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Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
chizzwhizz said:
Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Click to collapse
it only looks at your email (your phone is connected to your email,xboxlive )
it doesn't look at your imei
AT&T shafted you. This has nothing to do with Microsoft or even Windows Phone 7. Unless you gave them permission to change your plan, you should call back and get your old plan back.
chizzwhizz said:
Is access to marketplace and zune pass on the device dependant on the IMEI of the phone?
I had an unlocked TP2 with a $15 unlimited data plan from ATT, when I bought the focus, ATT input this new IMEI into their system and my data plan is now $15 for 200mb. If access to these features is not IMEI dependant I would like to get my unlimited plan back...
Thanks in advance for the help.
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Click to collapse
$15 Unlimited Data Plans are for Feature Phones, not Smartphones.
You phone sends off your IMEI to AT&T whenever it connects to the network. Since you put a SIM Card from a Feature Phone into a Smartphone, they automatically upgraded you to a 200MB Smartphone data plan.
Call AT&T. If you're on a contract you HAVE to have a Smartphone data plan if you put that SIM in a Smartphone. There's no way to get around it. If you get them to change it back (i.e. tell them you're going to just use you feature phone), the minute your phone connects to the network again, it will check the IMEI and if the SIM is in the smartphone it will simply upgrade you to a smartphone data plan again.
I made a huge post about this in another thread talking about getting a WP7 device without a data plan in that forum. My mom did that and wondered why her bill went from $80 to $120 in less than a month a while back
RustyGrom said:
AT&T shafted you. This has nothing to do with Microsoft or even Windows Phone 7. Unless you gave them permission to change your plan, you should call back and get your old plan back.
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Click to collapse
Incorrect. It's common knowledge that Feature Phone Data Plans are incompatible with smartphones and that a smartphone data plan is required if you use a smartphone on contract. It's in the contract. It's in you contract too. Might want to read it.
They reserve the right to change you service if you use an incompatible device with you contract (i.e. alter you contract to compliance), and they reserve the right to add services onto you contract if you use them (i.e. if you tether without a tethering plan, they will add the tethering plan to you contract).
AT&T didn't shaft him, he just got himself kapwnd trying to shaft AT&T.
Nice try, but no cigar.
T-Mobile would do the same thing, and CDMA carriers would require you to upgrade you plan if you try to swap out a feature phone for a smart phone. Call Sprint, smarty, and see what they tell you about this (I've had all 4 carriers ).
Do you seriously think carriers are so dumb as to leave such an odd profit-killing loophole in their systems?
N8ter said:
$15 Unlimited Data Plans are for Feature Phones, not Smartphones.
You phone sends off your IMEI to AT&T whenever it connects to the network. Since you put a SIM Card from a Feature Phone into a Smartphone, they automatically upgraded you to a 200MB Smartphone data plan.
Call AT&T. If you're on a contract you HAVE to have a Smartphone data plan if you put that SIM in a Smartphone. There's no way to get around it. If you get them to change it back (i.e. tell them you're going to just use you feature phone), the minute your phone connects to the network again, it will check the IMEI and if the SIM is in the smartphone it will simply upgrade you to a smartphone data plan again.
I made a huge post about this in another thread talking about getting a WP7 device without a data plan in that forum. My mom did that and wondered why her bill went from $80 to $120 in less than a month a while back
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it still amazes me how cheap people are with this. You will spend 600 bucks on a device but expect not to pay for the plan.
Y'all have been getting around the data for quite a while now and it finally looks like the cellular companies are catching up to you.
nrfitchett4 said:
it still amazes me how cheap people are with this. You will spend 600 bucks on a device but expect not to pay for the plan.
Y'all have been getting around the data for quite a while now and it finally looks like the cellular companies are catching up to you.
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The carriers have been doing that for years. I think it's too late to even consider ignorance a valid excuse, especially when you have other people sprouting around invalid information and posters are allergic to forum search (the thread I posted in probably would have popped up in the results).
The truth and the matter is, someone with an Unlimited Feature Phone plan probably never uses more than 200MB data a month anyways, and a smartphone can do 10x that easily. Can probably do over 200MB just with passive Syncing if you have busy email/facebook/twitter accounts. In that case, marketing the data plans for feature phones as "Unlimited" is nice from a strategic standpoint once the person is locked into a contract they either have to pay AT&T/Verizon's enourmous ETF Fee (which they increased from $200 to $325 or 350, one of the two) to move to another carrier, or simply upgrade to the smartphone data plans (and for anyone who even moderately uses their device - 200MB is NOT going to cut it on a fairly recent smartphone).
200MB smartphone data plans are for people who have smartphones but use them like feature phones - you know, the people who think the phone is pretty but don't even have an email/facebook/twitter/etc. acocunt linked up with it (except maybe a google or live account, but they never use it and just make and recieve calls on the phone, and maybe some texts).
Well i'm not on contract with att anymore, my two years ended about 4 months ago...didnt upgrade or anything. I bought my phone out of contract. But i got my unlimited plan for feature phones back so i'm happy. It's not about being cheap...i make more than enough money in a year. It just doesnt make sense to charge $15 for 200mb knowing full well that anyone with a smartphone will use over 200mb in a month and then charge $10 for every mb over...
chizzwhizz said:
Well i'm not on contract with att anymore, my two years ended about 4 months ago...didnt upgrade or anything. I bought my phone out of contract. But i got my unlimited plan for feature phones back so i'm happy. It's not about being cheap...i make more than enough money in a year. It just doesnt make sense to charge $15 for 200mb knowing full well that anyone with a smartphone will use over 200mb in a month and then charge $10 for every mb over...
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isn't that why they offer a 2gb plan???
what are y'all gonna due when sim cards become unremovable???
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/gsm-association-proposes-embedded-sim-cards-with-remote-activati/
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
Purple11 said:
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
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if you already have a smartphone unlimited data plan, they shouldn't change it and if they do, I would call and make them change it back. The other poster had a featurephone data plan that was not compatible with the new phone.
Purple11 said:
I am worried about the same thing.
I presently use HP Ipaq 614C and have 30USD a month unlimited data plan.. I want to buy unlocked HTC Surround since its almost the same price if I buy locked one from AtnT (I dont qualify for contract upgrade as I just renewed a two year contract with them 2 months back).
I am worried once I get unlocked HTC Surround from expansys-usa.. and put my SIM card in their.. wether they will change my 30USD per month unlimited data plan to 30USD per month 2GB LIMITED data plan..
I have read one more poster writing about it, about how once he put his sim, his data plan was changed from unlimited to 2GB limited data plan..
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Click to collapse
Different situation, buddy.
AT&T used to have $30 unlimited Data Plans before they changed it. If you upgrade your phone, you get to keep your $30 unlimited Data Plan.
They call this being "Grandfathered in." Sprint did the same with SERO plans, and other carriers do the same with older plans that they have phased out.
You don't have to do anything. You just put your SIM card in the new phone and you'll still have $30 unlimited data plan, until you cancel your contract/service, then for a new line you won't have that option.
We aren't even talking about what you're talking about.
We're talking about someone trying to use a cheap feature phone plan with a smartphone, not someone who thinks he's going to lose his grandfathered unlimited data plan if he switches phones.
To the OP, it doesn't matter if your contract is out. The AT&T system sees that you have x Minutes, x SMS/MMS, and Unlimited Feature Phone data plan. When you turn your phone on with your SIM card in it, it checks the phone's IMEI to make sure it's a feature phone or dumb phone (basically the same, feature phones just have bigger screans and oftentimes QWERTY keyboards or touchscreens). If you don't, they change it to the Smartphone plan.
Since a Smartphone cannot be used with that plan, they are potentially saving you money by automatically switching you over to a smartphone data plan, because otherwise all the data you use on the smartphone would count as overages. Fortunately for you, they have tiered data plans, and it's $15 instead of 30.
