Alright AT&T, get off my back about the iphone data plan! [ Edited ]

[DarkDjango]

I purchased an iphone 3g from a friend and have been using it without the data plan as I don't need mobile internet service or visual voice mail so why am I getting texts telling me I must sign up for the plan?  I did NOT purchase the phone from you (presumably that is why you make people get the data plan is to make back $$$ lost on the $199 price tag of the iphone) and there is no theft of goods or services taking place so just lay off.  The only way you even know what phone I am using is because you keep tabs on the IMEI number.  What do you care what phone I use?!?  I've been a loyal paying customer for a long time and I don't see how you can force a data plan on me for a phone I didn't even purchase from you. Please don't respond with some generic statement about the contract for iphone 3g requiring a data plan as I've read it all before.  I want some insight as to how you can enforce such a policy when I never signed a contract for the iphone and no theft of services is taking place?!?

Message Edited by DarkDjango on 12-27-2008 10:13:03 PM

[Athena]

You are using a device that requires a specific plan. Doesn't matter where you purchased the phone from..

Data plan for iPhone is required for the life of your iPhone service and cannot be removed in the future.

AT&T is Apple's exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the United States. An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. This data plan covers data usage in the United States and does not cover international data usage and charges.

If AT&T determines that you are using an iPhone on your account without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee.

Message Edited by Athena on 12-27-2008 11:00:06 PM

[DarkDjango]

Again, {keep it courteous}  guy (or gal), it doesn't "require" the plan in order to function as a cell phone (all you get is 3g/edge internet access and visual voice mail.)  At&t just wants customers to have it to make back their $$$.

Message Edited by mod.moose on 12-27-2008 11:52:51 PM

[Athena]

Like I originally said, will the phone work without the plan?  yes..  But it is in violation of AT&T"s terms and conditions to use the IPhone without having the plan..You yourself said you are getting alerts that you are required to have the plan.  That should tell you something.

[DarkDjango]

Yes, but I've also been gifted with the capacity for critical thinking leading me to point out weak spots in this policy and to question it's validity and the legal capacities of At&t to enforce such a policy when it shouldn't matter to them what phone I'm using when there is no theft of services taking place. 

[DarkDjango]

Looks a little fishy to me, maybe like AT&T can't really enforce it legally?  Why wouldn't it be irreversible if it was actually "required" to operate the iphone 3g and part of the contract?  I know for a fact that it's NOT requred for the iphone to operate as a normal cell phone.  Question authority.

[Athena]

There's no need to start multiple threads in order to state the same thing. {Threads were merged.}

If its in the terms and conditions (which it is) AT&T can legally enforce it...

 

Data plan for iPhone is required for the life of your iPhone service and cannot be removed in the future.

AT&T is Apple's exclusive carrier partner for iPhone in the United States. An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. This data plan covers data usage in the United States and does not cover international data usage and charges. If AT&T determines that you are using an iPhone on your account without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee.

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/packages/packages-details.jsp?q_sku=sku2640250&q_pack...

Message Edited by mod.moose on 12-28-2008 12:01:37 AM

[DarkDjango]

So back to my original question, why do they allow it to be removed at any time if it is so "required?"  It seems to me that it would not be unreasonable to make it unremovable from your contract, leading me to believe that there is something strange going on legally. 

[Athena]

Either you cancelled it online, or you got a rep who didnt know what they were doing.

Obviously its required if you are getting messages that it is..

[DarkDjango]

It is simply a company policy created to make up for lost funds from the discounted price on the iphone and will change in the relatively near future so why the vested interest in enforcing "the policy?"

[Athena]

Because that is what's in the terms and conditions of the contract, and you are on an AT&T sponsored board.  You can dispute the "requirement" all you want, but at the end of the day, its still a requirement..

For the same reason I tell people that they are not supposed to replace their existing phones by buying a Go Phone.  It's the company's policy.  

[DarkestHour00]

Here is another thing. The iPhone can use data even if you don't press the internet app or email etc. So if you don't have you internet blocked(which you must request otherwise you have pay per use standard) you could get a huge bill. Now while at&t will credit that because the iphone does require the data plan you have to add it because when they credit you say your data charges are $300 then they will take off $30 and give you a $270 credit because like you are being told you must have this if you have a iPhone. I hope everything works out for you but don't get mad when they add it because you have been told not only here but also by at&t via the text messages.

