"Trying" Straight Talk for a month, do I need to contact AT&T?

[moopdog]

My contract is up with AT&T, but before I renew, I'm trying Straight Talk for a month. I assumed I could pop in the new SIM card and go from there, but someone told me I need to have ATT "release" me. Does that mean, if I choose not to stay with ST, and want to continue with AT&T, then I have to start from scratch with them? I'm confused by the phone rules. I am the guinea pig for the family, if I'm happy with my Straight Talk experience, my whole family will be switching one by one as their contracts are all up between now and December.

TIA

 

[wilkeliza]

If you try Smart Talk for 1 month after your ATT contract expires then yes you start all over as a new customer at ATT. Usually you had to let them know that you aren't continuing as most contracts are auto renew. If you don't let them know you may get stuck with contract fees.

 

[supersnoop]

Are you porting your number from AT&T to Straight Talk? That will automatically cancel your AT&T service.

Are you using your AT&T phone? If you have a subsidized phone, it might need to be unlocked by AT&T before you can use it on another carrier.

 

[tinatark]

You do need to "cancel" your service with ATT, unless you port your numbers over as they expire. If you port your number, that cancels your service.

 

[wenrob]

Release as in unlock your phone from the AT&T network? Used to be you would have to put in a request to have it unlocked but the last couple of years I have not had to do that. After my phones were paid off they were automatically unlocked. You can call or go online to see if yours has been unlocked. If it hasn't you can request to have it unlocked. If your phone is paid for in full they have to comply.

If you are wanting to hang onto the AT&T account while trying Straight Talk, yes, you could pull the SIM for AT&T (put it in a safe place!) from your phone (as long as it's unlocked) and replace it with the one from Straight Talk. You would have to use the number from Straight Talk and have two bills that month, one from ST and one from AT&T. If you're wanting to keep your number and use it with ST then you would have to have AT&T port it over, cancel your current plan and start over if you want to go back.

As far as auto renewing a contract, I've never had that happen with AT&T. I don't think that would be legal. Keeping you on the same plan for the same price, sure, but once you've fulfilled your contract you are not obligated to stay. That said, if you have a plan you like and you leave it, it's highly unlikely you will be able to get the same type of plan when going back.

eta: http://iqwired.net/contract-auto-renewals/ Well, I stand corrected. I have never heard of auto renewal, certainly would never agree to it. I am off contract more than I am on contract with AT&T for close to two decades.