Comments on: Not Clever: AT&T’s Lame “Upgrade Fee”

By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 01:30:15 +0000

this is totally idiotic on att's part. I have uverse, internet, main line and phone with them, I have been a solid customer paying all my bills on time for decades and with cingular/att for wireless now going on 6 years.
Their argument of discount is bogus since they lock you into a plan for 2 yrs to MAKE UP THE PRICE DIFFERENCE. I am not going into an iphone, I am looking at the bottom of the line nokia, for 2 lines. Basically, becuase of this and the ridiculous price I pay each month for my phone bills. I will not pay such a thing. this is insulting. either I get the phone at the "free" price or I don't stay. I honestly have been unhappy with my internet service with them now for 2 years anyway. Nothing to hold me to them. I suggest to everybody else, if you are not getting an iphone, just go somewhere else where the customer is still respected.
how dare they treat me like this.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:11:21 +0000

Call them. Fight the fee. If you go back and forth a couple times, holding your ground, you can get the fee waived. I just did it moments ago. Their stand was we discounted the phone x amount of dollar and we are trying to make up some of those operational type costs by charging you the upgrade fee. My argument was if ATT isn't making enough profit ,then increase the price of the phone if you have too, don't go charging me an extra fee for simply renewing with you guys. (thanks jon)

What solidified the argument was that I have been using ATT wireless service now for 4 plus years. Then I added that I also have Uverse, Internet and LAN line through ATT.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:42:18 +0000

I agree that the upgrade fee is ridiculous. However, I went and priced a plan at Verizon to compare (because I thought the same thing- "I'm switching"), and their plans cost $50 more for a comparable plan.

I am begrudgingly sticking with AT&T.

::grumble, grumble::

By: Regret AT&T

Regret AT&T — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:24:31 +0000

I renewed my contract with AT&T and got a “free” standard phone. $18 for a “one time charge for Upgrade”. The new phone wasn’t even an upgrade. I spoke with customer service and she was of no help. Asked for the manager and I got her voice mail. If I had it to do over, I’d go with someone else. This fee makes no sense and no one has yet to explain how I was “upgraded” in any way. RIP OFF.

By: Ready to Drop AT&T

Ready to Drop AT&T — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 15:52:51 +0000

What iwant to know is why is it now when you go to upgrade with AT&T, why is it you can only upgrade to one of the phone they select for you? I have always upgraded online, and now when I went to uprade to the phone i wanted I was told i had to either be a new customer or I had to add a line. What the crap is that? New customers get preference and existing loyal customer get ther curb!Found out that any refurb phone is free to a new customer and for existing customers AT&T will select which refurb they will allow you to get for free and which refurb you have to pay $99.99 for. What is that all about?

By: iPhoninator

iPhoninator — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:55:33 +0000

I HAVE A JAILBROKEN AND UNLOCKED iPhone! and I’m with Tmobile~ AND MY LIFE IS GREAT! I didn’t pay at&t’s lame fee, and my coverage and data plan IS GREAAAAT! OHHHHH HOW IT’S GREAT TO BE ME! AND I LOVE MY iPhone! and i don’t use at&t and i get most of my apps for FREE and i can customize my entire phone~! ohhh yeah it’s great to be……ME!

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:20:55 +0000

I have called once about the $18 fee and told them “verizon does not charge an upgrade fee” they took it off my bill. Spread the word maybe they will get the point.

By: AlOliver

AlOliver — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:23:57 +0000

Well said Jon. And though other companies do the same sometimes, it sure as heck-fire doesn't make it right!

What's worse is the way AT&T Wireless treats their employees. My wife worked there and she was "shackled" in what she could say and do. She took incredible abuse from customers for saying what AT&T required her to say (one creep said, "Lady, I hope you get cancer and die!") and then from the other side, awful abuse from her managers (save one), who were known for never helping and always criticizing. But they themselves were under constant pressure from above, who were themselves under pressure from above and so on. So you can never get to the real jerks who start the insanity.

The thing is, they are making so much money, they don't have to care. They pretend to and give their employees a script that is designed to make you think they care, but it's still the same AT&T who is as controlling as they can possibly get away with.

I'd walk, but it just wouldn't matter. But I've learned the lesson, namely "If you can screw people out of their money and can get away with it, do it."

Thanks for the lesson AT&T.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:09:31 +0000

Upgrade fees pay for the company’s overhead. It’s like walking into Sears, buying a refrigerator, and being charged extra for the electricity, receipt paper, the salesman’s time, etc. I told AT&T I wouldn’t pay for it (no, I don’t have an IPhone) and they waived it. No reputable company should ever pass on overhead as a separate fee to the customer; it is offset by the profits. If their profit isn’t enough, charge more for the product, but until we as a society refuse to subsidise these fees for overhead we will continue to be nickle-and-dimed to death.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:32:50 +0000

There are websites out there, authorized dealers who will give you a free phone, pay the upgrade fee and all the rebate bs is done up front. You pay nothing, just sign 2 year agreement and wham..ur done..I always buy through dealers online. Just be sure you research the companies first.