Upgrade fee for iPhone 6

AT&T's focus is fee income, not customer service.  

I was a new customer and I have excellent credit. I signed up for direct debit to pay my bill but didn't remember in this electronic age that somehow it still takes AT&T a full billing cycle to process a direct debit request.  My first payment was due April 10 and was not paid on time.  On April 17th I realized my error.  I called and asked them to waive the $5 late fee.  No way, they can't do that, too bad so sad, pay the full amount by May 10th. Okay.  No, wait a minute, here's a new twist.  We won't tell you but we'll disconnect your service four business days after you called us and then we'll collect a $40 reconnection charge!  No thanks, turn off my service.  I went to Sprint and I am glad to be done with AT&T.  By the way, Sprint set up my direct debit in 10 seconds flat and it will work on my first bill.  I bought a new phone from them too.

I am just at a loss for what to do. I have always liked ATT but with news today about the 100 million dollar fine and these increased costs for a new phone at what point do you switch service even after 17-18 years? A new T-mobile opened in walking distance of my work I going to stop by tomorrow. Anyone have an experience with them?

---

@ATTDmitriyCM wrote:

A one time upgrade fee is only charged when you upgrade with a discount and a two year contract. There is no upgrade fee if you purchase your phone using the AT&T Next option.

 

---

Absolutely incorrect. I have satisfied my Next installments, just pre-ordered the 6s, selected Next24 and was charged a $45 tax fee. I am leaving if this isn't sorted out quickly.

---

@lndn22 wrote:

---

@ATTDmitriyCM wrote:

A one time upgrade fee is only charged when you upgrade with a discount and a two year contract. There is no upgrade fee if you purchase your phone using the AT&T Next option.

 

---

Absolutely incorrect. I have satisfied my Next installments, just pre-ordered the 6s, selected Next24 and was charged a $45 tax fee. I am leaving if this isn't sorted out quickly.

---

Sounds like you're having to pay the sales tax on the phone,  which is not AT&T's fault.   Every carrier and store you go to will charge you that same $45 because your state and local governments (assuming you're in the US) require that it be collected at the time of purchase.  

Even if you got a two-year contract, you'd still have to pay sales tax on at least the subsized price. Some areas require sales tax to be calculated on full retail price regarless of what the discounted price is.

@lndn22

A user above is correct, there is a sales tax that needs to paid up front with AT&T Next. Also, the answer you're quoting from me is older and the policy has changed since then. An updates information is that there is a one time $15 upgrade fee with AT&T Next vs $45 with a 2 year contract.

Thanks,

Dmitriy

ATTDmitriyCM wrote:

@lndn22

 

A user above is correct, there is a sales tax that needs to paid up front with AT&T Next. Also, the answer you're quoting from me is older and the policy has changed since then. An updates information is that there is a one time $15 upgrade fee with AT&T Next vs $45 with a 2 year contract.

Yes, I am aware of your post from 2014. Others have been responding to this thread in 2015. It is evidently a topic which is still relevant. Just to respond, respectively - as Apple revealed it's new iPhone Upgrade Program, I phoned Customer Service 3 days ago to go over my options and the run-down of charges I needed to evaluate and compare. I spent a considerable amount of time with the AT&T representative as I wanted to ensure my account was in order, to obtain info available about the pre-ordering procedure, and any monies I would be expected to pay up front when reserving the new model, if any. The point of the call was to not encounter any suprises and to confirm my account was up to date. I was told there would be no extra fees to the Next customer during preordering.

ATTDmitriyCM wrote:

@lndn22

 

An updates information is that there is a one time $15 upgrade fee with AT&T Next vs $45 with a 2 year contract.

 

...Interesting. I also was not told about the $15 upgrade fee. The inconsistencies are frustrating and that is why I reached out to AT&T to clarify. When I pre-ordered, my account showed my old address from a year ago as well...

 

ryan_975 wrote:

@lndn22

 

Sounds like you're having to pay the sales tax on the phone,  which is not AT&T's fault.   Every carrier and store you go to will charge you that same $45 because your state and local governments (assuming you're in the US) require that it be collected at the time of purchase. 

I am clear with the tax responsibility; however, again ~ the presentation of the charges after a customer takes the time to inquire to the coporation about their account and financial expectations in a transaction is why I had a gripe. It is disclosing information and prompts people to become irritated; hence, my rant. A bit of a tricky move... I expected the tax on my first bill. Not encouraging for customers to have confidence in their wireless carrier.

Transparency is a problem.  

Employees may think that each customer is as well informed as they are, which is a wrong assumption.  They often pay no attention until the next upgrade, which may be 2 years apart.

The number of changes in the past 2 years are too many to count.

Employee training!!!  

Not only has the upgrade increased to $45 you no longer get the monthly discount on your plan so for 15 year customers you pay 45 plus an extra 25-40 per month for the line..it is getting out of control

@whssoccercoach

The increase in line fee is a loss of either $15 or $25 discount.

All carriers require customers to pay for their phones, one way or another.

Either you upgrade by 2 year contract, Next, or full retail..

Full retail $649 plus sales tax

Next $649
Upgrade fee $15
Sales tax due up front

2 year contract for Mobile Share plans over 10 GBS
Upgrade fee $45
Discount phone price $199
Loss of discount for 24 months $600
- total $844

2 Year contract for Mobile Share plans under 10 GBS
Upgrade fee $45
Discounted phone price $199
Loss of discount for 24 months $360
- total $604

I understand what they are doing but why take the discounted lines away after 15 plus years of loyalty and at least the $45 dollar fee as that is a slap in the face on top of taking away the $15 to $25 discounted line..where is the logic in that? I have no problem paying one wy or another for the phone but I should not lose my discount and pay a $45 upgrade fee on top...

So let me ask you this...why on earth would ATT try to charge me an "upgrade" fee when I buy a phone outright and bring it to ATT?  I was going to buy a contract free iPhone6s but noticed that I was going to be charged the $15 at checkout so I then changed the carrier from ATT to T-Mobile to see what would happen and, sure enough, no extra fees from T-Mobile.  It is the same phone and will be unlocked so it will work just fine on ATT's network.  Seems like ATT just wants to rip off their customers.  $15 multiplied by the millions of customers buying new iPhones == big bucks for ATT.