So...we have a family plan with 5 iphones, 4 of which are unlimited data. We have the lowest amount of shared min. (700) available plus unlimited text. Our total bill is $271. Is it worth my time to go to an AT&T store or call? What's the best approach?
As others said, first check data usage, but probably yes. I was using about 15GB/month (more than probably 99.99% of smartphone users) but it was really pretty easy to curtail down to 3-4 once I got my special dealer line and was limited to 5GB. AT&T should have this information readily available.
Doing a quick check on T-Mobile, I can get the same thing basically for $190 a month and would include unlimited minutes so guess I have some bargaining power.
Keep in mind that you pay full tilt for the device with T-Mobile. If it's $190 (which does not include taxes, mind you -- taxes are based on a myriad of factors and there is NO WAY to estimate what they would be without physically setting service up), I'm guessing that's three lines with unlimited and two with 2.5GB. You can bring your AT&T devices over but if anybody wants something new, the full price of the device gets spread out into 24 installments on the bill, meaning if everybody gets new phones, that $190 turns into $290-300, if you don't want to plunk down ~$600-700 per phone.
AT&T's 10GB plan is basically $100 for the data and $15/line, but those will jump to $40 if they upgrade after the next couple months here. So, like T-Mobile, it's good when you're out of contract, then can go as high as $300 if everybody has a new phone.
So, basically, it's six of one, half a dozen of the other. You can get a better deal once you've fulfilled a two year agreement or paid off the full cost of the phone. So it's probably better to switch.
T-Mobile offers the unlimited, but AT&T provides much better coverage in that part of the country.
My ultimate take on it is this: Yes, your bill is high, but the other deals come with a catch, which I've outlined. If you use the heck out of your data, and three or more of the lines are relatively quick to use their upgrade eligibility, I would stay where you're at. You're getting the unlimited AND the good coverage. If you're not astronomical on the data usage, and most of the people hang on to their phones for 3-4 years, I would switch to the new AT&T plan.
Should I just call AT&T and ask for customer retention and just flat out say what I can get everything from T-Mobile for?
No. There's no such thing as them snapping their fingers and just changing your rate plan. I use the same systems at my work that they use at theirs; there is a menu on a computer with the available plans. They might offer you a one time bill credit, or an early upgrade, but there is no way to just get some mythical rate plan.
Is there any benefit for people who just have a single line? Right now I'm paying AT&T $105 a month for one phone with 450 minutes, unlimited text and 3 GB of data.
$105 sounds a little high. Your plan should cost $90, before taxes. Check your account to see if you're paying for extra features like insurance or roadside assistance.
But, if you use that 2-3GB, then not really. If you can dial that back to 1GB/month, Verizon is running a $60/month promo with unlimited talk and text, and you can keep it for life.
Im on verizon but Im about to call and raise some hail. We pay $160 for 2 lines, 700 min, unl text and 2 GBs each. Thats with a 22% dicount my wife gets through work.
Assuming text is in there, you're not really gonna get a better deal with Verizon. They are far and away the best carrier in terms of coverage and reliability throughout the country, they are also the most expensive. You can save monthly if you switch to another carrier, but likely not without sacrificing a fairly substantial amount of coverage. They've got the superior product and its priced accordingly.
