ATT Next Upgrade Rant

[Peter Rokkos]

On the fence on a new 7 Plus to replace my 6s Plus which I love. But rationalized that I can pass phones down the line to family members and get a 7 Plus for use for a year until the 8 comes out. So that means ATT Next Every Year program which is the cheapest option to basicly lease a phone for 1 year and then turn it in when the 8 comes out.

But ATT is horrible. I know everyone hates their cable company and cell phone provider but its not like the launch of a new iphone is really a surprise that they didn't expect people to want to do.

The ATT site shows me 2 lines that are available for upgrade. Put aside that its a messed up system still trying to get out of the old 'upgrade' systems they used. I have other lines that are already on Next plans, but 2 lines that use a 6s Plus which has not contract, and an old 5 also with no contract.

So pick out my shiny new 7 Plus black 128gb, go to check out, and no option at all for Next. I have to buy it outright. Its the only option offered.

So I text to ATT as they suggest to check upgrade status - and the reply text says you are not eligible to upgrade. Even though the ATT site says I can.

So I call ATT - we can't help you. Go to a store.

So I go to the Apple site to order through ATT Next. Sorry, ATT says your not eligible for an upgrade on Next.

I know. I can and likely should just buy it from Apple. But their every year upgrade makes me buy AppleCare which is nice but I don't really need the extra year of coverage since I'm turning it in as soon as the 8 comes out.

I even tried @attcares on twitter - no help there.

Just a rant. And as I watch the delivery date inch up every second I wait for ATT to fix their site....

 

[cjvitek]

I had an issue last night as well. I paid off my AT&T Next yesterday so I am eligible to upgrade. The website recognized this, and lists my phone as eligible for an upgrade. When I went to start the process at 2:00 this morning, it stops after I check the line to upgrade saying "unable to access phone data". In addition, the upgrade status changed to "upgrade by turning in your old phone" - which I should have to do since I paid off the AT&T Next balance!

If I log back in fresh, it starts over saying I am eligible for an upgrade!

 

[erwaso]

I had an issue last night as well. I paid off my AT&T Next yesterday so I am eligible to upgrade. The website recognized this, and lists my phone as eligible for an upgrade. When I went to start the process at 2:00 this morning, it stops after I check the line to upgrade saying "unable to access phone data". In addition, the upgrade status changed to "upgrade by turning in your old phone" - which I should have to do since I paid off the AT&T Next balance!

If I log back in fresh, it starts over saying I am eligible for an upgrade!

I did thre same, paid off my upgrade balance yesterday and was eligible. Best buy and AT&T site wouldnt let me process the order.

APple site let me do it though, i shouldve started there, now i have to wait until Oct 4

 

[MonkeyJunky]

Do you have an outstanding balance on your account? That can cause your upgrade eligibility to be nixed until the balance is paid off. This happened last year to me because I share a family account with my wife and last year added my sister to ours so she could get a cheaper rate. She missed her payment and the account was past due by $30 or something, and I just happened to be looking at the new iPhones at the same time and saw that my line that once had an upgrade no longer did. Had to pay the past due amount before it would reset back to eligible and all was well afterwards.

 

[cjvitek]

No outstanding balance - but I do have a credit.

I am thinking about waiting at the AT&T Store next week to get one (there is no Apple store near me).

 

[cjvitek]

I did thre same, paid off my upgrade balance yesterday and was eligible. Best buy and AT&T site wouldnt let me process the order.

APple site let me do it though, i shouldve started there, now i have to wait until Oct 4

I didn't start at the Apple Site because last year Apple didn't recognized my eligibility, while AT&T did.

 

[erwaso]

I didn't start at the Apple Site because last year Apple didn't recognized my eligibility, while AT&T did.

LOL and I had the opposite happened last night

 

[luvesuga]

Had the same issue with AT&T. We switched in July and my husband brought his Nexus over instead of getting a new phone. Went to get the 7 Plus and they said the line wasn't eligible, but was able to get Next through the Apple Store app.

 

[Craig]

I had three lines on AT&T that were off contract. I picked one (my wife's number) and did the AT&T Next through the Apple site about 1am. No problems, got a iPhone 7 Black 128 for 9/16.

 

[Behshad]

The sales consultant at ATT store would not let me pay cash price for my iPhone 7 plus when I stopped in to pre order one today. He said AT&T only allows NEXT. Is this true? I also noticed how he sneaked in a $7.99/m insurance and a $20 upgrade fee. What gives?>

 

[Craig]

The sales consultant at ATT store would not let me pay cash price for my iPhone 7 plus when I stopped in to pre order one today. He said AT&T only allows NEXT. Is this true? I also noticed how he sneaked in a $7.99/m insurance and a $20 upgrade fee. What gives?>

No, you can just buy the phone, they don't require NEXT. That's insane. Online last night I could use NEXT or just buy the phone. My choice.

