at&t question

[04_edge 10+ year member]

if i go buy a new phone and plan, will i have to pay for it in full at the store or will they bill me for it on the first bill i get?

i just woke up and dont feel like talking on the phone yet thats why im not calling them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

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[hoss 5,000+ posts]

you will have to pay for the phone in full. they will bill you for the service.

but if you put the phone on a credit card, it will be just the same as if at&t was putting it all on one bill.

 

[docutech 10+ year member]

Yezzir...

The store is there to MAKE MONEY //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[tRidiot 10+ year member]

Yezzir...
The store is there to MAKE MONEY //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

They don't make most of their money off the phone sales...., it's off the residual commissions that they stay in business. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[pilyin 10+ year member]

Actually, if your a new or good customer who pays his bills on time, you might be able to get them to put your phone on your first phone bill.

 

[casper97ta 10+ year member]

If you are an existing customer you can have them bill your equipment on the next bill. And cellular companies make most of their profits from "air time". "Airtime" is free, its nothing. They are literally billing you for nothing and thats how they make a boat load of cash. They are able to give $500 phones away for like $10 with a 2yr contract b/c you will be billed for "airtime" for those 2 years and they will make the money back. Its a helluva racket.

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

If you are an existing customer you can have them bill your equipment on the next bill. And cellular companies make most of their profits from "air time". "Airtime" is free, its nothing. They are literally billing you for nothing and thats how they make a boat load of cash. They are able to give $500 phones away for like $10 with a 2yr contract b/c you will be billed for "airtime" for those 2 years and they will make the money back. Its a helluva racket.

You are wrong about that....

Cellular companies make you pay for your phone in installments that are included in the plans. When you sign up for a phone, your credit is checked. The reason for that is that you are financing the phone. The price of the new contract agreement on your phone, is the cost of the phone, minus the 2 year installment plan. The charge for "Airtime" is the cost to keep up the infrastructure. They are not making as much money as you may think.

 

[casper97ta 10+ year member]

I wasnt going to go into the details completely about the billing process. Before my current position I worked in telecommunications for 6 years. I have worked for ATT, cellular one, alltel, verizon, and cingular. The reason for the cancellation fee if you break your contract is to make up for the price of the phone, but if you stay in contract for the 2 years they will make the money anyway for the cost of the phone. The reason they run your credit is because the cell companies are extending an open line of credit, basically to a customer. Meaning, A person can run up a $4000 bill and the cell companies have no collateral or way to get the money back if the customer doesnt pay. Thats why the credit check is needed.

 

[woc47 10+ year member]

I wasnt going to go into the details completely about the billing process. Before my current position I worked in telecommunications for 6 years. I have worked for ATT, cellular one, alltel, verizon, and cingular. The reason for the cancellation fee if you break your contract is to make up for the price of the phone, but if you stay in contract for the 2 years they will make the money anyway for the cost of the phone. The reason they run your credit is because the cell companies are extending an open line of credit, basically to a customer. Meaning, A person can run up a $4000 bill and the cell companies have no collateral or way to get the money back if the customer doesnt pay. Thats why the credit check is needed.

Here is one for you tho.... If you were to go delinquint and not pay a bill they report it on your credit as a collection which damages your scores significantly even after it is satisfied (paid in full). But if you are a good customer and always pay your bills on time they do not report the positive payment history which has no positive effect.

Basically cell phone companies qualify you based upon credit because they are opening a line of credit but what i don't get is if it is considered a line of credit than they need to reflect it in the credit report so that you can build your credit based upon payment history...... Just a little food for thought !

 

[tRidiot 10+ year member]

Here is one for you tho.... If you were to go delinquint and not pay a bill they report it on your credit as a collection which damages your scores significantly even after it is satisfied (paid in full). But if you are a good customer and always pay your bills on time they do not report the positive payment history which has no positive effect.Basically cell phone companies qualify you based upon credit because they are opening a line of credit but what i don't get is if it is considered a line of credit than they need to reflect it in the credit report so that you can build your credit based upon payment history...... Just a little food for thought !

Same thing happens with utilities, rent, and insurance. It's another example of how our credit system in the US is ****ed. See how they're scrambling these days to keep the whole credit system from falling like a house of cards?

It's coming...

 

[casper97ta 10+ year member]

Here is one for you tho.... If you were to go delinquint and not pay a bill they report it on your credit as a collection which damages your scores significantly even after it is satisfied (paid in full). But if you are a good customer and always pay your bills on time they do not report the positive payment history which has no positive effect.Basically cell phone companies qualify you based upon credit because they are opening a line of credit but what i don't get is if it is considered a line of credit than they need to reflect it in the credit report so that you can build your credit based upon payment history...... Just a little food for thought !

People used to b!tch all the time about that when we had to run credit checks. And then when People had to pay outrageous deposits and not have it affect their credit score they werent too happy.

 

[85Caprice4d 10+ year member]

if i go buy a new phone and plan, will i have to pay for it in full at the store or will they bill me for it on the first bill i get?
i just woke up and dont feel like talking on the phone yet thats why im not calling them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

best answer in the thread is below

fvck at&t

adding hidden charges that arent supposed to be there ftw!

att cellular service is highway robbery!

and their service is iffy at best.

thats my .02:veryhapp:

 

[SilverSquared 10+ year member]

That's why prepaid is the sh!t.

LOL Random statement. I'm being ***** by Sprint, I mean Sprintextel, or Nextel, lol.

 

[canadapettit 10+ year member]

Actually, if your a new or good customer who pays his bills on time, you might be able to get them to put your phone on your first phone bill.

not true anymore, they used to bill you for the phone but they quit doing that. They billed me for my old moto t720, but when i went to upgrade the next time they wouldn't do it for me anymore. it maybe different for other stores but the one here will not do it.

And no airtime is not "free". At&t has to pay the FCC for the frequncies that they use to provide you with airtime, plus the costs of repeaters and everything else that they need to keep it up and going.

 

[woc47 10+ year member]

Same thing happens with utilities, rent, and insurance. It's another example of how our credit system in the US is ****ed. See how they're scrambling these days to keep the whole credit system from falling like a house of cards?
It's coming...

Oh i know i check people's credit everyday! We will be seeing huge economic problems in the next 6 months with the credit crunch.

Do not be late with bills and do not charge over 50% of your credit cards or you will feel the affects reflected in your credit score which will kill you when you borrow