AT&T doubling their upgrade fees

AT&T, one of the kings of bleeding consumers dry, has announced it will be doubling its upgrade fee for new handsets.

Whenever a subscriber upgrades to a new handset after signing a new contract, the fee is currently $18. Starting tomorrow, that fee will be doubled to $36.

Says the carrier: "Wireless devices today are more sophisticated than ever before. And because of that, the costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased and is reflected in our new upgrade fee. This fee isn't unique to AT&T and this is the first time we're changing it in nearly 10 years."

It is not entirely clear what "costs" are actually associated with the upgrade, as all it takes to switch phones is to switch SIM cards over being that AT&T is a GSM operator.

Regardless, AT&T users should take note that next time they upgrade their phone, expect a heftier fee.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 11 Feb 2012 13:41

pdl2mtl90

Frigging bloodsuckers! Yet one reason I am seriously thinking of switching to Sprint.

11.2.2012 14:26 #1

core2kid

Verizon charges $0.00...

11.2.2012 14:28 #2

Azuran

The cost to subsidize your phone.

11.2.2012 14:49 #3

hikaricor

Originally posted by core2kid: Verizon charges $0.00... As does Sprint.

11.2.2012 14:51 #4

plutonash

I see how AT&T likes to reward their loyal customers.

"Cable thief is a victimless crime."

11.2.2012 15:18 #5

GryphB

I can't wait to be rid of ATT. I'm switching over to T-mobiles $50 prepay plan, and it'll still be less than what I pay now and have what I need, talk and text only.

11.2.2012 16:21 #6

Semperfipal

I dumped AT&T years ago because of poor customer service and never looked back. You would have to put a gun to my head to make me even consider doing business with these bloodsuckers again.

11.2.2012 16:51 #7

LordRuss

Happy Valentines Day, now bend over... Who are they fooling? Technology by it's very definition gets more sophisticated every day, yet the customer is supposed to to pay for it exponentially? They're starting to sound like Netflix.

Just do like the other folks, change your carrier if you can & have heart for the ones who can't for soon we may all go back to the Pony Express.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

11.2.2012 17:02 #8

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by LordRuss: Happy Valentines Day, now bend over... Who are they fooling? Technology by it's very definition gets more sophisticated every day, yet the customer is supposed to to pay for it exponentially? They're starting to sound like Netflix.

Just do like the other folks, change your carrier if you can & have heart for the ones who can't for soon we may all go back to the Pony Express. The only reason I am still an AT&T customer is because I have been with them for almost 11 years @ $45.00 a month. No contract and unlimited access.

If they try to pull BS on me, goodbye AT&T.

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

11.2.2012 19:28 #9

pmshah

How else are they going to recover the billions paid / to be paid to T-Mobile ?

11.2.2012 21:14 #10

KillerBug

Originally posted by pmshah: How else are they going to recover the billions paid / to be paid to T-Mobile ? They could try gaining customers by offering quality service. Oh wait...that would mean building towers and using the spectrum that they sold to T-Mobile.

I guess they better just screw their remaining customers until their mobile services are as much of a joke as their landline services. Oh wait...that is already the case!

Or maybe they will rely on an iPhone monopoly to hold customers...no, that won't work anymore...

Well, they have destroyed their capabilities and their reputation through mismanagement and fraud to the point there is no coming back. I guess they now get a government bailout and their management will get huge bonuses for the quarter when the government check clears. Well played AT&T...you will soon have every tax payer in the country contributing to your coffers.

12.2.2012 00:51 #11

SoTired

Thank goodness I ditched AT&T years ago. I'm looking forward to upgrading my Verizon phone next month with no silly fees.

12.2.2012 02:00 #12

CNDLG

Well I was wrong. Had to pay and out of contract. Ticks me off. But I wanted the phone and they know it

12.2.2012 08:50 #13

nbfreak2

Looks like its time for me to say goodbye to ATT aswell.

12.2.2012 09:26 #14

LordRuss

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P:
The only reason I am still an AT&T customer is because I have been with them for almost 11 years @ $45.00 a month. No contract and unlimited access.

If they try to pull BS on me, goodbye AT&T./quote]

Only because of my 'grandfathered' unlimited data plan with Verizon is the reason I' still with them as well. Otherwise I might have said "buh-by" to this contracted turd as well.

I empathize.

Originally posted by KillerBug:
I guess they better just screw their remaining customers until their mobile services are as much of a joke as their landline services. Oh wait...that is already the case!

Or maybe they will rely on an iPhone monopoly to hold customers...no, that won't work anymore...

