Tutor
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17 Messages
Best way to cancel one account and open new account while also keeping numbers from 1st account.
I would like to participate in new customer offers that I am unable to as a long-time, loyal AT&T customer (~25 years). I think the only way to get the discounts on offer is to close my current account and open a new one. (I am not under contract) (the alternative is to switch to another carrier, which is always an option)
Customer service said my plan would be acceptable but I am unsure about how to go about it, while also porting my original phone numbers to the new phones.
I would appreciate any advice or tips please. TIA.
Here is my plan:
open new account with 4 new phones & take advantage of the discounts for new customers.
transfer my old numbers to the new phones on the new account. (What happens after there is no number associated with the old phones??? Do they get assigned new numbers???)
cancel old account
I'm hoping there are some ATT empolyees that would offer some tips or some customers that have been through this before.
Thanks again!!
Accepted Solution
Official Solution
sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
4 years ago
Your plan will not work. To get the phone deals, you need to open new lines. That means new numbers. You don’t have to open a new account, you just need new lines. There is no way to keep your numbers and get the phone deals.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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118.4K Messages
4 years ago
You need 4 new phone numbers.
"transfer my old numbers to the new phones on the new account."
Nope. Phone deals are tied to the new numbers.
"(What happens after there is no number associated with the old phones??? Do they get assigned new numbers???)"
Nothing. The phone's belong to you, but if you discontinue by canceling service the SIM cards are deactivated and will no longer work with cellular service The phone is the hardware, not the service, it has no number.
" cancel old account"
Has no purpose to getting a phone deal.
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Reubels1
New Member
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3 Messages
4 years ago
I also have given att my business for a few years and have paid them a lot of money. Can one switch to t-mobile or verizon, then once the new cell phone provider "has/owns" my number, can I come back to att and get the same deal as they give random new people?
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MicCheck
ACE - Expert
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14.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Reubels1 , no, you cannot. You must be a non-AT&T customer for at least 60 days (maybe longer) before you would return to AT&T as a new customer. Keep in mind you will also have activation fees with the new provider and the hassle of switching.
Hardly seems worth it to me just to save a few bucks on a phone.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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118.4K Messages
4 years ago
@Reubels1
IIt's a loop hole that carriers are getting wise to. 60, 90, and 180 clauses are popping up. This Reddit user got a temporary ban off the Metro Reddit for proposing this particular work around.
Reddit thread
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Reubels1
New Member
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3 Messages
4 years ago
@lizdance40
Hmm that's an interesting article you linked to. I'm Christian so wouldn't do that. I actually have a phone already, it's paid for unlocked and I like it a lot. I'm currently on the att prepaid $50 monthly plan. I end up spending $42.95 with the autopay discount. What I am seeing on the att website is a unlimited plan for 75$ per month. I'd like to upgrade. It seems new customers are eligible for an autopay discount for $25 per month. Likely their bill will be $53 monthly. That's what I was hoping to get while keeping my same phone number. I think if I upgrade my current account I'll end up with a $10 autopay discount on the$75 plan which will probably have me paying around $68 per month. Does this make sense?
So the cost to keep my cell phone number is around $15 per month. I don't care about the number and I don't think anyone who calls me has it memorized.
So is there a way to upgrade to the unlimited data plan, keep my number, and pay $50 something per month?
If not will I be allowed to open a new account and get a new phone number and become eligible for the autopay discount of $25?
If I can do neither of these previous options then it seems I should go price shop at Verizon and it seems att is encouraging me to do so!
It seems like loyalty is becoming unimportant to society and now business.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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118.4K Messages
4 years ago
You are correct as a current customer you are not eligible for the bigger discount. But if you choose to switch out for a month and then switch back you would be eligible for the $25 discount. Unlike phone promotions, AT&T really doesn't care, you could switch back the next day and take advantage of the discount of service.
If you're looking for more data switching back to the unlimited plan would be a good deal. If you're looking for a lower price you could switch back for the $300 one year plan which is 8 gigs a month. That means the average price per month is about $25
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