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Hello, I am opening this thread so that I may convey some info to you guys about how things work at AT&T Mobility, more importantly about the upcoming HSPA+ and data packages.
Some abbreviations:
COR = Corporate Retail Store
CARE = Customer Service
OLAM = Online Account Manager
How do I find out if I'm eligible to upgrade?
There are several ways to do this, be it going to a COR store, calling CARE, or checking OLAM. However, the easiest way is to check with the star command *NEW#, or *639#. Just call that number and you will soon receive a text message letting you know your upgrade eligibility.
Note: Will not work on some accounts (Notably business accounts) and if you have a balance on your account.
Is there any other handy star commands?
Yes:
*DATA# (Data Usage, Including Messaging Usage)
*BAL# (Account Balance Info)
*PAY# (Bill Payment)
*MIN# (Minutes Balance, Including Rollover)
I have Unlimited Data, will I get to keep it if I upgrade to an Inspire?
If you have the old MediaMax plan, no. However, you should be offered the old/new $30 Unlimited Smartphone Data Plan.
If you have the old/new $30 Unlimited Smartphone Data Plan, yes.
If you have the $10 Unlimited Quick Messaging/Basic Data Plan, then you will have to move to one of the new smartphone plans, Data Plus or Data Pro.
What if I'm not eligible to upgrade but still want the Inspire?
Well, your best bet is to buy it at full retail price. However, there is something else that is offered called an exception upgrade. ALL of these need to apply to you to be able to have an exception upgrade.
- Last upgrade date must be at least 6 months from today.
- Only one exception upgrade per contract length.
- No balance on the account.
- Can only exception upgrade at COR or CARE. (Revision Possible)
An exception upgrade will add $75 to the 2 year contract price of a Quick Messaging/Basic phone and $200 to a Smartphone.
Your other option is to add a stripped down line, suck up the $10 a month, and use that phone on your current line.
Can I use another line's upgrade for me?
Yes. As long as you are an authorized user you may.
Can I use another account's upgrade for me?
Technically, no. However, it all depends on that particular representative or manager. But, nothing is stopping you to upgrade one account, drive to another store, and activating the phones on their respective lines. Or switching SIM cards.
I'm available to upgrade but Radio Shack/Best Buy/Wirefly, etc. has it for much cheaper, will AT&T price match?
Once again it depends on representative/manager but short answer, no. AT&T will only price match on new lines/accounts, not upgrades. Why this is I have no idea and I believe it's a bad business practice but I'm not the boss.
Now, if you're adding a line or getting a new account, AT&T will price match a printed advertisement. However, you might get the manager to approve a Wirefly, Amazon, etc. price.
My phone broke by itself and it's within a year of the original purchase date, what should I do?
Depends on a lot of factors. If you purchased it somewhere other than at COR, CARE,or OLAM you need to follow that particular business' return policy.
If purchased at COR or CARE, and it's within 30 days of the original purchase date, take it back to COR (Even if purchased at CARE or OLAM) and they will do an in house warranty replacement.
If it's past the 30 day window, don't even bother going to COR or calling CARE, they will both redirect you to our Warranty Department which you can call at 1-800-801-1101.
I broke/wet/dropped my phone, what should I do?
If you have insurance on your plan, then call our Insurance Department (Asurion) at 1-888-562-8662.
Once again, do not bother going to COR or calling CARE, they will just direct you to the proper department. Also, don't try to play us as fools, you know what you did, and we will figure it out too.
If you don't have insurance, well....
Feel free to ask me any questions and I will add them accordingly.
Reserved for OP.
Also reserved for OP.
Question; Am I right to understand that I can get the old $30 unlimited plan back? The one that includes all data and messaging? I used to have this but then AT&T switched me to the $25/mo plan with no warning a while back, after having had it for almost a year.
wraithevolution said:
Question; Am I right to understand that I can get the old $30 unlimited plan back? The one that includes all data and messaging? I used to have this but then AT&T switched me to the $25/mo plan with no warning a while back, after having had it for almost a year.
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Yes and no. There are some ways for you to get this back, but I beleive only Tier II CARE can do this. It also depends on a lot of factors, like how long ago you "lost" it, what CARE rep you speak with, how long you've been a customer, how you treat the CARE rep, if your account is in good standing with us, etc.
Don't bother going into COR, it's my understanding that the ability to "recover" the unlimited data has been removed from all COR employees, including managers.
danielsaenz said:
Yes and no. There are some ways for you to get this back, but I beleive only Tier II CARE can do this. It also depends on a lot of factors, like how long ago you "lost" it, what CARE rep you speak with, how long you've been a customer, how you treat the CARE rep, if your account is in good standing with us, etc.
Don't bother going into COR, it's my understanding that the ability to "recover" the unlimited data has been removed from all COR employees, including managers.
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Well what is the easiest way to get to a Tier II rep.
I called today inquiring about the Inspire and an unlimited data plan and had no luck. I even went as far as asking how much early termination fee was as unlimited data was a must for me to buy the Inspire.
I am starting to think the best option will be to buy an unlocked Telus DHD and just continue to use my $10 Family unlimited plan as I do with my Hero.
You mentioned upgrading from a MediaMax plan.
I'm not sure if mine qualifies or not. I currently own a Samsung Eternity that I got on contract two years ago, and I opted for unlimited data. My AT&T account is calling it "Data Unlimited for non-smartphones." Because this was from two years ago, I think it's a mediamax plan, but the account online doesn't have that in the name. Does that count?
