Switching Carriers - How much will AT&T charge me?

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@anoh94 wrote:

I'm planning on switching to carriers tomorrow since I can no longer keep up with the increasing price of my Grandfathered Unlimited plan. 

My current billing layout is as follows:

• Billing Cycle: Feb 7 - Mar 6, 2017
• Billing Payment Date: March 27, 2017 (Today)

So my bill payment due today, the 27th, is for the bill cycle that has already passed.

The current billing cycle I'm on right now is the following:

• Billing Cycle: Mar 7 - Apr 6, 2017

It says I have 12 days left on my current billing cycle when I check my account, so I was wondering what would happen if I was to switch to another carrier tomorrow?

I'm having my number ported over to them so I assume my plan will automatically be cancelled with AT&T when that happens. I'm confused on what will happen on the payment end though.

 

Will I have to pay the full amount of the billing cycle month I'm currently on when the plan cancels tomorrow?

Or will I only be charged for the days I used so far since It says I have 12 days left on my current cycle.

If that's the case, how much will that be?

My monthly bill amount is $115.

 

I also heard something about prorating but I'm not sure how that works. 

 

Any help on the matter is greatly appreciated!

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ATT does not prorate your bill so if you leave mid cycle you will owe for a whole month.  Also you do realize ATT has unlimited data for 85 bucks now for a single line right?

Is it certain that I will be charged for the entire month? Multiple people are telling me otherwise so it's confusing. Will I not just be charged for the number of days I used it in the cycle?

Also the new unlimited plan I'm switching too will be $40 a month so I'll be switching to that for now. Might return to AT&T down the road since they've been great all these years. I just need a much reduced monthly bill at the moment. 

I'm looking at my bill again and I may have been looking at it incorrectly?

I originally thought that the bill payment due today was for the cycle from Feb 7 - Mar 6, 2017 but looking at it again, it actually says "Monthly charges for 03/07 - 04/06"

But then what's confusing is that on certain pages like my Bill History, it shows Feb 7 - Mar 6, 2017.

Is the payment due today actually for the cycle for Mar 7 - Apr 6, 2017?

I attached two images of my bill showing what I mean:

BillBill History  

The dates indicate you are being billed for service up till March 6

If switching carriers, you want to do so on the 4th or 5th.  You will receive a final bill after you leave for service up to April 6

No carriers prorate except Google Fi.

Have you checked coverage?  The reason T-mo and Sprint are cheap, is their coverage is lousy.  Especially Sprint - King of dropped calls

@GLIMMERMAN76 Well gee, the advertising by Verizon says $40 a month ....(for 4 lines).
And you have to buy a new phone.
And then taxes
And two months in advance
And activation fees

 @anoh94   Really read the prices and agreement where you are going.  Most unlimited plans for $40 are not $40 or not unlimited.  

FYI, your phone is locked to ATT.  You will have at least 2 weeks wait to unlock it as ATT will not do so until your final bill is paid.   We recommend porting to Cricket and wait a month there.

@anoh94 The payment you are making today is for your March 7 - April 6 service. If you cancel your service before April 6, you won't get charged another month. 

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@lizdance40 wrote:

The dates indicate you are being billed for service up till March 6

If switching carriers, you want to do so on the 4th or 5th.  You will receive a final bill after you leave for service up to April 6 

 

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@lizdance40 No, that is not the way it works. You are billed for and payment is due during your service month. The bill that the OP has due now is for the March 7 - April 6 service. If he cancels before April 6, there will still be a final bill but there should be no new service charges.

You know what, he's right the bill is confusing.   @sandblaster The bill in one place says new charges for one date range then in small print, new charges for a different date range.  

Not the first time I've complained that ATT has no clue how to write in the English language. 

@sandblaster Is correct, the tiny print is your current bill range. 

@lizdance40 The bill itself is clear. The confusing part is that heading labeled "Billing period" on the billing history screen. I have no idea why the "billing period" is for the previous month when the actual bill is for the current month. Just guessing but perhaps the reason for that is in addition to service charges for the current month, you would also get any additional charges from the just completed "billing period" such as data overages, long distance calls, etc.