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Upgrading Phones
We have an AT&T cell phone plan and are eligible for upgrades. If I buy my cell phone outright from another source, can I add it to my account without a monthly device fee?
Contributor
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We have an AT&T cell phone plan and are eligible for upgrades. If I buy my cell phone outright from another source, can I add it to my account without a monthly device fee?
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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116.6K Messages
6 years ago
If you mean without installments. Of course. The access fee is for service, not equipment
you also avoid an upgrade fee if you don’t purchase through ATT Next installments
You can swap SIM cards and activate the new phone yourself.
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sandblaster
ACE - Expert
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64.7K Messages
6 years ago
There is no monthly device fee. You pay for service for every line on your plan, regardless of where you buy the phone. You won’t have a monthly phone payment (a phone payment is not a device fee) if you buy elsewhere but you still have to pay for service for that line.
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tchsu731
Contributor
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2 Messages
5 years ago
AT&T just told me that you do NOT avoid an upgrade fee even you don’t purchase through ATT Next installments. I was charged $32.4 ($30 plus taxes and fees) as I bought my phone at apple store. They changed policy in February 2018. I've been their wireless customer for more than 10 years and I have 5 lines in my plan. Can anyone help to verify this is true? Thanks!
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Fl_retire
ACE - Professor
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2.9K Messages
5 years ago
@tchsu731 I purchased my IPhone Xs full price from Apple and inserted the SIM card from my IPhone 6 and was not charged an activation fee. The device model on my account does reflect the Xs assigned to my phone number.
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formerlyknownas
ACE - Sage
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116.6K Messages
5 years ago
@tchsu731
Apple is charging upgrade fees if you buy a carrier device. I avoid the upgrade fee by saying “I’m prepaid” and I pay full price.
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