FAN discount on AT&T plans?

[jnappleseed]

So I have a 57% FAN discount on my AT&T plan through my employer. This discount worked with the old mobile share plans and the newer mobile share advantage plans. Now I have the att unlimited plan that required DIRECTV but AT&T opened up to everyone. Does anyone who has this plan, or its counterpart that required DIRECTV, know if FAN discounts worked on the plan?

I called AT&T this morning and I've gotten mixed answers. Some reps told me it did apply to it, others that it didn't. Just I'd like to hear from users that actually have the plan and a FAN discount to get a sure answer.

And when I asked about the newer Unlimited Choice and Unlimited plan that'll be available this Thursday, they also told me the FAN discounts would apply - I read differently online.

 

[avanpelt]

So I have a 57% FAN discount on my AT&T plan through my employer. This discount worked with the old mobile share plans and the newer mobile share advantage plans. Now I have the att unlimited plan that required DIRECTV but AT&T opened up to everyone. Does anyone who has this plan, or its counterpart that required DIRECTV, know if FAN discounts worked on the plan?

I called AT&T this morning and I've gotten mixed answers. Some reps told me it did apply to it, others that it didn't. Just I'd like to hear from users that actually have the plan and a FAN discount to get a sure answer.

And when I asked about the newer Unlimited Choice and Unlimited plan that'll be available this Thursday, they also told me the FAN discounts would apply - I read differently online.

57% FAN discount? Wow. That's the highest I've heard of for anyone who isn't an AT&T employee. FAN discounts definitely work on the unlimited plans that are available right now. However, no one knows for sure if FAN discounts will work on the unlimited plans that will be available this Thursday. Nowhere in the fine print does it say that they will or won't apply to the new plans; and, as usual anytime a new product or service is rolled out, you can talk to multiple people at AT&T and get different answers from each one.

 

[CoriG]

I called ATT last night and they told me that the FAN discount would not work on the new unlimited plans that are coming out on Thursday.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I called ATT last night and they told me that the FAN discount would not work on the new unlimited plans that are coming out on Thursday.

And I was told that it would. So no one knows until Thursday. In the front page article thread there have been mixed results of both yes and no.

 

[CoriG]

And I was told that it would. So no one knows until Thursday. In the front page article thread there have been mixed results of both yes and no.

True, but if you look at the ATT website, there is a note that military and veteran discounts apply.. I found it interesting that the military discount was noted.. which leads me to believe that they are following in Verizon's footsteps

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I have heard both from At&t reps that I trust, so I am not sure if anyone will know for sure until tomorrow.

 

[Mlrollin91]

True, but if you look at the ATT website, there is a note that military and veteran discounts apply.. I found it interesting that the military discount was noted.. which leads me to believe that they are following in Verizon's footsteps

Agreed. But there is nothing that states FAN doesn't.

 

[avanpelt]

Well, looking at it from one side of AT&T's perspective, if Verizon isn't allowing employer discounts to be used on their unlimited plan, there's no reason for AT&T to do the same. However, looking at it from the other side of AT&T's perspective, they know that a big reason they have a chunk of customers is solely because of employer discounts.

If AT&T chooses not to honor the FANs on these new plans and someone wants to switch to the new plans, there is little reason for that customer to stay with AT&T unless they have DIRECTV or unless Verizon doesn't have coverage where they spend most of their time and AT&T does (which is likely to be the exception rather than the rule). I suspect that AT&T already lost a sizable number of postpaid customers to Verizon this month. I'm not sure they want that trend to continue into March. Therefore, I think there's as much of a chance that FANs will be honored on the new plans as there is that they won't be.

 

[Mlrollin91]

Well, looking at it from one side of AT&T's perspective, if Verizon isn't allowing employer discounts to be used on their unlimited plan, there's no reason for AT&T to do the same. However, looking at it from the other side of AT&T's perspective, they know that a big reason they have a chunk of customers is solely because of employer discounts.

If AT&T chooses not to honor the FANs on these new plans and someone wants to switch to the new plans, there is little reason for that customer to stay with AT&T unless they have DIRECTV or unless Verizon doesn't have coverage where they spend most of their time and AT&T does (which is likely to be the exception rather than the rule). I suspect that AT&T already lost a sizable number of postpaid customers to Verizon this month. I'm not sure they want that trend to continue into March. Therefore, I think there's as much of a chance that FANs will be honored on the new plans as there is that they won't be.

Exactly, Verizon's plan is still cheaper, so the FAN would outweigh the price difference. If we don't get the FAN, might as well switch.

 

[avanpelt]

Exactly, Verizon's plan is still cheaper, so the FAN would outweigh the price difference. If we don't get the FAN, might as well switch.

I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why AT&T is suddenly under the impression that they can charge more than Verizon for the exact same plan.

The only thing I can come with is that AT&T truly hates unlimited data (which is pretty obvious given their tactics over the past several years). They are offering an unlimited plan with tethering now only because they've been backed into a corner by all of their major competitors. If someone wants to have an unlimited plan on AT&T's network, they hate unlimited so much that they're willing to charge more than Verizon does for it in order to deter people from signing up for the plan. That's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out why AT&T is suddenly under the impression that they can charge more than Verizon for the exact same plan.

The only thing I can come with is that AT&T truly hates unlimited data (which is pretty obvious given their tactics over the past several years). They are offering an unlimited plan with tethering now only because they've been backed into a corner by all of their major competitors. If someone wants to have an unlimited plan on AT&T's network, they hate unlimited so much that they're willing to charge more than Verizon does for it in order to deter people from signing up for the plan. That's the only plausible explanation I can come up with.