If they had just let you get all the overages, you'd be paying a lot more than $15 for it and since it's explicitely written in your contract/terms that you cannot use that phone with that data plan, you'd have no choice but to pay up. That is Cell Phone Service 101. Most people who pay attention know there is a distinct difference between feature phone and smartphone plans. They aren't even called the same thing on the AT&T website, or on your bill.
nrfitchett4 said:
isn't that why they offer a 2gb plan???
what are y'all gonna due when sim cards become unremovable???
http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/17/gsm-association-proposes-embedded-sim-cards-with-remote-activati/
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Click to collapse
Rejoice that when someone steals a GSM smartphone it will no longer be equivalent to them hitting eBay lottery? They should have started doing this a long time ago, IMO.
i understand what you guys are saying but why was it that when i went from my razr to an unlocked touch pro 2 (feature phone to smartphone), my data plan didnt change? even when att introduced the tiered plans, my data plan didnt change.
chizzwhizz said:
i understand what you guys are saying but why was it that when i went from my razr to an unlocked touch pro 2 (feature phone to smartphone), my data plan didnt change? even when att introduced the tiered plans, my data plan didnt change.
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you were lucky???
I really don't know. Carriers are getting better at being able to tell what phone you are using these days. Used to be that they couldn't tell at all. Now, a lot of phones can transmit the imei number back to the carrier that they can now check against a database to see what type of phone it is.
More like "every phone."
nrfitchett4 said:
you were lucky???
I really don't know. Carriers are getting better at being able to tell what phone you are using these days. Used to be that they couldn't tell at all. Now, a lot of phones can transmit the imei number back to the carrier that they can now check against a database to see what type of phone it is.
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Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ceesheim said:
it only looks at your email (your phone is connected to your email,xboxlive )
it doesn't look at your imei
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Click to collapse
It checks a serial code stored in the device's rom for market, zune, xbl,.etc.
Live account is used to access services, ofc. Microsoft can ban phonea by serial though, which is exactly what will happen to every phone using a ported rom (i.e. Hd2s running wp7).
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
N8ter said:
It checks a serial code stored in the device's rom for market, zune, xbl,.etc.
Live account is used to access services, ofc. Microsoft can ban phonea by serial though, which is exactly what will happen to every phone using a ported rom (i.e. Hd2s running wp7).
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
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we don't know that for sure , I have 2 hd7 (direct from O2 online) and one of them couldn't be activated (email) so I called O2 for the code ( 5 times 5 numbers) but they couldn't help me .
they told me that the phone wasn't activated for some reason at Microsoft.
I called Microsoft and tolled the story and they say " gif us a email and wait 2 min , we are generating an code for you " LOL phone was unlocked and I could use the email.
I called again to activate that same phone with an different email and I got a different code and that one worked to
I think that if you have a hd2 with a ported rom you just have to call Microsoft and ask them to unlock your email for it and after that you can do the same as a real wp7 phone.
ceesheim said:
we don't know that for sure , I have 2 hd7 (direct from O2 online) and one of them couldn't be activated (email) so I called O2 for the code ( 5 times 5 numbers) but they couldn't help me .
they told me that the phone wasn't activated for some reason at Microsoft.
I called Microsoft and tolled the story and they say " gif us a email and wait 2 min , we are generating an code for you " LOL phone was unlocked and I could use the email.
I called again to activate that same phone with an different email and I got a different code and that one worked to
I think that if you have a hd2 with a ported rom you just have to call Microsoft and ask them to unlock your email for it and after that you can do the same as a real wp7 phone.
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Click to collapse
Yes we do.
That HD7 incident you're talking about has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.
Microsoft doesn't do that by eMail address.
It uses a serial in the device's ROM. It does the same for XBox 360s and they can ban a device by serial number. They can probably do it for Zune HDs as well. It has nothing to do with you email address, otherwise you can unban yourself simply by creating a new Live ID, master resetting the phone, and putting that Windows Live ID when setting the phone up. Obviously that's an elementary loophole. It would be embarassing if they left the system that easy to circumvent...
Think through these things a bit before you make such sweeping conclusions.
Microsoft already has the infrastructure up for this. These are known facts.
An HD2 with a ported WP7 ROM won't be useful at all, except as a feature phone with a cute UI, because the system would probably ban it the minute it checked in with Microsoft's servers and sent that phony certificate (or no certificate at all in the worse case).
WP7 phones send this serial (certificate, etc.) to Microsoft's servers whenever they connect to check for updates, etc. It's like a Windows Genuine Advantage for phones, except much stronger. Apple can also block iPhones/iTouches from iTunes via the Serial number if unsupported changes are made to the firmware or the firmware is ported to an unsupported device, so it's not like this has never been done or implemented before...
The Serial/Certificate and the IMEI is pretty much all Microsoft needs to ban a phone from all their cloud services automatically. The IMEI itself is enough to tell them that you're running WP7 on a non-WP7 device (i.e. HD2), which can result in an auto-ban on the first connection attempt.
N8ter said:
Different situation, buddy.
AT&T used to have $30 unlimited Data Plans before they changed it. If you upgrade your phone, you get to keep your $30 unlimited Data Plan.
They call this being "Grandfathered in." Sprint did the same with SERO plans, and other carriers do the same with older plans that they have phased out.
You don't have to do anything. You just put your SIM card in the new phone and you'll still have $30 unlimited data plan, until you cancel your contract/service, then for a new line you won't have that option.
We aren't even talking about what you're talking about.
We're talking about someone trying to use a cheap feature phone plan with a smartphone, not someone who thinks he's going to lose his grandfathered unlimited data plan if he switches phones.
To the OP, it doesn't matter if your contract is out. The AT&T system sees that you have x Minutes, x SMS/MMS, and Unlimited Feature Phone data plan. When you turn your phone on with your SIM card in it, it checks the phone's IMEI to make sure it's a feature phone or dumb phone (basically the same, feature phones just have bigger screans and oftentimes QWERTY keyboards or touchscreens). If you don't, they change it to the Smartphone plan.
Since a Smartphone cannot be used with that plan, they are potentially saving you money by automatically switching you over to a smartphone data plan, because otherwise all the data you use on the smartphone would count as overages. Fortunately for you, they have tiered data plans, and it's $15 instead of 30.
If they had just let you get all the overages, you'd be paying a lot more than $15 for it and since it's explicitely written in your contract/terms that you cannot use that phone with that data plan, you'd have no choice but to pay up. That is Cell Phone Service 101. Most people who pay attention know there is a distinct difference between feature phone and smartphone plans. They aren't even called the same thing on the AT&T website, or on your bill.
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Thanks for the reply..
I have paid Atnt for last 4 months 30USD a month just to keep this unlimited data plan.. my battery at Ipaq died and I have been using this cheap flip phone and absolutly no data.. but I know this December I will be getting WP7 back.. so I am just paying 30USD a month every month, just to keep the plan.. and zero use of data.. one cannot even stop it 'temporarily'.. once you get it off.. you can only get 2GB limited data plan max... which I usually finish in first 10-12 days when I used my HP Ipaq614c... I play a lot of streaming music.. and heck of a data intensive financial softwares on my phone..
I know this doesn't directly relate to the Galaxy Nexus, but personally this is the only reason I have my Nexus on Verizon. So if you are in the same boat as me give this a read:
http://cnet.co/Jel0xa
Had to happen eventually.
This. Is why I told my friends to switch to the double data promo a couple months ago. I am Jack's total lack of surprise.
I would just like to take this moment to say this to all the people who said I was wrong about this ever happening:
IN YO' FACE!
Well I guess we need to wait for the exact info but there is some speculation that even someone on your family account changing phones could cause anyone on the same account to lose unlimited. My wife just recently downgraded from Android to iPhone (has had 2 HTC phones which both would not shut off the screen when she had it next to her face and she doesn't like the screen size of the LTE phones) who I guess now has a 3G unlimited plan down from a 4G plan she had when she was using my old Thunderbolt. While she doesn't use that much data and being forced into a tiered plan when she upgrades in 2 years won't be a big deal but I want to keep my unlimited even if it means buying phones off contract. The only thing that might make it ok is the $60 I pay now between both phones for data can be used for like a 10 or 20 gig bucket.
I will be pissed if they don't offer us AT LEAST the double data promo.
Character Zero said:
Well I guess we need to wait for the exact info but there is some speculation that even someone on your family account changing phones could cause anyone on the same account to lose unlimited. My wife just recently downgraded from Android to iPhone (has had 2 HTC phones which both would not shut off the screen when she had it next to her face and she doesn't like the screen size of the LTE phones) who I guess now has a 3G unlimited plan down from a 4G plan she had when she was using my old Thunderbolt. While she doesn't use that much data and being forced into a tiered plan when she upgrades in 2 years won't be a big deal but I want to keep my unlimited even if it means buying phones off contract. The only thing that might make it ok is the $60 I pay now between both phones for data can be used for like a 10 or 20 gig bucket.
