I called AT&T to say I want to port my existing number to another carrier but I do not want to cancel my service — just want a new number assigned and keep everything else the same. Well, AT&T says I’d have to go add an additional line before I port the number because a port has to cancel that line of service. I said that’s ok, I just need a SIM card and no phone since I’m already using a phone — but she was still insistent this would extend my contract 2 years. So I said no thanks, I’ll just see about moving everything off 🙂
But here’s the problem: lots of people transfer their existing cell number to Google Voice and have their carrier reassign a phone number. So obviously this is being done all the time — I don’t think most people are cancelling their contracts and going in to sign new ones. AT&T is so set on forcing you back into a contract that they even told me that an old rate plan I had could not have text messaging added to it because it wasn’t supported. But text worked just fine — at 20 cents a message….
I’m just getting tired of AT&T’s crap about stuff like that. Remember how they were talking about the reasons why they “needed” to merge with T-Mobile, because they wouldn’t be able to expand their network in a timely manner to keep up? Looks like that was just a load of crap they fed to the FCC…
“AT&T on Wednesday announced a plan to cover 96 percent of the U.S. population with 4G-LTE service by the end of 2014. That’s great news for customers — but it reveals that AT&T told regulators a pretty big whopper last year while fighting for its doomed T-Mobile merger.
One of the deal’s fiercest battle points was 4G access outside major cities. Without T-Mobile, AT&T said it was “very unlikely” that it would expand 4G-LTE service beyond the 80 percent coverage threshold it already planned to reach by 2013.
“In some of these [less-populous] areas, AT&T simply lacks the spectrum necessary to deploy LTE,” the company told the Federal Communications Commission in a written defense of its proposal.”
http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/money/consumer/att-caught-in-brazen-4g-lie-about-expanded-service-following-failed-merger-with-t-mobile
Yeah, and I had to go search out what ever happened to the new roaming agreements that happen every couple years between AT&T and T-Mobile. Apparently it is only in select areas each time… Thanks, that really helps me…
Also I forgot to mention, the first time I asked AT&T to add text to my plan they told me I had to be using an AT&T branded device. Guess they intended me to go buy one and sign a contract but I charged up my old phone instead — and that’s when they said my rate plan is too old… Anything to suck you in I guess — so I’m leaving 🙂