I would be really disappointed both paying more for internet and being capped.
danielsaenz said:
What if I'm not eligible to upgrade but still want the Inspire?[/B]
Well, your best bet is to buy it at full retail price. However, there is something else that is offered called an exception upgrade. ALL of these need to apply to you to be able to have an exception upgrade.
- Last upgrade date must be at least 6 months from today.
- Only one exception upgrade per contract length.
- No balance on the account.
- Can only exception upgrade at COR or CARE.
Thats not true. Just to clear things up, you can exception upgrade at an authorized dealer and kiosk
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dsmkrt said:
You mentioned upgrading from a MediaMax plan.
I'm not sure if mine qualifies or not. I currently own a Samsung Eternity that I got on contract two years ago, and I opted for unlimited data. My AT&T account is calling it "Data Unlimited for non-smartphones." Because this was from two years ago, I think it's a mediamax plan, but the account online doesn't have that in the name. Does that count?
I would be really disappointed both paying more for internet and being capped.
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MediaMax is the old iPhone plans that bundled a messaging bundle with unlimited data for a lower price. What you have is the $10 unlimited data for Quick Messaging/Basic Data.
Evilspawn said:
danielsaenz said:
What if I'm not eligible to upgrade but still want the Inspire?[/B]
Well, your best bet is to buy it at full retail price. However, there is something else that is offered called an exception upgrade. ALL of these need to apply to you to be able to have an exception upgrade.
- Last upgrade date must be at least 6 months from today.
- Only one exception upgrade per contract length.
- No balance on the account.
- Can only exception upgrade at COR or CARE.
Thats not true. Just to clear things up, you can exception upgrade at an authorized dealer and kiosk
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As far as I know, you can't. Either that or they would have to call CARE, which means CARE is handling it not the retailer. At the store I work at we always receive people from Best Buy, Radio Shack, Walmart, Sam's, etc. that were referred by them to us for an exception upgrade.
If you show me proof from an AT&T source, then I will change it. I want this to be the most accurate info as possible, and thank you for your contribution.
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While I am sure that this wont be definitive enough proof for you, I am the manager of an authorized retailer (Agent) store, and we do exception upgrades all the time. It might be dependant on the market in question, and I know for a fact that National Retailers (Big Box Stores) cannot do exception upgrades. We also do not have to go through CARE to process it, we process it directly through POSII
Chris
that $5 a month insurance
how exactly does this work? i upgraded an Inspire. she ended up bulldozin me on $25 a month for 2gb data, that is going to run out before a month does it seems.. will need some behavior modification i see.
she asked me do i want insurance for $5 a month.. i said yes. seems like i've been payin insurance since the cingular 8125, thru the ATT Fuze, and into the Inspire 4g and never brought it in for claim.
now i've got this phone, and its very difficult to hold, has some kinda glass screen that was not present on the last two windows phones.. i can forsee this one takin a smash (and i've been a phone enabled pool jumper before and summer's comin)
so how does it work?
no-questions-asked-i-hit-it-with-a-hammer-on-purpose insurance?
or more like
you-dropped-it-and-it's-in-a-million-pieces-but-we-glued-it-back-together-and-found-out-you-rooted-it-so-yer-SOL?
more specifically:
i am rooted. will this ever affect insurance claim? i mean i'm not going to bring it in claiming software issues obviously.. but what if i pool jump? do i need to rice-and-hairdry just to unroot just to get insurance claim approved?
If you ever need to do a claim and it's a total loss, not a warranty claim (so you're actually paying the deductible), just say the phone was lost. There, problem solved. You dont have to return anything and they send you a new refurb device for what, $150?
wdkingery said:
how exactly does this work? i upgraded an Inspire. she ended up bulldozin me on $25 a month for 2gb data, that is going to run out before a month does it seems.. will need some behavior modification i see.
she asked me do i want insurance for $5 a month.. i said yes. seems like i've been payin insurance since the cingular 8125, thru the ATT Fuze, and into the Inspire 4g and never brought it in for claim.
now i've got this phone, and its very difficult to hold, has some kinda glass screen that was not present on the last two windows phones.. i can forsee this one takin a smash (and i've been a phone enabled pool jumper before and summer's comin)
so how does it work?
no-questions-asked-i-hit-it-with-a-hammer-on-purpose insurance?
or more like
you-dropped-it-and-it's-in-a-million-pieces-but-we-glued-it-back-together-and-found-out-you-rooted-it-so-yer-SOL?
more specifically:
i am rooted. will this ever affect insurance claim? i mean i'm not going to bring it in claiming software issues obviously.. but what if i pool jump? do i need to rice-and-hairdry just to unroot just to get insurance claim approved?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For starters, you can take your phone out of your pocket before you jump into a pool.
If that doesn't work, you can unroot the phone. It isn't any tougher than rooting, in fact, it's probably easier.
If the phone is in a condition to where they would be able to check for root, then yes, you need to make the effort to get it back in a returnable state, which is totally possible and feasible, if you want a replacement phone.
It's pretty common knowledge that rooting a phone voids your warranty, but only if you present it to them in that state can they know its been rooted.
If the phone explodes into pieces, how are they going to get it back to a state where they'd be able to discover you rooted? It would cost them more money and trouble to go through that bull**** than it would to give you a new damn phone, ya know?
