Hi - This is probably a newbie question, and off the beaten path for XDA because it's more about US wireless carriers... but here goes:
If I sign up for a new standard 2-year contract with TMobile with their 5/10 GB-capped "unlimited" plan, and then at some point down the road (say 6-12 months) they introduce Tiered data plans (as AT&T did), will I be able to keep my unlimited plan until the end of the 2-year contract? Or will they be able to force me, mid-contract, to switch to a tiered plan?
FYI - I'm on the verge of getting my first ever smartphone. I've done all my other research (Already decided on Android over iOS, and as for a handset am planning on the Vibrant), and now this is the last question to answer before I head off to the T-Mobile store.
Thanks!
cbauerscgun said:
Hi - This is probably a newbie question, and off the beaten path for XDA because it's more about US wireless carriers... but here goes:
If I sign up for a new standard 2-year contract with TMobile with their 5/10 GB-capped "unlimited" plan, and then at some point down the road (say 6-12 months) they introduce Tiered data plans (as AT&T did), will I be able to keep my unlimited plan until the end of the 2-year contract? Or will they be able to force me, mid-contract, to switch to a tiered plan?
FYI - I'm on the verge of getting my first ever smartphone. I've done all my other research (Already decided on Android over iOS, and as for a handset am planning on the Vibrant), and now this is the last question to answer before I head off to the T-Mobile store.
Thanks!
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Well since im on VZW im not sure of my answer but based on what happened with AT&T when they introduced no unlimited data plans to new customers; so if you have one now on AT&T they let you keep it but new users cannot get unlimited plans. So i presume if on T-mobile that they give you an unlimited plan they will let you keep it even if they switch.
Cheers!
As the title says, has anyone had success in getting AT&T to let them keep their mediamax plan? I have been using the mediamax 200 plan, unlimited data and 200 messages, since 2005 through several smartphones and have been using my captivate out of contract for over three months. Last night they decided to switch me to datapro and 200 messages, a $10/month increase and less service. I've already spoken to cs and one supervisor, another is supposed to call me. So far they're sticking to "it's AT&T policy...." even though I'm maintaining a family plan of five and have been a customer since the days of bell south and cingular.
Up until I got my Captivate, I was also a MediaMax customer. Absolutely loved it. But, I was forced to "upgrade" when I got the Captivate at the discounted rate. However, they don't have the authority to just change your plan unless you authorize it, AFAIK. Keep at it and force them to reinstate your original plan.
I have been two years now with the MediaMax plan with 200 msg's, whitout any problems!! I just upgrade my phone to a Captivate last month!! and I just leave the plan as It was! Thy don't touch it!! And for they touch the plan they need to be autorized by you first.
I got them to let me keep my plan -- Unlimited data with 1500 texts. And I think that my mms is unlimited through data plan.
Anyway, I got my Cappy through the AT&T website -- which may make a difference. I wanted to make sure I purchased it at the $150 rate, where I was comfortable enough that I'd be able to keep my plan, which was hugely important to me -- at the expense of the $100 I could have save through Amazon deal offered by AT&T. I did NOT pull the trigger at Amazon after going almost fully through the signup process, just to see what data plans and terms were offered. Amazon only offered a few "new" data plan choices -- all limited. NO unlimited data plan offer at all, and NO offer of keeping current data plan. So, over to AT&T I went, because I was just too anxious to get my new Cappy. Or course, it's all xda's fault.
AT&T website did have a keep your current plan option, but I couldn't select it for some reason -- software glitch on their end. In any case, it gave me a firm footing from which to make my demand to keep my unlimited data plan.
I bought the phone went through the entire process with AT&T checkout . . . Then made the call to AT&T almost immediately after getting my confirmation on the Cappuccino order and new 2 year contract setup. I came from the annoyed/angry angle, polite but with clear worry in my voice -- but always coming with assurance (never dropped the Lawyer Bomb, but acted like it).
No resistance at all. In fact, the guy could not accommodate me fast enough. He wad really nice, too, but I even made him stutter twice while adressing my specific annoyance with the AT&T website contract renewal process, and how alarmed I was that I could not select the lost valuable option to me in terms of my new Cappy purchase -- keeping my unlimited data plan.
Maybe it was partly due to the fact that their own website had the keep your current data plan option. But whatever. I got fairly lucky, though. Bottom line is that it's a new contract with new terms and a new 2 year term. The terms of the contract are all contained within the four corners of the document, and it is a take it or leave omit situation. It's essentially a contract of adhesion, where one party unilaterally sets the terms and no amendments from the purchasing party will be accepted.