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Click to collapse
I think thats exactly the opposite of how its going to work, if you have a contract with them, you can make them honor it. If you do not have a contract with them, your screwed. Right now I am paying $50 for 10GB, if the "data share" thing comes through, I imagine they would charge you $10/each additional phone on your plan, you would be looking at around $60/10GB IF they are still offering the double data! That's a BIG if, you better call them right now. Normally $50 gets you 5GB.
It is what it is, these wireless companies are all the same. Personally I'm tired of the misinformation, online petitions and broken promises. When my contract is up and they try to move me or my 3G wife to another plan I'll let my wallet do the talking and go to the company that offers the best overall value.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
lrs421 said:
It is what it is, these wireless companies are all the same. Personally I'm tired of the misinformation, online petitions and broken promises. When my contract is up and they try to move me or my 3G wife to another plan I'll let my wallet do the talking and go to the company that offers the best overall value.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
The problem for me is VZW is the only carrier to actually have reception in my area, and everybody knows it, so they can charge whatever they want. I have a choice of paying VZW a super premium and always being able to use the device I am paying for, or paying a competitor and not having service.
adrynalyne said:
I would just like to take this moment to say this to all the people who said I was wrong about this ever happening:
IN YO' FACE!
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Click to collapse
People were in denial if they thought they'd never have to get rid of unlimited on VZW.
martonikaj said:
People were in denial if they thought they'd never have to get rid of unlimited on VZW.
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Click to collapse
Denial isn't just a river in Egypt.
martonikaj said:
People were in denial if they thought they'd never have to get rid of unlimited on VZW.
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Click to collapse
I'm just shocked they won't let us use it through the rest of our contract. Giving people only a few months using it and making them switch mid contract is beyond awful.
Looking for advice
So now I need some advice. According to these reports, specifically on techcrunch, "Shammo makes it sound like only customers who upgrade after the change takes place will have to pick a new data plan (for better or worse), and with any luck they’ll leave the lucky souls who have already locked their old data plans alone for now."
I bought a Gnex on verizon a few weeks after it came out. I'm currently on a family plan and I'm the only one who has a smartphone on the plan (3 total phones, mine's one of the "added" lines). Currently I'm on a "month to month" I guess is what it's called. My particular line's contract expired at the beginning of this month and I am currently just paying my same charges with unlimited data, but not bound into the 2 year agreement as far as I'm aware.
What I want to know is how to handle it from here on out, if there's a way to even handle it well. I would like to renew my contract and be able to keep my grandfathered unlimited data through this garbage, which means I need to act immediately before they put this crap into effect, assuming it won't go retro active. So with that being said, can I just simply call and get my contract renewed for 2 years and that be that? Is there even a way to do that? I just don't want to blow whatever extra time I have on my grandfathered unlimited data.
I realize that all the information isn't there, but how would you guys handle this if you were in my position? I don't want to screw myself, I use 8-12 gb of data a month so this is sort of important.
TeeRom said:
I'm just shocked they won't let us use it through the rest of our contract. Giving people only a few months using it and making them switch mid contract is beyond awful.
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Click to collapse
Welcome to corporate greed in America. Where carriers love to rip you off and lock you down for two years.
Of course this was bound to happen.
chlehqls said:
Welcome to corporate greed in America. Where carriers love to rip you off and lock you down for two years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe we should move to Canada, where the greed is much less.
Oh wait, they have 3 year contracts
lblacklol said:
So now I need some advice. According to these reports, specifically on techcrunch, "Shammo makes it sound like only customers who upgrade after the change takes place will have to pick a new data plan (for better or worse), and with any luck they’ll leave the lucky souls who have already locked their old data plans alone for now."
I bought a Gnex on verizon a few weeks after it came out. I'm currently on a family plan and I'm the only one who has a smartphone on the plan (3 total phones, mine's one of the "added" lines). Currently I'm on a "month to month" I guess is what it's called. My particular line's contract expired at the beginning of this month and I am currently just paying my same charges with unlimited data, but not bound into the 2 year agreement as far as I'm aware.
What I want to know is how to handle it from here on out, if there's a way to even handle it well. I would like to renew my contract and be able to keep my grandfathered unlimited data through this garbage, which means I need to act immediately before they put this crap into effect, assuming it won't go retro active. So with that being said, can I just simply call and get my contract renewed for 2 years and that be that? Is there even a way to do that? I just don't want to blow whatever extra time I have on my grandfathered unlimited data.
I realize that all the information isn't there, but how would you guys handle this if you were in my position? I don't want to screw myself, I use 8-12 gb of data a month so this is sort of important.
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Reading through all these sites and Shamu or shammon quotes sounds like people with 3g upgrading to 4g phones will be forced into the shared data plans. But hell either way were all screwed.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Boycott data plans is the only solution to change.
...of the people, by the people, for the people...
@rbiter said:
Boycott data plans is the only solution to change.
...of the people, by the people, for the people...
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Click to collapse
Jitterbug, HERE I COME!
switching to tmobile $30/mo prepaid plan and using voip? perhaps.
we'll see how all this stuff turns out. if you didnt see this was coming, you were blind.
---------- Post added at 02:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:18 PM ----------
adrynalyne said:
Jitterbug, HERE I COME!
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i always knew you were special and needed help with the buttons on your phone!
chlehqls said:
Welcome to corporate greed in America. Where carriers love to rip you off and lock you down for two years.
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Click to collapse
Don't give them your money then?
First off, I'm not writing this to draw attention or comments. It's a rant to get it off my chest and nothing more.
I've been a very loyal T-Mobile customer for 8 or more years. I signed up when they were still transitioning from the Voicestream moniker. Now, having said that, I'll continue by saying that I've maintained the exact (almost) same plan with them since the day I signed up. I pay $20/month for voice, $10/month for texts, and $10/month for unlimited web. Now, this plan was cheap even when I signed up. There was a promotion running, and I was sick of Cingular, so I jumped over to T-Mobile. I got a shiny new RAZR or whatever bar phone Motorola was selling at the time.
Along with that plan and device combo, I also was treated to a free T-Mobile WiFi Hotspot add-on for my account. This allowed me access to T-Mobile's handful of WiFi Hotspots scattered around the US. Most of them were in airports or New York/LA coffee shops. It was free, so who was I to complain? Now, I didn't realize until later, but this WiFi Hotspot feature also included a line in the description about "Internet sharing," since "tethering" wasn't a thing yet. Out of curiosity, I did some research, and figured out the basics. I had to download some Motorola software, and connect it via a special USB cable to my laptop, and I'd have blazing fast EDGE data anywhere I went. Boy was I excited!
This actually led to my first smartphone purchase, where, shortly thereafter, I found XDA. So, we're somewhere around 2006 or so now. I kept on "Internet sharing" for a while, moderately. My university didn't have WiFi set up yet, so it was handy to pull up stuff during class. Facebook was just becoming a thing around that time, and had just been rolled out to my college. (Yea, back then they required a .edu email and actual enrollment in college... Ah, the good ol' days.) Anyway, I've never been a big data user, nor big on tethering. Even now, I use less than 3GB of data per month. I'm normally around WiFi networks, so most of my data use is streaming music while I drive around.
Fast forward to last year. I got a review device in of a Samsung Galaxy S2 on T-Mobile. My Sammy rep forgot to throw the SIM card in the box for this review unit, so I decided to go ahead and test it out with my personal SIM. I went about my day and continued using it all day and into the next. Sometime before noon, I went to the S2 and tried to pull up some television specs for a customer, but found that I was redirected to some weird page about not having a data plan. Obviously that wasn't the case as I had been using data on it just that morning, and had been using data on my HD2 with Android for a long while before that.
I got on the phone with T-Mo only to find out that they changed APNs and my old one could not be used on newer devices. The rep said she would fix the problem, as I told her that I was only using a review device, so I didn't want to change plans or anything. She said that the plan would not be changed, but I would still lack data service on the S2 with my old plan. I asked her if my hotspot add on was still on the plan, and she confirmed it. Ok, so minor inconvenience, but it was my own fault for being impatient with the review unit.
Skip ahead to a later date when I actually decide to update to the S2. I call again after losing data just like before. The nice man on the phone mentions that nothing will change other than the APN settings on their end. I again inquire about my hotspot add-on, to which he confirms is still there.