Inspire 4G ¦ XDA Premium
wdkingery said:
how exactly does this work? i upgraded an Inspire. she ended up bulldozin me on $25 a month for 2gb data, that is going to run out before a month does it seems.. will need some behavior modification i see.
she asked me do i want insurance for $5 a month.. i said yes. seems like i've been payin insurance since the cingular 8125, thru the ATT Fuze, and into the Inspire 4g and never brought it in for claim.
now i've got this phone, and its very difficult to hold, has some kinda glass screen that was not present on the last two windows phones.. i can forsee this one takin a smash (and i've been a phone enabled pool jumper before and summer's comin)
so how does it work?
no-questions-asked-i-hit-it-with-a-hammer-on-purpose insurance?
or more like
you-dropped-it-and-it's-in-a-million-pieces-but-we-glued-it-back-together-and-found-out-you-rooted-it-so-yer-SOL?
more specifically:
i am rooted. will this ever affect insurance claim? i mean i'm not going to bring it in claiming software issues obviously.. but what if i pool jump? do i need to rice-and-hairdry just to unroot just to get insurance claim approved?
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Click to collapse
Honestly i wouldn't get the ATT insurance at all its overpriced and the deduct. is over priced... www.squaretrade.com FTW no questions asked including water damage. oh ATT will not fix a Watered phone. so you will be SOL on that. Oh.. in all honestly they legally can't deny your claim if you have a rooted phone.. case in point Jehot vs apple = fcc saying rooting/jailbreaking is legal and services can not be terminated for that
Hi, I'm having issues with my HTC Aria. I believe it to be an issue with the microphone, since whenever I make or receive calls, I'm able to hear the person on the other line but they are unable to hear me. The phone is still within the 1-year warranty period. After contacting the AT&T Warranty Department, they told me that they'd send me a replacement phone and to send my defective phone back. Do I need to worry about unrooting my phone first? I have read conflicting information on different forums. Thanks very much for the clarification.
moka4219 said:
Hi, I'm having issues with my HTC Aria. I believe it to be an issue with the microphone, since whenever I make or receive calls, I'm able to hear the person on the other line but they are unable to hear me. The phone is still within the 1-year warranty period. After contacting the AT&T Warranty Department, they told me that they'd send me a replacement phone and to send my defective phone back. Do I need to worry about unrooting my phone first? I have read conflicting information on different forums. Thanks very much for the clarification.
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Just an fyi this is the inspire 4g section. But anyways. I say its better to be safe then sorry and return your phone back stock. So I would say unroot
moka4219 said:
Hi, I'm having issues with my HTC Aria. I believe it to be an issue with the microphone, since whenever I make or receive calls, I'm able to hear the person on the other line but they are unable to hear me. The phone is still within the 1-year warranty period. After contacting the AT&T Warranty Department, they told me that they'd send me a replacement phone and to send my defective phone back. Do I need to worry about unrooting my phone first? I have read conflicting information on different forums. Thanks very much for the clarification.
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Click to collapse
Try the speaker phone. Can people on the other end hear you then?
OK guys this is not an ATT support forum. They have their own site.
Thread closed
Hello everyone,
Times are tough. I need my phone for work but at the same time I also need some cash. Sadly I have to stick with my old Captivate. My plan was to sell my skyrocket, which I am already falling in love with.
I renewed my contract with ATT today at a ATT authorized small carrier dealer (Chinese shop). They ended up giving me the skyrocket for free. But the guy warned me that if I tried to sell the skyrocket then AT&T will terminate my contract. On my contract with this shop (AWG in San Gabrial Valley, CA), it says if my contract gets terminated in any kind of way within 180 days then I will owe AWG $300 for each PCS line. I have a family plan. He said if I wait 2 months then I can sell the phone, but not to sell it right away and that I need to use the phone during this 2 month period. He also said if I had an iPhone I would have to keep it for 6 months!
I don't know if this is true because I see people selling phones on craigslist left and right. Does anyone have any advice for me? Would AT&T really terminate my contract just because I choose to use my old phone?
SORRY FOR THE LONG POST! I hope you guys can help me here.
Its not true u can sell it your stuck with the sim card and bill for 2 years but u can sell the device ive done it so have many many others. Thats the great thing about phones with sim cards u can sell or trade them at your discretion. I traded my sgs2 for the skyrocket.
You should be able to sell it. The phone its self is not bindingly tied to the sim card it has. People do it with iphones, and well, every phone out there. I don't think at&t would terminate you for selling a phone. Now, if you sold/lost your phone with the sim card still in it and someone were to rack up alot of charges, then yeah, you might be penalized. If you do intact get charged, att cancels your contract, your cat gets eaten by a dog that subsequently gets hit by a car that gets hit by a semi, don't blame me as, I just was browsing and chimed in
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
bzmotoninja83 said:
You should be able to sell it. The phone its self is not bindingly tied to the sim card it has. People do it with iphones, and well, every phone out there. I don't think at&t would terminate you for selling a phone. Now, if you sold/lost your phone with the sim card still in it and someone were to rack up alot of charges, then yeah, you might be penalized. If you do intact get charged, att cancels your contract, your cat gets eaten by a dog that subsequently gets hit by a car that gets hit by a semi, don't blame me as, I just was browsing and chimed in
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
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silver03wrx said:
Its not true u can sell it your stuck with the sim card and bill for 2 years but u can sell the device ive done it so have many many others. Thats the great thing about phones with sim cards u can sell or trade them at your discretion. I traded my sgs2 for the skyrocket.
