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some insightful info from ATT rep I just called

M

mslugx

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 5, 2009
34
0
Hi everyone, i had a couple confusion about this whole iphone thing, so i called ATT to answers. I know they don't have really good CS, but this time i got some luck and actually clarify something for me, and want to share with you guys.

if anybody planning to get the iphone without contract on launch day, you can cancel it right after you activate it, and ATT will charge you 325 ETF plus how many days of usage. I read online somebody was saying it's 375 ETF plus a bill of whole month. If the rep is correct, then it will be a lot cheaper.

I guess you can open a line and cancel it, it will be still cheaper than if you get the iphone at no commitment price or if you have an account with ATT, you can open a new line and cancel it right away.

but i am wondering , when you order the iphone, it already has been bound to all the plan details, such as text message, and data plan. How are they going to know what kind of plan you have, if you activate it through itune without calling them as some people saying on the forum? If anybody can answer my question, i will be appreciated greatly. Thank you.
 
mslugx said:
Hi everyone, i had a couple confusion about this whole iphone thing, so i called ATT to answers. I know they don't have really good CS, but this time i got some luck and actually clarify something for me, and want to share with you guys.

if anybody planning to get the iphone without contract on launch day, you can cancel it right after you activate it, and ATT will charge you 325 ETF plus how many days of usage. I read online somebody was saying it's 375 ETF plus a bill of whole month. If the rep is correct, then it will be a lot cheaper.

I guess you can open a line and cancel it, it will be still cheaper than if you get the iphone at no commitment price or if you have an account with ATT, you can open a new line and cancel it right away.

but i am wondering , when you order the iphone, it already has been bound to all the plan details, such as text message, and data plan. How are they going to know what kind of plan you have, if you activate it through itune without calling them as some people saying on the forum? If anybody can answer my question, i will be appreciated greatly. Thank you.
Click to expand...

But if you then have a cancelled line you will need to activate the iPhone on an active line with AT&T. Do you have an extra line? If so the activation process thru iTunes I thought started a new contract when you add iPhone data for the first time.
 
There is most likely two barcodes on the iPhone box.. one indicating the sim, the other the IMEI for the device. Both of these are scanned into the system and are applied to the account on which the phone was purchased.. In store, or online, it will be tied to your account and thus whatever plans you have... Is that what you're asking?
 
You don't have to return the phone if you cancel in the first 30 days but if you don't, they charge you the remainder of the full no commitment price.
 
citron230 said:
But if you then have a cancelled line you will need to activate the iPhone on an active line with AT&T. Do you have an extra line? If so the activation process thru iTunes I thought started a new contract when you add iPhone data for the first time.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i am planning to swap it to a different line.
So iTune is for people who is trying to activate a new line only, other people who is a secondary line in a family plan needs to call in to activate it? Am i correct?

STEVESKI07 said:
The CS rep was wrong. If you cancel your plan within 30 days of buying the phone, you will need to return the phone as well.
Click to expand...

vizkiz said:
I thought if you canceled within 30 days, you had to return the phone.
Click to expand...

the policy states: "You will be responsible for all applicable usage fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges or other charges through the termination date. AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any, if service is terminated within 3 days of activation. If phone is returned within 30 days in like-new condition with all components, early termination fee will be waived. All other charges apply. Some dealers impose additional fees. "

that means i pay 325 to keep the phone? If i return it, i won't be paying the 325 right?

fuzion said:
There is most likely two barcodes on the iPhone box.. one indicating the sim, the other the IMEI for the device. Both of these are scanned into the system and are applied to the account on which the phone was purchased.. In store, or online, it will be tied to your account and thus whatever plans you have... Is that what you're asking?
Click to expand...


If it's tied to the account, then next time i try to activate the phone on a different plan, will they swap the plan details on the one number i will be activating?

Also, for example I order the phone for one number and cancel it, and pay ETF, can i still keep the number and use it for a regular phone with voice only to avoid other charges?
 
arykmax said:
You don't have to return the phone if you cancel in the first 30 days but if you don't, they charge you the remainder of the full no commitment price.
Click to expand...

THIS. They are going to charge you whatever it takes to get the full amount out of you for the phone. I'm pretty sure they have went over these T&Cs with a fine-toothed comb.
 
mslugx said:
the policy states: "You will be responsible for all applicable usage fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges or other charges through the termination date. AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any, if service is terminated within 3 days of activation. If phone is returned within 30 days in like-new condition with all components, early termination fee will be waived. All other charges apply. Some dealers impose additional fees. "

that means i pay 325 to keep the phone? If i return it, i won't be paying the 325 right?
Click to expand...

That's what it sounds like. But if you decide to keep the phone, you get charged the rest of the phone's unsubsidized price ($400) and the ETF.
 
vizkiz said:
That's what it sounds like. But if you decide to keep the phone, you get charged the rest of the phone's unsubsidized price ($400) and the ETF.
Click to expand...

dontworry said:
THIS. They are going to charge you whatever it takes to get the full amount out of you for the phone. I'm pretty sure they have went over these T&Cs with a fine-toothed comb.
Click to expand...

are you serious? so what's the best way to get an iphone without signing the two year contract then?
 
vizkiz said:
I thought if you canceled within 30 days, you had to return the phone.
Click to expand...

in other words you end up paying the month of service say $50ish + 325 + 199(phone) + what ever the difference is between the sub amount and total which is what 200 more.... so what like $775 god people are crazy to buy this phone unlocked it's no where worth 775 to pay for a phone take a vacation :S
 
lostprophet894 said:
Ebay or Craigslist.
Click to expand...