Well, they have destroyed their capabilities and their reputation through mismanagement and fraud to the point there is no coming back. I guess they now get a government bailout and their management will get huge bonuses for the quarter when the government check clears. Well played AT&T...you will soon have every tax payer in the country contributing to your coffers. Well played KB, well played...

And for some reason this looks like I didn't write anything or just printed someone's quotes like I was retarded. Can't tell if it's my browser or if something went wrong.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

12.2.2012 10:46 #15

molsen

ATT is going down a path that is going to get negative press and then flip flop, like a politician. I see this as a money grab. There really is no need for a fee at all. I think they are taking a play out Bank of America's book and fee a customer to death.

12.2.2012 12:41 #16

mystic

anyone interested I switched to a new company having had Verizon for 4 years the new company is "Republic Wireless" and for 19.00 a month its not bad they use wifi first and cell towers second so when home and at work I get clear signal and on the road its cell towers . so not to bad . now this company is a sprint subsiderary so make sure you have sprint in your area and you should be fine and it 19.. is unlimited everything calls text and downloads.. food for thought

12.2.2012 17:10 #17

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by molsen: ATT is going down a path that is going to get negative press and then flip flop, like a politician. I see this as a money grab. There really is no need for a fee at all. I think they are taking a play out Bank of America's book and fee a customer to death. BofA cancelled the $5.00 a month fee for folks with debit cards unless you have $20,000 in your account. However they now charge a fee for exchanging cash for rolls of coins. This time they did not release the fee info to the public. Sneaky money grubbing AHoles.

Jeff

12.2.2012 17:38 #18

ukhn (unverified)

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: Originally posted by molsen: ATT is going down a path that is going to get negative press and then flip flop, like a politician. I see this as a money grab. There really is no need for a fee at all. I think they are taking a play out Bank of America's book and fee a customer to death. BofA cancelled the $5.00 a month fee for folks with debit cards unless you have $20,000 in your account. However they now charge a fee for exchanging cash for rolls of coins. This time they did not release the fee info to the public. Sneaky money grubbing AHoles.

Jeff Actually they been doing that for years

12.2.2012 18:29 #19

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by ukhn: Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: Originally posted by molsen: ATT is going down a path that is going to get negative press and then flip flop, like a politician. I see this as a money grab. There really is no need for a fee at all. I think they are taking a play out Bank of America's book and fee a customer to death. BofA cancelled the $5.00 a month fee for folks with debit cards unless you have $20,000 in your account. However they now charge a fee for exchanging cash for rolls of coins. This time they did not release the fee info to the public. Sneaky money grubbing AHoles.

Jeff Actually they been doing that for years
Maybe in some states but not in AZ. This is a recent fee here.

BofA will give you a change bag that is limited to 20lb. I imagine it is just a matter of time they start charging a processing fee for what is for now a free service.

Amadeo Giannini, the founder of BofA must be rolling in his grave knowing what was once a service for the San Francisco community since 1904 mostly to help Italian immigrants stop being mattress stuffer into actually making a few bucks by investing in the bank. Now BofA has turned into the albatross, money grubbing pile of trash that it is today.

My grandparents were legal immigrants via Ellis Island in 1920. Becoming American citizens. They trekked across the US to SF where they were married in King City, CA. in 1922. Worked their asses off.

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."

Thomas Jefferson

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

12.2.2012 18:48 #20

aeonstorm

I was with at&t for 5 months and based on my experience they were draining my pocket and quick to disconnect me. I got disconnected twice and the fee to reconnect is 40$ which is close to half the price of my plan. I hate them with a passion. well I still have the phone I may as well get prepaid.

12.2.2012 22:36 #21

Jeffrey_P

Originally posted by aeonstorm: I was with at&t for 5 months and based on my experience they were draining my pocket and quick to disconnect me. I got disconnected twice and the fee to reconnect is 40$ which is close to half the price of my plan. I hate them with a passion. well I still have the phone I may as well get prepaid. Not paying your bill on time is not AT&T's fault. You really only have yourself to blame regardless of what the reconnection fee is.

I also think AT&T sucks but come on man...

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

12.2.2012 23:10 #22

KillerBug

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: Originally posted by aeonstorm: I was with at&t for 5 months and based on my experience they were draining my pocket and quick to disconnect me. I got disconnected twice and the fee to reconnect is 40$ which is close to half the price of my plan. I hate them with a passion. well I still have the phone I may as well get prepaid. Not paying your bill on time is not AT&T's fault. You really only have yourself to blame regardless of what the reconnection fee is.

I also think AT&T sucks but come on man...