[Steve in Minnes…]

DarkDjango

You made several posts about AT&T just wanting their $$$......that's a big Duh!  

AT&T is a business and that's what successful business do.....make money!

AT&T isn't in business to sell cell phones.  They are in business to make money....so they can pay their employees and satisfy their stock holders.  They choose selling cell phones as the means to generate this money.

AT&T isn't in business to sell cell phone service.  They are in business to make money....so they can pay their employees and satisfy their stock holders.  They choose selling cell phone service as a means to generate this money. 

Get it?

Steve 

[PapaBear60]

To a certain extent, I agree with you.  But it is their rule and they will win.  What I don't understand, though, is if you're using it only as a phone, and not for the hundreds of other great features you get with the iphone, why not just get a phone?  Just want to look cool using an iphone? 

After using those really poor excuses for PDA/phones based on Windows Mobile, the iphone is by far the most productive personal tool I've ever had - short of the laptop itself - but a very close 2nd.  It relieves me of having to fire up that laptop many times eaach day and keeps me in touch with my business and family like no other device.

Now here's the stupid thing.  My son gave his mother an iphone for Christmas (gift card).  So, I went into activate it by moving her over to the iphone from the Razor she hates.  I was quite willing to pay the $30/month for the data plan for her, although she probably won't use it as much as I do.  They wouldn't do it!  Can't do that, says ATT; at least until the current contract on the Razor runs out in 9 more months.  Say what?  No one at ATT or APPLE was very helpful - just have to wait, says they.  Later I found out that I could have paid the additional $200 for the iphone (how did I know how much was on the gift card?).  But between these two dummies, no one even offered that as an alternative. 

So, if i can change the sim card and force them to force me to sign up for a data plan - I'm all over it.  Can that be done?  I didn't think the standard sim card worked in the iphone?

Dave

Message Edited by PapaBear60 on 12-28-2008 05:49:48 AM

[DarkestHour00]

Hello Dave! Most any at&t sim card will work in a iPhone but if you have 3G service in your area and you want to use it you will need a 3G sim if you don't already have one(it was say 3G on the card itself if it is). The iPhone will come with a 3G sim which I recommend you let them activate to make sure you don't have any problems with the old sim as sim cards can go bad with age. Also I'm sorry no one told you about the $399 for the 8gig & $499 for the 16gig early upgrade option but trust me when I say it's well worth it as well having to pay the $30 a month data plan. Hope this helps!

[cmrunner83]

I do agree with your logic, DarkDjango.  If the phone was not purchased through AT&T, I do not think it is fair for them to still make the data plan mandatory so that they can recoup money from subsidized pricing that you *yourself* never took part in...  But the simple fact is that if you do not add the data plan back on, they will do it for you..

[geri o]

A couple of things,Dark, and these may have been mentioned, but this is the short version..

The reason that the require the plans is to possibly offset the possibility that some can't keep up with how many kilobytes they use per month, then scream when they get an astronomical bill. Who counts kilobytes?

As for "I'll never use data ona phone, sure...no one does, do they?

The other thing is, why as why, ya know? IT IS WHAT IT IS. You have two choices in that regard....Use the thing according to their requirements or not. They will not lay off, they will cut you off. Actually, I don't know if they'll cut you off or not, but they have something in mind, or they woudn't be sending you those texts. 

You can puff up and come back and denigrate me or anyone else here that you like. Doesn't matter, doesn't bother me. Just laying out the cold hard.   

Respectfully, (I mean that, by the way)...

Geri O

[youngjm ACE - Professor]

Please remember we are all customers like your self.  You are new here and others have made similar arguments like yours to no avail.  It is ATT's service and they can make a reasonable profit for their investors.  As a customer, you have choices, switch phones, get the required data plan, or change carriers.  If the data plan is such an issue, then the iPhone is probably not the right phone for you. 

The more people push the limits and cross the line, the more ATT will clamp down and make reasonable usage harder to comply with.  This is what we saw with the unlimited go-phone data plan for $20.  Too many people manipulated the system for use in data cards so now no one can get unlimited go-phone data plans.

