Just sold 3GS. Will using old phone for 10 days cancel upgrade eligibility?

[bella92108]

Show me where AT&T cancels your upgrade eligibility for swapping SIM's. Bet $10 you can't.

"Data Plans: An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated smartphones. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other designated smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee."

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp

In other words, if you dump your iPhone for another device (remember a handset that supports data is a smartphone, just uses a non iphone plan, like a samsung phone or android device, etc)... so yeah, they're covered. And only people eligible for iphone upgrade are those on upgrade, so yes, they're contractually allowed to cancel your upgrade eligibility for swapping sims.

You sir, owe me $10. Will that be cash or PayPal?

People, it's 10 days till you'll have the iphone in your hand, don't risk it!

 

[coasterswim]

Upgrade eligibility is based on two things:

1. Your most recent phone purchase
2. Cost of your monthly bill

As long as neither of those two things changes (swapping SIM's obviously won't change anything), you eligibility won't be touched.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

"Data Plans: An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated smartphones. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other designated smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee."

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/legal/plan-terms.jsp

In other words, if you dump your iPhone for another device (remember a handset that supports data is a smartphone, just uses a non iphone plan, like a samsung phone or android device, etc)... so yeah, they're covered. And only people eligible for iphone upgrade are those on upgrade, so yes, they're contractually allowed to cancel your upgrade eligibility for swapping sims.

You sir, owe me $10. Will that be cash or PayPal?

People, it's 10 days till you'll have the iphone in your hand, don't risk it!

You read that wrong. It's simply means they can and/or will add a data plan for people using smartphones/iPhones without a data plan. It says absolutely nothing about them taking any data plan away.

BTW ........ I switch my sim frequently to other smartphones when going to the beach, playing ball, etc:

Maybe they only do this to people the swap their sim for prolong use.

 

[bella92108]

Upgrade eligibility is based on two things:

1. Your most recent phone purchase
2. Cost of your monthly bill

As long as neither of those two things changes (swapping SIM's obviously won't change anything), you eligibility won't be touched.

100% correct for every device\customer EXCEPT iPhone.

Absolutely not true for iPhone.

If you bought a Blackberry and an iPhone in March 2010 and checked your upgrade eligibility, the iPhone would be eligible, the Blackberry would not be. This is a ONE-OFF situation they worked with Apple to get exception to.

My guess is Apple said "OK ATT we'll give you $50 discount on every phone you buy from us if you make almost every current iPhone customer eligible" and to do that, AT&T had to plan something to recoup their loss on what would have been remaining contracts, and thats what prompted the new $325 ETF... it's all business.

 

[hansenc]

Upgrade eligibility is based on two things:

1. Your most recent phone purchase
2. Cost of your monthly bill

As long as neither of those two things changes (swapping SIM's obviously won't change anything), you eligibility won't be touched.

What if you do an upgrade swap? Like last year I bought an iphone 3gs on my primary line. This upgraded extended my primary family plan line for two years but because my bill is over 100$ I get upgraded every year. ATT currently says I can get a new phone at full discount rate come 10/2010 same month I bought the iphone 3gs last year so I know the every year thing to be true.

Now about two months ago I did an upgrade swap from a secondary line and put a BB BOLD2 on my primary line.

ATT looks to be saying that I will not be able to get the new iphone 4 at the 199 price. even though to ATT my primary line last bought an iphone 3gs

 

[matt550]

When I went to the Bahamas last summer I went and talked to an att guy at the store. I asked what my options were as far as other phones to use other then my brand new (at the time) iPhone 3GS so it would not get stolen or wet during my 2 week trip. He said GoPhone, just put in your SIM and your good.

 

[bella92108]

You read that wrong. It's simply means they can and/or will add a data plan for people using smartphones/iPhones without a data plan. It says absolutely nothing about them taking any data plan away.

BTW ........ I switch my sim frequently to other smartphones when going to the beach, playing ball, etc:

Maybe they only do this to people the swap their sim for prolong use.

I did not read it wrong. You read it with the interpretation of a customer who wants it to go their way. I read it from a legal standpoint as to how it'd hold up in court.

Bottom line like any term is they put it in there to allow them to be supported by it. They "CAN" chose to enforce it if they chose, but don't have to. Clearly people are losing their eligibility, I've seen it personally. I'm not taking a position that it's 100%, I'm just saying at&t CAN and IS doing it to SOME customers.

 

[bella92108]

When I went to the Bahamas last summer I went and talked to an att guy at the store. I asked what my options were as far as other phones to use other then my brand new (at the time) iPhone 3GS so it would not get stolen or wet during my 2 week trip. He said GoPhone, just put in your SIM and your good.

