AT&T

AT&T said to be raising its Upgrade and Activation Fee on January 20

by Luis D. / Jan 18, 2017, 7:47 PM

AT&T said to be raising its Upgrade and Activation Fee on January 20

Owning a smartphone in America doesn't come cheap in comparison to other parts of the world like Europe. So if you are on AT&T, resign yourself with a sigh and be prepared to pay a little more for smartphone upgrade and activation. A "reliable source" told Droid Life that AT&T will be raising said fee from $20 to $25 on January 20. Tablet and wearable 2-year activation feels will remain at $45.

AT&T seems to be following after Verizon, which raised its $20 upgrade fee for device payment plans or full retail purchases to $30. At least AT&T's $5 increase comes off as cheaper.

The upgrade and activation fee is paid when you buy and activate a new smartphone, so you won't see those $25 on your bill until you buy a new phone. Hopefully, this is as expensive as the fee will get.

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source: Droid-Life

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7 Comments

1. jeroome86

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

Keep it up. I'll be leaving.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 7:54 PM 1

2. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

Lets see when people have to pick between utilities , food, or a cell. I'm sure most will be more than happy to go back to a flip, keep it up. I'm using Gophone, don't understand why some are still under contract or desire one,

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 8:19 PM 1

3. tedkord

Posts: 17357; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Verizon: Hey, AT&T, lets raise our activation fees! AT&T: Great idea. You do it first, then I'll do it a week or two later. So it doesn't look like collusion. Verizon: Well, OK. But I don't think we really need to worry about any laws for the next four years.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 8:56 PM 4

4. torr310

Posts: 1659; Member since: Oct 27, 2011

Let's get rid of all those stupid fees and swtich to much affordable carriers with unlocked phones.

posted on Jan 18, 2017, 9:13 PM 1

5. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Please. Someone justify or explain, why I have to pay to activate your phone that you bought, which I am now buying from you? I can u understand if I bought a phone at T or unlocked from an OEzm and I brouvhtnit to you not activated and you act ate it on your network. But whybdo I need to mY for activation for a phone that's o my activated to work on your network? Which I can't change unless I buy it cash? I am getting no one in this planet can make a clear case for such a charge. I thing I am going to start a petition and create a big media stink about that.

posted on Jan 19, 2017, 12:45 AM 0

6. snatchlax17

Posts: 52; Member since: Dec 07, 2010

It's economics... It originally was: "We're not making enough off subsidies let's charge an up front fee (activation fee) to make money off the initial purchase" Now it is: "We're not making enough off the device payment plans that give you the phone for a LITTLE more than full price, lets charge an activation fee to make money that we are no longer getting off the subsidy" The carriers are going to make money however they can, and device activation fees are icing on the cake for them. The justification is $$$ and how they're going to make more of it.