Mobile Share Value Plans Questions and Discussion

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@21stNow wrote:

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@wingrider01 wrote:

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@urbhusker wrote:

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@wingrider01 wrote:

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@urbhusker wrote:

 Do the math.  Signing a contract will be more expensive than either buying the phone outright or paying for it on the NEXT plan.  Consider the LG G2.  two year contract costs $100 for the phone, $36 for activation and $40/mo for 24 months or $1100 ($1096).  On Next 12 it is $23.25 for 20 months plus $15/mo for those 20 months for a total of $765!  Or pay for the phone outright and it's still $765 for the 20 months.  Add four months to make it a full 2 years and you're paying $825.   Much less than buying on contract in this one example.

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One correction - there is a activation fee on the Mobiel Value Share plans

 

http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html#fbid=yKiX0roX6QJ

 

What is the smartphone activation fee if a customer brings their own device?

A $36 activation fee applies for customers bringing their own device.

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Hmmm, I just upgraded two lines using NEXT last week and the week before and wasn't charged an activation fee.  Thought that was just for contract renews.  Doesn't matter as the cost, at least for the G2, is still cheaper than a 2 year contract upgrade.  So, for me, I like the new plan as I did my homework and did the math before upgrading (as opposed to just complaining for the sake of complaining).

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wait for your first bill after the upgrade and see what is there - the activation fees are on the bill

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First, urbhusker said that he upgraded two lines using Next.  Your link referenced the Mobile Share Value plans.  These are two different things.  The relevant link is found here.  It says that there are no activation and no upgrade fees on the Next program. 

 

Second, if someone is upgrading with a two-year contract, that person would be charged an upgrade fee, not an activation fee.

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Yes I was already on the 10gb mobile value plan (switched soon after they became available) and upgraded two phones..I mean exchanged/changed/bought....and went with the NEXT plan due to the lower overall cost.  And no, I wasn't charged an activation fee (or any other named fee) but was charged the taxes on the phones.  Better deal than "upgrading" and signing a two year agreement. 

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@Koapof3 wrote:

i am having a bill issue as well. after chating with a representative i printed the conversation, i was billed for last month's usage along with next months rates. i tried talking to another agent and was told i would be credited over the next two billing cycles. That just does not make any sense to me. ive been a customer since 2000 and it makes no sense to bill me for what i have not used yet then turn around and credit me for it. i understand if i was a new customer. i was told $15 a phone and charged $40.

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This is normal

Based on my plan, AT&T sends me the bill for march, in the first week of that month, but my due data is not until the end of the month. If I used more than the plan I paid for in march, then AT&T will add the extra's to my April bill.

You are paying in advance. By the time the due date comes around, it's only a few days until the end of the cycle, so at best, you might be a few days ahead..

-Alex

Thanks for the heads up, but that includes tax and other fees or after tax and other fees?

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@siteber wrote:

Thanks for the heads up, but that includes tax and other fees or after tax and other fees?

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$160 is pre-tax & fees, so the total will be more.

Have you seen the ads on TV about the 4 lines for $160/month.  Seems great, since I was previously paying over $215/ month for 3 phones for ATT's wireless service.  Well I switched to the new Family share plan for the 3 phones that I had and the cost reduced to $145/month.  BUT THEN I decided to add 1 more phone yesterday for my youngest son and guess what.  It is not an additional $15/month, but an additional $40/month.  Bet you didn't see that in all of the advertising still being shown on TV ads to this day...neither did I.  I bought the phone at Walmart because of the reduced pricing on the phone and the replacement plan.  No one there said anything about $40/month either.  Sounds like a Bait and Switch deal going on here!!!  So today I saw on my bill that it did indeed go up an additional $40, so I called about it and had to talk to a "supervisor" to get the whole story and yet no honoring of the advertisement.  I got the "some restrictions apply" speech.  Well doesn't ATT think that this information about that the deal does not apply to new lines added or anything after Feb 2nd should be clearly plastered all over the advertising and in the dealer stores???   Wait, what, oh yeah never mind, they are attempting to sell you something that you are not actually going to get...........  When I asked the "supervisor" that I could not possibly be the only person that is calling about this same issue, then I got silence and upon my response of "give me a break" he responded with " I cannot lie, you are one of many..."  I feel as if I have been betrayed by false advertising and stripped of $25/month extra for as long as I have a contract with ATT.  ATT needs to rethink their advertising methods as I am sure that this is going to get them serious negative attention.  I certainly will not recommend this to anyone that I know who is considering ATT.  I have not always been pleased with ATT, but today I am.  I will say that the 2 persons that I spoke with at ATT were polite and the "supervisor" attempted to pacify me with a $100 credit for the misleading advertising, but I want $600 credit divided into $25 monthly increments applied to my account for the next 24 months.  Once this happens, I will be happy with ATT again and will consider to stay with them after the contract is complete.

[word filter avoidance]

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@loganic wrote:

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@Koapof3 wrote:

i am having a bill issue as well. after chating with a representative i printed the conversation, i was billed for last month's usage along with next months rates. i tried talking to another agent and was told i would be credited over the next two billing cycles. That just does not make any sense to me. ive been a customer since 2000 and it makes no sense to bill me for what i have not used yet then turn around and credit me for it. i understand if i was a new customer. i was told $15 a phone and charged $40.

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This is normal

Based on my plan, AT&T sends me the bill for march, in the first week of that month, but my due data is not until the end of the month. If I used more than the plan I paid for in march, then AT&T will add the extra's to my April bill.