But then the unlimited plan is cheaper than a 20GB plan. It makes zero sense. The whole pricing structure is beyond stupid.

 

[jent]

But then the unlimited plan is cheaper than a 20GB plan. It makes zero sense. The whole pricing structure is beyond stupid.

The higher Mobile Share Advantage plans can use any amount of their data allotment with tethering / mobile hotspot, but the new unlimited data plan comes with 10GB of high-speed tethering only.

Also, the MSA plans have a FAN discount but from what I'm reading elsewhere the new unlimited plans are expected to only have discounts for military and government, but not other FAN discounts.

Lastly, the prices shown for the new UDP are after the $5 and $10 discount for auto-pay paperless billing for single- and multi-line plans, respectively.

 

[Mlrollin91]

The higher Mobile Share Advantage plans can use any amount of their data allotment with tethering / mobile hotspot, but the new unlimited data plan comes with 10GB of high-speed tethering only.

Also, the MSA plans have a FAN discount but from what I'm reading elsewhere the new unlimited plans are expected to only have discounts for military and government, but not other FAN discounts.

Lastly, the prices shown for the new UDP are after the $5 and $10 discount for auto-pay paperless billing for single- and multi-line plans, respectively.

Not sure how any of this relates to why MSA is more expensive than unlimited. Maybe the first point, but not the second and third. But then again, with regards to the first point. It doesn't matter how you are using the data, just how much you are paying for it.

 

[imlynxy]

I called them 2 times and was told:
1. New new UDP has FAN discount.
2. New new UDP doesn't have FAN discount.
Confusing.....
I read here and there and it is 50/50
My opinion: no FAN discount, att always copies VZW.
Anyway, going to switch to the new plan.

 

[clunkmess]

Confirmed. Discounts will be kept on the new plans.

 

[Mlrollin91]

View attachment 690493
Confirmed. Discounts will be kept on the new plans.

Same thing I was told. Have it in writing from both a chat and on the phone (then the rep emailed me).

 

[imlynxy]

View attachment 690493
Confirmed. Discounts will be kept on the new plans.

I hope this is true. Time shows the truth.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I hope this is true. Time shows the truth.

Regardless, I will make them apply a $24.15 discount to my account monthly, I have it in writing. Twice! They told me, so they must honor it.

 

[imlynxy]

Same thing I was told. Have it in writing from both a chat and on the phone (then the rep emailed me).

View attachment 690494

Now guys I know your real names If I were you I hide them.
[doublepost=1488321497][/doublepost]

Regardless, I will make them apply a $24.15 discount to my account monthly, I have it in writing. Twice! They told me, so they must honor it.

You are right, I'm going to chat with them now

 

[Mlrollin91]

Now guys I know your real names If I were you I hide them.
[doublepost=1488321497][/doublepost]
You are right, I'm going to chat with them now

Haha, I think Matthew is a very common name.

And yes, get it in writing. Once you have it in writing, it makes it much easier to fight back.

 

[imlynxy]

Just chatted with support, FAN doesn't apply.

 

[C DM]

Regardless, I will make them apply a $24.15 discount to my account monthly, I have it in writing. Twice! They told me, so they must honor it.

To be fair, a representative making a mistake isn't necessarily something that has to be honored. It's not to say that there's a mistake in this case, or that a company won't necessarily honor something out of good will or provide something else to make up for incorrect information. Just that if some representatives mentioned something incorrectly, even in writing, ultimately there isn't really a requirement that it has to be honored.

 

[Mlrollin91]

To be fair, a representative making a mistake isn't necessarily something that has to be honored. It's not to say that there's a mistake in this case, or that a company won't necessarily honor something out of good will or provide something else to make up for incorrect information. Just that if some representatives mentioned something incorrectly, even in writing, ultimately there isn't really a requirement that it has to be honored.

I've had similar problems in the past with AT&T and I've been told if an rep makes a mistake about promising something and you can prove it, they will honor it. Happened in 2012 with an upgrade. That is why I get everything in writing. It's no different than Amazon pricing the new MBP incorrectly or when Delta posts a flight to Europe for $73. They honor it.

 

[C DM]

I've had similar problems in the past with AT&T and I've been told if an rep makes a mistake about promising something and you can prove it, they will honor it. Happened in 2012 with an upgrade. That is why I get everything in writing. It's no different than Amazon pricing the new MBP incorrectly or when Delta posts a flight to Europe for $73. They honor it.

I can't speak for AT&T specifically, but I've certainly had a few experiences where mistakes were admitted to being mistakes but not honored. There were times where something else was done to make up for the mistake (a gesture of good will in a sense), and other times where apologies were offered but nothing could be done about it as far as honoring what was mentioned or doing something to make up for it. Certainly different experiences are there, it's just that with some exceptions here and there for some things there isn't necessarily a "must" there.

 

[Mlrollin91]

I can't speak for AT&T specifically, but I've certainly had a few experiences where mistakes were admitted to being mistakes but not honored. There were times where something else was done to make up for the mistake (a gesture of good will in a sense), and other times where apologies were offered but nothing could be done about it as far as honoring what was mentioned or doing something to make up for it. Certainly different experiences are there, it's just that with some exceptions here and there for some things there isn't necessarily a "must" there.

Fair enough. But AT&T clearly has more than a couple reps saying that the FAN discount applies. There are dozens here that have posted and MacRumors is a very small sample of the population of AT&T users that have probably asked.

So if it's not going to apply, AT&T needs to address and fix the issue where many people were told incorrect information.

The two reps I spoke to claimed to have the FAQ guide and said FAN applies. I have that in writing from one rep. So if he straight up lied to me, I will get in touch with the AT&T executive office.