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Click to collapse
Thanks guys. Yeah, I don't understand why ATT would terminate my contract out of the blue, specially for using my old phone. It just doesn't make sense or add up. I really wish I could have been apart of this great community. I hope ICS comes to you guys real soon.
Also, your sig on your internet speed and it being comcast = hilarious haha. For a second I thought it was your mobile phones speed!
Please, if anyone has a horror story of this actually going wrong. Chime in and let me hear. But if you guys have successfully sold your phones or traded them with no problems then let me know also.
Ahmen!
this is my phone speed 35.21mbps download
You would only be penalized if the line in question is cancelled. I work for At&t in the city of long beach (company owned retail) and we get customers in our stores that do the same thing... if its not blackberries, its iPhones... but yeah. You could definately sell the phone, but u gotta keep the 2 year commitment.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket using xda premium
Your contract and at least the $15 per month smart phone data plan as well, from how I understand.
Sent from my páhhōniē
Will a LTE sim work in a 3g phone? I know commingle from an infuse to a Skyrocket I had to get a new simcard. Not sure if that would affect your contract
SKYROCKET
whodat006 said:
Will a LTE sim work in a 3g phone? I know commingle from an infuse to a Skyrocket I had to get a new simcard. Not sure if that would affect your contract
SKYROCKET
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Yes! I took the sim out of my phone LTE Skyrocket and put it in my old cappy to get my contacts on it..LONG STORY WHY I WENT THIS WAY...but none the less..I kept the SIM in the phone for 3 days with no issues. Works fine!
imjester77 said:
Yes! I took the sim out of my phone LTE Skyrocket and put it in my old cappy to get my contacts on it..LONG STORY WHY I WENT THIS WAY...but none the less..I kept the SIM in the phone for 3 days with no issues. Works fine!
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Nice
SKYROCKET
theli0ntamer said:
You would only be penalized if the line in question is cancelled. I work for At&t in the city of long beach (company owned retail) and we get customers in our stores that do the same thing... if its not blackberries, its iPhones... but yeah. You could definately sell the phone, but u gotta keep the 2 year commitment.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket using xda premium
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Thank you. I think you gave me more better reinforcement along with everyone else here. I'll be sure to hit the thanks meter on all you guys.
I can't believe someone would blantantly lie like that. That's absurd.
Sent from my Galaxy S2
Simba501 said:
I can't believe someone would blantantly lie like that. That's absurd. AT&T would lose a lot of customers if what that guy told you was the case.
Sent from my Galaxy S2
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You also have to remember it came out of a retailers mouth not a corporate agent. I will only deal with cor stores. The hell with retailers
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
gr8hairy1 said:
Your contract and at least the $15 per month smart phone data plan as well, from how I understand.
Sent from my páhhōniē
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You Dont have to keep the data plan. Very common misconception.
Newter55 is correct. Remove that data plan and save yourself $25 (or $15) a month. As long as the line in question is active, you will be fine. I know going into corporate retail can be a major drag, but it beats dealing with authorized retailers... it seems like lately 95% of fraud gets tracked back to dealers... everytime I get manager escalation regarding fraud, its the first question I ask my customers.. and 9 times out of 10, it all goes back to them. The funny part is when u try to contact the dealer and they act like you are speaking Swahili lol...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Read your contract very carefully. If it's something like the contract that I signed with Amazon, if I remove my phone/data package within the first 6 months, I will get charged $250 (from Amazon, not from AT&T). This is partly because I got the phone for $.01, instead of $249 like I would have paid directly through AT&T.
This is usually only the case with e-tailers. I have not yet seen this type of thing from authorized retailer stores, but there's a first time for everything.
I work in customer care at ATT
Lol naa. You can sell it but u have to pay for you plan for the 2 years. People do it all the time aell/trade phones. If you pay your bill for the length u signed for u can sell it now
shimmyx20 said:
Read your contract very carefully. If it's something like the contract that I signed with Amazon, if I remove my phone/data package within the first 6 months, I will get charged $250 (from Amazon, not from AT&T). This is partly because I got the phone for $.01, instead of $249 like I would have paid directly through AT&T.
This is usually only the case with e-tailers. I have not yet seen this type of thing from authorized retailer stores, but there's a first time for everything.
I work in customer care at ATT
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silver03wrx said:
Lol naa. You can sell it but u have to pay for you plan for the 2 years. People do it all the time aell/trade phones. If you pay your bill for the length u signed for u can sell it now
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That's exactly my concern is too. I got the phone from Amazon for $0.1 and I am thinking about selling it and getting either the LG Nitro or Samsung Note but I'm worried about Amazon charging me $250.
It all depends where you bought it; read your contract. Do you have a contract with just AT&T, or do you have one with your retailer as well? If you have a contract with your retailer, for instance Amazon has contracts, you will pay a penalty if you change anything or take the phone off the line, even if you change the number. If you don't have a contract with your retailer, then you just have to deal with AT&T--for instance you bought the phone at Best Buy or a Corporate store. They don't seem to care what you do, as long as you pay your bill. Be careful, many AT&T stores look corporate, but are actually third party retailers.
