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Yet more confirmation that it was a good idea to port my AT&T number over to another provider, and cancel the account.
Yet more confirmation that it was a good idea to port my AT&T number over to another provider, and cancel the account.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-14399-100x100.png\")
...Unless you're specifically getting the retail employee plan. Being its own plan, and not a discount on a normal plan, this shouldn't apply.
It's a very nice plan, too. 2k anytime minutes, unlimited everything else, for roughly half the price of their most basic plan. The downside is you can't subsidize a phone with it, so you have to buy your phone outright.
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@Rhainor:
Some would see that as an upside, since without that restriction the plan would cost more. If you change phones every two years the subsidy is alright; my wife and I haven't upgraded phones in four years, so it'd be nice to have our plan reduced by the amount of the subsidy.
More fees. That's seems to be the only way businesses know how to make more money nowadays. Better service? Nahhhh... let's figure out what we can add to the price that people won't notice when comparing us to the competition.
I wonder if the IRS would consider the $36 paid on behalf of employees by their employer to be taxable. Unless I am missing something it does not fall into one of the non-taxable categories.
@Ben Miner: My guess is in most cases where the fee is \"paid by your employer\" your employer has simply negotiated the fee out of existence. Otherwise it would probably be considered taxable income I would imagine.
@Elvisisdead: The article mentions some employers pay the fee. \"Some employers and groups are nice enough to pay the $36 fee for you. \"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1471-100x100.png\")
@Ben Miner: Oh - it's not paid by your employer. It's paid for by you. Business accounts don't qualify.
To give a bit more detail on this new policy as it was explained to me by my AT&T Rep...
For new lines of service, you have 30 days to apply for your employee discount in order to waive the $36 fee. If you wait longer than 30 days, you'll be charged. This also only applies to the primary line on the account, so the additional lines on a family plan are exempt from this fee.
For existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade and are not currently receiving an employee discount, you have to apply for your discount ON THE DAY OF THE UPGRADE. There is no 30 day grace period, either you ask for your employee discount the day of your upgrade or you get charged the fee. And that is still in addition to the $18 upgrade fee you may have to pay.
Hope that helps.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-375555-100x100.png\")
@Voltanis:
I'll be anxiously waiting for the people to tell me \"but I asked for the employer discount within the 30 days!\" whether they actually did or not.
This is another ridiculous fee that will be waived constantly.
Why do companies feel the need to do this? It really makes them (and me because I work for them) crappy.
@blueneon: This fee cannot be waived on the rep level, period. Approval has to come from RVP-level, if I recall correctly.
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More \"just because we can\" fees.
A \"you're getting a discount\" fee is just asinine. I have to pay the company a fee because I'm paying less per month?
I hope this doesn't give retailers any ideas. Next thing you'll know there will be fees for using a coupon and fees for using the loyalty cards.
@Rectilinear Propagation: You mean like at warehouse clubs? Where you pay an annual fee, and receive discounts on the merchandise you buy?
Retailers have been doing it for years. It's the same thing.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-446358-100x100.png\")
@Rectilinear Propagation: \"More \"just because we can\" fees.\"
You nailed it. That exactly what these fees are. You want to do something. There's a fee. You want to pay your bill? There's a fee for that. You haven't used your phone in a while, there's a fee for that too.
What I cannot understand is why people put up with this crap. My Tracfone may not be \"cool\" but it works and I know exactly how much it costs to use. There is no fricken way I'd subject myself to this absolute BS.
@GMFish: We put up with it because it's becoming harder and harder to escape. The airline bag fee was just United at first, I believe, but then all of the others adopted and expanded them. If there's a cell phone carrier fee, you can bet the others will pick it up too.
Now that the internet has made it so easy to price shop, the hidden fee is the new method of increasing profits.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-350350-100x100.png\")
@tailstoo: Well I do know there are changes made within the billing system when you get a certain employee discount. In some circumstances your billing cycle may change but in any event there is some legwork involved in applying the discount. Just the same, I can't possibly see it being worth $36.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-335588-100x100.png\")
@dragonfire81: It's total crap. My employer offers a discount through T-Mobile and it didn't cost me squat to participate.
That being said, I had major iPhone envy and just switched over to AT&T as my husband's employer offers a discount through them. Since it's new service, we won't get hit with the ridiculous fee, but I don't think anyone should have to pay that. It can't possibly cost the company $36 to make the change in the system.
