Here's the deal. My girlfriend had signed up for 2 years of service for the plan she has with AT&T cellular service. They recently mergered with cingular, and are now on the GSM thing. However, her phone is not GSM capable, PLUS the GSM plans are more expensive.

Her cell phone is about 2 years old since she didn't get a new one when she renewed her contract 6 months ago. She has about 1.5 years left on her current contract.

Her cell phone is aging, and needs to be replaced, as it's showing more and more mechanical problems (randomly turning off, etc). She took it to a at&t/cingular store and they said she'd have to replace it.

However, they do not carry her phone anymore. Everything they have now is all GSM, so she'd be forced to sign a contract renewal and get a GSM phone and GSM plan. However, she doesn't want to do that cuz it's more expensive and you get less minutes.

They only carry 2 phones that still work with her current plan, but they are very basic and crappy phones with no where near the features and reliability of her current phone.

So, that is the answer she's being given. She's being told that in order for her to continue her service she either has to get a crappy phone, or upgrade to the more expensive GSM crap and expensive GSM service plans.

She feels that since technically THEY can't get her an equal or better phone that will work with her current contract, they should let her out of the contract without charging the early termination fee. I agree with that, because technically, they are the ones who can't provide her the service she agreed to for 2 years.

So.... thoughts? She's tried their customer service line, and tried going to a at&t/cingular store, and both tell her she either has to get the crappy phone, or upgrade to GSM.

 

exactly which phone does she have?? i don't think any 2 year old phone will be that much better than the entry level "crappy" phones that are offered today. and how do you know that the new entry level phones are "crappy" compared with her current phone?? and why in the world did she renew her contract if she didn't need or want to get a new phone?? as far as i understand, even after your contract is over, the rate that you were paying will continue on a month to month basis. the only time anyone would be willing to lock themselves into another contract is when they want to take advantage of some kind of deal, such as getting a new phone at a discounted price, etc. the bottom line is that even if she is able to get out of her current contract, she probably won't be able to find another comprable provider that would offer the rate and plan that she currently has. in fact, it is almost inevitable that the new plan she signs up with will cost more than her current plan, not to mention she has to pay the activation fee, etc. for signing up with a new provider. if i were her, i'd just get the crappy phone (assuming she is still elligible for the free or discounted price since she didn't get a new phone with her last contract renewal) and continue the current plan. after all, i don't think any "crappy" new phone will be any worse than the virtually broken and nonfunctional one that she has now.

 

In my eyes, a phone is a phone. If it works and you can converse with others then you're set. I understand a lot of people will disagree with me since they like all the fancy features, just stating my opinion though. Maybe she could search online for a used version of her phone and find one in better shape? Maybe even still new-in-box at some warehouse wholesalers.

 

Can she purchase a new phone she likes from another source and have it connected to AT&T's network? I was told I could do this for an extra $50 (I'm with Verizon).

 

Go through a 3rd Party. Like someone who isn't officially an AT&T/Cingular Store. Maybe like BestBuy/Circuit City... or possibly some other company. For instance I know of a company (in Miami) who sells phones for Cingular/At&t/Verizon/Sprint.. you get the picture. They aren't really a brandname store. Or you can try directly with Motorola, Nokia, even maybe Ebay, worth a shot. Also if you are talking about a Digital phone.. then yes pretty much she'll eventually have to swtich to GSM type phone because they are getting rid of digital.

GOOD LUCK!

 

When I had the displeasure of dealing with AT&T I started writting letters to the FCC and copying ATT&T. They got pretty motivated pretty quickly.

 

Simple use ebay and buy her old phone model from there.

 

the only 2 phones available to her are 2 entry level nokia phones. she has an LG phone right now i believe, and LG is better than any little crap nokia phone.

she was told she had to renew her contract, or they would not continue her service on a month to month basis. obviously now we see that was a lie, but that's what she was told.

and the GSM plans are more expensive than what she has right now, which is 1000 anytime minutes for $39.99. she could switch to verizon, who also has the same 1000 anytime minute plan for $39.99. GSM's plan I believe is $69.99

 

take it from me....ive dealt with these companies and every angle of contracts.....she is screwed. Tell her to get a nice new phone with a good plan.

 

ebay has plenty of dinosaur cell phones. Personally I would switch to GSM, more phone selections, better quality and more features. The price difference is minimal.