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Family Contract Loophole?

M

macbook09

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 16, 2010
3
0
Hey guys,

I need to open up a new line (non-iPhone) on my existing iPhone ATT line. The guy at the ATT store suggested me to get an iPhone line as a add-on and told me that I could call ATT and ask them to cancel the data plan after a few weeks on the new line and keep the iPhone for myself. So, basically I could get a iPhone for 100 bucks! I told the representative I'd think about it.

Has anybody done something like this? Does this work?
Thanks
 
You cant cancel the data plan if you are using the iphone. You can if you are using the line with a regular phone.
 
macbook09 said:
Hey guys,

I need to open up a new line (non-iPhone) on my existing iPhone ATT line. The guy at the ATT store suggested me to get an iPhone line as a add-on and told me that I could call ATT and ask them to cancel the data plan after a few weeks on the new line and keep the iPhone for myself. So, basically I could get a iPhone for 100 bucks! I told the representative I'd think about it.

Has anybody done something like this? Does this work?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Att rep just told you it does.
 
I don't think that at&t would allow you to cancel a data plan on the iPhone. I would definitely be hesitant on believing what the guy at the at&t store said.
 
oh oh

macbook09 said:
Hey guys,

I need to open up a new line (non-iPhone) on my existing iPhone ATT line. The guy at the ATT store suggested me to get an iPhone line as a add-on and told me that I could call ATT and ask them to cancel the data plan after a few weeks on the new line and keep the iPhone for myself. So, basically I could get a iPhone for 100 bucks! I told the representative I'd think about it.

Has anybody done something like this? Does this work?
Thanks
Click to expand...

I suppose he didn't mention the $175 cancellation fee. Surprise surprise. call another store remember you are talking to a min wage clerk and the million dollar lawyers will be charging you the cancellation fee.
 
He said since I want a regular line anyways .... I could cancel the data plan on the iPhone and use a regular phone on that line. (But I'd still have the iPhone piece with me)
 
This is absolutely possible, and really doesn't amount to much of a "loophole." This is, in fact, what I did to upgrade to the 3GS from my 3G before my contract was up on my main line: add-a-line with a 3GS, then put the SIM from the new 3GS line into a basic flip-phone, call AT&T, and cancel just the data part of that line's plan. Put my old 3G SIM into the 3GS, and voila.

AT&T isn't going to charge you an ETF because you didn't cancel the whole *line*. You just cancelled the data part of that particular line's plan. You can change plans on a line, going up or down in minutes or adding and removing features, at any time as you desire without encountering an ETF. So long as you continue to keep paying for some kind of service on that line for the duration of the contract, you are fulfilling the terms of the contract.

Which is why this isn't really a "loophole": even though you aren't paying for data on the other line, you're still stuck paying a monthly bill on that new line for 2 years, or caving in and paying the ETF to cancel it for good.

In my case, I eventually cancelled the line (ended up I didn't actually need to keep it around) and paid the ETF. In the end, I paid roughly the same amount (probably a little bit more, in fact) to AT&T than I would have if I had just bought a 3GS on my main line using the "Early Upgrade" pricing ($399 instead of $199). I did end up coming out slightly ahead, though, because even if you do early upgrade, you are extending your contract out another year, so you wouldn't be eligible for a full upgrade on your main line when the (alleged) new iPhone model comes out later this year. Now I will be eligible.

-- Nathan
 
ucfgrad93 said:
I don't think that at&t would allow you to cancel a data plan on the iPhone. I would definitely be hesitant on believing what the guy at the at&t store said.
Click to expand...

Yes, they will.
All you gotta do is put your simcard on another phone and call them to have the iphone data removed. Tell them you're not using the iphone any more.
What the rep told you was correct.
 
NathanA said:
This is absolutely possible, and really doesn't amount to much of a "loophole." This is, in fact, what I did to upgrade to the 3GS from my 3G before my contract was up on my main line: add-a-line with a 3GS, then put the SIM from the new 3GS line into a basic flip-phone, call AT&T, and cancel just the data part of that line's plan. Put my old 3G SIM into the 3GS, and voila.

AT&T isn't going to charge you an ETF because you didn't cancel the whole *line*. You just cancelled the data part of that particular line's plan. You can change plans on a line, going up or down in minutes or adding and removing features, at any time as you desire without encountering an ETF. So long as you continue to keep paying for some kind of service on that line for the duration of the contract, you are fulfilling the terms of the contract.

Which is why this isn't really a "loophole": even though you aren't paying for data on the other line, you're still stuck paying a monthly bill on that new line for 2 years, or caving in and paying the ETF to cancel it for good.

In my case, I eventually cancelled the line (ended up I didn't actually need to keep it around) and paid the ETF. In the end, I paid roughly the same amount (probably a little bit more, in fact) to AT&T than I would have if I had just bought a 3GS on my main line using the "Early Upgrade" pricing ($399 instead of $199). I did end up coming out slightly ahead, though, because even if you do early upgrade, you are extending your contract out another year, so you wouldn't be eligible for a full upgrade on your main line when the (alleged) new iPhone model comes out later this year. Now I will be eligible.

-- Nathan
Click to expand...

Hmm...That sounds like a good plan to avoid extending your contract out a year.

I, unfortunately, renewed my contract with a dumbphone because I couldn't afford an iPhone type bill due to the economy. However, since then, I have more financial stability and I want an iPhone this summer.

So, I might get a iPhone 4 Gen this summer on a separate line - and cancel it (which like he said, is roughly the same cost as an Early Upgrade) BUT, I'll still be eligible for the 5th Gen iPhone in 2011.
 
Not a loophole when you are using it as intended, and AT&T/Apple is stand to make the same amount of money.
 
You can cancel that line and keep the iphone but you'll have to add a non iphone on the line to keep from paying the ETF
 
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