So you're willing to stake your potential savings of $400 (off no commit pricing) based on what some retail monkey in the store told you? See how far that gets you when you try to fight the contract in arbitration and they ask for evidence you are allowed to move your sim to a non-iphone device even though you're on an iphone plan.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, but we have to stop the sense of entitlement as a culture. AT&T doesn't owe you anything more than what they guarantee you in the contract. People on here seem to think that AT&T owes them their unborn children because of the cash they're throwing at AT&T, and the terrible terrible way AT&T treats us. Take some accountability people.

 

[coasterswim]

100% correct for every device\customer EXCEPT iPhone.

Absolutely not true for iPhone.

If you bought a Blackberry and an iPhone in March 2010 and checked your upgrade eligibility, the iPhone would be eligible, the Blackberry would not be. This is a ONE-OFF situation they worked with Apple to get exception to.

I never said the iPhone wasn't handled differently, but it still fits into the two points. Point #1 isn't when your last purchase was, it's all the details surrounding your last purchase. A March 2009 BB purchase is different than a March 2009 iPhone purchase so each of their upgrade eligibilities can be different as well.

 

[matt550]

Has anybody contacted att yet and asked them? probably not. I'll be right back.

 

[bella92108]

I never said the iPhone wasn't handled differently, but it still fits into the two points. Point #1 isn't when your last purchase was, it's all the details surrounding your last purchase. A March 2009 BB purchase is different than a March 2009 iPhone purchase so each of their upgrade eligibilities can be different as well.

Well then you put your sim in a Nokia and see how that goes. Me, I'm not taking any chances until I have a brand new iPhone 4 in hand. I'm not so strapped for cash that I need to sell my old iPhone to be able to pay for the new one. Seems if things are that tight maybe someone shouldn't have an iphone? Like the lady in front of me at the grocery store using food stamps to buy milk and bread, then a divider, then cigarettes and beer... sketch.... wow that was a tangent. LOL... we still don't even know if the supplies will run out and go back to the iPad way of inventory management, that'd suck cause you might be stuck with a goPhone for a while, hehe

 

[bella92108]

Has anybody contacted att yet and asked them? probably not. I'll be right back.

I called and asked and they said that if your IMEI is updated to a non-iPhone, the billing system removes your iphone Plan. In candor, she said that the system often doesn't detect a change of device for days or weeks in most locales.

They also said that it's having the iphone plan on the account that triggers the early eligibility, so it's kinda the chicken\egg argument here. So the bottom line is the OFFICIAL POLICY is if you don't have an iphone being used and are using a non iphone you're not eligible.... but thanks to ATT's old-ass network there's a good chance they may not know. Your risk.

 

[matt550]

I called and asked and they said that if your IMEI is updated to a non-iPhone, the billing system removes your iphone Plan. In candor, she said that the system often doesn't detect a change of device for days or weeks in most locales.

They also said that it's having the iphone plan on the account that triggers the early eligibility, so it's kinda the chicken\egg argument here. So the bottom line is the OFFICIAL POLICY is if you don't have an iphone being used and are using a non iphone you're not eligible.... but thanks to ATT's old-ass network there's a good chance they may not know. Your risk.

I hope i get lucky then. I switched to a GoPhone yesterday.

 

[coasterswim]

I'm not so strapped for cash that I need to sell my old iPhone to be able to pay for the new one. Seems if things are that tight maybe someone shouldn't have an iphone?

What does "getting the most value out of a used product" have to do with "money being tight"? So if you have a bunch of money, you might as well just throw away your old iPhone, right?

 

[mcheng4]

Hi - question, I am freaking out over here.

When you all are talking about canceling upgrade eligibility you mean if your 18-mo contract, etc isn't up already right?! I lost my iPhone 3G last weekend, and (was an idiot) cancelled my data plan because I didnt want to pay the data for a month. Either way, it's fine because I don't use that much data....

but i NEED to be eligible for the iPhone 4 (CRAZY withdrawal here...) - I still am if the 18 months were up for me right?!

 

[bella92108]

What does "getting the most value out of a used product" have to do with "money being tight"? So if you have a bunch of money, you might as well just throw away your old iPhone, right?

Well given there hasn't been an unlock for 3GS's made since october, the benefit of waiting till the likely unlock comes out on launch day when you'll fetch a premium being able to sell to the 238 countries who DONT have iPhone 4 FAR outweighs the slight dip you'll get because demand in the US has slowed for the older model. The value of a 3G has changed little since the 3GS has been out. Anyone who's been an Apple fan for a while knows Apple holds their value.

And if you want to argue your point, and you're just now, or in the last 2-4 weeks selling your product, it's been well known for months the new iphone is coming out, so you're a bit late to the party at this point anyhow.

 

[bella92108]

Hi - question, I am freaking out over here.

When you all are talking about canceling upgrade eligibility you mean if your 18-mo contract, etc isn't up already right?! I lost my iPhone 3G last weekend, and (was an idiot) cancelled my data plan because I didnt want to pay the data for a month. Either way, it's fine because I don't use that much data....

but i NEED to be eligible for the iPhone 4 - I still am if the 18 months were up for me right?!