They can and will force you to accept the limited data plan, IF IF IF it's in the contract. Not sure I kept mine.
Anyone got a link to the current fork contract, so I can give it the attorney review. I can then post a definitive answer and possibly more advice on a successful approach to AT&T.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT
------------> Sent from my Froyolicious Cognitious Cappy . . . Smooth like Arsenal Football Club.
i have my unlimited data plan from when i rewnewed a 2 year contact for the captivate. unlimited text and data. on the family share plan too so its all good. so far no issues.
that sucks you had to go through that. The "unlimited" internet option was still available for me when I got my cappy from the AT&T site when it came out.
I still cringe at the thought that I almost got an iPhone 4.
Ew.
Well at least I know some still have it. I was polite but firm and told them exactly what I wanted. Not even a nibble or a let me see what I can do though. The front line person tried to tell me that the plan wasn't compatible and I didn't even let her finish with that excuse. The second level stuck to "it's policy" and "the system won't let us" even after I pointed out that I could take my line and leave immediately with no penalty. I even asked what I would have to pay to take my other four lines as well. The only thing the supervisor offered was to have another supervisor call me back in 24 - 72 hours. I guess I'll wait for my callback. I'm just surprised that they didn't offer anything to keep a long time customer happy.
I don't even want to leave because I got the captivate working perfectly and customized for me but I can't stand the limits and price bumps that AT&T keeps pushing when other carriers are still offering "unlimited" packages.
I had my full unlimited everything plan for my old phone. I found walmart onlime had the cappy for $89 so I went for it. They called me 4 days later saying i had to change to ome of the lower plans. So I canceled.through the walmart online. Went down to walmart and payed $139 but I was able to keep my everything plan with with unlimited data, unlimited internet, unlimited text and mms. So Everything... I called ATT before doing so to confirm with them. Not sure I would have switched up without it
Sent my Cog'd 2.4.1 FroYo, Darkness Themed, Full of Speed yet Stable as can be Rom that is Snazzy
Uhg. I did this same dance a few months ago. I was promised by several AT&T reps that I could keep my old plan (unlimited data, unlimited text, 200 mms), but someone 'accidentally' deleted it from my account in the process of doing the upgrade. And nobody was able to get it back. After going back and forth for 3 months, they ended up offering to put me on a data unlimited plan and give me a $200 credit for my difficulties.
The _only_ reasons that I stayed with AT&T are that a) most of my friends and family (as well as my company) are on AT&T, and b) it wouldn't end up being any cheaper elsewhere.
If the Droid 2 world phone had been out, I might have very well jumped ship regardless.
I still have it.
When I upgraded to the Captivate, I found out they had left my MediaMax plan in place, even though I used a Samsung Impression for about a month. The AT&T sales rep said that since it was still on my account, I could keep it. I guess that's a rare case of their mistake working in my favor. I hope you get it worked out.
I bought from the store soon after it came out. I asked them if I could keep the unlimited plan and the lady who sold me the phone said yeah. After I paid I double checked with her and she told me some smack about the computer had automatically 'upgaded' me the crappier plan. I nicely reminded her that wanted my old plan and she said she needed her boss to okay it and she wasn't in the store. She said she'd fix it and call me.
She didn't call. After 2 days I called the store and they told me I needed to call the mothership to get it fixed. I was pretty pissed by then so I called the main ATT number and screamed at them until they fixed it.
If it wasn't for my wife wanting her iphone and our decent (old) family plan I'd ditch ATT over this tricky crap they tried to pull.
I ordered online, didn't activate and swapped my sim over.
Of course I had the iphone unlimited plan, not the one you are talking about.
just so you know man, you can get anything from ATT if you are persistent enough. BUT they will NEVER call you back. They're just too busy to call back. They only say that to appease you at the moment.
Ever since I got my first cell phone, I've been with ATT and they've NEVER called me back once. They've been accommodating and what not but you have to call them.
Denied for a second time. I suppose I'll give them one more try in a day or so before looking into jumping ship. Too bad as I just got the captivate to what I would call perfect. Oh well. I suppose I'll be jumping to the Droid X or Evo forum as it doesn't look like the facinate has the dev support that we do and I don't need the hardware keyboard on the epic. Anyone want a captivate?