Again, read your contract/contracts. Don't trust the advice of people who haven't read YOUR contract.
Nakel said:
It all depends where you bought it; read your contract. Do you have a contract with just AT&T, or do you have one with your retailer as well? If you have a contract with your retailer, for instance Amazon has contracts, you will pay a penalty if you change anything or take the phone off the line, even if you change the number. If you don't have a contract with your retailer, then you just have to deal with AT&T--for instance you bought the phone at Best Buy or a Corporate store. They don't seem to care what you do, as long as you pay your bill. Be careful, many AT&T stores look corporate, but are actually third party retailers.
Again, read your contract/contracts. Don't trust the advice of people who haven't read YOUR contract.
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I disagree completly i bought a tmobile phone from amazon and sold it no penality same with att. They dont even know you sold it amazon cant monitor you att acount too see if you changed devices on your account. You sir are wrong. That would mean if you had an old phone and wanted to pop your sim out of your new one and use the old one amazon would charge you 250 because ur not using that phonE. Amazon does not know they get money from ATT for selling you the 2 year contract.... if you terminate you contract before the 2 years then yes they can charge you for it
So if I want to return the Verizon SGS3, what's the best way to do this? The only reason is the locked bootloader, and I haven't received the box yet (nor obviously opened it.)
Is it best to return it as a defective device? (Without opening it, as I was relying upon the assumption that it would be unlocked like all of Samsung's previous devices, which have been all unlocked, including other carrier's SGS3s, and furthermore that it would be substantially similar to the SGS3 available to other carriers.)
Is there a good way to avoid a restocking fee?
Would it be better to ebay it and pick up a Nexus (though I hear that the camera sucks.)
Would it be better to switch to another carrier? Is there an obvious ETF loophole? Do I avoid ETF if I just return the device before activating it?
Sprint has unlimited and they have an unlocked SGS3. Does it have LTE inside? Will it work with their upcoming LTE network?
This bootloader lock is ridiculous. I want to go as close to AOSP as possible on the best possible hardware, which appears to currently be the SGS3, but I don't intend upon sticking with the carrier's software update strategy over the next 2 years of a contract.
I suppose you could refuse the package. Then it goes back to them and I don't believe they can charge you the restocking fee, as you never accepted the package to begin with.
Good luck with that 30 activation fee though.
The Nexus camera isn't that bad.
Just sell the GS3 online and you'll make a killing from someone who has no upgrade to use.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I second the package refusal. They can't charge you if you never received it. How much is the restocking fee anyway?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Has yours even shipped? If not go to the pre order page hit check status and type your information in then hit cancel and enter the last 4 of your SSN.
No need to return.................
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1756885
I called their Online Sales.. 1-866-338-7390
My order has completed, but hasn't shipped yet, so they will create a ticket to *see* if the warehouse can cancel before it ships, then will send an email to you...
So you can try .. I'd do it ASAP if your looking to do this .. they just opened for the day..
bbeelzebub said:
I suppose you could refuse the package. Then it goes back to them and I don't believe they can charge you the restocking fee, as you never accepted the package to begin with.
Good luck with that 30 activation fee though.
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I will be returning it in 14 days if Verizon doesn't officially unlock. It is a defective unit in my opinion so I will NOT be paying restocking fee. I am considering switching to Sprint...so much cheaper and will meet my needs just as well...
macdroid01 said:
I will be returning it in 14 days if Verizon doesn't officially unlock. It is a defective unit in my opinion so I will NOT be paying restocking fee. I am considering switching to Sprint...so much cheaper and will meet my needs just as well...
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Same here, i'm waiting to see what happens, if it is in fact encrypted i'm returning (it would be a long while b4 anything happens w/ an unlock, if it happens at all) if its not encrypted and just locked i'll wait until one of the marvelous devs of the XDA community crack it, hell they already got root.
But if its encrypted i will politely and firmly tell VZW to shove it and refund me or give me a nexus, no way in hell i'm paying restocking fees
Since it appears that we can write to the internal flash, AND boot from an unsigned recovery partition, (and also write a modified system.img!?) I think we're going to be ok here. Booting from an unsigned recovery means that we can basically do anything. It's still a pain, but much less of a PITA than if booting from unsigned partitions at all was restricted. (So it appears this is somewhere between a HTC-esque S-ON and S-OFF.)
Mine has already shipped.
macdroid01 said:
I will be returning it in 14 days if Verizon doesn't officially unlock. It is a defective unit in my opinion so I will NOT be paying restocking fee. I am considering switching to Sprint...so much cheaper and will meet my needs just as well...
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Click to collapse
Does the unit work as intended in Verizon's eyes? Are you trying to do something you shouldnt but a designed protocol is preventing you from doing it? If the answer is yes to either question, then its not defective.
I took a long shot and took my never turned on S3 to the Verizon store to see about swapping for a Nexus. Since I bought online they could do nothing in store. The only two options are returning using the pre-paid shipping label included with the phone or selling. A return is guaranteed to incur the $35 fee. From what I've read the bootloader is probably encrypted and therefore will never be broken by the devs. The current level of enthusiasm reminds me of 2 years ago when I bought my DroidX, and we all know how that turned out. Sure they finally figured out 2ndinit and enabled some non stock kernels, but it was really like running a VM on an underpowered PC and basically sucked.We enthusiasts need to come to terms with the fact that verizon doesn't want or need us. They currently are and will continue to do quite well financially without us. I plan on seeing how this playsout over the next several days and then I'll probably return mine and buy a used Nexus. The next step, and I'll guarantee you it's coming, will be for them to not allow you to change devices if you're on unlimited data, unless you purchase at full price directly. Get ready to decide whether you want a superior network and be treated like an iSheep, or to be an android enthusiast.
