some insightful info from ATT rep I just called

[California King]

Wait, so when you go to cancel, what excuse do you give the CS rep? The plain, scummy truth (use on t-mobile, for ex) or do you just make some bs up, like, I don't like being tied down to a contract, blah, blah, blah..? Also, can't AT&T decline your request if it's something like that?

 

[mslugx]

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 don't think that works anymore. The ATT reps said you have to return the phone, but i am wondering, what if i don't return it. what are they going to do tho.

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?

I was wondering about this too, but i think if you order a iphone for any line under the same family plan, then each line will be individually bound by the 2 year contract. correct me i am wrong. You still have to pay 10 dollar's a month for other 4 lines.

Wait, so when you go to cancel, what excuse do you give the CS rep? The plain, scummy truth (use on t-mobile, for ex) or do you just make some bs up, like, I don't like being tied down to a contract, blah, blah, blah..? Also, can't AT&T decline your request if it's something like that?

You can say the reception is not good, that's a good excuse or internet is slow.

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

I have a semi-related question. Right now I have the iPhone 3G and I get terrible reception and a ton of dropped calls in my house. Part of me thinks that AT&T just sucks, but another part of me has really started to think that the phone should be taking the brunt of the blame. If I watch my phone for a few minutes, I can often see it go from no bars, to full bars, and from 3G to E and back, all without moving.

So, if the new antenna system on the iPhone 4 really does fix (most of) my problem, great. The only way to really find out, though, is to have one in my house for a few days and test it out.

So my question is, if I renew my contract and buy a couple of new iPhones (my wife and I are on a family plan) and I still have reception issues and dropped calls all the time, can I return the phones and cancel the service within 30 days just like I was a new customer?

Note: I tried calling AT&T but the wait was interminable, so I hung up.

 

[rkdiddy]

I called CS today and the rep said my account was notated that I cancelled - but the account wouldn't be closed out until my iPhone was received back.

Not really sure what to do. I would like to keep the phone and the sim my company pays for in it.