My Fight w/ AT&T

[noobinator]

Your logic of I paid 10 short of 100 every month so 10 x 12 = 120 is fine and dandy but that doesn't change the fact that this a huge corporation. Offering someone $120 to make up for it is something you should offer when doing business out of the back of a van in an alley somewhere, not when dealing with a multibillion dollar corporation. Corporations have rules/policies/contracts to adhere to.

 

[pavvento]

I realize that. I just don't think the contract I signed and this "memo" and this bizarre situation really have anything to do with one another.



No, I'm not whining. I'm just not rolling over and busting out the lube, as apparently most of you are doing.

The relationship is that the contract supersedes everything, always.

As for your other comment, I can't understand how enjoying a phone that was subsidized and agreed for a year ago is taking out the lube? It's called enjoying and being grateful for what you have and honoring your commitment.

 

[Shiner]

Can someone please explain the whole two year contract to me which gives you a lower price? Maybe it's because I'm dumb but it makes no sense to me! Okay so last year I signed a two year contract for the 3G which lowered the price to 199. Without the two year contract it would be 399 correct? But if I pay the 399 I'm going to be paying the same amount for phone usage and everything just no two year contract. So how exactly is AT&T eating money because either way your going to be paying the same amount for phone usage and date usage. I mean after two years of the contract shouldn't the phone bill be lowered because now I'm not under my inital contract? Anyways, I dont see how AT&T is losing money on anything with the iphone because the bill is pretty damn expensive. The way I see it anyone should be able to upgrade to the 199 price as long as they use a two year contract.

I will not explain how a contract works. That might be to much for this forum but your numbers are off. If you buy the phone unsubsidized it will cost you $599 and $699. The $399 is still subsidized. So next year we will see this whole thing happen again. I wish Apple would advertise the actual frickin price of the phone. This would make everything so much easier. Then people would know the iphone does not cost $199.

 

[pavvento]

Well I think that's rather unfortunate, considering they're selling the iPhone, which is made by Apple, who happens to have a large user base of "tech fiends".

If you buy a Mac and don't get the warranty, and in two years it breaks, will Apple let you 'retroactively' purchase Applecare? Absolutely not-so they honor their policies the same way AT&T does.

 

[Ishimaru]

Dude or dudette: I'm not saying I DO qualify. In your example, I'm saying, why can't we pay them $2 more per month (times 12 months, so $24) and BE qualified?

Would you like to spend $97 per month and have to pay $200 extra, when someone else paid $2 more per month than you and they get to save $200? When you could've just spent $24 more and now you're waving the cash in AT&T's face saying "take it!" and they say (in soup nazi voice), "No iPhone 3GS for you!"

Why can't you up your bill to $99? That would have saved you this big hassle in the first place, and you would have been able to upgrade! But you chose to whine and "fight" AT&T, and get them to break their policy, because you wanted your precious iPhone.

 

[kkachurak]

Your fight with AT&T?

Try your one sided argument with AT&T.

How did they not have a side? My side was [explained above] and their side was "No."

Why am I getting flamed for this? I paid $399 in the end. If you look below, you can clearly see iPhone 3GS in my sig, and I've posted pictures and video from the device.

I still feel like I got ripped out of $80, because I could've spent $120 more over the previous year and saved $200 - thus the $80! Hence why I gladly accepted the $40 credit and will gladly accept more credit should they offer it.

I will not explain how a contract works. That might be to much for this forum but your numbers are off.

I know the numbers and I don't think I'm fully prepared to take education on contracts from someone who doesn't know the difference between "too" and "to", so thanks for not explaining.

 

[pavvento]

How did they not have a side? My side was [explained above] and their side was "No."

Why am I getting flamed for this? I paid $399 in the end. If you look below, you can clearly see iPhone 3GS in my sig, and I've posted pictures and video from the device.

I still feel like I got ripped out of $80, because I could've spent $120 more over the previous year and saved $200 - thus the $80! Hence why I gladly accepted the $40 credit and will gladly accept more credit should they offer it.

I think you are getting flamed because AT&T was surprising clear about the requirements and you didn't meet them, although you made an effort to bridge the gap that's not how it works.

If your bill would have been $99/month and they didn't offer it to you it would have been totally different, but there are thousands of people that are in the same situation as you, and they have a simple decision to make: Save money and wait, or spend more and get the phone. It's not really something worth arguing about or posting about IMO.

 

[kkachurak]

Why can't you up your bill to $99? That would have saved you this big hassle in the first place, and you would have been able to upgrade! But you chose to whine and "fight" AT&T, and get them to break their policy, because you wanted your precious iPhone.

That wouldn't have worked. You needed to pay $99 per month or more OVERALL (as in, average) since you bought the iPhone 3G.

Just modifying my contract yesterday would not have made me eligible. The issue lies in the $10 per month they didn't get from me over 12 months.