I later found out that the change he made was to move me to another plan at the same price. Still at $10/month, I had a newer data plan with the 5GB data cap. I still wasn’t using much data, so I didn't care. It was, to me, the same thing I had before.
Skip ahead to a month back, when I got a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet. There is an option with this tablet to open it up and install your own miniPCI wireless card for mobile data depending upon which service provider you use. I thought it might be cool to make use of that, and I had heard about T-Mobile's new unlimited data plan, so I called them up to see what I could do. As it turns out, I could add the tablet to my account for $10 extra a month for its own 5GB allotment of data. The unlimited data plan for me was $20 a month. Now, my logic here was that I always have my phone with me, so let's just upgrade to the unlimited plan and skip the tablet plan altogether. Apparently, the unlimited data plan cannot be paired with a tethering plan of any kind. Ok, fair enough, I'll call back for the tablet plan as soon as my card comes in. I made sure to ask about my tethering add-on again to make certain that my account was reverted to the exact state it was in before the call, just as I always do.
Skip ahead to my Note 2 purchase. I decided to go through T-Mobile on a monthly installment plan. This evidently requires a 2 year contract extension, but does not change any features on your account, since I'm paying the full price for it, but in monthly installments. I confirmed with the sales rep that my plan would remain unchanged and that my tethering add-on would carry over. She confirmed that nothing on my account would change, since I'm purchasing the device outright. Ok, cool, then let's do it.
Somewhere in there, I also added a military discount and was randomly given some sort of "loyalty discount" that I can't recall the origin of. My monthly bill is under $30 a month for essentially unlimited everything. Anyway, for the military discount, I also made certain to verify the tethering thing and that no account options would change. It was assured to me that this was the case.
So, I'm sure anyone who is still reading this long, drawn out mess is aware of where it is going. I've been happily using my Note 2 for a month now with no problems. I've been tethering off and on since I got it. I hit an all-time high of 3.3GB of data this last billing cycle, still well under my cap. I used the tethering feature just this past weekend to download a few files to my laptop. Now, three days later, I try to use the tethering option, and I get a message pop up saying I have to add a tethering option to my account in order to use that feature. I thought it might be the custom ROM, but I figured, what the hell, let me call T-Mobile and make sure before I clog up the thread.
The first person I spoke to was the worst Customer Service rep I've ever dealt with in my long history with T-Mobile. I felt like she was reading from a set of flash cards. She was not letting me explain my situation, and kept repeating the "T-Mobile offers its customers a $15 tethering add on option for users who wish to use their phone to connect tablets and computers!" I eventually ended up hanging up on her out of frustration. I called back and explained my story to a much more understanding rep, who informed me of a recent change in T-Mobile's system.
What?!
Yup. My "WiFi Hotspot" add-on, which has been on my account for years now, has magically vanished. The only way forward was to pay an extra $15 for the tethering add-on or pay $15 extra to be "upgraded" to the 5GB plan that includes tethering. Why did this occur, you may be wondering?
Exact quote: "The Note 2 and other high end smartphones are not compatible with the grandfathered hotspot plans, so those features are dropped when you add them."
Not compatible? That makes no sense other than for you guys to charge more money for a service I'm already paying for. My main concern with this is that I'm on a limited data plan. I'm capped at 5GB per month of 3G/4G data. Beyond that it's crippled 2G speeds. I say crippled not to indicate that 2G speed is slower, but because it actually is crippled. My normal EDGE speed with T-Mobile in my area is around 300Kbps or so. A buddy of mine who went over his limit and was throttled was sent back to the dark ages at around 50Kbps or so. Slow enough that most everything data-related is completely unusable. So, not to quibble over the fact that I still technically have an unlimited data plan, we're going to just call a spade a spade here and admit that it's a 5GB cap.
That being said, who the upside down **** gives two ****s how I use MY ALLOTMENT of data per month. I'd understand if it were an actual unlimited plan that had this issue, but I am paying for 5GB of data per month from T-Mobile. They have ZERO right to tell me where the hell I use that. It honestly makes zero sense no matter how you slice it.
After explaining all this to the woman, she then relented that it was the Note 2 which killed my add on ( as I mentioned prematurely above). Yup, the device which the sales rep had no problem telling me would not affect my plan, affected my plan. I then stressed to her that I always check to make certain of how my plan changes, and for her to go back and listen to the conversation, since everyone records my conversation for "quality control." The woman who sold me the phone lied to me to my face. The rep I was speaking with hesitated, as she did not want to admit fault, but simply said that the rep may not have known or been informed of the possible change.
"Are you kidding me? That's even worse. If I were to commit a crime, and I didn't know it was a crime, I'd still go to jail for it. The fact is that she should have known, and lied to me."
After a brief pause, she acknowledged that she wouldn't like to be in my position either and asked me to hold on while she researched what she could do for me. After waiting a while, she offered me the new data plan with tethering and an additional discount of $15 per month for the next six months. She said that that this was the most she could do for me, but I could probably complain again in six months and get another discount.
Right now, I'm still pissed that it had to come to this. Some people will claim that the contracts always had a line about not using the phones for tethering or some such nonsense, but my original T-Mobile contract, which I signed on the dotted line, said nothing of the sort, since it wasn't even a thing at the time. I've never subsidized a phone through T-Mobile since that time, and have never signed another contract. I've extended my service agreement with them once, but without having to sign, initial, or agree to anything but to keep paying my bill on time every month.
Now, without any warning, and with complete disrespect to me, a T-Mobile employee has willingly or unwilling lied to my face in order to sell me a new device. I am still in disbelief.
I've been a customer myself for many years, and have converted at least 12 people to T-Mobile through my own praising over the years. No more. I'm not happy about the end result, but I also have little choice, as there are not any better options anywhere else. Sprint is nice, but their 3G data is slower than my T-Mobile 2G data. Verizon is way too expensive for what they offer. My T-Mobile plan would be $135 on Verizon using a comparable plan. Finally, AT&T is... well, I don't even need to finish that thought, do I?
Anyway, that's my rant. Again, if you read it all the way through, I'm not looking for comments or attention or anything. I just needed to get it off my chest is all. Thanks for reading.
I'm sorry, could you repeat that? ... so you're saying you're happy? LOL ... Hopefully you can get your discount extended in 6 months.
I hate cell companies, they really don't know about customer loyalty. Most of them are so big that they don't care if they lose some customers. Hell not long ago I wanted verizon to help me out and give me an early upgrade on a phone (2 months early), the sales rep told me she couldn't help me. I told her I had 4 lines that I could cancel in March and asked if she would rather I cancel all those lines in march than give me a phone 2 months early. Her reply was "I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do". All of a sudden when I started asking about ETF fees they were able to give me my upgrade. I don't know why customers who have been with them for so many years have to go to those extremes in order for them to actually try and help.
What's even worse is the $30 upgrade fees. They are charging ME for the PRIVILEGE of allowing me to make another 2 year contract with them.
So far I've only used T-Mobile prepaid with the $30 plan so I can't really say I've had any bad experiences with them.
I also agree that if they give you a data LIMIT then it really shouldn't matter how you decide to use that data. Verizon finally got rid of the tethering fee when you have the family share everything plans (not that you aren't paying for it in the extremely expensive fees), I wish T-Mobile would also get rid of it.
I can feel you, man. I've been a customer since Powertel days, was on a Legacy plan with unlimited calls, texts and data for $75 per month, and included tethering on my old HD2. I recently upgraded to a Note 2, but I decided I wasn't going to take the party line on plans. I talked to five -- yes, five -- Loyalty Department reps, before I had apparantly ranted and raved enough to move up the food chain two levels worth of supervisors. Bottom line, I got a new plan with unlimited everything and a monthly discount that covers the "mobile hotspot" fee (the new name for tethering). No upgrade or shipping fees. And eligibility for the rebate on the device. So, I'm paying the same monthly amount as before I purchased the Note 2.
In other words, and though it's a real shame to have to do so, I would suggest that you keep calling until you get satisfaction.
tsnstuff said:
I hate cell companies, they really don't know about customer loyalty. Most of them are so big that they don't care if they lose some customers. Hell not long ago I wanted verizon to help me out and give me an early upgrade on a phone (2 months early), the sales rep told me she couldn't help me. I told her I had 4 lines that I could cancel in March and asked if she would rather I cancel all those lines in march than give me a phone 2 months early. Her reply was "I'm sorry, there is nothing I can do". All of a sudden when I started asking about ETF fees they were able to give me my upgrade. I don't know why customers who have been with them for so many years have to go to those extremes in order for them to actually try and help.
