Why do phone companies do this?

[fitzpatrick3194]

My aunt was going to purchase an iPhone, so she decided to sell her old HTC 8925 Tilt smartphone to me. Right before she was going to ship the phone to me, I had to tell her that I couldn't buy it from her because AT&T told me that I have to pay $30.00 a month on top of my bill as it is for a manditory data plan for the phone. First of all I think that in itself is rediculous...if you don't want the internet and email etc. I think you should be able to say no to those payments, and not be able to use those items on the phone. But for me to buy a year and a half old phone from aunt, and then have to go into the AT&T store, get it activated for my account, and then pay $30.00 extra per month is just stupid. Sorry for my ranting,

fitzpatrick3194

[foxbat121 ACE - Wizard]

You don't have to go to AT&T store to activate your phone. Just plug the SIM card from your old phone and you are done. As for data plan, you can ignore it and see what happens (since your phone is old one that pre-dates data plan requirement).

All four carriers require data plan on smartphones, not just AT&T. Verizon even start charge data plan for some non-smartphone now.

[redpoint73 ACE - Wizard]

Why?  To make more money, obviously!  

[fitzpatrick3194]

AT&T told me over the phone that I had to go into the store and have them do something special to the phone so that I could use it (they said it wasn't just as easy as switching the SIM card out). And since I would then have a new phone under my account, they could then proceed to charger me for the data plan. As for every company doing it, I just learned this; and yes, this whole thing is just a scam for them to get our money.

[hidden_dragon ACE - Champion]

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fitzpatrick3194 wrote:

AT&T told me over the phone that I had to go into the store and have them do something special to the phone so that I could use it (they said it wasn't just as easy as switching the SIM card out). And since I would then have a new phone under my account, they could then proceed to charger me for the data plan. As for every company doing it, I just learned this; and yes, this whole thing is just a scam for them to get our money.

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There's no need to go into a store to have them do something special to the phone, provided the phone was an originally branded AT&T phone.  It's just a matter of a SIM card swap as someone else suggested.  And provided the phone was purchased prior to Sept. 6th, it should be considered a legacy device and the data plan would not be attached.  However, have you renewed your contract after Sept. 6th?  That might make a difference.

[BrianfromNO]

I don't think the legacy grandfathering applies here since the OP isn't the one that originally purchased the phone.  The OP's aunt will likely remain grandfathered as long as she doesn't make any changes on her line, but I don't think that exemption is passed on to subsequent owners of a phone.  That's my interpretation of AT&T's "New Rules"

[hidden_dragon ACE - Champion]

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BrianfromNO wrote:
I don't think the legacy grandfathering applies here since the OP isn't the one that originally purchased the phone.  The OP's aunt will likely remain grandfathered as long as she doesn't make any changes on her line, but I don't think that exemption is passed on to subsequent owners of a phone.  That's my interpretation of AT&T's "New Rules"

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My daughter has been using a BJ (for over 6 months now) from someone who doesn't use it anymore.  She doesn't use data.  Her line has not been renewed.  So far, the data plan has not been added to our Fam Plan.  Not to say they wouldn't add it in the future, but from what I know, the newer phones that AT&T have sold after September can be more easily detected by the billing system...even though OLAM sees the device right away.

Again, this is just from my personal experience.  I don't plan on renewing her line.  If she wants to continue using smartphones, I will make sure it is either unlocked/unbranded or an older AT&T model.

Message Edited by hidden_dragon on 03-10-2010 04:09:37 PM

[satchev]

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hidden_dragon wrote:

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BrianfromNO wrote:
I don't think the legacy grandfathering applies here since the OP isn't the one that originally purchased the phone.  The OP's aunt will likely remain grandfathered as long as she doesn't make any changes on her line, but I don't think that exemption is passed on to subsequent owners of a phone.  That's my interpretation of AT&T's "New Rules"

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My daughter has been using a BJ (for over 6 months now) from someone who doesn't use it anymore.  She doesn't use data.  Her line has not been renewed.  So far, the data plan has not been added to our Fam Plan.  Not to say they wouldn't add it in the future, but from what I know, the newer phones that AT&T have sold after September can be more easily detected by the billing system...even though OLAM sees the device right away.

Again, this is just from my personal experience.  I don't plan on renewing her line.  If she wants to continue using smartphones, I will make sure it is either unlocked/unbranded or an older AT&T model.

Message Edited by hidden_dragon on 03-10-2010 04:09:37 PM

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Over six months ago would have been prior to the new rules going into place requiring a data plan for all smart phones, therefore your daughter is grandfathered in.  Based on that, how exactly is your daughters situation here relevant?

As for the OP, there is no special programming required to switch to an AT&T Tilt from your existing device.  Simply inserting your SIM into the device will allow it to connect to the AT&T network.  You will be required to have a data plan, there is no way around that.  The grandfather status is linked to the account, NOT the device.  The fact that you are "upgrading" to a two year old device has no bearing.  The issue here is that you are "upgrading" from a dumb phone to a smart phone.  Since you are "upgrading" to a smart phone, you are now required by AT&T's TOS to have a data plan.  That fact does not make it right or wrong, it simply is what it is.  If you are not pleased with that fact, you are welcome to either stick with dumb phones or take your business elsewhere.

[sitnsidewayz]

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fitzpatrick3194 wrote:

AT&T told me over the phone that I had to go into the store and have them do something special to the phone so that I could use it (they said it wasn't just as easy as switching the SIM card out). And since I would then have a new phone under my account, they could then proceed to charger me for the data plan. As for every company doing it, I just learned this; and yes, this whole thing is just a scam for them to get our money.

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That special thing they want to do to the phone is get the IMEI number off of it and put it in the billing system so they can immediately add the data plan. If you just swap the SIM card and don't notify them with the new IMEI number, OLAM will immediately recognize it, but the billing system won't. Eventually, when they get around to it, they will do a check of OLAM against the billing system and it will get updated. Soon after, you will be introduced to your new data plan. And, yes, it is a money grab.

[hidden_dragon ACE - Champion]

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satchev wrote:

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hidden_dragon wrote:

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BrianfromNO wrote:
I don't think the legacy grandfathering applies here since the OP isn't the one that originally purchased the phone.  The OP's aunt will likely remain grandfathered as long as she doesn't make any changes on her line, but I don't think that exemption is passed on to subsequent owners of a phone.  That's my interpretation of AT&T's "New Rules"

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My daughter has been using a BJ (for over 6 months now) from someone who doesn't use it anymore.  She doesn't use data.  Her line has not been renewed.  So far, the data plan has not been added to our Fam Plan.  Not to say they wouldn't add it in the future, but from what I know, the newer phones that AT&T have sold after September can be more easily detected by the billing system...even though OLAM sees the device right away.

Again, this is just from my personal experience.  I don't plan on renewing her line.  If she wants to continue using smartphones, I will make sure it is either unlocked/unbranded or an older AT&T model.

Message Edited by hidden_dragon on 03-10-2010 04:09:37 PM

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Over six months ago would have been prior to the new rules going into place requiring a data plan for all smart phones, therefore your daughter is grandfathered in.  Based on that, how exactly is your daughters situation here relevant?

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The new requirement began in September, while enforcement began in November.  So, it's quite relevant.  She has been switching phones between the BJ and her old Sony W350.