Hey, guys really need ur help, esp. those using iPhone in a family plan

[airfang]

Hi, guys, I am going to buy an iPhone later so I am thinking about starting a regular AT&T family plan.

According to my knowledge from the AT&T website, I assume, suppose I am in a 59.99 family plan, when I purchase the iPhone and activate, all I have to do is to pay an extra $20 a month.

But, I dropped by an AT&T retail store today and consulted a representative. What she said is that if I am in a regular family plan and I want an iPhone I have to start another individual plan, since "iPhone plans are different from regular plans".

So who gets the concept wrong? Me or this sales representative. I see these following sentences on AT&T website:

"This may replace your current data plan. Some voice plans, including TDMA, may not qualify. Call AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500 to see if your plan qualifies."

I am wondering if the Nation FamilyTalk plan qualifies adding a data plan to activate ONE iPhone.

Anyone had the same experience or related knowledge please keep me informed. Thank you guys.


P.S. she doesnt even know that they have 550min/59.99 plan until I told her to look on the official website.

 

[JW008]

Hi, I was with ATT's family plan before the iPhone came out and was able to just replace my line with an iPhone (granted I have to now pay the $20/month data fee). In fact, about a week ago, my brother added another iPhone to the plan. Still had no problem with it.

 

[zap2]

yup, I just replaced my BlackJack with my iPhone when they launched, and picked a data/text plan....

 

[gr8tfly]

You can keep the current plan and just pay $20 for each iPhone you add. If you had MediaNet (or other data packages) and/or ins. on your current phone, they will be cancelled automatically.

 

[devilot]

Isn't it $9.99 to add a new line to an existing family plan, and then $20 for the iPhone specific data plan? So that it would be essentially $30 minimum to add an iPhone?

That's how my account is showing up and what I thought I had read on AT&T's site, as well.

 

[KD7IWP]

Sure seems sad to me how the cell phone industry (telecommunications industry in general) is so poorly organized. I know every time I have bought a phone, or got a long distance plan for my home phone, I get different answers from every representative I talk to. I do like how Apple makes their prices clear and simple. It must be hard for Apple to work with a phone company because they know that customers will want Apple service with a company that simply cannot meet the same standard. Not just AT&T, any phone company.

 

[Sean7512]

Isn't it $9.99 to add a new line to an existing family plan, and then $20 for the iPhone specific data plan? So that it would be essentially $30 minimum to add an iPhone?

That's how my account is showing up and what I thought I had read on AT&T's site, as well.

Correct, but that is to ADD a NEW line.

To replace an existing line, the 9.99 does not apply, which is what both my mom and I did. We have 3 lines (before, 3 Razr's) and now 2 iPhones and a Razr. All we had to do was add a data/txt plan and thats it!

 

[devilot]

Correct, but that is to ADD a NEW line.

Which is what the OP is thinking to do, anyway, right? Therefore it is relevant to mention. But even in the case of an existing line, it would still show up on your bill as $9.99 for the extra family added line and then $20 more for the iPhone plan. My reading of the OP made it seem like the OP thought the whole new line would only cost $20 which is incorrect.

 

[Antaios]

Sure seems sad to me how the cell phone industry (telecommunications industry in general) is so poorly organized. I know every time I have bought a phone, or got a long distance plan for my home phone, I get different answers from every representative I talk to. I do like how Apple makes their prices clear and simple. It must be hard for Apple to work with a phone company because they know that customers will want Apple service with a company that simply cannot meet the same standard. Not just AT&T, any phone company.

as an att rep the real problem is that att reps and all cell phone reps for that matter, work on of commission and apple reps don't. So what you essentially run into is every rep trying to cut another rep's throat. Thus offering different prices. Every rep will offer you a different price until you hear what you want to hear and buy. Some reps (usually new ones) will offer the actual price the company wants us to advertise.... some reps only offer the price that is going to make them the most commission and some reps offer the price that will close the sale at no matter what stakes... it really is sad. Unfortunately as more and more people find cellphones a necessity the more cellphone reps will become like cars salesmen.... it's the business I've been in for six years... great money but extremely terrible for your average consumer...

btw anytime a rep tells you have to pay more than you have READ ON A WEBSITE.... it is because they want to make more commission. We get pay more for individual plans then a single add on to a family plan or an existing customer simple purchasing an iphone. We don't get paid different amounts of commission based on the different phones, but on the different monthly bill... thus us trying to sell you features and more minutes than you really need...

 

[airfang]

thx guys, really appreciate your suggestions and discussion. I just purchased my regular family plan and hopefully I think I will buy iPhone really soon.

 

[Sean7512]

Which is what the OP is thinking to do, anyway, right? Therefore it is relevant to mention. But even in the case of an existing line, it would still show up on your bill as $9.99 for the extra family added line and then $20 more for the iPhone plan. My reading of the OP made it seem like the OP thought the whole new line would only cost $20 which is incorrect.

Ok, I stand corrected. You would still be paying that extra $9.99 with or without the iPhone. I just meant that if you were already paying the $9.99, then the only added charge is the $20, but all in all, it really is $29.99

I admit defeat