What's even worse is the $30 upgrade fees. They are charging ME for the PRIVILEGE of allowing me to make another 2 year contract with them.
So far I've only used T-Mobile prepaid with the $30 plan so I can't really say I've had any bad experiences with them.
I also agree that if they give you a data LIMIT then it really shouldn't matter how you decide to use that data. Verizon finally got rid of the tethering fee when you have the family share everything plans (not that you aren't paying for it in the extremely expensive fees), I wish T-Mobile would also get rid of it.
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Sorry, but it sounds like you feel entitled to something from the carrier which isn't covered by your contract with them. The early upgrade thing and your threatening to leave them isn't even close to what I'm going through. That's a problem you created for yourself.
Asquared said:
I can feel you, man. I've been a customer since Powertel days, was on a Legacy plan with unlimited calls, texts and data for $75 per month, and included tethering on my old HD2. I recently upgraded to a Note 2, but I decided I wasn't going to take the party line on plans. I talked to five -- yes, five -- Loyalty Department reps, before I had apparantly ranted and raved enough to move up the food chain two levels worth of supervisors. Bottom line, I got a new plan with unlimited everything and a monthly discount that covers the "mobile hotspot" fee (the new name for tethering). No upgrade or shipping fees. And eligibility for the rebate on the device. So, I'm paying the same monthly amount as before I purchased the Note 2.
In other words, and though it's a real shame to have to do so, I would suggest that you keep calling until you get satisfaction.
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Oh, I plan to call again about it.It's a shame that this is the "best they could do" for one of their reps lying to my face. That's what I'm most upset about. I shouldn't have to call them four times to get a resolution...
I feel you man.
all the telco's lie to your face.
its ridiculous.
i've been in the same shoes as you. i always make sure NOTHING on my plan changes.
its stupid.
my contract is up in less than a month and i'm seriously looking into other avenues of services unless T-mobile
makes it worth my while to stay with them. Now that they are getting rid of classic plans, that exit looks more enticing.
cajunflavoredbob said:
Sorry, but it sounds like you feel entitled to something from the carrier which isn't covered by your contract with them. The early upgrade thing and your threatening to leave them isn't even close to what I'm going through. That's a problem you created for yourself.
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And you feel entitled to having them stick to a contract from years ago. Things change and I don't think there is anything wrong with a customer wanting some perks after being with a company for years. In my case, yes, I felt that allowing me to get an upgrade 2 months before I was supposed to wouldn't be a big deal, my phone was horrible. I wasn't threatening to cancel my accounts, I was ready to do it.
But whatever dude, good luck with your issue.
Amount of times the rep has said something that I knew to be wrong and they kept trying to pass it off as legit. "Can I get that in writing please?" "ah, I'd have to check... oh, you WERE right after all"
yeah...
I had the same issue at one point. I was using a MT4G at the time and needed an upgrade since the wifes 3G slide broke. We ended up getting a MT4G Slide (wife) and I grabbed the Amaze since i was a die hard HTC fan. After dealing with customer reps for 3 days straight in regards to color of the phone, tethering being turned off, flat out being lied to several times including the rep that fixed everything (pay attention and being nice helps) they ended up giving me two phones for FREE, lowering my bill by 60 bucks a month. Granted i no longer had the wifi but a quick root would fix that.
Sometimes dealing with the right person can get you things as long as your nice and you pay attention. Im going on 10 years with Tmo! I do say when you get the right person they make you feel special or make things as right as they can.
tsnstuff said:
And you feel entitled to having them stick to a contract from years ago. Things change and I don't think there is anything wrong with a customer wanting some perks after being with a company for years. In my case, yes, I felt that allowing me to get an upgrade 2 months before I was supposed to wouldn't be a big deal, my phone was horrible. I wasn't threatening to cancel my accounts, I was ready to do it.
But whatever dude, good luck with your issue.
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A contract doesn't magically degrade over time. A contract is a ConTract. In your case it would be like signing up under the condition that you would get to upgrade every 2 years, and then all of a sudden, your second year comes up, but then you're told that you can no longer upgrade ever.
I said entitled because that's what it is, like it or not. Early upgrades are at the carrier*S discretion, not yours. You wanted an early upgrade and got indignant when they initially didn't allow it. That's what sparked my response. All I wanted was to get my situation off my chest. I did not want this to become a frivolous *****-fest about t-mobile or any carrier.
Here comes the wahmbulance.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
I don't mean to brag but wait until I post my wall of text about what happened with my upgrade a month ago. I have NEVER EVER EVER imagined it would end up like what I am going to post over the weekend. Be prepared ladies and gents, this will blow your mind as to how HORRIBLE T-mobile is.
Tmobile sucks
Sprint sucks
Att sucks
Straight talk sucks
Ect ect.
Expect crappyness and u wont he disapointed
As for the op, theirs a time limit to contest changes written into most cell contracts if ur past the time your contract has magicly degraded, if not, contact carrier and bbb and if no luck theyd prolly just offer contract droppage at no fee, idk. I hate contracts, I stick to prepay, it sucks too. But atleast if I have problims its nothin a new 10 dolla sim wont fix, new sim, new account, clean slate. Considering im up to about 65gb this month that matters to me.
Sent from my SGH-T889
After using my Note 2 for about an hour I got a text from AT&T saying they were switching my data plan because a LTE data plan was required. Previously I had an unlimited data plan. Sure enough, I checked my account online and now I have the 3 gb plan with $10 per 1gb over the limit. How can they do this? I don't want this? What are my options? I specifically bought the Note 2 paying full retail because I didn't want AT&T to know I switched phones. This sucks!!
I am pretty sure the recent fcc agreement with related fines for switching customers or forcing customers from their unlimited plans to limited plans was considered illegal. I would be *****ing up a storm and filing a complaint with the FCC, online. Wouldn't hurt to file an online complaint with the attorney general from your state either.
I had unlimited plan (non lte) which was grandfathered. After purchase of Note 2, noticed that I was put on a 3gb plan. I called AT&T and within 24 hours my unlimited plan was restored.
They switched me to the unlimited lte plan when I switched, att customer service was super helpful, almost too helpful. You might call them and see what they say.
Keep us posted.
Sent using Galaxy Note 2 w/ CleanROM 4.0.5
Just spent an hour on the phone with two dumb twits (in India from their accent) of AT&T's customer service department. They said I had an unlimited non-smartphone plan and that they could not upgrade me to an unlimited LTE plan. I mentioned the FCC ruling ( http://bgr.com/2012/11/07/att-fcc-fine-data-plans/ ) but I don't know if people in India even know what the FCC is. Those people on the phone don't give last names or employee numbers so they feel they are unacountable.
I've been using a smart phone for the past 4 years but apparently I was still on the non-smart phone plan. They said because of that they can not switch me over to the unlimited LTE plan. So, what should I do now? I will not stay wit ha limited plan. I'll switch to T-Mobile first. However my AT&T Note 2 will not work with T-Mobile's system I think. Also, I'd rather not switch as its a pain in the ass. I really hope I can get this resolved. Do you think I'd have beeter luck in person at a store?
That doesn't quite add up. How can you be on a non-smartphone plan with a smartphone for 4 years? So what plan did they have you at? And with unlimited data?
Either way, when I switched from my iPhones to the Note II, they had no problem switching my grandfathered unlimited plan to unlimited LTE. What they did tell me is they'd have to register me with a regular LTE data plan during the phone's sale, then they put it back to grandfathered unlimited status at activation, LTE and all.
Did you get the phone online or at the store?
BlackPhantomX said:
That doesn't quite add up. How can you be on a non-smartphone plan with a smartphone for 4 years? So what plan did they have you at? And with unlimited data?
Either way, when I switched from my iPhones to the Note II, they had no problem switching my grandfathered unlimited plan to unlimited LTE. What they did tell me is they'd have to register me with a regular LTE data plan during the phone's sale, then they put it back to grandfathered unlimited status at activation, LTE and all.
Did you get the phone online or at the store?
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When I switched from my dumb phone to my smart phone 4 years ago I didn't tell them about it so I guess I was still on the unlimited data for no-smart phones. Well, how stupid they are to think I go through 20-30 GB of data a month without it being a smart phone (I did a lot of tethering during those years).
