To those upgrading through AT&T Customer Service

[Loiselle]

You can order your phone no earlier than Monday, February 14, 2001. If this is the route you're going (like me), you can order it Monday morning at 9am at the earliest.

I was hoping to order it someday Saturday, but they just told me that's not possible.

 

[Aatos.1]

AT&T does tend to do some odd things, like release a phone on Sunday. They are the only carriers I've ever witnessed do such a thing.

 

[Blanco720]

Ill be getting it on sunday, so this is definitely not an option. shame you can order it to be delivered on saturday.

 

[pinbak]

What about their website, that's not through customer service, just online. Did they mention anything about online?

 

[Loiselle]

@Pinbak - they didn't say anything about that. But I can only assume that your order would go through on Sunday, but not ship till Monday. If customer service isn't open, I can't imagine any kind of shipping department would be open either.

So I would venture to guess for you to place your order Sunday. It S H O U L D process and ship Monday. But I don't speak on behalf of AT&T.

 

[Blanco720]

quick question: is an authorized retail user the same as a billing authority in terms of att accounts? i talked to a guy who said i needed billing authority to change my wifes account and all i can find is authorized retail user...

 

[Loiselle]

quick question: is an authorized retail user the same as a billing authority in terms of att accounts? i talked to a guy who said i needed billing authority to change my wifes account and all i can find is authorized retail user...

Not sure.. I think MarcMaiden would be able to answer that, I believe he's an AT&T employee of sorts. Hit him up... he's around.

 

[Blanco720]

My contract expires in December of this year and, according to retail stores, I am not able to upgrade until August (6 months out). I called 1-800-331-0500 (att customer care), selected option #3 (sales, upgrades), then selected the terminate option. I didn't really even have to sell them on anything and the guy offered to upgrade my wifes phone and mine, signing a new contract today (which ends up in adding a net of 14 months if you follow my math) and morphing our lines into a family plan. Unfortunately, we cant do it until the phone is launched because it isnt in his system yet, but he is calling me back on monday to handle it all. This is literally saving me $700.

He explained to me that this is possible because he is accts cancellation department, not a retail store (whose business model is based upon sales and commissions) nor the online sales department (similar situation?). I didn't ask how many months of the two year contract you needed to fulfill in order to be eligible, but I assume safely it is about 1 yr give or take.

Exceptions to this are GOING TO or COMING FROM an iphone. He didn't go into details, but he said things get complicated and he didn't sound like he would be able to do it.

Additionally, he informed me that there would be no upgrade fee, and that he would waive shipping costs for overnight delivery (hopefully tues, no later than wed).

So in short, if you are in contract and dont mind signing a new one, this is the absolute only way to go if you trying to save a buck. I can wait 3 extra days to save that kind of scratch. Hope this helps someone who may be in the same boat.

 

[Chapp1e]

Sounds like a no go for me then.

 

[Loiselle]

.....Exceptions to this are GOING TO or COMING FROM an iphone. He didn't go into details, but he said things get complicated and he didn't sound like he would be able to do it...

I'm coming from an iPhone... and they seemd like they would do ANYTHING for me... maybe it's isolated to me... I dunno...

 

[Chapp1e]

I'm coming from an iPhone... and they seemd like they would do ANYTHING for me... maybe it's isolated to me... I dunno...

Did you try the same thing?

 

[Blanco720]

Just call cancellations. they don't get paid to sell or not. they get paid to keep you. literally. give that a shot and see if it doesnt work out.

 

[Chapp1e]

What is it you exactly said?

 

[Aatos.1]

This is literally saving me $700.

This is the exact reason I enjoy AT&T. They've done similar things for me literally every year. People who complain just don't know how important it is to be courteous to the reps. I've honestly never had one bad experience.

Here's another tip. You may get a no at some point. Thank them genuinely and immediately call back. The next person you speak to will do the deal for you. It's a sure thing.

 

[Blanco720]

What is it you exactly said?

I had to call back a couple of times. but I had luck the last two of about 5 I tried. Essentially, I told them this:

In response to, "why were you looking to cancel your acct"

I am looking to upgrade to 4G. I saw that you are launching Inspire on the 13th, but the store told me I wasn't eligible until August and there was nothing they could do. I read online that Verizon is launching the HTC Thunderbolt on the same day and it is also 4G. I would like to know how much my early termination fee.

In response to, 'how can I help you'

I would like to know my early termination fee.


