Switching ATT phone plans for just a month?

[DawnM]

I am assuming I can switch back and forth between plans?

We are traveling, in the car 60 hours R/T, staying with my parents who don't have wifi, driving around various places while there, etc...

We have the 15GB family plan, but I am considering paying the extra $65 for just the time we are needing it on our trip for unlimited.

Just making sure this is easy to switch back???? Has anyone done it?

Thanks,

Dawn

 

[Anthony1971]

I would call ATT and ask....
Another consideration may to get a Backend carrier like Boost Mobile or Walmart has one as well and get an unlimited plan for one month their phones are cheap and work well... you will likely come out ahead considering the taxes and prorating you will pay with ATT and also your current plan may no longer be available or have the same price you have ... if you have an older ATT phone that is a smart phone you can try Cricket as they are owned by ATT and any ATT phone will work with them. P

 

[DawnM]

Thanks. I was hoping someone could answer without me calling, only because I swear I call them 3 times and get 3 different answers.

And no, paying $65 for one month will be way better than getting 5 different devices for each of us to have unlimited, AND we need a hotspot ability for DH's work, which most of those pay as you go plans don't have.

I am asking specifically about the ATT plan.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We have done that with Verizon but I don't know about AT&T. Our experience with them was horrible, but we didn't try to change plans.

 

[miztressuz]

... also your current plan may no longer be available or have the same price you have ...

this is very relevant, that's most likely the problem you'll have. we used to switch plans all the time at work depending on the usage for that month and it wasn't a problem provided our usual plan was still an option. so i'd check to make sure your existing plan wasn't discontinued before making a change.

generally i look at what the overage charge is and what i'm willing to spend. if you were willing to spend an extra $65 for the new plan, if your overage charges are $15/gb you could use an extra 4gb for the month and still come out ahead and not worry about plan changes. just something to think about.

 

[DawnM]

Current plan is still listed, it is a little different, but still there and now is unlimited, with slower speeds after the cap.....hmmm....that might be better???

And yes, we calculated all the cost out prior to posting as well.

 

[Bree]

We have done it before. When we moved into our last house it was a nightmare getting our cable installed. The whole house had to be rewired plus they had to run new lines from the street to the house. It took 3 weeks to get it all done. We needed internet for work and school so we bumped up our data plan for a month then switched it back to our old plan once we had internet in the house. As long as your old plan is still an option to go back to it shouldn't be a problem. Now we are in a plan they are no longer offering. If we tried to make any switch we would be paying more for less data!!!

 

[descovy]

Go to the website like you are a new customer. Can you choose your current plan? Is it listed?

I peaked, and I cannot find a 15gb plan. I did see a 16gb plan though. It costs $90 with an additional $20/line.

So it seems to me if you change your plan you will not get your old plan back.

I have done as you are hoping, got a bigger plan temporarily, but it only worked when the plan I was on was new enough to sign up for it later.

So only do this if you like the terms of a new plan!

 

[afan]

Thanks. I was hoping someone could answer without me calling, only because I swear I call them 3 times and get 3 different answers.

We've found that we get much better and accurate customer service going into one of the stores. Not an authorized dealer but one of their actual stores. They know the plans because they are signing people up for them all the time and can look at your account on their ipad with you there to see what they are talking about.

My mom and I are on the same plan and went in last month to see if we could get a better deal/plan than what we had. 30 min later we were done with more data and minimal change in price.

 

[DawnM]

We've found that we get much better and accurate customer service going into one of the stores. Not an authorized dealer but one of their actual stores. They know the plans because they are signing people up for them all the time and can look at your account on their ipad with you there to see what they are talking about.

My mom and I are on the same plan and went in last month to see if we could get a better deal/plan than what we had. 30 min later we were done with more data and minimal change in price.

I have never waited less than an hour in one of their stores, even when I went in first thing. They are painfully slow.

 

[wenrob]

I don't think you can use the hotspot with unlimited on AT&T without also signing up for Direct TV. My guess is it would end up costing you more than the $65 in the end and you likely wouldn't be able to get your old plan back. Have you looked into renting a mobile hotspot?

 

[DawnM]

I don't think you can use the hotspot with unlimited on AT&T without also signing up for Direct TV. My guess is it would end up costing you more than the $65 in the end and you likely wouldn't be able to get your old plan back. Have you looked into renting a mobile hotspot?

The cheapest rental is $7 per day, which would be $147 plus tax for the 21 days we will be gone.

 

[wenrob]

The cheapest rental is $7 per day, which would be $147 plus tax for the 21 days we will be gone.

Oh, well, that's out I suppose. I'd personally be paranoid about getting locked into a Direct TV contract in the fine print and not getting my old plan back. Used to be you could add extra data for a month. If it were me I'd call and ask if you still can. I wouldn't be under the illusion that the whole thing -even if you switch then switch back- is going to to only cost you $65 though. I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be plenty of fees.

 

[DawnM]

Oh, well, that's out I suppose. I'd personally be paranoid about getting locked into a Direct TV contract in the fine print and not getting my old plan back. Used to be you could add extra data for a month. If it were me I'd call and ask if you still can. I wouldn't be under the illusion that the whole thing -even if you switch then switch back- is going to to only cost you $65 though. I'd bet my bottom dollar there will be plenty of fees.

I am not sure I need the DTV subscription though. It seems to be offered as a bonus (get DTVNow for $10 if you get the highest plan). I need to check into it.

If I were under illusions, I wouldn't be asking, I would have just done it.

 

[wenrob]

I am not sure I need the DTV subscription though. It seems to be offered as a bonus (get DTVNow for $10 if you get the highest plan). I need to check into it.

If I were under illusions, I wouldn't be asking, I would have just done it.

You mentioned you need a hotspot. The only unlimited plan w/AT&T where you can use hotspot is the one with Direct TV. That's what I'm trying to say, I don't think you'll be able to switch for just a month and get what you need. It's going to end costing you more and potentially get you stuck on a plan you don't want.

 

[DawnM]

You mentioned you need a hotspot. The only unlimited plan w/AT&T where you can use hotspot is the one with Direct TV. That's what I'm trying to say, I don't think you'll be able to switch for just a month and get what you need. It's going to end costing you more and potentially get you stuck on a plan you don't want.

Gotcha. I am not sure I have time to go to ATT and rent something at this point (to rent a device). I do need to call today. I just hope I actually get someone with real info, not the answers I usually get where they have no clue.