I bought my Note 2 online. I assumed they wouldn't know about the phone switch since they didn't know about my phone switch 4 years ago. I guess because the Note 2 uses a different frequency they became aware of it that way. Anyway, it shouldn't matter. I was on an unlimited plan before and I think it is not unreasnable to be on an unlimited plan after switching. God how I hate AT&T. I was playing cards with some friends earlier tonight and an AT&T ad came on the TV. I wanted to throw something at the TV so badly!
Outsourced? It's your own damn fault!
rogerbacon50 said:
Just spent an hour on the phone with two dumb twits (in India from their accent)
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Never evereverever..never! call after normal business hours and or the weekend, you will get outsourced!...everever..never!!! My granddaughters Kindle Plus (1st Gen) fell victim to the known USB mini port failure,1 month out of warranty. My daughter called after normal business hours Monday..OUTSOURCED!!...ever.never. They told her it would cost her $150 to get it replaced , after a 1/2hr she gave up. She told me what happened, and I told here to call regular business hours. So she did the next day on Tuesday, not outsources, new Kindle Plus arrived this Friday no charge at all. They sent a return label to send the bad unit back within 30 day's. Don't know if you'll have this kind of luck, but from all of my vast past experience with this type of stuff you stand a much better chance calling 9-5 Monday thru Friday. These phone Reps in these far off lands can do the job, but they aren't given the authority to. So be firm but cordial, good luck, God speed, and eat hearty!
Steve,
P.S. ever.never.
SportsFans said:
Never evereverever..never! call after normal business hours and or the weekend, you will get outsourced!...everever..never!!! My granddaughters Kindle Plus (1st Gen) fell victim to the known USB mini port failure,1 month out of warranty. My daughter called after normal business hours Monday..OUTSOURCED!!...ever.never. They told her it would cost her $150 to get it replaced , after a 1/2hr she gave up. She told me what happened, and I told here to call regular business hours. So she did the next day on Tuesday, not outsources, new Kindle Plus arrived this Friday no charge at all. They sent a return label to send the bad unit back within 30 day's. Don't know if you'll have this kind of luck, but from all of my vast past experience with this type of stuff you stand a much better chance calling 9-5 Monday thru Friday. These phone Reps in these far off lands can do the job, but they aren't given the authority to. So be firm but cordial, good luck, God speed, and eat hearty!
Steve,
P.S. ever.never.
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I'm on my phone, so, may I ask where you live? So I can convert time.
Sent from somewhere too far away from my computer. Axis_Drummer calls me Wolfy. Jessica said I need to behave...
Wolf Pup said:
I'm on my phone, so, may I ask where you live? So I can convert time.
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Upstate New York US, Just south of Syracuse New York. Eastern time slot. 11:15pm here.
Go into an Att store. I have been in several where the people are really nice and will help you work through this. If you don't find this to be true, go to a different store and try again. Unfortunately, you might have wasted your money getting the full retail version of the phone. Why not just return it and get one through Att or Best Buy? Mine cost me $175 with the contract extension and I'm happy as can be. As for your true unlimited data, this might be the end of that! Welcome to throttling (but check out the thread on how to bypass the data limit). Whatever you do, don't stop until you've found someone who helps you convert your plan to a grandfathered unlimited one.
rogerbacon50 said:
When I switched from my dumb phone to my smart phone 4 years ago I didn't tell them about it so I guess I was still on the unlimited data for no-smart phones. Well, how stupid they are to think I go through 20-30 GB of data a month without it being a smart phone (I did a lot of tethering during those years).
I bought my Note 2 online. I assumed they wouldn't know about the phone switch since they didn't know about my phone switch 4 years ago. I guess because the Note 2 uses a different frequency they became aware of it that way. Anyway, it shouldn't matter. I was on an unlimited plan before and I think it is not unreasnable to be on an unlimited plan after switching. God how I hate AT&T. I was playing cards with some friends earlier tonight and an AT&T ad came on the TV. I wanted to throw something at the TV so badly!
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So you never had unlimited data for smart phones and your mad at att?! You been cheating the system for 4 years and your upset at att?! You have to have smartphone unlimited data to be grandfathered into smartphone unlimited data, it doesn't take rocket science.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
rogerbacon50 said:
When I switched from my dumb phone to my smart phone 4 years ago I didn't tell them about it so I guess I was still on the unlimited data for no-smart phones. Well, how stupid they are to think I go through 20-30 GB of data a month without it being a smart phone (I did a lot of tethering during those years).
I bought my Note 2 online. I assumed they wouldn't know about the phone switch since they didn't know about my phone switch 4 years ago. I guess because the Note 2 uses a different frequency they became aware of it that way. Anyway, it shouldn't matter. I was on an unlimited plan before and I think it is not unreasnable to be on an unlimited plan after switching. God how I hate AT&T. I was playing cards with some friends earlier tonight and an AT&T ad came on the TV. I wanted to throw something at the TV so badly!
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After your explanation, I see now why you were switched. Here's what's apparently happening. Your smartphone before the Note II apparently didn't require LTE or report that it needed it, hence why AT&T gullible-y never realized you were using a smartphone. It's also possible that your smartphone was also on the 3G network only, which is what most non-smartphones use. Although the Note II can run on 3G networks, it would still report to the carrier that it needs access to 4G to 4G LTE networks unless you had told it not to, which seems you didn't within the hour of using it. Of course, you wouldn't have known this since you just got the phone. It also would have told AT&T that your IMEI had changed the moment you put the sim card in, which would have revealed to AT&T that you did indeed have a Note II, hence this situation.
Either way, there's no way around this situation as far as I can see unless you ask them if there's a way you can be considered as grandfathered into regular unlimited data. If you're a long time AT&T user, cite that you've been a loyal customer, but tell them you'd hate to have to go to another carrier over this. You would also need to be under contract.
No offense, and I'm guilty in another form of this in a way, but due to your circumstances, it can be perceived that you tried to cheat the system, which is in no way AT&T's fault, but yours, and you're just upset that you got caught.
rogerbacon50 said:
After using my Note 2 for about an hour I got a text from AT&T saying they were switching my data plan because a LTE data plan was required. Previously I had an unlimited data plan. Sure enough, I checked my account online and now I have the 3 gb plan with $10 per 1gb over the limit. How can they do this? I don't want this? What are my options? I specifically bought the Note 2 paying full retail because I didn't want AT&T to know I switched phones. This sucks!!
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If its unlim smartphone data it will be grandfathered if u bought the phone and it was manually swapped. If u have unlim smartphone data and put your sim in an lte device without telling att, the system will automatically add the 3gb plan. Its not made to add unlim even if you have it. If you upgrade at a store online or over the phone with unlim data you will keep it.
Sent from my LG-E970 using xda premium
rogerbacon50 said:
Just spent an hour on the phone with two dumb twits (in India from their accent) of AT&T's customer service department. They said I had an unlimited non-smartphone plan and that they could not upgrade me to an unlimited LTE plan. I mentioned the FCC ruling ( http://bgr.com/2012/11/07/att-fcc-fine-data-plans/ ) but I don't know if people in India even know what the FCC is. Those people on the phone don't give last names or employee numbers so they feel they are unacountable.
I've been using a smart phone for the past 4 years but apparently I was still on the non-smart phone plan. They said because of that they can not switch me over to the unlimited LTE plan. So, what should I do now? I will not stay wit ha limited plan. I'll switch to T-Mobile first. However my AT&T Note 2 will not work with T-Mobile's system I think. Also, I'd rather not switch as its a pain in the ass. I really hope I can get this resolved. Do you think I'd have beeter luck in person at a store?
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You circumvented the system for 4 years, and now that has caught up with you..
Deal with it or go to a different carrier...very simple
What phone did you switch to the Note 2 from?
I'm with the guys above, looks like you were trying to beat the system and it caught up to you.
Sent using Galaxy Note 2 w/ CleanROM 4.0.5
Dumbo53 said:
Go into an Att store. I have been in several where the people are really nice and will help you work through this. If you don't find this to be true, go to a different store and try again. ... Whatever you do, don't stop until you've found someone who helps you convert your plan to a grandfathered unlimited one.
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I will give it another shot of two MOnday and see how it goes.
onthezone said:
So you never had unlimited data for smart phones and your mad at att?! You been cheating the system for 4 years and your upset at att?! You have to have smartphone unlimited data to be grandfathered into smartphone unlimited data, it doesn't take rocket science.
