Oct 29 2008

AT&T $18 cell phone upgrade fee

Filed under: Hardware » Wireless,

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So much for upgrading for free...

My new cell phone from a couple years back (a Motorola L6) gave up the fight after less than a year's use. Good thing that I hung on to some of my older cell phones - a trusty Samsung that, unfortunately (after being thrown at a wall - don't ask recently gave up the fight as well. I thought, okay, I'm probably eligible for another free phone upgrade. I signed on to our AT&T wireless account, and sure enough, they were advertising free phone upgrades and various discounts. I ended up selecting a refurbished Samsung (no more Motorolas for me) Blackjack II for $50, a steep discount from the $300+ retail cost. Checkout process is easy enough - but what happens in the end? Just before hitting the checkout button the final cost jumps to $68. I'm thinking, where did that come from? I hadn't done any plan upgrades, nor added any features or accessories.

Mandatory upgrade fees with most carriers

It turns out that just about all wireless carriers, including AT&T, charge a mandatory $18 upgrade fee, regardless of how long you've been a customer. I suppose there's overhead on the backend from shipping and processing costs with free phone orders, I can understand that. What I don't understand is why they specifically advertise the upgrade as free all over their website, when in fact upgrading will always cost $18 (some carries, such as Nextel, charge even more ($36 for a Nextel phone upgrade)). To me it's the principle - in this day and age companies need to be transparent and upfront about their costs. If they're not, it prompts a rant such as this one, and may others you'll find if you Google "AT&T (or any other wireless carrier) upgrade fee."

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Wait it gets better!

Submitted by a visitor from afar on Thu, 2010-08-05 12:55.

I went on also to get the Samsung Jack II (I just want a querty keyboard!) It says the $18 fee will be charged to my bill. Then I decide to add a gel cover-cover is $3.75 minus a $1.25 company discount we get because of where my husband works. I try to order a new phone but it says I have to upgrade my plan, but it won't let me upgrade the plan! So it wants to charge me $274, back to the drawing board I'll take a refurb. I put the refurb in, great the $274 goes away. Now they want my credit card number okay no big deal, I have to pay $2.50 for the cover. Next page they're going to charge $21.75 to my credit card-huh? Okay so they're charging me the $18 upgrade fee & for the gel cover but even though it says right there there is $1.25 discount they are still charging me $3.75! I'm done I'm going to find a phone on craig's list!

Upgrade fee

Submitted by a visitor from afar on Mon, 2010-02-08 17:55.

You can tell them to note on your account that you will be calling back for a refund on the $18 fee once you get the bill in the mail. It's really stupid because what happens is they bill you the $18, you call and tell them to credit your account (which they do). You have to pay the $18 upgrade fee that was billed to you, but there will be an $18 credit on your next phone bill. I guess they do it because most people won't take the time to call (like the ones who don't take the time to send in the rebate forms that they give you). I think the FCC needs to regulate it a little better, but that's just my annoyed opinion on the matter.

Hidden Fees

Submitted by a visitor from afar on Thu, 2009-11-05 12:37.

I got slammed with the upgrade fee just for going into the store and buying a new phone (cheapest they had) because my old one was no longer working. There was no new features with this new phone, nor did we sign any agreement.

Signed

Submitted by a visitor from afar on Thu, 2009-10-15 18:18.

I agree that this is ridiculous and what's worse is that there is nothing the consumer can do about it. That's the problem with most things in our economy is that we have all kinds of freedoms but have mandatory ridiculous charges and hidden fees that no one can seem to get out of paying. AT&T is a joke.