Upgrade fee for iPhone 6

[grasshopper51]

I am no longer under contract with AT&T so I don't understand why I have to pay $40 to "upgrade" to the iPhone 6. I can just take my business to Verizon or another carrier and not have to pay the $40. Is anyone else bothered by this unnecessary charge?

[AngryPerson81]

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.

[lizdance40]

if you buy the new iPhone at full retail you will not pay an upgrade fee.  Just sales tax (per your state laws) and the phone cost.

If you saw a $15 fee, it was because you selected Next installments.

And why are you angry about taking away a discount you didn't have until 2 years ago, and then ONLY because you had a line out of contract.

and upgrade fees are not new, but they did go up $5 for contracts.

[AngryPerson81]

Nope...incorrect.  I am on a Next family plan and own my Galaxy S6 outright.  I just went to Apple's site and tried to order the contract free iPhone6S using my phone number and it is adding a "one-time upgrade fee" of $15.

[lizdance40]

I just went through the process and came up with the same WRONG result.  There is no $15 fee.  The Apple website has it wrong.  I will give a heads up to powers that be....

[lizdance40]

Notice sent.  I will see what happens through other purchase avenues.

Good catch!

[lizdance40]

No $15 fee through ATT preorder.

No $15 fee from Best Buy preorder, but the price is $50 more (? I though Apple fixed the prices?)

[Jillian14]

Hello ATTDmitriyCM, 

I chose to pay it full. The full price of the iPhone. It said no contract commitment however still asking for $15 upgrade fee. It doesn't seem right to me since I didn't extend or get any discount from the full price iPhone 6s Plus. May I ask why?

Thanks,

Jill 

[lizdance40]

@Jillian14

I sent him the Apple website error.  It will be fixed ASAP.

[AngryPerson81]

Any update on this?  The page is still showing a $15 "upgrade" fee.

[whssoccercoach]

How do we get to the ATT higher ups and let them know we don't like how us long term customers are being treated? I want a new phone but I will not upgrade or do the next program until I have some rationale about why there is a $45 upgrade fee and a loss of my account discount if I get a new phone.

[SAMmdb]

I guess the only way is to walk away and if enough do they will learn that keeping a customer is cheaper than getting us back. I left for a competitor pay less even after adding another line to our plan.

[lizdance40]

@whssoccercoach

It's simple.   All customers are expected to pay for their own phones.  

If you look at the options, paying full retail has no fee and is the least expensive.

2 year contract is the most expensive.  The carriers want to stop 2 year contracts

If all carriers had their choice, we would buy phones at full price and they would have no responsibility for them.  

[whssoccercoach]

If I buy my phone outright do I lose my line discount? 

[ryan_975]

The only way you lose your "discount" is if you purchase a phone with a two year contract.

[AngryPerson81]

That would be fine if that is the case.  But it just feels like we are getting nickel and dime when they charge upgrade fees for off contract fully paid for phones and add things such as insurance without asking.  Time will tell if Apple's web site is wrong but its still up there a week later.