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Until two days ago I didn't know there were two seperate unlimited plans (one for smart phone and one for non-smart phones). The reason I didn't tell AT&T I switched to a smartphone 4 years ago is because I thought I would lose my unlimited data plan. It was not to save $15 a month. I could care less about that. It hindsight I should have told them and been on the unlimited smartphone plan but I was so concerned that they would cancel my unlimited data plan I din't do that.
BlackPhantomX said:
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Either way, there's no way around this situation as far as I can see unless you ask them if there's a way you can be considered as grandfathered into regular unlimited data. If you're a long time AT&T user, cite that you've been a loyal customer, but tell them you'd hate to have to go to another carrier over this. You would also need to be under contract.
No offense, and I'm guilty in another form of this in a way, but due to your circumstances, it can be perceived that you tried to cheat the system, which is in no way AT&T's fault, but yours, and you're just upset that you got caught.
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Well, I may have cheated the system for $15 a month it turns out but that was not my intention. My intention was only to keep unlimited data. Don't we all "cheat the system" here everytime we do something that the networks don't want us doing with our phones? Tethering, trying to get around throttling, even rooting can be considered cheating the system. I always thought that was part of the spirit of modding and customizing.
wase4711 said:
You circumvented the system for 4 years, and now that has caught up with you..
Deal with it or go to a different carrier...very simple
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I like 'circumvented' better than cheated; it sounds less judgemental. Yeah, those may be my two options. If they are, I will choose option 2-- go to a different carrier. In that case, I'll be putting my 3-day old Note 2 up for sale I guess and buying one from T-Mobile.
Astom22 said:
What phone did you switch to the Note 2 from?
I'm with the guys above, looks like you were trying to beat the system and it caught up to you.
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I was using a HTC Touch HD. It was a great phone for the time and I installed Dutty's custom rom found on these forums. However a lot has changed in 4 years. I don't like the progress (or lack of it) with Windows and all of my 'must have' programs are now available on Android so making the switch was an each choice (and long overdue).
rogerbacon50 said:
Just spent an hour on the phone with two dumb twits (in India from their accent) of AT&T's customer service department. They said I had an unlimited non-smartphone plan and that they could not upgrade me to an unlimited LTE plan. I mentioned the FCC ruling ( http://bgr.com/2012/11/07/att-fcc-fine-data-plans/ ) but I don't know if people in India even know what the FCC is. Those people on the phone don't give last names or employee numbers so they feel they are unacountable.
I've been using a smart phone for the past 4 years but apparently I was still on the non-smart phone plan. They said because of that they can not switch me over to the unlimited LTE plan. So, what should I do now? I will not stay wit ha limited plan. I'll switch to T-Mobile first. However my AT&T Note 2 will not work with T-Mobile's system I think. Also, I'd rather not switch as its a pain in the ass. I really hope I can get this resolved. Do you think I'd have beeter luck in person at a store?
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A cheater and a Racist. So sick of people like you.
ruinkhan said:
A cheater and a Racist. So sick of people like you.
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[Edit]
I'm sorry to anyone who misconstrued my remarks. I was upset with the customer service reprezsentative and her thick accent was not making matters any easier. Perhaps that is why I mentioned that she was probably in India. I certainly didn't mean to disparage all Indians and if anyone took it that way I am sorry.
A followup session with a rep today resulted in pretty much the same thing, except they're giving me $50 off my next bill. Really though, by that point I didn't even try that hard. I've decided I'll switch to T-Mobile because, even if I got to keep unlimited data with AT&T there would still be the throtttling issues to deal with each month. T-Mobile may not have the breakneck speed of AT&T (right now) but I don't need 50+ Mb/s.
rogerbacon50 said:
Well, I may have cheated the system for $15 a month it turns out but that was not my intention. My intention was only to keep unlimited data.
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I don't know.. AT&T didn't discontinue unlimited or throttled data back then.. You shouldn't have had any issues keeping unlimited data when switching phones unless you wanted to save $15/month.
I have 2 unlimited data lines both have upgrades available. I was going to do the Best Buy trick by ordering one and having it shipped to my house and then throw away the sim that comes with it and put my old sim in the phone. Problem with this is Best Buy is only doing in store pickups for the Note 4 and the closest one is 3 hours away. Will the Verizon thing work? That is where you do an upgrade on someones line but when you get the phone you stick the sim from your other line into the phone?
kobe008 said:
I have 2 unlimited data lines both have upgrades available. I was going to do the Best Buy trick by ordering one and having it shipped to my house and then throw away the sim that comes with it and put my old sim in the phone. Problem with this is Best Buy is only doing in store pickups for the Note 4 and the closest one is 3 hours away. Will the Verizon thing work? That is where you do an upgrade on someones line but when you get the phone you stick the sim from your other line into the phone?
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Yes and no... Yes you can do this but u must keep a data package on that line you upgraded on for the duration of the contract, so not worth it in the end. I think with all the loopholes closed the option is to buy off contract which I'll be doing tomorrow morning.
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Free mobile app
Both of my lines already have data packages on them so it shouldn't be any extra. I upgrade Line 1 thru Verizon and when the phone comes in I take the sim card from Line 2 and put it in the phone. Then I do the opposite to upgrade the other line. Any flaws in that method?
kobe008 said:
Both of my lines already have data packages on them so it shouldn't be any extra. I upgrade Line 1 thru Verizon and when the phone comes in I take the sim card from Line 2 and put it in the phone. Then I do the opposite to upgrade the other line. Any flaws in that method?
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If I'm understanding you correctly then yes there is a flaw. When you upgrade line 1 you will lose unlimited data on that line. You can put the sim from line 2 in the phone and then you will be able to keep unlimited on line 2. As soon as you upgrade line 2 you will lose the unlimited on that as well. What might work for you to keep unlimited on JUST one of the lines is: After you upgrade line 1 and switch sims to put the phone on line 2, then go and TRANSFER line 2 upgrade to line 1 and upgrade line 1 again. You will still lose unlimited on line 1 though.
sandman1987 said:
If I'm understanding you correctly then yes there is a flaw. When you upgrade line 1 you will lose unlimited data on that line. You can put the sim from line 2 in the phone and then you will be able to keep unlimited on line 2. As soon as you upgrade line 2 you will lose the unlimited on that as well. What might work for you to keep unlimited on JUST one of the lines is: After you upgrade line 1 and switch sims to put the phone on line 2, then go and TRANSFER line 2 upgrade to line 1 and upgrade line 1 again. You will still lose unlimited on line 1 though.
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This is correct.
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
sandman1987 said:
If I'm understanding you correctly then yes there is a flaw. When you upgrade line 1 you will lose unlimited data on that line. You can put the sim from line 2 in the phone and then you will be able to keep unlimited on line 2. As soon as you upgrade line 2 you will lose the unlimited on that as well. What might work for you to keep unlimited on JUST one of the lines is: After you upgrade line 1 and switch sims to put the phone on line 2, then go and TRANSFER line 2 upgrade to line 1 and upgrade line 1 again. You will still lose unlimited on line 1 though.
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Yes correct. Just confirmed what others have said, unfortunately you'll lose unlimited on one line
The only way to keep unlimited is to buy for full price.
The only way to keep unlimited is to buy for full price. (As I did). They send you new SIM card, inserted into the phone, that activates your new phone. If you insert your old SIM card (from previous phone) and try to activate
you will get an error > coll to 877**** (customer service). :crying:
So, no tricks with switching
Back when we were told that Verizon was going to start throttling unlimited data customers, I decided to see just how much data I could download in a month. I could have broken 10 TB if I was in an area with a better bandwidth. I suppose ~240GB's a day ain't too shabby. All directly to the phone, no tethering.
jpmcnown said:
Back when we were told that Verizon was going to start throttling unlimited data customers, I decided to see just how much data I could download in a month. I could have broken 10 TB if I was in an area with a better bandwidth. I suppose ~240GB's a day ain't too shabby. All directly to the phone, no tethering.
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What the.... I barely got mine to 97gb one month I thought that was ridiculous! Lol. Anyway, gonna hold on to unlimited until Verizon takes it away!
