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Not eligible for an AT&T handset upgrade? Here's how to avoid being overcharged
- Thread starter reub
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When we check for upgrade eligiblity for an iPhone user in store it says eligible to upgrade... It shouldn't show available because its barely been a year since the launch so... I didn't know this till Saturday lmao. I guess I really never had to check until this chick came in... lol
Boggles your mind doesn't it? I work for AT&T and I know as much as anyone does right now.
i have sold my old 1st gen iphone but my iphone plan is still going so would i be eligible for the 199-299 price?
saDeRmac, do you think it is worth waiting a couple of days to have the 30-day window to decide my options instead of activating my iphone now? I figure at least to allow a couple of days because I may not be able to get the phone the first day it is out. Or do you think I will be safe in having the option to upgrade my iphone?
Let me get an opinion from a friend of mine that I'm going to see tomorrow... I'll get back to you on that one. I wouldn't activate right now... I'll be able to post about 11pm EST
Upgrade
Ok... I have been reading all of these posts, I have also read just about every thread regarding the new iphone. I really want the new iphone, and I would love to see a positive thread about it... BUT... the upgrade eligibility thing really screws over original iphone users.
Ok, I bought my iphone on July 07, 2007. I left Sprint that day and started a new At&t account. I paid the early termination fee and signed a brand new 2-year contract. That means I am not technically eligible to upgrade until at least April of 2009. So, this means that everyone who bought the iphone in 07 will not be able to get the new iphone at the $199 price point until their accounts become upgrade eligible. Right? Doesn't that seem a little unfair. I bought the phone for 600 bucks, and paid a 200 dollar early termination fee. I believe I am entitled to the new one at the same price a new At&t customer (or eligible upgrader) receives.
If I understand correctly though, everyone who is an iphone 2G user is eligible for upgrade? If this is true, my online account does not reflect that, it says I am not eligible.
Ok... That is all I want to say. I want the new phone, and I already sold my old one. But I do not want to pay more for it than other people. It doesn't seem like Apple would allow this to happen to iPhone 2G users...
Ok... I have been reading all of these posts, I have also read just about every thread regarding the new iphone. I really want the new iphone, and I would love to see a positive thread about it... BUT... the upgrade eligibility thing really screws over original iphone users.
Ok, I bought my iphone on July 07, 2007. I left Sprint that day and started a new At&t account. I paid the early termination fee and signed a brand new 2-year contract. That means I am not technically eligible to upgrade until at least April of 2009. So, this means that everyone who bought the iphone in 07 will not be able to get the new iphone at the $199 price point until their accounts become upgrade eligible. Right? Doesn't that seem a little unfair. I bought the phone for 600 bucks, and paid a 200 dollar early termination fee. I believe I am entitled to the new one at the same price a new At&t customer (or eligible upgrader) receives.
If I understand correctly though, everyone who is an iphone 2G user is eligible for upgrade? If this is true, my online account does not reflect that, it says I am not eligible.
Ok... That is all I want to say. I want the new phone, and I already sold my old one. But I do not want to pay more for it than other people. It doesn't seem like Apple would allow this to happen to iPhone 2G users...
As of current the Internal memo to all retail sales in AT&T states that they will be offering the 3G iPhone to those that have the 2G iPhone for the subsidized pricing. Check with your local AT&T store for more info on your account. The online upgrade eligibility tool (this is what I'm thinking) goes by the number of mths your contract is currently at. The instore one I think has been overridden so... That's pretty much what I know on it.
I hope that you are correct, as I just bought an iPhone, and unsure at this point if I will get 3G, but I certainly want the option to upgrade if I so choose.
Jude
Saying that the phone has already been activated... I think that I still should ask... So don't activate it till I find out.
I talked to someone tonight at ATT about it, and they said they didnt know exactly, but as far as he was gathering you have to be eligible for a handset upgrade if you dont have the first iPhone.
Which puts me at October, 2009.
I want to throw this Samsung Blackjack out the frickin' window sometimes.
Which puts me at October, 2009.
I want to throw this Samsung Blackjack out the frickin' window sometimes.
I talked to someone tonight at ATT about it, and they said they didnt know exactly, but as far as he was gathering you have to be eligible for a handset upgrade if you dont have the first iPhone.
Which puts me at October, 2009.
I want to throw this Samsung Blackjack out the frickin' window sometimes.
yeah sucks... Feel your pain... As an AT&T RSC I won't be able to get it until October of this year if even that. I mean I know 3 mths doesn't compare to a year and 3 mths, but I still feel ya man.
