I stopped into my local AT&T store about three months ago to inquire about my options to active a phone short-term, as I was fairly certain that within 90-120 days I was going to be able to go onto my company's corporate wireless account.
I was looking at prepaid options when the girl who was helping me told me about AT&T Next. It's great she said, no committment, you pay for the phone monthly, after 12 months you can turn it in for a new one or whenever you want when you don't need it. You are leasing the phone and are under no commitment. Little did I know that last sentence was going to haunt me.
What she did not fully explain to me was that yes I could stop the service anytime I wanted but that I was on the hook for the remaining value of the phone. So I am stuck with owing $700 for an iPhone 5S that isn't worth half that.
I treid going back to the store - the girl who helped me was no longer there (probably because of her lying ways). I tried calling customer care and even told them I would cancel all four lines if nothing was done - they said that was my choice. I chatted onlne with three different agents and was told that they would address the store rep - but again, so sorry, nothing we can do. I have even offered to meet them in the middle and pay half of the $700 - know that I can recoup that much selling the phone private party. But again - they apologize I was lied to but won't do anything about it.
I was told that a case could be logged to flip my line over to a 2 year instead of Next, which I was okay with. The case worker repsonded that since my phone was over 90 days old, the could not do that. Here's the kicker - my phone was 91 days old!!!! 1 day late. Are you kidding me?
So my plea to anyone on this board - DO NOT under any circumstances get roped into AT&T Next. It is the most blatent bait and switch use of semantics I have ever heard. You will regret it and in the long run, it is not best for anyone.
I am now in the process of canceling four lines and have told any AT&T rep that would listen that they can bill me whatever they'd like, they will not get a dime from me for any of it.
All I wanted was some help. As I said, I was willing to meet them in the middle on the NEXT device AND keep the other three lines active. I got the same response - we're sorry, give us $700.
Just wanted to share my horror story and hope I can be an example of why NOT to go with AT&T Next.
Matt