Unfortunately you're the customer that'll ultimately suffer under the policy... You can always call retentions (dial customer service and go through to cancel your service)... explain the situation, then let them offer what they can. Since it's not a contractually required offer they don't have to do anything.. so just be nice to the reps and they'll likely help in some way.

 

[coasterswim]

Well given there hasn't been an unlock for 3GS's made since october, the benefit of waiting till the likely unlock comes out on launch day when you'll fetch a premium being able to sell to the 238 countries who DONT have iPhone 4 FAR outweighs the slight dip you'll get because demand in the US has slowed for the older model.

Unless, of course (like myself), you had a pre-October 3GS that was unlockable making it one of the few unlockable 3GS's on the market. Once the new unlock is released for 5.12.01 next week, the value of my iPhone would have plummeted.

 

[mcheng4]

Unfortunately you're the customer that'll ultimately suffer under the policy... You can always call retentions (dial customer service and go through to cancel your service)... explain the situation, then let them offer what they can. Since it's not a contractually required offer they don't have to do anything.. so just be nice to the reps and they'll likely help in some way.

I don't understand - why wouldn't they allow the upgrade? Isn't this why every1 is being incentivized to get the i4? And why would me losing a phone, switching to a loaner, make me any different than before?

 

[bella92108]

Unless, of course (like myself), you had a pre-October 3GS that was unlockable making it one of the few unlockable 3GS's on the market. Once the new unlock is released for 5.12.01 next week, the value of my iPhone would have plummeted.

I have a 3GS, pre-october, fully unlocked. I'm not selling it because

a) I don't want to risk not being able to upgrade,

b) It's widely assumed that the unlock for all 3GS and iphone4 will be released by dev team a week from tomorrow, so anyone smart enough to know what a baseband is and how it affects the value of the phone will wait a week to buy based on the impending unlock for the newer devices.

So yeah, good luck selling it

 

[bella92108]

I don't understand - why wouldn't they allow the upgrade? Isn't this why every1 is being incentivized to get the i4? And why would me losing a phone, switching to a loaner, make me any different than before?

Why WOULD they allow it? You're stuck in a contract. If they make an exception and allow it then that's nice of them, but not required.

Sure they should allow anyone willing to re-sign a 2 year contract with the new 325.00 ETF to upgrade... they're the ones making out.

What makes you different than before is you no longer are an iPhone customer when you deleted the iPhone feature from your account.

 

[coasterswim]

I have a 3GS, pre-october, fully unlocked. I'm not selling it because

a) I don't want to risk not being able to upgrade,

b) It's widely assumed that the unlock for all 3GS and iphone4 will be released by dev team a week from tomorrow, so anyone smart enough to know what a baseband is and how it affects the value of the phone will wait a week to buy based on the impending unlock for the newer devices.

So yeah, good luck selling it

You have way too much confidence in the knowledge of the buyers in the used-iPhone market. My 3GS that I bought on launch day sold a week ago for $600. I'm one of the ones with their SIM in a dumb phone patiently waiting for an iPhone 4.

 

[bella92108]

You have way too much confidence in the knowledge of the buyers in the used-iPhone market. My 3GS that I bought on launch day sold a week ago for $600. I'm one of the ones with their SIM in a dumb phone patiently waiting for an iPhone 4.

$600 a week ago. When I sold my friend's 16GB 3GS in March it went for $780 on eBay... they've dropped significantly now that people are desperate to sell. The earlier firmware gives it a bit more value, but not a whole lot, maybe an extra $150... $150 isn't worth the risk for me to potentially lose eligibility and have to pay $400 more in buying the non-eligible pricing.

Can only hope for the best for those of you doing this method...

 

[bella92108]

You have way too much confidence in the knowledge of the buyers in the used-iPhone market. My 3GS that I bought on launch day sold a week ago for $600. I'm one of the ones with their SIM in a dumb phone patiently waiting for an iPhone 4.

The other thing u can do is press CONTACT US, just keep it simple... "Hi I just want to confirm I'm eligible for the upgrade pricing on the new iphone 4"... and they'll reply yes you are.... print that page, save it somewhere safe, and you now have an enforceable contract and nothing to worry about using a dummy phone. Least cover your a##

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I did not read it wrong. You read it with the interpretation of a customer who wants it to go their way. I read it from a legal standpoint as to how it'd hold up in court.

Bottom line like any term is they put it in there to allow them to be supported by it. They "CAN" chose to enforce it if they chose, but don't have to. Clearly people are losing their eligibility, I've seen it personally. I'm not taking a position that it's 100%, I'm just saying at&t CAN and IS doing it to SOME customers.

"Data Plans: An eligible data plan is required for certain devices, including iPhones and other designated smartphones. Eligible data plans cover data usage in the U.S. and do not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using an iPhone or other designated smartphone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee."

Notice the words WITHOUT and ADD. There is nothing that states they will take away any data plan. So YES, you DID read it wrong.