@GMFish:
People \"put up with this crap\" because it would cost WAY more money to use a prepaid (Tracfone) phone if minute usage and text messaging is high.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-453211-100x100.png\")
@blueneon: I dunno...I think that would be a good way to get people to re-think their unnecessary phone conversations if they want to save money.
I have a prepaid phone that I pay, on average, $6 a month for. As a result, I don't feel inclined to call my family and significant other the second my plane lands, again when I reach the gate, again when I'm walking off the plane, again then I walk into the airport, etc. For the average phone user, most of their phone time is completely unnecessary...and they pay dearly for it.
wow... and i stayed with ATT because of my employee discount... Time to move elsewhere i guess...
Thats like me paying 50 cents to get 50 cents off a box of lucky charms... thx but no thx
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-917643-100x100.png\")
@JeanStork: If you're already getting the discount, then this doesn't affect you. It's if you sign up for a new discount and already have a plan that this comes into play.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-336833-100x100.png\")
You should get the right information before making an article. It's $36 Fee per Account, If you have a Family Talk its only a single $36 charge.
Also, If you get charged this fee and do an upgrade on or within 7 days AT&T will waive the upgade fee.
The main reason behind this is to encourage people to get their discounts at the time of sign up (less paperwork on the backend). The charge is waived for any account opened within 30days.
@EGBTMagus: What about people who have had accounts for YEARS, and switch jobs? If the whole point is to \"encourage people to do it when they're supposed to\" there should be an allowance for people who change jobs and still take care of business immediately.
I just upgraded my account last month but will be leaving my job in another month to go back to school. I've checked the Premier site and I can get a discount through my school, but this new fee has me pretty ticked. I'm not a procrastinator, my situation has just changed.
Will this affect those who've had a discount in place for the past year? B/c the paltry 8 bucks I save is not worth it.
What is it with these fee-happy companies lately? If I want to pay my mortgage online, there's a fee. If I want to make a payment to my credit card, there's a fee. Sheesh. Last night I ordered flowers for my mother-in-law and tried to use my 20% AAA discount. The $15 \"service fee\" wiped that out and then some.
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\"This took affect last week.\"
The grammar nazi in me is affected by the above sentence.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87429-100x100.png\")
I just got my sprint bill and I had a 10% \"good customer\" discount along with a 5% discount for signing another 2 year contract with them. My 10% was gone, and the phone rep said there was no way to get it back. So my bill went up $8.
Seriously, I don't use the phone that much. I am tired of plans getting more and more minutes. I don't need 1500 minutes for $70 a month. How about $25 for 200? I might go to \"pay as you go\" when my contract is up, but it looks like they are even trying to get rid of those these days.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-87038-100x100.png\")
@Saboth: I use my own phone a lot (including data) but my sister just needed a phone. If t-mobile has decent service around you, I'd recommend it. If you buy $100 of minutes at a time, they last a year and cost 10 cents/minute... very simple, very easy, any t-mobile phone or unlocked GSM phone will do. I bought her phone at Costco for about the same as t-mobile or AT&T will charge you for a just a new SIM with a new number ($50)
Wow. What a pain in the ass.
The company by whom my fiancé and I are both employed has a 15% discount with Verizon. We both happened to be Verizon customers before either of us started working here (he in 2006; I in 2008) and neither of us has had any trouble applying the discount to our accounts. (Nor did we have trouble keeping it when we rolled our contracts together into a family plan last week.)
Makes me glad I'm with Verizon. I get a 17% discount through my company with them, and no hefty fees. I know people sometimes complain about them, but I've never had any reason to bitch.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-505944-100x100.png\")
That's it. I'm convinced that there's some secret contest among companies to see who can charge the most asinine fees and get away with it.
@JulesNoctambule: The winning company's CEO gets the biggest annual bonus. There are extra points awarded if you can get taxpayer money rolled into any of it.
Ok, that's the last straw for them. That's is just plain crazy to jack fees like that.
And remember to check if the plan you use is on the discount plan for your employer. My 2G iphone was not on the plan but the 3G phones were. Now I have a 3GS, who knows? Also you get the fun of having all your calls to AT&T routed to a business service desk who's initial response is to refer you to your company person who manages things. This leads to a no, this is my personal phone, a transfer to a different group who insist you are a business customer. It would be nice if the idiots who set up this disaster had to use it....
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-529488-100x100.png\")
@dfwguy: It was a technicality with the 2g - no one got discounts on a corporate plan with them. Apple and AT&T have since wised up so you will receive a discount with your 3gs, just as you would have with a 3g.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-219805-100x100.png\")
Give us money, so you can save money, but in the end you're not really saving anything.
riiiiight
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-13251-100x100.png\")
We have Verizon and my work offered a discount of 17%. All I had to do was go to the Verizon site, put in the account info/phone numbers and on our next bill there was the discount.