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I think people fail to realize you can take the sim card out of the phone before it is turned on. Its the first thing I do and then put my old sim in it. I did it for my wifes line when I got her a new s4 on her unlimited line earlier this year. She still has unlimited now and I used the upgrade for her line. If you go to store do not let them turn on device for you. I did the same thing with my note 4 when it arrived yesterday, before inserting battery, remove new sim and insert old sim from previous phone. Phones boots up and says sim already active and no plan change. Plans dont go into effect until the sim card is activated. If that never happens then it never gets changed. The only thing I noticed changed was the actual term of the contract did renew as normal when upgrading.
Long time lurker here and finally decided to start giving some input here
jpmcnown said:
Back when we were told that Verizon was going to start throttling unlimited data customers, I decided to see just how much data I could download in a month. I could have broken 10 TB if I was in an area with a better bandwidth. I suppose ~240GB's a day ain't too shabby. All directly to the phone, no tethering.
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And I thought my 150+ GB was something. And that was with tethering. I drive semi trucks cross country so lots of shows, football games, ps4 gets streamed
my_handle said:
And I thought my 150+ GB was something. And that was with tethering. I drive semi trucks cross country so lots of shows, football games, ps4 gets streamed
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In all fairness, it was a chore hitting 7.28 TB. I effectively started a download of 60+GB(all I had available on my SD card) from my Google drive, and set alarms to remind me to reset the download every 6 hours. After I hit 240GB the first day, I knew the total was going to be ridiculous. I'm waiting to get chastised by the "it's because of people like you!", crowd. I called Verizon to ask em if there were any better plans, and the rep mistakenly read it as 7.28 GB, and suggested a 10GB/mo plan(despite that costing 3.5x than the $30/mo I'm on for unlimited). She put me on hold after I pointed out the mistake, presumably to catch her breath, and show coworkers the ridiculousness. Pretty sure if there's a "watch list" with Verizon, I'm on it now.
Yea every time I call they say you know you can upgrade and I say only if I can use unlimited still. They look and say never mind. Most haven't seen my 100+ GB a month. I'd like to see what they say when your account is brought up
I went to Verizon store today and the reps told me that if I did an upgrade on another line and transferred the note 4 to my grandfathered plan line that I would lose the unlimited data plan after a month or 2. They said the plan follows the phone. They said the only way to keep unlimited plan is to buy phone outright - no upgrades. 2 reps told me the same thing. Are they just lying or confused or is this actually possible? I understand why they want to close the dumb phone data plan loophole but this seems to go beyond that. I asked them for something official that states this will happen. They could not provide anything. If is is true can someone point me to the official word from Verizon?
lev777 said:
I went to Verizon store today and the reps told me that if I did an upgrade on another line and transferred the note 4 to my grandfathered plan line that I would lose the unlimited data plan after a month or 2. They said the plan follows the phone. They said the only way to keep unlimited plan is to buy phone outright - no upgrades. 2 reps told me the same thing. Are they just lying or confused or is this actually possible? I understand why they want to close the dumb phone data plan loophole but this seems to go beyond that. I asked them for something official that states this will happen. They could not provide anything. If is is true can someone point me to the official word from Verizon?
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I don't have official word from Verizon, but I did the upgrade on my third (non unlimited) line (Transferred/ordered online). Once I received the Note 4, I took out the SIM and transferred the one from my existing phone to the Note 4. Been running 3 days without issue. Attached screenshot showing Note 4 with unlimited data. I'm into a new billing cycle since I activated the Note 4 and my contract end date still states "Month to month". I'll keep you posted if anything changes, but I did this same thing with my wifes phone last year and we are both still on unlimited.
I'm considering replacing my VZW MotoX with a Note4 because it looks like Best Buy is running a $99 Note 4 promotion (with trade-in). I have unlimited data on the Moto X and it is eligible for the upgrade. We have a second MotoX on the 2GB plan but it doesn't have an upgrade available yet. Here's my plan - transfer the upgrade to the 2GB Moto X and upgrade it to the Note 4. Then I put the SIM from the unlimited Moto X into the Note 4 before it is turned on (this would require a nano-to-micro adapter). Then I need to reactivate the 2GB Moto X somehow. Would that keep the unlimited data on the Note 4?
Here is all the info you need. Be sure to read carefully the different methods possible and ask questions on there if you have any.
http://slickdeals.net/f/6964624-upgrade-and-keep-your-unlimited-data-with-verizon?
meso2444 said:
I don't have official word from Verizon, but I did the upgrade on my third (non unlimited) line (Transferred/ordered online). Once I received the Note 4, I took out the SIM and transferred the one from my existing phone to the Note 4. Been running 3 days without issue. Attached screenshot showing Note 4 with unlimited data. I'm into a new billing cycle since I activated the Note 4 and my contract end date still states "Month to month". I'll keep you posted if anything changes, but I did this same thing with my wifes phone last year and we are both still on unlimited.
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I did the same thing, but in store at best buy since that's the only way to get it from them at the moment. They activated the phone on the non-unlimited line (said they had to activate it). I turned the phone off, called Verizon and had them reactivate the old sim for the non-unlimited phone, then did a factory reset on the new note 4 just to be safe and popped in the unlimited sim. No issues so far here either.
jpmcnown said:
In all fairness, it was a chore hitting 7.28 TB. I effectively started a download of 60+GB(all I had available on my SD card) from my Google drive, and set alarms to remind me to reset the download every 6 hours. After I hit 240GB the first day, I knew the total was going to be ridiculous. I'm waiting to get chastised by the "it's because of people like you!", crowd. I called Verizon to ask em if there were any better plans, and the rep mistakenly read it as 7.28 GB, and suggested a 10GB/mo plan(despite that costing 3.5x than the $30/mo I'm on for unlimited). She put me on hold after I pointed out the mistake, presumably to catch her breath, and show coworkers the ridiculousness. Pretty sure if there's a "watch list" with Verizon, I'm on it now.
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You guys are the reason Verizon wants to throttle the data. Do not abuse unlimited data plan!!!
---------- Post added at 04:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:49 PM ----------
mugello21 said:
I think people fail to realize you can take the sim card out of the phone before it is turned on. Its the first thing I do and then put my old sim in it. I did it for my wifes line when I got her a new s4 on her unlimited line earlier this year. She still has unlimited now and I used the upgrade for her line. If you go to store do not let them turn on device for you. I did the same thing with my note 4 when it arrived yesterday, before inserting battery, remove new sim and insert old sim from previous phone. Phones boots up and says sim already active and no plan change. Plans dont go into effect until the sim card is activated. If that never happens then it never gets changed. The only thing I noticed changed was the actual term of the contract did renew as normal when upgrading.
Long time lurker here and finally decided to start giving some input here
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Click to collapse
First you need to have an available upgrade. So lets say you have one unlimited line and it available for upgrade, as soon as you purchase a 2 years contract phone, that data plan will change, doesn't matter how you activate the device. The only way is you need an additional line with upgrade available then transfer this upgrade to your unlimited line when active on the unlimited line when you received the device. The second option is buy a full retail device.
jpmcnown said:
Back when we were told that Verizon was going to start throttling unlimited data customers, I decided to see just how much data I could download in a month. I could have broken 10 TB if I was in an area with a better bandwidth. I suppose ~240GB's a day ain't too shabby. All directly to the phone, no tethering.
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OMG dude, and I am a professional video guy and sometimes have to upload large videos. My max was 380 once, how the hell did you use 7tb'a. You gotta help me out what am I missing? Thats like a 150 raw blurays never mind compressed online video. Rock it man though thats awesome!
---------- Post added at 05:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:26 PM ----------
jpmcnown said:
In all fairness, it was a chore hitting 7.28 TB. I effectively started a download of 60+GB(all I had available on my SD card) from my Google drive, and set alarms to remind me to reset the download every 6 hours. After I hit 240GB the first day, I knew the total was going to be ridiculous. I'm waiting to get chastised by the "it's because of people like you!", crowd. I called Verizon to ask em if there were any better plans, and the rep mistakenly read it as 7.28 GB, and suggested a 10GB/mo plan(despite that costing 3.5x than the $30/mo I'm on for unlimited). She put me on hold after I pointed out the mistake, presumably to catch her breath, and show coworkers the ridiculousness. Pretty sure if there's a "watch list" with Verizon, I'm on it now.
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You using data doesn't slow down anyone else. They have been selling this data is scarce thing forever which isn't true. What slows us down is them over selling which they will never stop as long as they can sell it. but lol She probably had no idea what to do those numbers don't make any sense!!