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AT&T wireless to screw ya...others to follow?

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ AT&T wireless to screw ya...others to follow?
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 2:58 PM
For years and years there was always a $18 upgrade fee typically charged when you went in and upgraded your phone.

Starting on the 12th it went up to $36! Wow.

GO in and upgrade your phone...listen to their push to go into a smart phone and pay more per month...and then also pay $36 fee to do so.


Anyone know if other carries are to follow?
Feb 13, 2012 2:58pm
THE4RINGZ's avatar

THE4RINGZ

R.I.P Thread Bomber

16,816 posts
Feb 13, 2012 2:59 PM
I have Verizon.

Hope this helps.
Feb 13, 2012 2:59pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:03 PM
The AT&T advertisement on this page seems fitting.
Feb 13, 2012 3:03pm
OSH's avatar

OSH

Kosh B'Gosh

4,145 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:15 PM
Verizon.

I imagine if people complain enough, they'll drop it back to what it was. That happens.
Feb 13, 2012 3:15pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:19 PM
I always refuse to pay it, they cave when you threaten to walk out the door.
Feb 13, 2012 3:19pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:20 PM
OSH;1084812 wrote:Verizon.

I imagine if people complain enough, they'll drop it back to what it was. That happens.
Exactly what happened when Verizon announced a charge for paying a bill by phone.
Feb 13, 2012 3:20pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:21 PM
Commander of Awesome;1084815 wrote:I always refuse to pay it, they cave when you threaten to walk out the door.
This. Or just say you are going to switch carriers.

Works great with cable companies. Always threaten to leave and go to a dish and they will basically do whatever you want.
Feb 13, 2012 3:21pm
chicago510's avatar

chicago510

Original Chatterer

5,728 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:21 PM
ernest_t_bass;1084798 wrote:The AT&T advertisement on this page seems fitting.
LOL this. Apparently the google adsense brushes over the "screw ya over" part
Feb 13, 2012 3:21pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:27 PM
If I'm willing to pay $200 to upgrade my phone, I'm not too worried about an extra $18.
Feb 13, 2012 3:27pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:31 PM
se-alum;1084823 wrote:If I'm willing to pay $200 to upgrade my phone, I'm not too worried about an extra $18.
It's $36, which is almost a 20% premium on top of the phone. Eff that.
Feb 13, 2012 3:31pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:31 PM
se-alum;1084823 wrote:If I'm willing to pay $200 to upgrade my phone, I'm not too worried about an extra $18.
I am telling ya though........people complain about the $18 dollar charge that was standard, and now it has doubled to $36.

I imagine that Verizon will follow......these things happen in bunches with carriers it seems.


As far as not paying it........really isnt an option because it is an automatic charge and those in stores will not able to waive it.

Now..online htey offer free activation many times......so who knows if online will ever do promos to waive the upgrade fee. In the past, they havent offered promo's to waive the upgrade fee online as they dont really care becuase they have you as a customer, but have waived the new line activations.
Feb 13, 2012 3:31pm
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:36 PM
justincredible;1084830 wrote:It's $36, which is almost a 20% premium on top of the phone. Eff that.
I meant $18 on top of the $18 they're already charging. Yea, it sucks, but can't imagine it's gonna be a deal breaker for very many.
Feb 13, 2012 3:36pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:38 PM
Probably wont be a deal breaker per say, but it still pisses people off.

It could drive some people away though..........it will give people more of a reason to shop elsewhere because the could switch carriers and still pay the same fee that aTT was gonna charge for an upgrade.

I am telling ya from experience...this will piss people off.
Feb 13, 2012 3:38pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Feb 13, 2012 3:43 PM
I personally would not stay with a carrier that feels the need to charge almost $40 to upgrade to a phone that you're paying for anyway. I realize that you are paying a subsidized rate on the phone but they are more than making up for it over the life of the contract. I would absolutely switch if they didn't waive the fee.
Feb 13, 2012 3:43pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:01 PM
The price to switch a sim card from an old phone to a new phone has obviously increased by $18 in the last year. Just doing what they have to do...
Feb 13, 2012 4:01pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:03 PM
Apparently sprint raised their rate to it last year.


ATT had to pay TMobile 6 BILLION dollars because the merger didnt go through. Yep. 6 BILLION dollars.
Feb 13, 2012 4:03pm
C

Cthelites

Senior Member

1,951 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:06 PM
Verizon is the best.
Ive had them all!
Its a little more $ but worth it IMO
Feb 13, 2012 4:06pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:16 PM
I Wear Pants;1084869 wrote:The price to switch a sim card from an old phone to a new phone has obviously increased by $18 in the last year. Just doing what they have to do...
Absolutely. The sim card covers are a bitch to get off now.
Feb 13, 2012 4:16pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:20 PM
So is this if you choose to switch a phone mid-contract (like buy one on the interwebs and transfer sim cards), or even when your new contract comes up and you're eligible for a new phone?
Feb 13, 2012 4:20pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:23 PM
ts1227;1084902 wrote:So is this if you choose to switch a phone mid-contract (like buy one on the interwebs and transfer sim cards), or even when your new contract comes up and you're eligible for a new phone?
Sounds like strictly an upgrade.
Feb 13, 2012 4:23pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:33 PM
ts1227;1084902 wrote:So is this if you choose to switch a phone mid-contract (like buy one on the interwebs and transfer sim cards), or even when your new contract comes up and you're eligible for a new phone?
This charge will happen anytime you do an upgrade through ATT for a new phone. You can still swap your SIM from phone to phone at will at no charge, but anytime you get a diff phone from ATT, whether it is an early upgrade or standard when your contract is up, they will apply $36 to your bill. It WAS $18 bucks and they doubled it.
Feb 13, 2012 4:33pm
wildcats20's avatar

wildcats20

In ROY I Trust!!

27,794 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:39 PM
I mean if it bothers you THAT much, switch carriers.
Feb 13, 2012 4:39pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

Senior Member

12,319 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:40 PM
thavoice;1084913 wrote:This charge will happen anytime you do an upgrade through ATT for a new phone. You can still swap your SIM from phone to phone at will at no charge, but anytime you get a diff phone from ATT, whether it is an early upgrade or standard when your contract is up, they will apply $36 to your bill. It WAS $18 bucks and they doubled it.
Seems ass backward. It would seem to make more sense to charge people for playing musical phones during their contract, and not charge for a standard upgrade.
Feb 13, 2012 4:40pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 13, 2012 4:48 PM
ts1227;1084918 wrote:Seems ass backward. It would seem to make more sense to charge people for playing musical phones during their contract, and not charge for a standard upgrade.
Eh. The musical phones isnt that big of a deal. People do it without any help or work from ATT. Ya just buy a phone off someone, or ebay or whatever and swap it out. You dont need any assistance from ATT to do such a thing nor does it cost them for you to do it. Their idea on this is that the phones are better and more complicated and that extra money is to recoup and educating the customer of the new phone.
Feb 13, 2012 4:48pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Feb 13, 2012 5:04 PM
thavoice;1084927 wrote:Their idea on this is that the phones are better and more complicated and that extra money is to recoup and educating the customer of the new phone.
Their idea is "fuck you."
Feb 13, 2012 5:04pm