 

[IBradMac]

Better up your account to at least $100 so next year you can at least get the next latest and greatest.

 

[kkachurak]

If you buy a Mac and don't get the warranty, and in two years it breaks, will Apple let you 'retroactively' purchase Applecare? Absolutely not-so they honor their policies the same way AT&T does.

Yes, but that happens to be the upfront policy. We know getting into our Mac and AppleCare purchases that we can't add it after the fact.

Had AT&T told us all in advance that we'd need to spend $99 per month or more to qualify for subsidy pricing when the next iPhone came out, you can bet your bottom dollar I would have upped my bill. Because I would have seen the clear logic in spending $10 more per month (total = $120), as opposed to spending $200 more on the new device.

This was a total surprise and an off-the-cuff exception made by AT&T, so how can you expect customers to "know what they were getting into"?

 

[zookster]

Wouldn't it been easier to add a 2nd line, wait 31 days, and cancel the first line. You made a deal.

John

 

[iPhoneVic]

i Agree

If you had to put a value on your personal and work time, are you really saving $80?

Likely ATT picked a period for certain classes of customers that maximize their profits while keeping high value customers in contact vs letting them get too close to lapsing and going with another provider.

In short, their rational probably isn't as simple as $120 or $80 or whatever.

Typing up that Post probably cost $399.....LOL

 

[Shiner]

I know the numbers and I don't think I'm fully prepared to take education on contracts from someone who doesn't know the difference between "too" and "to", so thanks for not explaining.

LOL you are stretching here but I will take the correction. You still remain an idiot no matter how you write.

 

[Ishimaru]

That wouldn't have worked. You needed to pay $99 per month or more OVERALL (as in, average) since you bought the iPhone 3G.

Just modifying my contract yesterday would not have made me eligible. The issue lies in the $10 per month they didn't get from me over 12 months.

That is not true. When I bought my 3G, I was on the 450 minute plan for $39.99, plus $30 for unlimited internet/texting. About 3 months ago, my upgrade date was December. Two months ago I switched to the $99 unlimited plan, plus $30 for unlimited internet/texting. My upgrade date instantly moved to July 12th 2009. So yes, it does move my upgrade date because I have $99 or more a month.

 

[pavvento]

Yes, but that happens to be the upfront policy. We know getting into our Mac and AppleCare purchases that we can't add it after the fact.

Had AT&T told us all in advance that we'd need to spend $99 per month or more to qualify for subsidy pricing when the next iPhone came out, you can bet your bottom dollar I would have upped my bill. Because I would have seen the clear logic in spending $10 more per month (total = $120), as opposed to spending $200 more on the new device.

This was a total surprise and an off-the-cuff exception made by AT&T, so how can you expect customers to "know what they were getting into"?

AT&T didn't have the policy in place a year ago. It's funny how they actually are helping their customers by giving people who wouldn't normally qualify for an upgrade a reduced price, and yet it is still seen as a bad thing.

 

[diamond.g]

I will not explain how a contract works. That might be to much for this forum but your numbers are off. If you buy the phone unsubsidized it will cost you $599 and $699. The $399 is still subsidized. So next year we will see this whole thing happen again. I wish Apple would advertise the actual frickin price of the phone. This would make everything so much easier. Then people would know the iphone does not cost $199.

The sad thing is all the folks that laughed at some of us 1st gen iPhone owners for paying so much for our phone. They would have to accept that the price we paid is the same price they are really paying to Apple.
The phone sells a whole lot better when you can plaster a 199 price on it than when you plaster a 599 price on it.

 

[kkachurak]

That is not true. When I bought my 3G, I was on the 450 minute plan for $39.99, plus $30 for unlimited internet/texting. About 3 months ago, my upgrade date was December. Two months ago I switched to the $99 unlimited plan, plus $30 for unlimited internet/texting. My upgrade date instantly moved to July 12th 2009. So yes, it does move my upgrade date because I have $99 or more a month.

And then what would happen when you switch back to the 450 minute plan? No harm, no foul?

 

[GoCubsGo]

How did they not have a side? My side was [explained above] and their side was "No."

Why am I getting flamed for this? I paid $399 in the end. If you look below, you can clearly see iPhone 3GS in my sig, and I've posted pictures and video from the device.

I still feel like I got ripped out of $80, because I could've spent $120 more over the previous year and saved $200 - thus the $80! Hence why I gladly accepted the $40 credit and will gladly accept more credit should they offer it.

Because you're wrong in this instance. That and you can't multi-quote.

A contract is a contract. Really. I don't understand why this is such a surprise.

 

[Konz]

$120 today is certainly not the same thing as $120 yesterday. If you understand the slightest thing about economics / investments you would know that.

All I see here is another whiny sob story about someone who signed a contract then wanted to break the terms because they thought they were special for no reason...

 

[Ishimaru]

And then what would happen when you switch back to the 450 minute plan? No harm, no foul?