 

You are paying in advance. By the time the due date comes around, it's only a few days until the end of the cycle, so at best, you might be a few days ahead..

-Alex

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It is NOT NORMAL for a $15 line to be billed at $40. Help the person with the over billing and tell them where to get it corrected.

Hello!

Sorry to hear you feel you've been misled.

AT&T is very open and clear about the plans and prices and promotions. You added your new line at Walmart. They are an authorized retailer for AT&T. The store rep you spoke to their should have informed you of the price plans and agreements.

On a 10GIG Mobile Share Value plan, it breaks down as follows.

10 Gigs of Data = $100

Each Smartphone with no contract, on a NEXT installment plan = $15 *

Smartphones that have a 2 Year Contract = $40

* Any smart phone that was entered into a 2 year agreement prior to February 1, 2014 qualifies for the $15 Non Contract pricing.

So four smart phones that meet the above criteria qualify for the $160 pricing.

If you added a fourth smartphone and signed a two year contract on it after February 1 of this year, it falls into the $40 price plan.

The reason for this is when you purchase a phone, we'll use an iPhone as an example here, you can get an iPhone 5S for $199.99. The phone retail value is $649.99. AT&T in turn pays the difference for you to get the phone at the 2 year price. After you've completed your contract, the price will return to the $15.

You have a 14 day window where you can return the phone as well with a restocking fee of $35.

Below is a image taken from the commercial which shows the 4 lines for $160 plan. In fine print at the bottom it does state W/ No Annual Contract.

If you have any other questions, let us know.

Thanks!

Same song different verse. The most negative thing about the Mobile Share Plan is not clearly advertised.

it is what it is.  ATT states that you will pay full price when you upgrade.  I was told this when I switched to the new plan.  

It amazes me that people think they should get the 15 a month if you buy a subsidised phone.  That 25 extra covers the cost of the phone.  

What you should have done was buy a used smart phone and add it to the line.  Or better yet the moto g is only 179 bucks or nexus 5 for 350.  

If people want subsidised phones this plan is not for them.  This is for next customers or BYOD people

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@kab716 wrote:

Have you seen the ads on TV about the 4 lines for $160/month.  Seems great, since I was previously paying over $215/ month for 3 phones for ATT's wireless service.  Well I switched to the new Family share plan for the 3 phones that I had and the cost reduced to $145/month.  BUT THEN I decided to add 1 more phone yesterday for my youngest son and guess what.  It is not an additional $15/month, but an additional $40/month.  Bet you didn't see that in all of the advertising still being shown on TV ads to this day...neither did I.  I bought the phone at Walmart because of the reduced pricing on the phone and the replacement plan.  No one there said anything about $40/month either.  Sounds like a Bait and Switch deal going on here!!!  So today I saw on my bill that it did indeed go up an additional $40, so I called about it and had to talk to a "supervisor" to get the whole story and yet no honoring of the advertisement.  I got the "some restrictions apply" speech.  Well doesn't ATT think that this information about that the deal does not apply to new lines added or anything after Feb 2nd should be clearly plastered all over the advertising and in the dealer stores???   Wait, what, oh yeah never mind, they are attempting to sell you something that you are not actually going to get...........  When I asked the "supervisor" that I could not possibly be the only person that is calling about this same issue, then I got silence and upon my response of "give me a break" he responded with " I cannot lie, you are one of many..."  I feel as if I have been betrayed by false advertising and stripped of $25/month extra for as long as I have a contract with ATT.  ATT needs to rethink their advertising methods as I am sure that this is going to get them serious negative attention.  I certainly will not recommend this to anyone that I know who is considering ATT.  I have not always been pleased with ATT, but today I am.  I will say that the 2 persons that I spoke with at ATT were polite and the "supervisor" attempted to pacify me with a $100 credit for the misleading advertising, but I want $600 credit divided into $25 monthly increments applied to my account for the next 24 months.  Once this happens, I will be happy with ATT again and will consider to stay with them after the contract is complete.

 

[word filter avoidance]

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Actually it is disclosed, if you would add the phone utilizing the Next plan it is 15.00, but if you want a subsidized phone it is 40.00

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@wingrider01 wrote:

Actually it is disclosed, if you would add the phone utilizing the Next plan it is 15.00, but if you want a subsidized phone it is 40.00

 

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 LOL, your screen shot is the perfect example of it not being disclosed. Sure, it tells you all the cases of when it costs $15, but how much it'll cost on subsidy is nowhere in your example.

You are exactly right it does not make it clear.

Its so clear that the AT&T rep told me to buy an Iphone 5c at Target at the substized price of $100 and that line would be $15 per month. Another told me to go back to my old plan and get a substidized phone then change to the Mobile Share Plan and it would be $15 a line. This was after the cut off of Feb 2nd and would not have qualified.  Both given information was wrong.

The plan is so simple the AT&T employees can't give accurate information.

--- Available with AT&T NextSM or if you purchase your smartphones at full retail price. You’re also eligible if you’re out of annual contract or bring your own device. 

----For plans 10GB or higher, AT&T customers with smartphones on 2-yr agreements as of 2/1/14 are eligible for the $15/mo. rate. For plans 2GB to 6GB, AT&T customers with smartphones on 2-yr agreements as of 3/8/14 are eligible for the $25/mo. rate. If upgrading, must comply with then-current req's to keep discounted smartphone rate.

last line in my last post says it all