My plan is buy the phone on the 10th, if this isn't fixed by the return window I'll return it as defective and be asking for my money back for the SD card I purchased, along with anything else I buy for it, since I won't need them with the Galaxy Nexus.
Sent from my DROIDX
burpootus said:
I took a long shot and took my never turned on S3 to the Verizon store to see about swapping for a Nexus. Since I bought online they could do nothing in store. The only two options are returning using the pre-paid shipping label included with the phone or selling. A return is guaranteed to incur the $35 fee. From what I've read the bootloader is probably encrypted and therefore will never be broken by the devs. The current level of enthusiasm reminds me of 2 years ago when I bought my DroidX, and we all know how that turned out. Sure they finally figured out 2ndinit and enabled some non stock kernels, but it was really like running a VM on an underpowered PC and basically sucked.We enthusiasts need to come to terms with the fact that verizon doesn't want or need us. They currently are and will continue to do quite well financially without us. I plan on seeing how this playsout over the next several days and then I'll probably return mine and buy a used Nexus. The next step, and I'll guarantee you it's coming, will be for them to not allow you to change devices if you're on unlimited data, unless you purchase at full price directly. Get ready to decide whether you want a superior network and be treated like an iSheep, or to be an android enthusiast.
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Click to collapse
I hope I will be able to swap mines out for a nexus. I pre ordered mine in store. What really grabbed me about the s3 was being able to watch videos while texting. I have a really long story about how my pre order went down as well, but I won't get into that.
I don't even have my phone yet, and I feel extremely disappointed.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
What if my phone is accidentally dropped before the 14 days are up? Can I still return it and get charged only the restocking fee? Maybe the fed-ex wasn't careful with the phone?
burpootus said:
I took a long shot and took my never turned on S3 to the Verizon store to see about swapping for a Nexus. Since I bought online they could do nothing in store. The only two options are returning using the pre-paid shipping label included with the phone or selling. A return is guaranteed to incur the $35 fee. From what I've read the bootloader is probably encrypted and therefore will never be broken by the devs. The current level of enthusiasm reminds me of 2 years ago when I bought my DroidX, and we all know how that turned out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly what has me worried. I have a DX that I am greatly anticipating getting rid of (even though Jonman's CM9 port is rockin') and I pre-ordered the SGS3 largely BECAUSE it had an unlocked bootloader.
Sure they finally figured out 2ndinit and enabled some non stock kernels, but it was really like running a VM on an underpowered PC and basically sucked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2nd-init doesn't allow you to run a custom kernel. There are other methods that will allow you to boot a custom kernel, but they lack basic functionality, like CDMA radios, partly because much of that is built into the kernel. 2nd-init does allow you to run a custom OS on top of the stock kernel. This is where a lot of the difficulties come in. Right now, for example, I am running a GB kernel with an ICS rom (CM9). Getting drivers that talk to the GB kernel and the ICS API is tricky, to say the least. Again, Jonman's CM9 is BOSS and continually getting better, but it is noticeably crippled because of the locked/encrypted bootloader.
We enthusiasts need to come to terms with the fact that verizon doesn't want or need us. They currently are and will continue to do quite well financially without us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I agree with you. IHMO, they should be sued for anti-trust violations. They have the best product, in terms of their network, and they are using that as leverage against their customers and preventing an open market. Pretty much all the major carriers do this to some degree, but Verizon is the worst offender.
I plan on seeing how this playsout over the next several days and then I'll probably return mine and buy a used Nexus. The next step, and I'll guarantee you it's coming, will be for them to not allow you to change devices if you're on unlimited data, unless you purchase at full price directly.
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Click to collapse
As of 28 June, 2012 (about a week or so ago), this is already true. That's why I pre-ordered the SGS3 when I did. I was eligible for a contract renewal (and therefore a subsidized phone) on July 20th, and I pre-ordered on the 21st. You can continue on the same contract indefinitely, but if you want a subsidized phone, you have to switch to their "shared everything" plan.
Get ready to decide whether you want a superior network and be treated like an iSheep, or to be an android enthusiast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Part of my point on the anti-trust violation, especially when you consider the practice of subsidized phones and the issue mentioned directly above.
ez unlock
satadru said:
Sboatloader with an app calledc want to return the Verizon SGS3, what's the best way to do this? The only reason is the locked bootloader, and I haven't received the box yet (nor obviously opened it.)
Is it best to return it as a defective device? (Without opening it, as I was relying upon the assumption that it would be unlocked like all of Samsung's previous devices, which have been all unlocked, including other carrier's SGS3s, and furthermore that it would be substantially similar to the SGS3 available to other carriers.)
Is there a good way to avoid a restocking fee?
Would it be better to ebay it and pick up a Nexus (though I hear that the camera sucks.)
Would it be better to switch to another carrier? Is there an obvious ETF loophole? Do I avoid ETF if I just return the device before activating it?