Who else thinks that since att is doing it, every other cell company will follow suit?
In related news my government employeer has a deal with Tmobile. Saves me 12% off my $150 bill every month. To get it I called a number my employeer gave me and it took about 5 minutes. And I've been with Tmobile for 5+ years and I'm only about 3 months into my current 2 year extention.
I signed up for AT&T last week and got my discount through this website: [www.wireless.att.com]
You put in your work/organization email and it takes you to a website which explains all of your discounts. It would avoid the extra $36.
@billy: Not any more - as long as you add it within 30 days, sure - but if not you get the fee. Don't worry we'll be refunding it to many many many people.
@Radi0logy same with me except i get %27
The deals employees get are ridiculous. Verizon has 1500 minutes, unlimited text. It comes out to $13 a month with taxes. Not bad!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-964191-100x100.png\")
well crap....
I guess I shouldn't complain too much if my discount goes away considering that I've been skating by on a BofA discount when I haven't worked for them in closing on 4 years.
If you want a new iphone 3gs and are not within the upgrade period it is much cheaper to terminate your contract and resign up. The standard contract termination fee is $175 however it is reduced by $5 for every month you have been in the contract. So most 3g users should only have to pay $120 or so to get out of the contract. You can then resign up with At&t for the new customer price of 199 or 299. saving you over $300 bucks. The catch is that you may have to change your phone number.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1961-100x100.png\")
This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. If they don't want to offer a discount, why don't they just cancel the discount instead of doing this? I guess I'm lucky that I'm already getting my discount, because with the meager 5% I get coupled with my low rent plan, it would take 10 months to pay for itself. Hardly seems worth it.
actually, if this discount is added during the first 30 days, there is no fee. But, we are being told that the employers are requesting that it is added to help defray the costs of the paperwork.
I still agree that it is bogus. But, it is all about how much do you have, and how much can I get away with taking.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-264335-100x100.png\")
Man up. You call them and tell them you're not paying a bullshit fee or you're leaving or not signing up. They waive it. Last I checked, carriers would pretty much give you their sister's virginity if you sign up for/renew a plan with them. If you lack the wherewithal to call bullshit on extraoridnary garbage like this stuff, you deserve to be hosed and AT&T(or any other company) deserves to laugh all the way to the bank. We're vertebrates for chrissake, find your SPINE!
If your company has its own intranet page or HR benefits page where you can get employee discounts, try to register for the discount *there* first.
I went there to see if I would not see the fee on my account (which has been active for several months) and the discount was applied without any notice of a $36 fee. I printed each page just to be safe in case they decide they want to try it anyway.
@zentec: This was only added in the past week. And I believe it went into effect June 28th or something like that. Most likely why you didn't get the fee.
They aren't going to charge it retroactively so no worries.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-394934-100x100.png\")
AT&T is phasing our their Employee Rate Plan (ERP) and replacing it with Employee Mobility Offer (EMO). I suspect that this thread applies to discounts negotiated with other companies,just like AT&T gets employee discounts from Apple, and Apple changing the terms and conditions.
MY biggest problem with this is that at NO POINT prior to paying the $36 are you told exactly what you will get for it! There is lots of ambiguous language with phrases like \"qualified charges\" and \"select wireless devices\" and \"may require purchase of additional equipment\". NOWHERE can you find out exactly what your current plan and device qualify you for! I could spend my $36 only to be told I don't qualify for ANYTHING! What kind of idiot does that?
I've written to our AT&T rep asking for details, but have yet to get a response.
This reminds me of signing up for ATT's internet service. It is actually a pretty good deal compared to other internet service providers, but they have some misleading advertisments. I was told that If I sprung for a certain option, I'd get a rebate on the modem. I got no rebate till I called and complained. Also, the add says no contracts or committments. After I signed up, it said that if I discontinue before two years is up, they'll automatically charge my credit card a $75 early termination fee. You can believe I'm not going to take that one lying down.
This is straight BS! Kinda sorta related to this, I've had to call Sprint several times this year asking why the hell my discount vanishes off my bill!
@bloggerX: One of my co-workers has been trying to get Sprint to apply the discount we get for the past 2 years. He gave up because it wasn't worth his time. He is planning to get an iPhone and switch to AT&T when his contract is up.