Sometimes they make you sweat a bit but I have gone so far as, I would like to cancel, can you help me or transfer me to someone who can?

I usually get a good response on those hard reps with that.


(don't ask why I called so many times lol)

 

[Loiselle]

Did you try the same thing?

Here is exactly what I did... I posted in another thread here.

 

[Donatron]

I had to call back a couple of times. but I had luck the last two of about 5 I tried. Essentially, I told them this:

In response to, "why were you looking to cancel your acct"

I am looking to upgrade to 4G. I saw that you are launching Inspire on the 13th, but the store told me I wasn't eligible until August and there was nothing they could do. I read online that Verizon is launching the HTC Thunderbolt on the same day and it is also 4G. I would like to know how much my early termination fee.

In response to, 'how can I help you'

I would like to know my early termination fee.


Sometimes they make you sweat a bit but I have gone so far as, I would like to cancel, can you help me or transfer me to someone who can?

I usually get a good response on those hard reps with that.


(don't ask why I called so many times lol)

So you got shot down the first few times, and then just simply hung up and tried again? They don't keep track of the fact that you called several times earlier that day?

 

[Blanco720]

So you got shot down the first few times, and then just simply hung up and tried again? They don't keep track of the fact that you called several times earlier that day?

Im sure they log it. But once I called and my bill was late (by 1 day!), next I called and she said she couldnt help, then I called and the person was clueless. I called back and got a guy to help but I needed some information from my wife for my particular case so I asked him to call me back. He didn't call back so I called the number again and got help. then he called me back and we are going to speak on monday when the phone is in the system. Hes going to overnight it to me for free lol.

this is the best way to go. make sure you are talking to cancellations. like i said, they get paid to keep you, so if you threaten to leave, they will help. no use calling before monday though, Inspire isnt in their system.

 

[Loiselle]

@Donatron...

Be persistent. Dial the 800 number, or 611 from your phone, option "0", then option "2."

Make sure you are with account cancellations. And just say... I want to upgrade my phone. According to you guys, I am not eligible. Well, I'd like to pay my ETF, and go somewhere where I can get a phone I want right now.

THAT IS WHAT I DID! And I get to order my phone Monday.

 

[Blanco720]

@Donatron...

Be persistent. Dial the 800 number, or 611 from your phone, option "0", then option "2."

Make sure you are with account cancellations. And just say... I want to upgrade my phone. According to you guys, I am not eligible. Well, I'd like to pay my ETF, and go somewhere where I can get a phone I want right now.

THAT IS WHAT I DID! And I get to order my phone Monday.

Amen brother. I think I might have gotten the idea from you. We will be getting Inspire a bit late (as compared to most the peoples in this forums) but we get it EL CHEAPO! lol

 

[Loiselle]

Amen brother. I think I might have gotten the idea from you. We will be getting Inspire a bit late (as compared to most the peoples in this forums) but we get it EL CHEAPO! lol

I never had an intention of leaving.

But being an iPhone customer, they wanted to do whatever they could to keep me. Well, I just guided their hand on how to keep me.

I'll be placing my order Monday morning, at 9am. If all goes the way I have been told, I should receive it Tuesday.

They are knocking $50 off the tab, adding $18 for the upgrade fee (no big deal), and they are rushing it out in "Expedited Rush 1-2 Day Air Shipment."

All in all, I'm getting the HTC Inspire 4G, for $67. I cannot, and will not bitch about that.

In the mean time, back to trolling the forums, and making ringtones!

 

[Donatron]

Okay, first try, unsuccessful. lol. The lady didn't try very hard to keep me. Instead of trying to offer me incentives to stay, she simply fed me reasons why AT&T is better than Verizon.

Although, surprisingly, my ETF fees amounts were much lower than I thought they'd be. $80 for my wife's 3GS, and $122 for my Captivate.

 

[Loiselle]

Okay, first try, unsuccessful. lol. The lady didn't try very hard to keep me. Instead of trying to offer me incentives to stay, she simply fed me reasons why AT&T is better than Verizon.

Although, surprisingly, my ETF fees amounts were much lower than I thought they'd be. $80 for my wife's 3GS, and $122 for my Captivate.

Are you guys individuals? Or a family plan?

 

[Donatron]

Are you guys individuals? Or a family plan?

Family plan.

 

[Loiselle]

Family plan.

Maybe that is why. Sorry you're having such a tough time.