 

[anon(9733642)]

No, you can just buy the phone, they don't require NEXT. That's insane. Online last night I could use NEXT or just buy the phone. My choice.

So I've ran into this as well in the past. Online or over the phone they will let you pay full retail price for AT&T. If you go in store they make you choose NEXT and say Apple won't let them sell full retail. Even Verizon will charge $50 more for full retail. So here's the loop hole. Sign up for the NEXT program, walk out of the store, walk back in and pay off the remaining balance and you own the phone and are off contract. There's no penalty for paying NEXT off early. It's actually kind of funny when they realize they been had.

 

[Craig]

So I've ran into this as well in the past. Online or over the phone they will let you pay full retail price for AT&T. If you go in store they make you choose NEXT and say Apple won't let them sell full retail. Even Verizon will charge $50 more for full retail. So here's the loop hole. Sign up for the NEXT program, walk out of the store, walk back in and pay off the remaining balance and you own the phone and are off contract. There's no penalty for paying NEXT off early. It's actually kind of funny when they realize they been had.

That is beyond odd, you're 100% right.

However.. (question).. doing it your way, even though the phone is paid off, are you still not locked into AT&T for 2 years?

Better choice (if at all possible) is to walk into Apple, just pay full retail for an unlocked phone?

 

[Behshad]

That is beyond odd, you're 100% right.

However.. (question).. doing it your way, even though the phone is paid off, are you still not locked into AT&T for 2 years?

Better choice (if at all possible) is to walk into Apple, just pay full retail for an unlocked phone?

Next doesn't lock you into a contract. Your device is locked into a 2 year or till paid off finance contract. At least that is how it was represented to me.

 

[Craig]

Next doesn't lock you into a contract. Your device is locked into a 2 year or till paid off finance contract. At least that is how it was represented to me.

I did the Next with my iPad Air 2... but I have been on AT&T for about 8 years, not planning on leaving, so I never noticed. Paid off the iPad early to get it off my bill. So hopefully you're right. However the iPhone 7 being delivered I don't think is unlocked, you're branded and it's carrier specific to AT&T so if you changed providers even if paid off, your phone won't work.

 

[qnet]

There are a lot of AT&T horror stories. I learned my lesson two years ago. If you wait too close to launch of a new phone to pay off your Next balance, you may have problems. I did a test run yesterday on the Apple site and found out, as a new customer or payback for leaving before, I don't know. I'm not eligible for the next program.

Now that Apple has their payment plans, I'm never going to use At&t Next again. I'm actually glad I couldn't use it.

 

[afctee]

AT&T try to avoid customers buying devices outright. Which is weird, since they introduced the Next program specifically for this. I've been declined before and conversed with them, till they complied.

As for insurance, it is an add-on they're trying to push. Not compulsory. Albeit there is a new insurance package now. If you have multiple lines you can buy a monthly $30 insurance package (we have 5 lines) and are allowed a total of 3 claims a year...

Upgrade fee: this is compulsory and a bloody rip off! If AT&T don't give you the service, you can't/won't pay them monthly, yet they want to change you for the privilege to upgrade. Once again, a little harsh on customers...

The sales consultant at ATT store would not let me pay cash price for my iPhone 7 plus when I stopped in to pre order one today. He said AT&T only allows NEXT. Is this true? I also noticed how he sneaked in a $7.99/m insurance and a $20 upgrade fee. What gives?>

 

[anon(9733642)]

AT&T try to avoid customers buying devices outright. Which is weird, since they introduced the Next program specifically for this. I've been declined before and conversed with them, till they complied.

As for insurance, it is an add-on they're trying to push. Not compulsory. Albeit there is a new insurance package now. If you have multiple lines you can buy a monthly $30 insurance package (we have 5 lines) and are allowed a total of 3 claims a year...

Upgrade fee: this is compulsory and a bloody rip off! If AT&T don't give you the service, you can't/won't pay them monthly, yet they want to change you for the privilege to upgrade. Once again, a little harsh on customers...

So you can pay full retail online or over the phone. At a corporate AT&T Store they will tell you about the NEXT requirement. Just do it, make one payment, and then payoff the remaining balance. There is ZERO penalty for paying NEXT off early and at that point your contact is up and you own the device. It's the loop hole that drives them nuts...