Well, I spent over an hour trying to get them to change my upgrade status back to eligible...My original iphone, that I bought in March, was stolen. I called ATT and they offered me an early upgrade status, but I haven't yet cashed it in. Then, I just sold my iphone, that I bought end of April to replace it, last week. Not wanting to wait a month without one, I bought another iphone yesterday (cheaper, I made money actually), and activated it.
Because it was unlocked with ziphone and was slow!, I restored the original settings, but that made me have to sign up through itunes all over again! I know, I should have went into the store personally. But, when I activated it, I went online and my upgrade eligibility status was now gone! So, I called ATT to bitch about that and ask questions about 3G. I don't have time to list the many different statements made by them, conflicting statements!, but after an hour, the 2nd supervisor I spoke with told me that she could not change my eligibility status online, but that she would add it to the notes, so I shouldn't have a problem when trying to buy a 3G on July 11th. At first, one rep told me that I couldn't buy one, that I wasn't eligible, and inferred that she didn't know whether or not I was lying about my prior eligibility status!!!! The next rep looked it up and saw that I had been eligible (so obviously it was documented), but didn't care/couldn't help me. It goes on and on until finally one reasonable supervisor was nice, acknowledging that I got jacked and lost $400 iphone, wasn't making this up...she put it in her notes, so hopefully (if this stays the policy) I will be OK????......phew....
Oh, and nothing was said about needing to have iphone, simply having a first generation iphone, according to these reps, doesn't mean sh-t...you need to be upgrade eligible...don't know if this is true, I don't hold anything I've been told to be the truth...any better info???
I feel your pain but here is my question. When you activate the the Gen 1 iPhone through iTunes, your simply agreeing to a new 2 year commitment and has nothing to do with the upgrade status since you bought the phone at a non-subsidized price. Why would that mess with your status ?
I spoke to three ATT employees yesterday and today. Both in the store and on the phone. I was going to sign up for a new contract for me and my wife. We were going to get the cheap / free phones and then upgrade when the iPhones come out. All of them said that this was NOT an option and could not be done unless I terminate the contract(s) and started fresh.
Would it matter if I bought a used phone and then went in to upgrade it?
saDeRmac,
What about those of us who bought the original iPhone release day, then got rid of it a few months ago but the line it was on remains unused and still shows as using an iPhone on it, even though I took off the data plan? This is on a family plan...will I be able to upgrade to the iPhone 3G for the new pricing?
Any information you could get on this would be really appreciated! I attached a photo of my AT&T account showing how they think I am still using the iPhone, but obviously from the minutes it hasn't been used.
Steve
What about those of us who bought the original iPhone release day, then got rid of it a few months ago but the line it was on remains unused and still shows as using an iPhone on it, even though I took off the data plan? This is on a family plan...will I be able to upgrade to the iPhone 3G for the new pricing?
Any information you could get on this would be really appreciated! I attached a photo of my AT&T account showing how they think I am still using the iPhone, but obviously from the minutes it hasn't been used.
Steve
Attachments
SaDeRmac : Great to see so many of your replies, really helps us save time on customer supp calls.
These questions should help many :
Is $30 data plan a must? What about those areas where there is no 3G available? What if I am going to use it in a non-3G area while still buying it in a 3G area?
I have been using iPhone (unlocked) on my regular Cingular account for quite some time now and I plan to do the same with the 3G iPhone (Would cancel the line after 3o days!). Using an iPhone on a non-iPhone account should not mess with upgrade eligibility right? I am using media net $20 plan too.
Could you please chart out the exact amount for getting a 3G iPhone after ETF?
Is it $199 (8GB) + $175 + Activation ($35?) + First month's bill ($70) + Possible pro rata second month? = $479 (Approx)??
Thanks a lot buddy! These questions will definitely help my readers and I want to feature you on my blog : http://iLikeMyiPhone.com
Pl don't get offended by my stance against ATT on my blog, just voicing my opinion!
These questions should help many :
Is $30 data plan a must? What about those areas where there is no 3G available? What if I am going to use it in a non-3G area while still buying it in a 3G area?
I have been using iPhone (unlocked) on my regular Cingular account for quite some time now and I plan to do the same with the 3G iPhone (Would cancel the line after 3o days!). Using an iPhone on a non-iPhone account should not mess with upgrade eligibility right? I am using media net $20 plan too.
Could you please chart out the exact amount for getting a 3G iPhone after ETF?
