Tutor
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11 Messages
Strategy to Cancel ATT Grandfathered Plan at Start of Cycle
Rather than wait on hold for hours, I'm hopeful that someone here may have the answer.
I'm on ATT's original grandfathered unlimited plan. My month ended on April 20th and I am about to receive my bill with the price increase, freeing me from my contract.
However, I understand that ATT does not prorate the final bill. But I am ready to leave now. My question is this:
Am I allowed to drop data and text messaging on my current plan and then cancel service? That's Talk 450 ($40/mo), Text Unlimited ($20/mo), and Unlimited Data ($40/mo). If so, that would reduce my non-prorated final bill to under $40.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
7 years ago
You can drop the text plan but not data. A data plan is required if using a smartphone, so as soon you dropped it, another (probably the 3GB plan) would automatically be added. Besides, if you were to either drop or change the data plan, you would lose your exception for paying the ETF when you terminate your contract.
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pgrey
Master
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3.5K Messages
7 years ago
@LawJollaYou could, but you'll get charged some pro-rated fee for the data, and it's usually not exact (i.e. not 1/30th); I'm not exactly sure what formula is used, but it seems to be some "base" for the month, plus the number of days.
The best way to port out and avoid the pro-rated issue is to wait to your contract is very close to coming due, and then exit.
Make sure you're activating your new service first though, at least if you want to keep your existing mobile number.
If you're paying 100 now though, the new Unlimited plan is a pretty good way to go, given that it also adds 10GB of tethered data, at 90/month.
Or, if you're not using tethered data, consider the "Plus" plan, at 60/month. If you're not using tethering, the speed-limited LTE is probably not an issue, most people are not likely to even notice it.
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LawJolla
Tutor
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11 Messages
7 years ago
Thank you pgrey for the sage advice. After being with ATT/Cingular/ATT Wireless for 15 years now, I'm feeling a little betrayed by the price increase. I feel like checking a new carrier out as a result.
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LawJolla
Tutor
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11 Messages
7 years ago
That makes sense. You're right... I forgot how the "smartphone" caveat worked back then. But dropping the text messages will at least save a few dollars. I appreciate your time.
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David606
Employee
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3.5K Messages
7 years ago
Betrayed by a price increase....yet that price is still the cheapest in the industry for an unlimited plan. Because Verizon has been $50 on their grandfathered unlimited plans. Not sure why the expectation is that pricing on a commodity like data should remain the same as it was in 2007, 2009, etc. I totally understand it's everyone's right to go with what fits their needs. But to say AT&T is betraying anyone is a bit of a reach if you ask me. Other customers shouldn't have to shoulder higher prices just because someone got in on a plan that was offered a decade ago.
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LawJolla
Tutor
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11 Messages
7 years ago
I'm sure that you were the same cheerleader supporting throttling unlimited plan "network congestion" at 5gb...
ATT charges me $100/month for 450 voice minutes and "unlimited" data.
Verizon will charge me $80/month for the same "unlimited" data and voice with tethering... on a network that actually works on Interstate 8. Or I can change my plan and pay $90 to ATT for its inferior network.
Remind me about the "cheapest in the industry" part again.
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