Expert: DebiN - 9/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: we have been with AT&T for many many years. Our contract is now up. We want to stay with them if possible. They have given us on our last contract 400 bonus minutes a month for resigning. We have two phones. We would like to lower our basic plan minutes and keep our 400 bonus minutes so that our final bill after adding Internet and etc. stays the same. Is there a way to bargain for this. We do not want to pay more.
Also, we wonder can you recommend a phone other than blackberry that synchs with outlook, has qwerty and gps and 4 quad. The reason that we do not want blackberry is that AT&T told us they could get us Data/internet cheaper on a non blackberry phone. Thanks. Evelyn

ANSWER: The very lowest rate you can get for one person is $39.99 for 450 minutes. The lowest family plan is $59.99 for two lines and 550 minutes. It doesn't get any lower than that price. The lowest cost unlimited data plan is $15.00 for an individual or $30.00 for a family. The lowest BlackBerry data plan is $30.00 per person. All SmartPhone plans are $30.00, however, so if you get an iPhone, for example, the lowest data plan is $30.00. You would have to get a non-Smartphone in order to pay only $15.00, so whether you get a iPhone, BlackBerry, HTC device or other SmartPhone, it's going to cost you the same as the BlackBerr. If you really want a device that synchs with Outlook, you will likely need a SmartPhone. I'm not aware of any non-SmartPhone that synchs with Outlook, but the AT&T store may know of one. They are all quad band, but only a few devices have GPS. What plan are you currently on? Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: right now, i pay 89.99 for 1400 minutes plus 10 for second phone..then I have 400 bonus minutes for being a long time customer. what they offered is the same as what you said: plus 30 for the two of us for unlimited data and I guess that is the best we can do. thanks.
i think i will wait until they have a special offer because i do not want another contract that locks us in. i could buy a phone from a dealer here, but still would need to add data etc.


Answer
AT&T doesn't have specials very often as it relates to rate plans. Getting an bonus 400 minutes is very good. The price for 1,400 minutes is 89.99 which includes two lines, so if you have three phones, then you would pay an additional $9.99. This is their current standard family talk plan. I always tell people not to be too concerned about the contract, because what you get in exchange for a 2 year contract term is a free or low cost device. The early termination fees are $175.00 and then go down by $5.00 per month for every month you have had service and when you get a device like a BlackBerry for $99.99, for example, and the standard price is $400.00, that $300.00 you saved by signing a contract is already $125.00 less than the early termination fee in just the first month. In any event, it sounds like you have what you need for now. If I can help with anything else, please let me know. Take care. