When you get a new smartphone for your device payment plans or just a totally new smartphone at full retail price, you don’t expect your carrier to charge you extra since you’re already paying for that new device. But apparently, Verizon doesn’t think so since they introduced a $20 upgrade fee for every time you will do so. AT&T previously has one too but just two days after Verizon’s announcement, the former has raised their fee to match the latter.
So now, instead of just the $15 upgrade fee, you will now pay $20 as well whenever you’re upgrading your current smartphone, apart from the actual price you pay for buying the device. The official term is “activation and upgrade fees” which will be charged to you whenever you activate or upgrade with AT&T Next.
You also get charged $20 for installment agreements and if you bring your own device when you sign up with AT&T. But if you sign up for a two-year agreement (on selected devices), you’ll be charged $45. However, unlike with Verizon’s fee, it looks like if you opt to pay full price for your device, you won’t get charged the fee by AT&T.
While of course it’s a carrier’s prerogative to have these charges, $20 seems a bit too expensive especially since you’re actually shelling out money to upgrade to a new phone or a new payment plan. T-Mobile is the only carrier who doesn’t have “upgrade fees” and so probably John Legere will mention something about that in the next few days, as he so often does.
VIA: Droid Life