Please remember you have a choice.  You have a contract and their are conditions for your use of ATT's network.  It may not be fair in your eyes but it is a two party agreement.

Hope you find something that meets your needs.

Message Edited by youngjm on 12-28-2008 10:06:36 AM

[DarkDjango]

It's refreshing to see that there are at least a few reasonable thinking people out there.  Ultimately it is the decision of AT&T to make the rules but my whole arguement is that I don't NEED a data plan and I'm smart enough to know how to turn off 3g and disable Edge in order to protect myself from any accidental data use (plus the settings menu has a place you can go to see if you've actually used any data.)  People act as if there is an entire world of features available with a data plan.  Outside of specific apps the ONLY thing a data plan does is allow constant internet access, visual voice mail, and updated gps map.  I can live without that and the iphone is still a cool phone to use, not to mention it still has wifi.  I just don't think it's right to force a data plan for one specific model of phone.

[Smurfette27]

I definately agree that there are too many rules and terms for the iphone. But that is due to apple from what I hear. and some of it is att.

but we all make a personal decision to agree or to disagree. I chose to return my phone. but hey, mine was defective too.

anyhow.. I had contacted att during the time I had the phone and someone told me that the data plan was actually NOT required. of course they could have been an uniformed sales rep.. who knows... but they did send me an e mail stating the conversation I had with them and saying the data plan was not required. so maybe try calling in and see if someone will confirm that and also give you something in writing. it's worth a try.

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DarkDjango wrote:
I purchased an iphone 3g from a friend and have been using it without the data plan as I don't need mobile internet service or visual voice mail so why am I getting texts telling me I must sign up for the plan?  I did NOT purchase the phone from you (presumably that is why you make people get the data plan is to make back $$$ lost on the $199 price tag of the iphone) and there is no theft of goods or services taking place so just lay off.  The only way you even know what phone I am using is because you keep tabs on the IMEI number.  What do you care what phone I use?!?  I've been a loyal paying customer for a long time and I don't see how you can force a data plan on me for a phone I didn't even purchase from you. Please don't respond with some generic statement about the contract for iphone 3g requiring a data plan as I've read it all before.  I want some insight as to how you can enforce such a policy when I never signed a contract for the iphone and no theft of services is taking place?!?

Message Edited by DarkDjango on 12-27-2008 10:13:03 PM

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[JGregorio]

Dark, why must you come on here and bash people for telling you about your ignorance?

In the AT&T iPhone TOS, It's says, and in plain sight:

"Data Plans: An eligible data plan for iPhone is required. This data plan covers data usage in the U.S. and does not cover international data usage and charges. If it is determined that you are using iPhone without an eligible data plan, AT&T reserves the right to add an eligible data plan to your account and bill you the appropriate monthly fee." It does not matter if you bought the iPhone from AT&T. The phone belongs to AT&T. 

Message Edited by JGregorio on 12-29-2008 12:43:10 AM

[geri o]

Bash all you like.

In my case, you TOTALLY missed the point that I DIDN'T DISAGREE with your original premise. Read that again for good measure. Frankly, I didn't see any disagreement from anyone, well, the ones that I bothered to read. 

The MAIN point is that we can agree with your original premise until the end of time. It WILL NOT change anything. Personally insulting a bunch folks for not stroking your ego isn't going to get you very far, either

Whatever. 

Geri O

[Sentry]

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DarkDjango wrote:
I want some insight as to how you can enforce such a policy when I never signed a contract for the iphone and no theft of services is taking place?!?

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I've locked this thread since the answer has already been provided multiple times, but I will reiterate it. By using the phone service, you are agreeing to follow the Terms & Conditions of that service. We don't demand that anyone stay on service with us outside any already-agreed upon contract, but we do require that while you are on service, you follow the terms of that service.

By not choosing to have or maintain the appropriate data rate plan for the iPhone, you are in violation of the Terms & Conditions and your account could be subject to the result of this which can include the involunetary addition of the plan onto your account or the termination of your service. It should also be noted that we do maintain a record of the warning messages being sent to you. Any additional fees which might be accrued as a result of you not choosing to heed those warnings could be your responsibility.

Hopefully this answers your question, even if it's not the answer you were looking to hear. If you have any additional questions on this particular matter, feel free to contact me via private message regarding this. Thank you.