My upgrade date would go back to what it would be if I didn't spent $99 or more a month. It's as simple as that.

 

[RetiredInFl]

Simply because that type of payment plan is not part of their corporate customer billing system.

By the way, in order to get a new account after cancelling your old account is to sign up under someone elses soc sec number and name (wife, mommy, daddy etc). That is what they use to determine if you are "new" or not. They still won't give you your old numbers back.

Dude or dudette: I'm not saying I DO qualify. In your example, I'm saying, why can't we pay them $2 more per month (times 12 months, so $24) and BE qualified?

 

[samcraig]

to the OP

First - there's no debacle except in the minds of the entitled - which appears you are one of based on your "fight"

If you were willing to pay 120, why would you be PISSED you were only offered a $40 credit

As for your logic and "argument" - you have none. No offense - but these complex systems are simply not built for games like the one you want to play. Offering ATT $120 to make up for your $10 a month underusage based on their cutoff doesn't work for a simple reason. Accounting. There are accounting rules and procedures for profits and losses.

Do YOU know how ATT would line list the income? Do you know how their accounting practices would handle the income once collected? Do you know how the computer system would or even could be adjusted to reflect your new "donation" and alter months of records to equal what you're proposing?

Your $120 idea is perhaps the nuttiest thing I have ever read on here for a way to "settle up" with ATT to get an upgrade.

I Just LOVE how so many people are trying to come up with creative ways that they can buck the system just to get an upgrade. Really. How impatient are you and how lacking in respect for yourself and a contract that you can't fulfill one.

BTW - if people can be hired/fired/prevented from employment for stupidly posting info on the net via message boards, facebook, etc as I have read several times in the news - one can only hope ATT and APPLE are indeed reading these message boards. Perhaps then, those that are talking trash and badmouthing policies and scheming will be outed when they call and try and work the system.

my 2 cents on the subject

 

[aristobrat]

Can someone please explain the whole two year contract to me which gives you a lower price? Maybe it's because I'm dumb but it makes no sense to me! Okay so last year I signed a two year contract for the 3G which lowered the price to 199. Without the two year contract it would be 399 correct?

No, as explained, without a two-year contract it would cost $599.

He paid $299 for his phone at the Apple Store. I'm on hold right now calling into Apple Store customer service.

Don't waste your time with Apple. Their systems sell iPhones for the price that AT&T determines per customer. Apple types in your phone number, billing zip code, and the last four of your SSN. That information gets sent to AT&T's systems, who return the price back to Apple. Apple has to sell at that price. Apple Store managers can't override that price.

If your buddy was able to somehow finagle an early upgrade earlier than you, it was because of something on his AT&T account.

Well I think that's rather unfortunate, considering they're selling the iPhone, which is made by Apple, who happens to have a large user base of "tech fiends".

Unfortunate as it may be, I think it's still a better deal than Apple's original method of selling directly to consumers, bypassing the subsidy entirely.

With Apple's original method, everyone buying an iPhone 3GS would be paying $599/$699. Everyone.

So in a way, it's kinda funny that people are wigging out that they have to pay $399/$499. I'd love to hear what they'd say if their only option for buying an iPhone 3GS was $599/$699.

I know the numbers and I don't think I'm fully prepared to take education on contracts from someone who doesn't know the difference between "too" and "to", so thanks for not explaining.

He wasn't trying to educate you. If you reread the post that you're complaining about, you'll see it was addressed to another person in this thread.

 

[Konz]

Do YOU know how ATT would line list the income? Do you know how their accounting practices would handle the income once collected? Do you know how the computer system would or even could be adjusted to reflect your new "donation" and alter months of records to equal what you're proposing?

Your $120 idea is perhaps the nuttiest thing I have ever read on here for a way to "settle up" with ATT to get an upgrade.

Exactly, I couldn't agree more.

The childish excuse for "logic" in these threads is dumbfounding...

 

[kkachurak]

$120 today is certainly not the same thing as $120 yesterday. If you understand the slightest thing about economics / investments you would know that.

An unhappy customer today is certainly not the same thing as a happy customer yesterday. If you understood the slightest thing about marketing, customer retention or guest service, you would know that.

Whatever, MacRumors community. Clearly, I didn't get my portion of the Kool Aid with my registration. And I don't have the mastery of "multi-quote" abilities.

AT&T changed the game with that memo. No advance notice. No attempt to educate their customers in advance. Just, SURPRISE - if you have been doing a certain something all along, we love you and you can have the iPhone 3GS for $199. If you haven't, there's nothing you can do about it, even though you didn't know in the first place.

Way to treat customers who have been loyal to you through (now 3) exclusive AT&T devices and over three years of service.

What tickles me the most is that everyone calling me an idiot and wrong are probably the same folks that bitched about the SATA I connection in the new MacBooks Pro's: But you knew what you were getting into! You bought the computer and you could check out the stats in the store!!! Right.