Switching to an installment plan in middle of 2 year contract

[C DM]

here is an excerpt from my chat transcript:

"Since your line xxx-xxx-xxxx is under 2-year contract, if you will pay off the remaining contract, your line will not be eligible for upgrade (AT&T next / standard ). The pay to upgrade option is available only for the line with existing AT&Tnext or installment plan and it is not applicable for the line with 2-year contract. I understand you want to get the new iPhone. Our goal is to provide the best experience possible with your device and your service. While you don't quality for a discount on equipment at this time, you are able to purchase a device of your choosing, without extending your service agreement. Purchasing a device outright today will not impact discounts available in the future."

If you pay the ETF you would no longer be on a contract though. Technically speaking you shouldn't even have service for that line anymore since you are terminating it, but it seems like AT&T isn't really treating it as that either.

 

[Dstopsie]

I have always bought the new iPhone on launch day and re-upped my AT&T 2 year contract each time. But now, especially since I have the 15GB Mobile Share Value Plan, AT&T Next seems to be a better deal for annual upgraders. AT&T says I am not available for switching to Next until April 2016. So my options for getting a new iPhone at launch seem to be limited to:

1. Pay full price for a new iPhone, re-up my 2 year AT&T contract, and pay an activation fee. Is it true that you can't pre-order from Apple anymore if doing this? Could sell my existing iPhone 6 for ~$400

2. Purchase unlocked phone directly from Apple with iPhone Upgrade Program, activate with AT&T (unsure how they would handle this when I'm only 1 year into a 2 year contract?), sell my existing iPhone 6 for ~$400

If anyone is in the same predicament as me, how are you planning to upgrade your phone? At this point I'm probably going to just wait until April when I can move to Next, or completely sit out the 6S cycle.

But I'm pretty convinced Next is the best deal for annual upgraders with a 15GB+ Mobile Share plan.

I was in the same boat as you but I called customer retention for Att on the day of the announcement for the new phone and the customer service representative I spoke to actually moved my date up from April 2016 and made me eligible to apply for the next program. This enabled me to order the phone on launch date and I wanted the next program because I liked upgrade every year and I'm tired of doing a two-year contract so call customer retention see what they'll do for you

 

[xrayboy]

I was in the same boat as you but I called customer retention for Att on the day of the announcement for the new phone and the customer service representative I spoke to actually moved my date up from April 2016 and made me eligible to apply for the next program. This enabled me to order the phone on launch date and I wanted the next program because I liked upgrade every year and I'm tired of doing a two-year contract so call customer retention see what they'll do for you

Lucky you! This is what I wanted to do but they wouldn't budge.

 

[netnothing]

After much discussion, it sounds like paying the ETF does not change your AT&T Next Eligibility Date. I will be paying the ETF because it will save me $300 over the next 12 months on line fees ($15/month instead of $40/month). I will then buy a new phone at full price. Ultimately, this is probably the best option anyways because I can resell the phone later.

Beware everyone, paying an ETF to get off contract does not necessarily let you purchase a phone on Next immediately!

I paid the ETF on my 2 lines it once the bill was paid the person made my account eligible to upgrade to Next. I was able to preorder the new phones on Next 12.

I did note that I would not have been able to do a new 2 year contract.

-Kevin

 

[netnothing]

now they are telling me that paying the ETF will simply revert my plan to a BYOP plan. I can buy a new phone at full price but I can't switch to NEXT until my original eligibility date. This sounds sketchy!

And that doesn't make sense. Sure, I can understand not allowing you another 2 year contract......but once I paid the ETF my account immediately went to monthly. What does AT&T care if you go to Next or bring a full price phone? Either way you are paying for the phone.

-Kevin

 

[ggibson913]

so, I am 1 year into my contract and my 2 years is up 9/2016. At this time, AT&T is offering me an early upgrade discount to the new iPhone 6S at $250 over subsidized pricing, but I have to re-up my 2 year contract. I don't want to keep renewing these 2 year contracts, and paying $40/month for my 15GB Mobile Share.

What happens if I offer to pay the ETF now? Will they just switch me to a month to month agreement and lower my fee per line to $15/month? If so, over the next 12 months that would more than cover the cost of the ETF. Even if I kept my current phone, this would make sense if that is how they operate. But switching to Next for a new iPhone 6S would further benefit both me and AT&T, because they would retain me as a customer after I terminated my contract, and I would get to start using the new phone immediately instead of waiting until next April when they say I am eligible to switch to Next.

If the account is completely cancelled and I lose my phone number, I would obviously reconsider this.

After much discussion, it sounds like paying the ETF does not change your AT&T Next Eligibility Date. I will be paying the ETF because it will save me $300 over the next 12 months on line fees ($15/month instead of $40/month). I will then buy a new phone at full price. Ultimately, this is probably the best option anyways because I can resell the phone later.

Beware everyone, paying an ETF to get off contract does not necessarily let you purchase a phone on Next immediately!

That doesn't make sense, you are paying them to upgrade early. I would go to a store and see what they can do.

 

[Dstopsie]

Lucky you! This is what I wanted to do but they wouldn't budge.

Did you call their customer retention area which is what you call when you want to cancel your service? I also told them I wanted my phone replaced with the new phone because of the fact that I had to exchange my iPhone because of the bend issue, my 6+ bent and my screen went out. . The lady was very understanding and immediately switched my eligibility to the next. It also helps that I've been with AT&T for 18 years