AT&T Confirms Device Upgrade Fee Rising to $36
Feb 10, 2012, 7:00 PM by Eric M. Zeman
AT&T is prepared to double its device upgrade fee from $18 to $36. This fee is generally paid when customers choose to purchase new equipment and add it to their plan. In a statement sent to media today, AT&T said, "Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn't unique to AT&T and this is the first time we're changing it in nearly 10 years." The change goes into effect starting Sunday, February 12.
source: AT&T
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Comments
Upgrade fee? at&t is GSM...
I have "upgraded" my handset several times over the years by simply taking out the SIM card in my old handset and placing it in a new handset. I have NEVER been charged an $18 or $36 fee. When exactly is this fee charged?
I can see carriers who do not use GSM charging a fee because you actually have to call/go online to upgrade or change handsets. With GSM the subscriber has all the control.
I can see carriers who do not use GSM charging a fee because you actually have to call/go online to upgrade or change handsets. With GSM the subscriber has all the control.
An 'upgrade' is when you sign a new 2 year agreement in exchange for getting a discount on new equipment, if you always pay the full retail price, you will never get high with an upgrade fee..
"When exactly is this fee charged?"
It is charged when they offer to sell you a phone for $100 as an incentive to sign another 2-year contract, but wish they had talked you into paying $118. It would be criminal fraud to actually say they are char...
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It is charged when they offer to sell you a phone for $100 as an incentive to sign another 2-year contract, but wish they had talked you into paying $118. It would be criminal fraud to actually say they are char...
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Well if you consider that AT&T had to eat BILLIONS at the end of last year in contracted fees due to them not getting T-Moible, then you can understand where the new $36 fee is coming from.
What? You thought they were just going to forget about hav...
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What? You thought they were just going to forget about hav...
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What it really proves...
..is that "upgrade" fees are just a dishonest way for them to back off from an advertised phone price. Are we really to believe that having a 1GHz processor makes it cost more to type an IMEI number into the system? Of course not. It shouldn't be called an "upgrade fee", it should be called a price reversal.
There is absolutely no honest and legitimate reason to have an "upgrade fee", except to make up for the fact that they lied about how much they were willing to sell the phone for.
There is absolutely no honest and legitimate reason to have an "upgrade fee", except to make up for the fact that they lied about how much they were willing to sell the phone for.
The upgrade fee is an attempt to recoup some of the cost of the discount, yes.....it is also a fee that very few people actually pay and which at&t employees are encouraged to waive whenever doing so will calm down an unhappy customer...
The policy...
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The policy...
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WHAT Costs Will Be Increased?
Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee.
Exactly what "costs have increased?" They switch your account from one SIM to another. How is this any more difficult with a more sophisticated phone? 🙄
They are speaking of giving you a huge discount on the phone and in many cases the discount is 400-500 dollars of the retail price of the phone. They are saying that the costs of devices have increased. The fee increase is in my opinion makes sense. Y...
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Anyone in retail knows that msrp is bs. No retailer buys anything near the msrp and in most cases sells you their 'discounted' price. You really think car dealers buy their cars from manufacturers at the window msrp? If you bought your last car at the...
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$ 36.00
Multiply the $36.00 upgrade fee enough times and Ralph De La Vega can purchase a first class ticket to Havana and stay there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not with my money lol!! If I were an att customer I would just opt out and go to another carrier. Coverage is pretty good across the board and if you can find another carrier that gives you the services you need in the areas that you need I say Set th...
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call customer service
before i went in to upgrade my mom's phone, I told them on the phone to customer service that I am not paying this $18 fee to upgrade a phone! So they gave me a credit! I have been with them since like 1999! I never paid a upgrade fee!
You're one of those people that I simple dislike.
If you've been eating at McDonald's for 10-15 years, should they give you a free Big Mac? No, tehy shouldn't.
If you've been shopping at Walmart for the past 20 years, should they give you a...
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If you've been eating at McDonald's for 10-15 years, should they give you a free Big Mac? No, tehy shouldn't.
If you've been shopping at Walmart for the past 20 years, should they give you a...
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The new "How Dare You Deny Our Power" Fee
Well, since you didn't allow us to create a duopoly which would allow us to raise our rates without any competition, then we have to make it up some how. This fee should help out until we figure something else out. Thank You. ATT Management.
I agree with you ! They are charging this fee so they can pay T-mobile the non merger fee !! HAHA People should opt out since they now can get out of their contracts for free since the fees have now changed they are no longer bound by that contract!! ...
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The duopoly crap is tedious.