Sprint has unlimited and they have an unlocked SGS3. Does it have LTE inside? Will it work with their upcoming LTE network?
This bootloader lock is ridiculous. I want to go as close to AOSP as possible on the best possible hardware, which appears to currently be the SGS3, but I don't intend upon sticking with the carrier's software update strategy over the next 2 years of a contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can now unlock your boatloader with an app called ez unlock!
Rbh0909 said:
You can now unlock your boatloader with an app called ez unlock!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why did you necro this thread? im sure after 2mo that person figured out what ez unlock is lmao
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_...n-samsung-galaxy-s3-has-unlocking-bootloader/
There you have it. So now all the people that devs that pre-ordered with Verizon to keep unlimited data are stuck with a phone with an (as of yet) unlockable bootloader, or they can return it, lose the data, and fork over $600 for the developer phone.
This should rub everyone the wrong way.
Edit: Just saw this story was already posted.
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1764532
Double posting rubs a lot of people wrong around these parts lol. I keed I keed.
munsterrr said:
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1764532
Double posting rubs a lot of people wrong around these parts lol. I keed I keed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No its true.
mattydangerfox said:
they can return it, lose the data
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Click to collapse
Woah, hold up. Are you saying that even if I return my GSIII that just arrived today, I will STILL lose my unlimited data? I thought my plan would stay the same and I'd just continue to go month to month like I was before I renewed my unlimited data for this device. I thought you would only lose if it you went to return and exchange it for another device. You can't exchange it for this dev model as its only offered through Samsung, not VZW.
Can someone confirm that even if we return our phones for a refund, we would still lose our unlimited data feature!?
nerdydesi said:
Woah, hold up. Are you saying that even if I return my GSIII that just arrived today, I will STILL lose my unlimited data? I thought my plan would stay the same and I'd just continue to go month to month like I was before I renewed my unlimited data for this device. I thought you would only lose if it you went to return and exchange it for another device. You can't exchange it for this dev model as its only offered through Samsung, not VZW.
Can someone confirm that even if we return our phones for a refund, we would still lose our unlimited data feature!?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not 100% sure but the rep I talked to said any activation will reset the data plan automatically to 2GB data plan. If that's true then there's nothing we can do and I'm worried about trying to install an AOSP ROM and having to reactivate. If that's not true then I think we'd have to activate the DevGS3 before/during the return of the VSGS3. Also he might have been correct in telling me that it will reset the data plan, but Verizon could do an inactive pricing request if it does happen down the road, but who knows until someone has to reactivate their phone or activate a different one?
I am not absolutely sure, but I had heard the only way to keep unlimited after the switch was to buy a device from Verizon at full price. That's what I'm doing, but only because my Nexus was stolen and I didn't have insurance. I assume buying a device somewhere else and trying to activate it isn't going to fly with Big Red. The reps I talked to when deciding what to do about my Nexus were pretty uninformed, however.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
All this really does is give other carriers the same idea. Not to mention I am doubtful that Verizon will allow an individual who purchases this one to carry insurance on the device. So any screw-ups and you're on your own ..
According to VZW customer service, activating a new device you got somewhere else won't change unlimited data. Only buying a two-year price phone from them will change it.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
I have recovered the phone that was stolen from my daughter. It is with out it's SIM card. I was instructed to contact the insurance company. They offered up the option to return the new phone and pay a restocking fee of $20.00 for a refund of the remainder of my copay. When I reminded them that the older phone had no SIM they took back their offer and wanted me to return that phone and eat the $169.00 copay. I was not about to to just loose the money over some thief. I would have been will to work with them because we are dealing with two used phones now but to eat the whole amount is unacceptable. Then we discussed getting a new SIM and my keeping the phone as I pointed out until I recovered it and when we made our claim which was satisfied they had no reason to believe they would ever see it again. That I felt like I had fulfilled my obligations and that I had in fact payed for the phones. They did not seem to care one way or the other. So, Here are my Questions. Can a new SIM be used in the old SGS3? IF so and it is made activatable by the insurance company. How much is it worth? Or should I just keep it for a back up. Has anyone had experience with anything like this. I realize it is unusual to recover a stolen phone but this was a young teenager. I don't think her family can afford to make restitution but I can' afford to loose $169.00 and have nothing to show for it. Oh did I mention that this all happened in the span of twenty five days. I signed contract on the first. the phone was stolen on the fifth and returned to me on the twenty fifth. Help? Thoughts? eSecuritel Customer Care Group Is the insurance provider I am dealing with. I hope this explains the difference In what some are telling me. Asurion Is not known to me. I have not heard of them or it outside this forum.