I'm on a premier acct (Business FAN) and i've never once been hassled about my medianet 200 which I originally signed up on with the SE W810i (also on the 550min familytalk with 3 line limit that isn't offered anymore)
Since they started requiring smartphone specific plans i've upgraded to the blackjack, tilt, fuze, pure, tilt2, captivate. All through the premier online store, 1 year contracts (usually allow upgrading 6-8 months into it with a 1 year contract).
AT&T definitely recognizes the IMEIs properly as I sold the Fuze to a buddy of mine and as soon as he booted it up with his SIM inside, his plan got switched to smartphone data.
One of my other lines purchased the pure with a data block on the account (normally that phone would require data and not be allowed with a data block) 1 year contract for $0.01 shipped, no data plan required at purchase time. Captivate (refurb) was $49.99 shipped on 1 year contract, again no data plan requirements at purchase time.
Somewhere in the system there's a flag that turns on/off this automatic IMEI plan switching, i imagine. Something tied to business accounts/grandfathered accounts would be my guess.
Da_G said:
All through the premier online store
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Crap. I've a premier account as well. I almost went that route, but decided to do it in person instead. Result? I got screwed, and after 7 handoffs to different managers, they "couldn't put my old plan back on" and were "terribly sorry to loose me as a customer, but have no way to readd the plan". I guess I should have just done it on the web like I was first planning to.
yeah, I've done similarly. Also on a large FAN and I've been through a Cingular 3125 -> 8125 -> Tilt -> Fuze -> Captivate and only now has it been a problem. Kind of annoying to be honest as they stick to the party line of "That plan isn't compatible with your phone, no one can put it back." I'm always polite but maybe I shouldn't be. I've mentioned going to a competitor casually to both reps and got no offers either.
Premire here as well. They said I was grandfathered in to the old unlimited data plan
Premier customer for a decade. I've had the mediamax 200 for about 6-7 years. I never had a problem switching phones and keeping my plan (8125, fuze etc). I got the Captivate on Sep 20th. When it was activated (at BB) I got a txt saying a data plan is required with my smartphone and 1 would be added for me if I didn't. I didn't think much of it because the sales rep said I could keep my current plan and the terms for the phone only said that a min $15 data plan was required.
On Nov 9th, I got a txt saying "Did you know a data plan is required for your phone? We have added an appropriate data & msging plan".
Total crap. Currently waiting for my BBB complaint to go through.
Welcome to suck!
mediamax plan?
not sure what the "mediamax" plan is, but I am on the 1200 minutes, unlimited data, and unlimited text/MMS. it was originally the $100 iphone plan back in the day.
I was able to keep it because I was "grandfathered" in from my original iPhone 2G. I kept it through my upgrade to the "pure" (POS WinMo phone) last october. Then when I upgraded to the Cap I had to resign to another "new" contract and shortly realized after the first bill they switched me from the unlimited data to a limited plan. I then proceeded to throw a "****-fit" and called customer service.
I had to talk to quite a few "managers" and gripe at them about cancelling (been a customer for over 5 years) before they gave it back to me. I had the final "best luck" calling at 7am (CST).
When we merged my G/f's account with mine last july she had the plan also but the captivate upgrade actually ended up sticking to her since she didnt originally have the unlimited.
Crappy thing is we are going to probably have to go through it all over again when we upgrade her line...and I really doubt I will be that lucky as when I got it last time they said they are getting EVERYONE off the unlimited- even at&t employees...
So towards the end of June I was planning on leaving Sprint and heading over to At&t with the girlfriend. I had a plan with my brother to swap lines, his being off contract, allowing him to continue using my GSII and having me leave Sprint without any ETF worry. However now it seems that my brother is backing out of the whole idea which is leaving me at a whopping $300 ETF that doesn’t look too pretty.
I figure by selling the SII I am still looking at a big chunk just to get out of Sprint and buying a new phone until I realized something. I noticed that the difference between smartphones and basic phones half the ETF fee, $150 in my case. So what if I were to downgrade my plan with a basic phone, pay the ETF, sell the SII for around $200, and have some left over to put into the new phone. It all just seems too good to be true and I might just be overlooking something just in the thought of a somewhat loophole but what do you guys think? Could it be that easy? Should I read the terms and conditions instead of writing a thread out of shear excitement?
What do you think?
Generally speaking, it is much harder to downgrade than it is to upgrade. When you entered the contract for the smartphone you agreed to pay for service for a full two years in return for a subsidized phone. Legally they can (and odds are they will) tell you to either keep the phone & plan or pay the etf.
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If your rooted get roam control.
They will drop you after a while.
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