Is it $199 (8GB) + $175 + Activation ($35?) + First month's bill ($70) + Possible pro rata second month? = $479 (Approx)??
Thanks a lot buddy! These questions will definitely help my readers and I want to feature you on my blog : http://iLikeMyiPhone.com
Pl don't get offended by my stance against ATT on my blog, just voicing my opinion!
Here is the deal....
I'm also an at&t employee but not on the Mobility side but I do have several reliable contacts...
I also spoke to 5 different service representative with at&t and the answers are all consistent.
In order for you to upgrade to the new iPhone regardless if you already have one or not, you have to be upgrade eligible. This means that just because you have an iPhone doesn't automatically qualify you for the new 3G iPhone.
Some of you may be eligible for an upgrade because of the following scenario.
1. You purchased a new subsidized RZR on 7/1/2006 and when iPhone was released back in 6/2007, you purchased the iPhone at a full NON SUBSIDIZED Price. This means that because you will be eligible for an upgrade on 7/1/2008 since purchase of iPhone didn't burn up your upgrade eligibility.
Again, you can only purchase the new iPhone at the discounted rate if you are a NEW customer or Upgrade Eligible Customer.
The full retail price of the phone without getting the discount is undetermined.
I hope this helps and I know this may anger many of you...
I'm also an at&t employee but not on the Mobility side but I do have several reliable contacts...
I also spoke to 5 different service representative with at&t and the answers are all consistent.
In order for you to upgrade to the new iPhone regardless if you already have one or not, you have to be upgrade eligible. This means that just because you have an iPhone doesn't automatically qualify you for the new 3G iPhone.
Some of you may be eligible for an upgrade because of the following scenario.
1. You purchased a new subsidized RZR on 7/1/2006 and when iPhone was released back in 6/2007, you purchased the iPhone at a full NON SUBSIDIZED Price. This means that because you will be eligible for an upgrade on 7/1/2008 since purchase of iPhone didn't burn up your upgrade eligibility.
Again, you can only purchase the new iPhone at the discounted rate if you are a NEW customer or Upgrade Eligible Customer.
The full retail price of the phone without getting the discount is undetermined.
I hope this helps and I know this may anger many of you...
This is actually the complete opposite of what I was just told by AT&T and the woman I spoke to read directly from the Apple memo. I think that maybe the ones who havent seen the memo are just assuming based on how they handle other phones. Based on how they handled the previous iphone release as not everyone that bought one was upgrade eligible and from what she read to me, I am tending to believe otherwise that everyone will be able to get one, regardless of your existing contract.
sigh...
FarSeide - Thanks for the info.
If this is indeed the policy, then a) the tactic I suggested to start the thread won't work. b) it would make Steve Jobs' claim during the keynote false (or if not false, than wildly oversimplified and misleading). I hope it's not the case.
I think they really screwed up the communication on this one. For all the effort that's put into simplifying the user experience of the phone, they botch the ordering and pricing process. I realize that not all of this is within Apple's control, but I'd think they'd work better with their partners to present a clear plan to customers.
I understand the pricing policy. I think that it's more consistent with other phones and plans, but the problem was the expectations that were set in the keynote. I don't know what Apple knew about AT&T's plans prior to the announcement, but I feel completely mislead about the pricing model. Making broad pronouncements that later turn out false is a really crappy way to hype your product.
Before I decide whether it's still a fair price, I'd like to know more about what other smartphones cost. Could someone more familiar with the Blackberry say what a comparable model costs for a non-upgrade price and what the data plan costs are?
FarSeide - Thanks for the info.
If this is indeed the policy, then a) the tactic I suggested to start the thread won't work. b) it would make Steve Jobs' claim during the keynote false (or if not false, than wildly oversimplified and misleading). I hope it's not the case.
I think they really screwed up the communication on this one. For all the effort that's put into simplifying the user experience of the phone, they botch the ordering and pricing process. I realize that not all of this is within Apple's control, but I'd think they'd work better with their partners to present a clear plan to customers.
I understand the pricing policy. I think that it's more consistent with other phones and plans, but the problem was the expectations that were set in the keynote. I don't know what Apple knew about AT&T's plans prior to the announcement, but I feel completely mislead about the pricing model. Making broad pronouncements that later turn out false is a really crappy way to hype your product.
Before I decide whether it's still a fair price, I'd like to know more about what other smartphones cost. Could someone more familiar with the Blackberry say what a comparable model costs for a non-upgrade price and what the data plan costs are?