Jeff I agree that you should pay your bill...but $40 to reconnect is very steep. After all, if you can't afford to pay your bill, how can you afford to pay an additional $40? It should just be, "Get current and we turn it back on". It costs them nothing to reconnect you.

13.2.2012 00:40 #23

hearme0

What does a "more sophisticated device" have ANYTHING to do with charging more for the upgrade?????????????

Not like ATT has individual people learning/programming and customizing the phone to specific needs. It's a mill and they get millions of pre-configured phones and simply sell them.

Money grubbing MOFOs!!!!

Hate ATT, hate that they claimed "4G" back a year ago when they didn't have anything of the sort and rated worst service out of them all.

13.2.2012 12:43 #24

LordRuss

Originally posted by Jeffrey_P: Amadeo Giannini, the founder of BofA must be rolling in his grave knowing what was once a service for the San Francisco community since 1904 mostly to help Italian immigrants stop being mattress stuffer into actually making a few bucks by investing in the bank. Now BofA has turned into the albatross, money grubbing pile of trash that it is today. I was banking with them back in the early 90s & their scamming techniques were either in their infancy or just starting to come to fruition. Holding onto deposits knowing you had credits against your account, so it would throw your account into the negative... THEN debit your deposit, but nab $35 a hit for each over draft.

Scam one of many, which it's variant spans over the instant store check writing venture, deposits at the ATM, cash deposits and the after 3pm bullshitterama. We all know that technology has rendered most of these scams useless.

It's just like paying for your gasoline/petrol at the gas pump (DON'T F**King do it by the way!!!) They hold your entire bank account for 24/48 hours until they get their money. Do you get any interest for them holding YOUR money? I never did.

Grandpa always told me, "I don't give a shit what you say/said. Your actions always speak louder than your words." When I pay for something at Walmart & it shows up on my bank account before I get home to check it... & the bank says I can't use that money anymore... Then the money is gone. End of story.

The money ain't 'waiting' anywhere. It instantly moved & we all know it & we know where. It even says it right there on my statement. If we can't hide then neither can they. I say BS & call for a redneck counsel to rifle through their books & shoot the offending individuals in the ass with a BB-gun for each infraction.

Then put them in jail.

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

13.2.2012 12:57 #25

Striker911 (unverified)

When me and my wife where just dating 4 years ago she was paying over $200 a month for her cell phone. Once I found out and started asking about it she said it just started going up monthly. Why? Not sure im on a contract. So I had her call them and ask why. No explanation, no refund.

They test people. Raise it till u stop paying it. My wife did just that. verizon started this crap as far as I know. Right after the switch from cell one. Tell me how I owe $600 from checking my voice mail and making 3 calls in the coverage area? Now they want over $1500 cause I wont pay it.

13.2.2012 15:09 #26

dave817

Originally posted by GryphB: I can't wait to be rid of ATT. I'm switching over to T-mobiles $50 prepay plan, and it'll still be less than what I pay now and have what I need, talk and text only.
I'm happy I did that switch. I picked up my no-contract smart phone at a discount by online shopping.

13.2.2012 16:51 #27

ZeusAV

So AT&T charging fees just to take your sim card out of one phone and put it into another.

I really wish consumers would raise hell against these US carriers the way they did against the banks when they tried to charge fees for using your debit card. I guess it's different for cell phones since the average US citizen doesn't have a clue of how the industry screws them over.

14.2.2012 00:17 #28

LordRuss

Originally posted by ZeusAV: So AT&T charging fees just to take your sim card out of one phone and put it into another.

I really wish consumers would raise hell against these US carriers the way they did against the banks when they tried to charge fees for using your debit card. I guess it's different for cell phones since the average US citizen doesn't have a clue of how the industry screws them over. When they sneak around behind your back, then grin when they hand you your bill; after enough time has past without getting caught, they tend to want to want to put on one hell of a show when you call them on their shite.

Yet these same companies will scream & bitch against legislation & government involvement in big business, but use the same judicial means to write legally binding contracts tying 'your' hands to their unreasonable means.

All the while using the excuse "he/she 'knowingly' signed the contract". At which point the bought judge will ask if you read the 8 page, 8.5x14, single spaced, 8 font (.5 font for the shit they REALLY didn't want you to know, even if you could understand the verbiage), Free checking account with the $200 check your grandma sent you.

But there's a $6 starters fee & a $5 monthly fee for anything under $500 & it's actually completely free so long as you have $1000 just sitting in the account.

It's worse than going to a titty bar...

http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

14.2.2012 11:08 #29

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