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Other What is the catch with the ATT upgrade program?

C

Cricketman

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 30, 2008
267
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Just so I know.

$800 credit for my iPhone 11 Pro Max. 36 month installments.

Is the phone carrier locked? Will I be able to change to a different e-sim abroad? Am I "locked" to ATT in any way? Can anyone please explain the details and the difference between buying it direct from Apple (300 credit). Cheers!
 
Having just traded in a 12Pro to a 14Pro for a family member, I discovered that the $700 credit is not immediate. You HAVE to keep the monthly payment plan on the new phone on the original phone price. They charge you, for example, $40 on the phone installment and then credit you back $20 on the old phone. So it takes the full installment plan to get the credited amount off the new phone price. I was also told that if I paid for it, I didn't get the credit. Bottom line; the gimmick is to keep you for the full two years as a customer with all the associated monthly expenses. The monthly bill from AT&T is a lot more than $700 over a two year period.
 
As someone traveling on a foreign eSim currently, it’ll be interesting to see how this works. I’m on Verizon and was tempted by the offer but I think I’ll just do the usual Citizens Bank and stay unlocked just in case I want to switch carriers in 3 years.
 
CPTmom2wp said:
Having just traded in a 12Pro to a 14Pro for a family member, I discovered that the $700 credit is not immediate. You HAVE to keep the monthly payment plan on the new phone on the original phone price. They charge you, for example, $40 on the phone installment and then credit you back $20 on the old phone. So it takes the full installment plan to get the credited amount off the new phone price. I was also told that if I paid for it, I didn't get the credit. Bottom line; the gimmick is to keep you for the full two years as a customer with all the associated monthly expenses. The monthly bill from AT&T is a lot more than $700 over a two year period.
Click to expand...
While this is true, many carriers will buy you out of your contract if you switch. So the point is kind of moot.
 
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Is the phone carrier locked? Yes Will I be able to change to a different e-sim abroad? No Am I "locked" to ATT in any way? Yes, you get $800/36 mo worth of monthly billing credits ~ $22.22 off your phone charge a month, if you pay off the device early or upgrade early you forfeit the rest of your monthly trade in credits.
 
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This is still a great deal, if you have no plans to move from AT&T or if you don't travel with a need to use foreign carriers.

I have moved to a 4-year iPhone upgrade schedule anyways.
 
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Just previewed my bill for the 1000 iPhone 15 credit - Apple site says my bill will increase $5.53 per month - ATT sent preview of my account changes that will raise my monthly bill for 5 lines by almost 200/month. I've been on hold 30+ minutes trying to resolve. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FINE PRINT! I'm locked in due to 2 other phones purchased1.5 years ago and very concerned that I'm going to have trouble getting my old rate back. I have unlimited data, which I thought was the criteria, but apparently the devil is in the details. The only blessing here is that I will not pick up the phone and will fight for my old plan or pay off and cancel if need be. Can't believe I got suckered! Considering also cancelling my watch order.
 
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dotzero123 said:
Just previewed my bill for the 1000 iPhone 15 credit - Apple site says my bill will increase $5.53 per month - ATT sent preview of my account changes that will raise my monthly bill for 5 lines by almost 200/month. I've been on hold 30+ minutes trying to resolve. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FINE PRINT! I'm locked in due to 2 other phones purchased1.5 years ago and very concerned that I'm going to have trouble getting my old rate back. I have unlimited data, which I thought was the criteria, but apparently the devil is in the details. The only blessing here is that I will not pick up the phone and will fight for my old plan or pay off and cancel if need be. Can't believe I got suckered! Considering also cancelling my watch order.
Click to expand...
Don’t activate device or open. Just return. Tell them no changes as result of canceled order.
 
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As a long time AT&T customer (i've tried Tmobile in the past), this is another 2 years upgrade deal. We have the IP12 for 2 lines and it would be direct swap for one and one with bump to 256gb. The locked/unlocked thing is bit annoying but I came to find out, I haven't switch my carrier for years and I don't travel as much international anyway so it does't bother me.

The fine print for months has been increased compared to the past, 2 years ago it was 30 months which I have another line that is on it, but carrier is getting greedy in expanding to 36months now.
 
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I (sadly) cancelled but got confirmation that no changes were made to my existing account. Wasn't meant to be this year - hopefully next year will be able to have an easier time upgrading or something different will come out. 12PM still ok for a bit.
 
That is the thing with all these main cellular companies they want you to get the highest tier plan and make you think you getting $ 1,000 when you trade your phone in but most don't know that you basically paying for the phone with the plan since the plan is usually $70+a month
 
dotzero123 said:
Just previewed my bill for the 1000 iPhone 15 credit - Apple site says my bill will increase $5.53 per month - ATT sent preview of my account changes that will raise my monthly bill for 5 lines by almost 200/month. I've been on hold 30+ minutes trying to resolve. MAKE SURE YOU READ THE FINE PRINT! I'm locked in due to 2 other phones purchased1.5 years ago and very concerned that I'm going to have trouble getting my old rate back. I have unlimited data, which I thought was the criteria, but apparently the devil is in the details. The only blessing here is that I will not pick up the phone and will fight for my old plan or pay off and cancel if need be. Can't believe I got suckered! Considering also cancelling my watch order.
Click to expand...
 
This is the way I get my mom’s new iPhones every 2-3 years. I have no need to leave AT&T. She doesn’t require a new iPhone every year. To me this is the best deal for me for my mom’s device.
 
Ameer_1 said:
That is the thing with all these main cellular companies they want you to get the highest tier plan and make you think you getting $ 1,000 when you trade your phone in but most don't know that you basically paying for the phone with the plan since the plan is usually $70+a month
Click to expand...
I only pay $35 a month per line on a family plan. Kids phones are on the 36 month swap and each phone is about $3 per month. Don't pay the $6 AT&T Next program. It's a waste.
 
is the iphone locked to ATT for full 36 months ? I know on Verizon side, the phone will be unlock after 60 days .
 
htnt7919 said:
is the iphone locked to ATT for full 36 months ? I know on Verizon side, the phone will be unlock after 60 days .
Click to expand...

Yes or until it’s paid off in which case you forfeit the credits if paying off early.

The trade in deal is pretty good on Verizon. Their new Unlimited Ultimate plan now includes free roaming which is nice when traveling and you haven’t gotten a local SIM yet. Useful for calls back to US and 2FA codes as well.

On AT&T, 3 years is a long time for the phone to be locked. We usually go on an overseas trip every 2 years so the old “contract” length was OK but the new one’s too long.
 
Last edited:
rui no onna said:
On AT&T, 3 years is a long time for the phone to be locked. We usually go on an overseas trip every 2 years so the old “contract” length was OK but the new one’s too long.
Click to expand...
You can request an unlock after 60 days if you have an international trip where your AT&T eSIM is not compatible. You can have 2 active eSIMS and a max of 8 eSims on the iPhone 15 units.

Dave
 
dave006 said:
You can request an unlock after 60 days if you have an international trip where your AT&T eSIM is not compatible. You can have 2 active eSIMS and a max of 8 eSims on the iPhone 15 units.

Dave
Click to expand...

I expect there's AT&T roaming available in most countries that support eSIM. I doubt they’ll approve the unlock unless you’re military.

However, I'll need a local number to contact friends and family, and access local ride share services (Grab). Plus the data rates via local SIM are much cheaper as well: $18 for 30 days unlimited vs $10/day with AT&T.
 
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