my mom is eligible for an upgrade on our plan but my number is not. she doesn't want a new phone, and my iphone just broke, so i want to get a phone using her upgrade. when i go online to do this, it forces me to add a data plan to her number... is there any way to get a phone under her number but use it for my number and add the data to mine instead? if not, can i still buy the phone and just insert my sim card into it and use it? if it forces me to add the upgrade on her number, can i call and cancel the data plan on her number and add it onto mine after receiving the phone? i'm just trying to figure out a way to get a phone right now. basically, i can only do it using her upgrade. so i need to find out how i can do it under her number, but without changing her plan, and using the phone under my name. somebody told me it wouldn't even work which doesn't sound right. any info/advice is extremely appreciated.
The thing with getting those smartphones for nearly free these days is that you HAVE to buy the data plan. They make money off the extra monthly data price and thats how they can afford to give you your phone. And no you cannot cancel the data plan after you got the phone without canceling your entire plan and facing termination charges. I'm pretty sure if you did get the phone you would be able to switch it to your number with the data on that.(as you are under her plan and no money is lost on their behalf with their switching) Tried to get me a nice little smart phone the other day with some penny-a-phone deal at verizon. Turns out I needed to add a data plan for an extra $30/month under a 2 year contract just for 2GB of high speed. Thats $720 over time...For tmobile that same data plan is only $10/month so I'm gonna stick with that and buy an older model of some smartphone.
Call and ask. Sometimes they can work the system more flexibly than you can. Yes but you will pay a lot more for the phone (hundreds more) and can't use your upgrade credit that way. Depends on what the carrier will do for you, but usually the agreement for the discounts state that you will be charged back if you change the plan afterwards.
just called. not a problem. iphone is shipping tomorrow - the only "catch," is i have to transfer the data plan from the upgrade # (moms) phone over to mine. so basically, i upgraded my moms number to an iphone and added the data plan. when it arrives, i simply call att, cancel the data plan from moms number, and att the same data plan onto my number. the guy was extremely helpful and knew exactly what i wanted to do. I figured it wouldn't be an issue but online there was no way around it, so i called to order it. glad it worked out oh, believe me, i know. what i meant was, could i buy the phone on my moms upgrade, and use it with my sim card/number, even if i had to pay to add the data plan onto moms phone and mine (aka paying double what i should, but at least be able to use the phone for myself. glad i didn't have to do that!)
Glad AT&T was willing to help ya out. Gotcha, yeah you could definitely do that but man would it suck big floppy donkey dick to pay for an extra data plan.