Warranty exchange charges

Well if you used to work for AT&T then you know that there are limits to return your phone. You also should know that you can remote erase your old device. All you have to do is access your Google or your Samsung account.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-find-my-mobile-and-how-can-i-use-it-to-locate-lock-or-wipe-my-device/&ved=2ahUKEwi9gZP2-uL7AhUqMlkFHf1QDS4QFnoECBAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw017OZFNlsg6gZBXtuMJb5g

Or remote erase using Google. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6160491%3Fhl%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwi9gZP2-uL7AhUqMlkFHf1QDS4QFnoECAwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2A8D3bgL0Flc1QBbpRORm7

I googled this information in 2 seconds and copy the links here. Once you have remote erased your device using either Samsung or Google call AT&T and beg someone to give you an extension on the return. For the reason provided. If people keep hanging up on you, you can file a Better Business Bureau complaint and someone will call you. If you don't have insurance, now is the time to pull the trigger on another warranty replacement. As soon as you have a warranty replacement that's in good condition, take advantage of getting rid of the phone anyway you can. If you took next up so that you have an early upgrade option use it. Otherwise pay it off so that you can upgrade it with one of AT&T's trade-in deals. Make sure you can turn it in in a store so they can see that it is in good condition at the time of trade-in and worth more than $35.

My father was a stress engineer for an aircraft company for 42 years. If there's one thing he left us with is that solids do not Bend they break. Some solids are thin enough to physically Bend but they will crease and they will eventually break. So don't buy a folding phone next time. The design is inherently flawed

Thank you for that. I'm going to try to remote erase it. I don't think the location is turned on though. And unfortunaly the phone doesn't open wider than 30°. Even with that the screen is lifted up off the actual phone like it detached. I agree that the flip wasn't a smart idea. Even the new one they sent it already detaching at the crease. I quit folding it. I'm just so frustrated they just say it's a standard fee and no supervisors are available....after 15 years of being a customer. I'm hoping I can get somewhere with someone there. This is insane. 2 crappy phones in 4 months. And I'm being charged for both. I upgraded when my S20 was paid off. But they made me change my plan so the promotional upgrades on my line weren't honored. Now I'm paying full price for 3 phones on my line. Now 1000 extra....I'm just done with ATT

@lhessler816

Keep in mind the flip and the fold are Samsung products not AT&T products.

AT&T has a contract with Samsung that limits how they can perform warranty exchanges on Samsung's behalf.

You could have dealt directly with Samsung and with the flip in the fold it is highly recommended that you do so. Samsung is responsible to repair or replace your device within warranty if they want to maintain their good name.

AT&T is not going to take any responsibility for Samsung's faulty products beyond the contract for warranty

At&t, verizon, t-mobile, and pretty much every carrier are selling these phones. None of them will take responsibility for the phone being a bad design idea. Each one of them is aware that if they didn't sell the phones, the other companies would, and they would lose customers because folding phones  are a 'neat' idea.