It will be wayyyy over priced. People on there is ruthless.

jtp098 said:
in other words you end up paying the month of service say $50ish + 325 + 199(phone) + what ever the difference is between the sub amount and total which is what 200 more.... so what like $775 god people are crazy to buy this phone unlocked it's no where worth 775 to pay for a phone take a vacation :S
Click to expand...

I am not trying to buy it, i am trying to buy one for my friend at the lowest price, without costing too much.

The ATT rep told me all i have to pay is 325 plus the days i used. that's totally false information, and she spent 5 minutes to pull out that info. It's like you going to mcdonald and order a big mac, but you got a fried rice at the end. at the end, they probablly won't admit they give you fried rice.
 
I just called ATT again, another rep told me, if i have 4 lines in ATT, i can order the iphone on one line and swap it to another line. If later on i want to cancel that line, then, all i have to pay is the ETF that's it. She said i don't have to return the phone. people were saying they will charge you ETF plus whatever its full price remaining if you don't return, the rep respond is "no", the ETF is all you have to pay.
 
mslugx said:
I just called ATT again, another rep told me, if i have 4 lines in ATT, i can order the iphone on one line and swap it to another line. If later on i want to cancel that line, then, all i have to pay is the ETF that's it. She said i don't have to return the phone. people were saying they will charge you ETF plus whatever its full price remaining if you don't return, the rep respond is "no", the ETF is all you have to pay.
Click to expand...

As long as you are on contract for two years I don't think they care what line it's on. They will get their money one way or another.
 
dontworry said:
As long as you are on contract for two years I don't think they care what line it's on. They will get their money one way or another.
Click to expand...

yeah, but i want to buy the phone and use it with another carrier. how can i do it at the lowest cost then?
 
dontworry said:
The lowest price is 599$ no commitment price. There is no "lowest" price. They will charge you whatever it takes to make up the 600$ if not even more for wasting their time. There are no free rides at this fair.

http://www.tuaw.com/2010/06/07/atandt-announces-no-commitment-early-update-pricing-for-iphone-4/
Click to expand...

for the 599 it's not actually 599, but ATT requires you to create an account with them, which means you have to pay for the monthly. they won't allow you to get the phone and walk out the store.
 
yea I think you could get the cheapest plan for 1 month and drop with no ETF. I'm just saying that this is the whole reason for the raised ETF fee.
 
Bottom line: Don't try and cheat the system. Mobile companies (especially in the US) are extremely well versed in the ability to **** you over if you try.

I mean, I'm pretty sure the "I'll just sign up and then cancel right away!" is the first thing they thought of.
 
No committment phone is $400 more. $380 ($325+$40+$15) is not "a lot cheaper," and oh that's without activation fee. In the end, it's the same price.

And although people have promised iPhone 4 unlock, I won't believe it until I see it.
 
dontworry said:
yea I think you could get the cheapest plan for 1 month and drop with no ETF. I'm just saying that this is the whole reason for the raised ETF fee.
Click to expand...

That's a no goal, it will drive the price up to 700 something more then.

robothero said:
Bottom line: Don't try and cheat the system. Mobile companies (especially in the US) are extremely well versed in the ability to **** you over if you try.

I mean, I'm pretty sure the "I'll just sign up and then cancel right away!" is the first thing they thought of.
Click to expand...

I am not trying to cheat the system, but i am trying to get the phone at the lowest cost possible and at the same time not signing a contract with them.

Consultant said:
No committment phone is $400 more. $380 ($325+$40+$15) is not "a lot cheaper," and oh that's without activation fee. In the end, it's the same price.

And although people have promised iPhone 4 unlock, I won't believe it until I see it.
Click to expand...

what's this calculation for ? u mean getting the phone with ETF, ? if you add it up, still cheaper than the non-commitment price right?

is it possible to get non-commitment phone for family plan, and not activate it at the store, and call ATT to take out the data plan so it will be like a regular ATT family plan?
 
Last year, although I didn't mean to do it, I beat the system.

Purchased the 3GS at Apple Store on the launch day with new line. Moved sim from my 3G with existing account to 3GS, went to AT&T store and canceled the new line next day.

Since the phone was purchased at Apple Store, AT&T store couldn't take the phone from me nor charge ETF because it was in 30 day window. I was totally OK to pay $175 then-ETF but they said there will be no charge. This was really a big hole in their system and I got away with fully subsidized 3GS without extending the contract nor ETF.

My coworker tried to do the same about 6 month later, but AT&T "closed" the hole so he got $175 charge but could keep the phone that he got at subsidized price.

I don't know the system now, but that's my story.
 
I'm still confused by this. Say I'm a brand new at&t customer and I decide to open a family plan with 5 lines, I can choose the cheapest family rate and data packages for all the lines. Then I can sell 4 of the phones and cancel 4 data packages and I would be left with a family account of 5 lines w/ 2 year contract but only 1 active line w/ data package... is this correct? And I wouldn't have to pay any ETF fees because the lines would still be on my account, they just wouldn't have iphones attached to them. Anyone?
 
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