Forgive me if this has been asked/suggested before.
This doesn't provide an unlocked phone, but could at least help if you are just looking to avoid getting into a lengthy contract. Considering that for voice, text, and data you are looking at at least $80 on contract, and you can get that for prepaid for $50 or less, over 24 months you are saving at least $720, and you are not locked in.
Is it not possible to pick up an At&t iPhone 5, then call and cancel your plan? At&t's cancellation policy is as follows:
Your Termination Rights. Within the first 30 days after service activation, you may terminate your Agreement for any reason and not be required to pay an ETF. If you terminate within three (3) days of accepting the Agreement, AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any. However, you agree to pay AT&T for all fees, charges, and other amounts incurred and owed under your Agreement, and you agree to return to AT&T any Equipment you purchased from AT&T in connection with your Service Commitment. If you fail to return this Equipment, you will be charged the difference between the amount you paid AT&T for the Equipment and the amount you would have been charged for the Equipment had you not agreed to a Service Commitment. AT&T also may charge you a restocking fee for any returned Equipment. Some dealers may impose additional fees.
After the first 30 days, you may terminate your Agreement for any reason. However, you agree to pay AT&T for all fees, charges, and other amounts incurred and owed under your Agreement along with the applicable ETF. The Early Termination Fee is either: (a) $325 minus $10 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete; or (b) $150 minus $4 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete. To determine whether your Equipment has a $325 Early Termination Fee or a $150 Early Termination Fee, check att.com/equipmentETF.
Now option 1 states, If you fail to return this Equipment, you will be charged the difference between the amount you paid AT&T for the Equipment and the amount you would have been charged for the Equipment had you not agreed to a Service Commitment. Here you may run into problems, as that amount does not exist, so you may be forced to return you iPhone.
It seems like option 2 is better anyway, after 30 days you can cancel with a fee of $325. So your costs are $199 + $325 + 1 month of service + Activation, lets assume 1 month is $80, so $604 + activation. This seems very reasonable for off contract, and will allow you to enjoy your prepaid savings.
Note: I have no idea how cancellation is handled by the other providers, nor do I know if prepaid on At&t allows the use of LTE.
Any thoughts anyone might have on this topic, please share. Especially if there is something I am missing, because to me this seems like a great deal.
This doesn't provide an unlocked phone, but could at least help if you are just looking to avoid getting into a lengthy contract. Considering that for voice, text, and data you are looking at at least $80 on contract, and you can get that for prepaid for $50 or less, over 24 months you are saving at least $720, and you are not locked in.
Is it not possible to pick up an At&t iPhone 5, then call and cancel your plan? At&t's cancellation policy is as follows:
Your Termination Rights. Within the first 30 days after service activation, you may terminate your Agreement for any reason and not be required to pay an ETF. If you terminate within three (3) days of accepting the Agreement, AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any. However, you agree to pay AT&T for all fees, charges, and other amounts incurred and owed under your Agreement, and you agree to return to AT&T any Equipment you purchased from AT&T in connection with your Service Commitment. If you fail to return this Equipment, you will be charged the difference between the amount you paid AT&T for the Equipment and the amount you would have been charged for the Equipment had you not agreed to a Service Commitment. AT&T also may charge you a restocking fee for any returned Equipment. Some dealers may impose additional fees.
After the first 30 days, you may terminate your Agreement for any reason. However, you agree to pay AT&T for all fees, charges, and other amounts incurred and owed under your Agreement along with the applicable ETF. The Early Termination Fee is either: (a) $325 minus $10 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete; or (b) $150 minus $4 for each full month of your Service Commitment that you complete. To determine whether your Equipment has a $325 Early Termination Fee or a $150 Early Termination Fee, check att.com/equipmentETF.
Now option 1 states, If you fail to return this Equipment, you will be charged the difference between the amount you paid AT&T for the Equipment and the amount you would have been charged for the Equipment had you not agreed to a Service Commitment. Here you may run into problems, as that amount does not exist, so you may be forced to return you iPhone.
It seems like option 2 is better anyway, after 30 days you can cancel with a fee of $325. So your costs are $199 + $325 + 1 month of service + Activation, lets assume 1 month is $80, so $604 + activation. This seems very reasonable for off contract, and will allow you to enjoy your prepaid savings.
Note: I have no idea how cancellation is handled by the other providers, nor do I know if prepaid on At&t allows the use of LTE.
Any thoughts anyone might have on this topic, please share. Especially if there is something I am missing, because to me this seems like a great deal.