Apparently no one understands what it actually means.
So, if Att swallowed Tmob.... customers throughout the US would only have two choices?
I can understand 'decreased competition' but duopoly is just wrong and used ...
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Apparently no one understands what it actually means.
So, if Att swallowed Tmob.... customers throughout the US would only have two choices?
I can understand 'decreased competition' but duopoly is just wrong and used ...
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Ha
Gotta make up that loss to T-Mobile somewhere right?
Wow - At&t truly cares about their customers.
Wow - At&t truly cares about their customers.
Guess they gotta dig themselves out somehow. 🤣
Tofuchong said:
Wow - At&t truly cares about their customers.
I hear this line from half the people on phonescoop about whatever carrier they have a problem with at the time.
The truth is that AT&T, Verizon, Spri...
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It's not trolling if you are giving your two cents on a Topic of interest.....
I think the subject says it all. I know the dollar is at new lows and such but I say the fee increase is because the T-mobile Deal Fell through. Now that ATT lost there butt in the merger of T-mobile these big wigs are having to find ways to cut corners to make the same big money pay checks (not that anything is wrong with making money) But I say it is ATT's fault for trying to do something that common sense should have told them that they could not ! Now their customers will pay the money to T-mobile. Call me a troll if you want but telling the truth is not trolling. Bad investments that consumers have the pay what a shock. With the Fee increase maybe people should get out of their contract's and switch to another carrier! That would most d...
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I honestly think they intended to do so either way. Its been 10 years. The T-Mobile merger repurcussions I don't beleive have happend yet. I beleive their is more to come! People however aren't going to leave over an 18$ increase every 2 years.
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I'm not sure that any cash will change hands.
As I understand it, ATT gives Tmob spectrum and some roaming rights discounts.
As to the higher ups keeping their salaries, it's more about stock holders.
Even though ATT wasn't using the spectrum, ...
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As I understand it, ATT gives Tmob spectrum and some roaming rights discounts.
As to the higher ups keeping their salaries, it's more about stock holders.
Even though ATT wasn't using the spectrum, ...
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Let the trolling begin
Heres where the majority of Phonescoop bashes AT&T and there horrible ect ect.... :-) Carry on....
P.S. If you add the 36$ to the price of the phone, the majority of AT&T's phones are still cheaper... Ok troll on.
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This is a loss for the customer. What do you expect, a celebration?
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I think I'll troll your misuse of 'there'
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Verizon, At&t and Sprint will take turns being the bad guys to keep the rates high. I can't complain though. I've been in the industry a long time. It has put a lot of food on my table.
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So apparently trolling is anyone stating anything negative about AT&T even if it is true.
However, you bashing any other carrier for any reason is something entirely different.
The only trolling I see here is your original post.
However, you bashing any other carrier for any reason is something entirely different.
The only trolling I see here is your original post.
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most common customer rant when there's a fee increase
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Why complain?
The cost of phones have gone up and the OEM's are making a killing of them. It's not like one has to pay this every month. If a person doesn't want to pay this fee to upgrade their phone every two years, then they do not have to and just keep the old phone they have or they should by all means go to another carrier. Although, you may come out of pocket with more money by doing that. If you're just looking for a carrier that has a cheaper monthly rate, that's understandable. But, to complain about a fee that has been the same for more than a few years is a bit much, in my opinion. People spend $36.00 in a day for something that they can't even remember that they bought. I'm just saying, I understatnd some folks have all kinds of hatred or di...
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WoW like the phone is made to last for two years much less any longer. The people who actually use their phone can't make it two years on the same phone. Maybe if the cell companies are not making enough money they need to complain to the makers of th...
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Giving even more reason to...
..."Jumping ship" when the current contract is over, where I can go to another carrier (taking my number with me of course), get a NEW phone for a FAR better deal than with an upgrade, and depending on the carrier, a somewhat cheaper bill for the same services.....
RageLevel-RISING said:...
..."Jumping ship" when the current contract is over, where I can go to another carrier (taking my number with me of course), get a NEW phone for a FAR better deal than with an upgrade, and depending on the ca
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Upgrade Fee
Verizon doesn't have one...yet. I am sure the bean counters are working on gaining ALL this lost revenue their rivals are making.
USCC does not charge a upgrade fee either. I dont understand what cost they are talking about that would require an upgrade fee. It takes only a few seconds and a few clicks of the mouse to ad a phone to someones account. I wish I could get paid $18 t...
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Some truth to that, no fee if you get it via Costco, or if your company has an agreement with it to be waived if ordered through the Premier website.
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