In the end, you're paying around the same. Only difference being with early upgrade, you need to pay it all upfront. Both are still less than MSRP, though.

 

[Statusnone88]

If you're already on a FamilyTalk plan you're still eligible to keep it and add lines to it. So it still is an option for some of us I believe.

Only if you're already on it. People neglect to mention this, then others read about it and go into the store and freak out on the rep because their "friend just did it, why can't I?"

But yes you are correct. Also the line cap is 5 on family talk.

 

[redsoxguy676]

Only if you're already on it. People neglect to mention this, then others read about it and go into the store and freak out on the rep because their "friend just did it, why can't I?"

But yes you are correct. Also the line cap is 5 on family talk.

Alright since the dummy line is not an option for me, since my early upgrade date isn't going to be till the Monday after launch day (9/21) will the manager at my local corporate store do an override to move my early upgrade date up a few days?

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Alright since the dummy line is not an option for me, since my early upgrade date isn't going to be till the Monday after launch day (9/21) will the manager at my local corporate store do an override to move my early upgrade date up a few days?

just call att and ask to add another line to your acct. Once you have that extra number, you can then preorder the phone or use that number on the 19th in store.

Just something to consider:

Early upgrade:
$450

Dummy line:
$200 + $10*24 = $440 + taxes and regulatory fees

In the end, you're paying around the same. Only difference being with early upgrade, you need to pay it all upfront. Both are still less than MSRP, though.

again your math is off because you are mixing up 1 yr and 2 year costs.

early upgrade fee is 450.
dummy line is 10 x 12 months (1 year) 120
selling old phone is 300
buying new phone is 300

so you pay 120 over the course of 1 yr for a dummy line and selling the old phone cancels out what you pay for the new phone.

if you do the early upgrade, selling the old phone will still pay off for the new phone but you will have also paid 450 ETF instead of 120 monthly service. so it's 330 dollars more expensive.

 

[rui no onna]

again your math is off because you are mixing up 1 yr and 2 year costs.

early upgrade fee is 450.
dummy line is 10 x 12 months (1 year) 120
selling old phone is 300
buying new phone is 300

so you pay 120 over the course of 1 yr for a dummy line and selling the old phone cancels out what you pay for the new phone.

if you do the early upgrade, selling the old phone will still pay off for the new phone but you will have also paid 450 ETF instead of 120 monthly service. so it's 330 dollars more expensive.

I'm not mixing up anything. Even if the 1 year cost for the extra line is just $120, you're required to keep it for 2 years so your total cost for that line is $240. That's what people should look at. Sure, you can use your main line to upgrade in the 2nd year but you still need to keep paying $10 for that dummy line until the contract is over.

If you do the early upgrade, you just pay the slightly discounted rate of $450. There's no separate ETF but early upgrade does extend your contract by another 2 years.

You can sell your old phone regardless of whether or not you do the early upgrade or the dummy line.

 

[redsoxguy676]

If anyone can answer, since my early upgrade date isn't until the 21st of September will a manager at my local AT&T store override that and let me do an early upgrade a few days early?

 

[TAI182]

If anyone can answer, since my early upgrade date isn't until the 21st of September will a manager at my local AT&T store override that and let me do an early upgrade a few days early?

Yes.

 

[maximus96]

i recall reading that the early upgrade price is only good once every 18 months, so you can't keep early-upgrading every 12 months like you can with the ghost line.

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If anyone can answer, since my early upgrade date isn't until the 21st of September will a manager at my local AT&T store override that and let me do an early upgrade a few days early?

the date within the month doesn't matter, you're already eligible to upgrade on 9/1.

 

[redsoxguy676]

Yes.

I also used an early upgrade for the 5s. That's why I'm kind of thinking AT&T won't allow it two years in a row. I called 3 local corporate stores and all 3 of them gave me different answers regarding moving the early upgrade date by a couple of days.

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i recall reading that the early upgrade price is only good once every 18 months, so you can't keep early-upgrading every 12 months like you can with the ghost line.

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the date within the month doesn't matter, you're already eligible to upgrade on 9/1.

But since I am only eligible for an "early upgrade" and not a fully subsidized phone this year the date stays as 9/21 which was the date of the 5s release, or so I'd imagine from what I've been reading.

 

[rui no onna]

i recall reading that the early upgrade price is only good once every 18 months, so you can't keep early-upgrading every 12 months like you can with the ghost line.

You should be able to. The amount for the early upgrade is actually more than fully discounted upgrade fee + ETF ($199 + $205 = $404).

 

[miamialley]

Alright since the dummy line is not an option for me, since my early upgrade date isn't going to be till the Monday after launch day (9/21) will the manager at my local corporate store do an override to move my early upgrade date up a few days?

They definitely should. Explain you may as well pay the ETF and switch providers and get the new phone for full discount. They will have no choice.

 

[redsoxguy676]

You should be able to. The amount for the early upgrade is actually more than fully discounted upgrade fee + ETF ($199 + $205 = $404).

Hmm... So realistically if I go to the store and tell them I want to pay the account off early by paying the eff then tell them I want to buy the iphone 6 with a new two year contract they would do it?

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If I pay the etf I could still keep my account and the same number correct? Since at that point I'd be a "month to month" customer.

 

[rui no onna]

Hmm... So realistically if I go to the store and tell them I want to pay the account off early by paying the eff then tell them I want to buy the iphone 6 with a new two year contract they would do it?

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If I pay the etf I could still keep my account and the same number correct? Since at that point I'd be a "month to month" customer.

That's the thing. Last time I asked AT&T if I could just pay ETF without cancelling my line so that I can unlock my phone (international travel), they said they couldn't do it. They'd have to cancel my line and I'd end up losing my phone number.