Hottest Deal OF ALL TIME!!

[WooDaddy]

The US DoJ just approved the Cingular Wireless acquisition of AT&T Wireless. What does this mean to you?

When AT&T Wireless switches over to Cingular, the customer agreement has to change. When the customer agreement changes, you have 30 days to approve. To disapprove, call and cancel your service.

So... why is this hot? If you wanted to get out, now you can without paying a disconnect fee. You don't owe squat! This probably applies to phone, etc.

Personally, I'm happy with my AT&T wireless account, but in case you aren't. I just thought that it's good to inform other consumers of this.

I'll post a link to the customer service agreement once I figure out where it is online. Typically, you'll have to check your bill in the mail or stop by a store. Make sure you check the revision date. If it's recent, and you don't like your service, cancel for free.

Update 10/26

Cingular has just announced it's approved. Here's the press release: Cingular Merger info

Additionally, here's the current AT&T Wireless Service Agreement Terms: Service Agreement

As you will notice, the terms page does not have a date. You'll have to go to an AT&T Wireless store to get that info.

The downside is if you want to start an account and the terms changed today. You'll have to wait until the next time they're changed in order to do so. Who knows when that will be....

Update 10/26 5:34PM CST
I'm heading to a AT&T Wireless store to get the info. I'll post when I get the date of last change.

 

[MichaelHudson]

What is the date for the switch over?

 

[WooDaddy]

Originally posted by: MichaelHudson
What is the date for the switch over?

Unfortunately, I don't know. I'll keep my eyes peeled. Here's the press info:

Cingular gets OK from US DoJ

 

[Parasitic]

Cingular Wireless is going to offer existing AWS customers the same rate plans for the remaining length of their contracts. Nothing is going to change until those contracts run out.

 

[Jaxidian]

Originally posted by: Parasitic
Cingular Wireless is going to offer existing AWS customers the same rate plans for the remaining length of their contracts. Nothing is going to change until those contracts run out.

yup

 

[SelArom]

this is hot, and though not technically a deal, it's good to know -- I remember when I was with verizon I hated the service, and the price was just way to much for way too little. They made a change to the agreement, something about late fees. I called and said "no you're not gonna change my late fees, cancel my service" and they did. and I saved $350 in cancellation fees cuz I had two phones... sweeeet

this also works for satellite tv, and pretty much anything with a contract. just pay attention to the other crap they stuff in with your bill

 

[50]

I thought attws was bought by cingular a couple months ago...

 

[pancho619]

I've been looking for a way to get out of my ATTW service, it's gotten crappier each day with calls dropping like crazy. I'm going back to Verizon as soon as they cancel my service.

 

[geekender]

If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

 

[Meatwad]

If I signed up for ATTW now, would I be able to drop the service when the customer agreement changes?

 

[caivoma]

bump for more info. anyone ?

 

[peteboymoron]

keep me posted on the date.

 

[tranquilflow]

awesome. keep me posted too

 

[nnnyyy]

Originally posted by: geekender
If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

ditto!

 

[sapiens74]

PLease, I have 3 phones with ATT wireless, if you find a way out let me know

 

[pclstyle]

Do ya think this would work?

I Paid 50$ for a v600 (after 225$ amazon rebate plan/phone thingie), resell phone for $250.

Would I be able to: 1) Terminate contract with AT&T and then purchase a new plan/phone on Amazon and pick up another rebate. 2) Make a good amount of money.

I dunno why it wouldn't, but I would have to hope for a bit of luck on the timing I'd think.

 

[huesmann]

Hardly the hottest deal of all time. Some of us like ATTWS, especially those of us who live in a Sprint/T-mo dead zone.

 

[corkypa]

I'd like to get the Nokia 6620 from Amazon but without the 2 year committment. Looking over the agreements and rebate forms, it looks like buying the phone now would let you apply for the AT&T and Amazon rebates, but there is a risk of missing the AT&T rebate. For that, you have to be on AT&T for 30 days, and be on the service when the rebate is processed, so you are probably talking 60-90 days. Or maybe if you send the rebate in before your first 30 days on the plan are up, it will process more quickly.

Once you get the change of terms notice from AT&T, you have 20 days to cancel. If the FCC approval is imminent, then concievably you get the notice in your first bill (say 30 days from now) and have 20 days beyond that, so you are probably coming up a little short. I don't know if they would let you cancel the contract but stay on AT&T service, which might let you get the rebate.