They will blacklist the phone and it will not work on Verizon. You could probably flash it to prepaid and get it to work. It is bad that you are trying to be honest and getting the shaft. I would raise immortal hell until someone gave me a credit, they will eventually get tired of hearing it or you may get lucky and talk to a rep willing to do the right thing and help you. Good luck.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
shayboe said:
I have recovered the phone that was stolen from my daughter. It is with out it's SIM card. I was instructed to contact the insurance company. They offered up the option to return the new phone and pay a restocking fee of $20.00 for a refund of the remainder of my copay. When I reminded them that the older phone had no SIM they took back their offer and wanted me to return that phone and eat the $169.00 copay. I was not about to to just loose the money over some thief. I would have been will to work with them because we are dealing with two used phones now but to eat the whole amount is unacceptable. Then we discussed getting a new SIM and my keeping the phone as I pointed out until I recovered it and when we made our claim which was satisfied they had no reason to believe they would ever see it again. That I felt like I had fulfilled my obligations and that I had in fact payed for the phones. They did not seem to care one way or the other. So, Here are my Questions. Can a new SIM be used in the old SGS3? IF so and it is made activatable by the insurance company. How much is it worth? Or should I just keep it for a back up. Has anyone had experience with anything like this. I realize it is unusual to recover a stolen phone but this was a young teenager. I don't think her family can afford to make restitution but I can' afford to loose $169.00 and have nothing to show for it. Oh did I mention that this all happened in the span of twenty five days. I signed contract on the first. the phone was stolen on the fifth and returned to me on the twenty fifth. Help? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would keep both phones, your old phone is practical brand new. Reaction usually cost around $30, if you sign up as a second line with Verizon, they will give you a new SIM for the old phone. Or you could try to reactivate the old phone and sell the new one or vice versa. Keeping as a backup is kind of a big waist. Unless you lose it again, because the S3 going to last a long time.
shayboe said:
I have recovered the phone that was stolen from my daughter. It is with out it's SIM card. I was instructed to contact the insurance company. They offered up the option to return the new phone and pay a restocking fee of $20.00 for a refund of the remainder of my copay. When I reminded them that the older phone had no SIM they took back their offer and wanted me to return that phone and eat the $169.00 copay. I was not about to to just loose the money over some thief. I would have been will to work with them because we are dealing with two used phones now but to eat the whole amount is unacceptable. Then we discussed getting a new SIM and my keeping the phone as I pointed out until I recovered it and when we made our claim which was satisfied they had no reason to believe they would ever see it again. That I felt like I had fulfilled my obligations and that I had in fact payed for the phones. They did not seem to care one way or the other. So, Here are my Questions. Can a new SIM be used in the old SGS3? IF so and it is made activatable by the insurance company. How much is it worth? Or should I just keep it for a back up. Has anyone had experience with anything like this. I realize it is unusual to recover a stolen phone but this was a young teenager. I don't think her family can afford to make restitution but I can' afford to loose $169.00 and have nothing to show for it. Oh did I mention that this all happened in the span of twenty five days. I signed contract on the first. the phone was stolen on the fifth and returned to me on the twenty fifth. Help? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep your old phone and sell the "new" one. You can put an activated SIM card in your old phone even if it is blacklisted. You just can't activate a new SIM card with blacklisted phones. You should also tell asurion to go f themselves. Can't believe they're trying to screw honest people.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
the esn is bad on the old phone...so its black listed from verizons network. sell it to a dev for 200 bucks or something and recoop your monies.
$169?
I have TEC with Verizon, paying $6.99/mo, which includes Asurion.
The listed deductible is $99 for a lost or stolen "Advanced Device," which includes the S3.
Confirmed by Verizon.
$169 deductible is for an iphone.
See Advanced Devices:
http://m-support.verizonwireless.com/clc/features/calling_features/equipment_protection.html
As far as the bad ESN because it was initially reported as stolen... call Verizon and they can remove it from the list. This happened with an old phone of mine. I thought that my brother in law had stolen it when we kicked him out. I called to report it stolen and about a week later I found it. So I called Verizon again and they removed it from the list.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Even if it is on the blacklist you can use it with a working SIM card. You just can't activate a new SIM card
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Confusded
Biker1 said:
$169?
I have TEC with Verizon, paying $6.99/mo, which includes Asurion.
The listed deductible is $99 for a lost or stolen "Advanced Device," which includes the S3.
Confirmed by Verizon.
$169 deductible is for an iphone.
See Advanced Devices:
I assure you that what I have services the SGS3. eSecuritel Customer Care Group Is who I am dealing with and they are charging me $10.99 per phone per month. I was told the difference would be that if there was a claim I would be able to take care of it in house instead of having to deal with mailing the phones back and forth. I was offered insurance that would have been billed through Verizon at time of signing but took this as it sounded as though it cut out some red tape.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shayboe said:
Biker1 said:
$169?
I have TEC with Verizon, paying $6.99/mo, which includes Asurion.
The listed deductible is $99 for a lost or stolen "Advanced Device," which includes the S3.
Confirmed by Verizon.
$169 deductible is for an iphone.
See Advanced Devices:
I assure you that what I have services the SGS3. eSecuritel Customer Care Group Is who I am dealing with and they are charging me $10.99 per phone per month. I was told the difference would be that if there was a claim I would be able to take care of it in house instead of having to deal with mailing the phones back and forth. I was offered insurance that would have been billed through Verizon at time of signing but took this as it sounded as though it cut out some red tape.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never heard of eSecuritel, but doesn't sound like such a great deal, as compared to TEC with Asurion offered by Verizon.
Sounds like eSecuritel gave you a 'line'.
I've dealt with Asurion before when I was with Sprint, and received a replacement a couple of times over the years, within a day, or was it 2.
Anyway, hardly any red tape, if any at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Call verizon to get the stolen phone off the bad esn list. Tell them it has been recovered. It can then be reactivated either with a new sim (on a new line) or with the old one (on the old number).
Next time buy asurion insurance from a Verizon corporate store and pay 6.99/Mo and pay a $95 deductible.
Moral: Never buy your daughter an expensive phone.