Edit: Oops, never mind. FCC just approved.

 

[rudeguy]

maybe its just because I have a friend that works there, but I got out of my contract this week. No ETF, just my usually bill.

I will make some calls later on to find out the details.

 

[WooDaddy]

Originally posted by: geekender
If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

Actually, as SelArom said, anytime there's a change to your service agreement contract, whether it be AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, DirectTV, PronCentralTVandHomeService, Diapers4Adults, etc, you legally have the right to disapprove of the contract changes by exiting the contract. You are absolved of all premature contract ending fees. In this case, this means the $150 disconnection fee for AT&T and Cingular and whomever.

Still looking for more info.

And yes, AT&T and Cingular already agreed to the merger, but since they will become the largest mobile phone provider, they had to go through all kinds of steps to get it approved from the government.

I'll check my cell phone bill this month to see if there were any changes. If so, I'll change my OP.

 

[gopunk]

fcc still needs to approve it

 

[klaxon]

slightly off-topic, but can anyone give an overview of when these early termination fees are required to be pro-rated? i think contract termination fees are required to be pro-rated in some states. the contracts never mention proration of the early term fee, but still some state laws mandate it.

 

[spunkz]

Originally posted by: WooDaddy

Originally posted by: geekender
If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

Actually, as SelArom said, anytime there's a change to your service agreement contract, whether it be AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, DirectTV, PronCentralTVandHomeService, Diapers4Adults, etc, you legally have the right to disapprove of the contract changes by exiting the contract. You are absolved of all premature contract ending fees. In this case, this means the $150 disconnection fee for AT&T and Cingular and whomever.

Still looking for more info.

And yes, AT&T and Cingular already agreed to the merger, but since they will become the largest mobile phone provider, they had to go through all kinds of steps to get it approved from the government.

I'll check my cell phone bill this month to see if there were any changes. If so, I'll change my OP.

since last month i've been seeing cingular now and then instead of at&t on my phone. did they already combine their cell towers or whatever?

 

[Gothgar]

Originally posted by: spunkz

Originally posted by: WooDaddy

Originally posted by: geekender
If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

Actually, as SelArom said, anytime there's a change to your service agreement contract, whether it be AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, DirectTV, PronCentralTVandHomeService, Diapers4Adults, etc, you legally have the right to disapprove of the contract changes by exiting the contract. You are absolved of all premature contract ending fees. In this case, this means the $150 disconnection fee for AT&T and Cingular and whomever.

Still looking for more info.

And yes, AT&T and Cingular already agreed to the merger, but since they will become the largest mobile phone provider, they had to go through all kinds of steps to get it approved from the government.

I'll check my cell phone bill this month to see if there were any changes. If so, I'll change my OP.

since last month i've been seeing cingular now and then instead of at&t on my phone. did they already combine their cell towers or whatever?

yes, they are in the process of merging all the service, soon, when it is all finished, Cingular/ATTWS will be by a big shot larger than Verizon, personally I am happy with my ATTWS, if you guys look at the deal for current ATTWS customers, you can get almost any phone for free, another posting in these forums, I wonder if that sets you up on the new contract?

 

[WooDaddy]

Originally posted by: spunkz

Originally posted by: WooDaddy

Originally posted by: geekender
If you know of a way to get out of Cingular....that would be hot.

Actually, as SelArom said, anytime there's a change to your service agreement contract, whether it be AT&T, Sprint, Cingular, DirectTV, PronCentralTVandHomeService, Diapers4Adults, etc, you legally have the right to disapprove of the contract changes by exiting the contract. You are absolved of all premature contract ending fees. In this case, this means the $150 disconnection fee for AT&T and Cingular and whomever.

Still looking for more info.

And yes, AT&T and Cingular already agreed to the merger, but since they will become the largest mobile phone provider, they had to go through all kinds of steps to get it approved from the government.

I'll check my cell phone bill this month to see if there were any changes. If so, I'll change my OP.

since last month i've been seeing cingular now and then instead of at&t on my phone. did they already combine their cell towers or whatever?

Yes, they have. The cell station sharing has been going on for a while now. True roaming...

Hell, I just checked my phone and it says Cingular Wireless... When roaming it would say CINGULAR WIRELESS in all caps.

Time to call SBC and get another discount to combine my home phone.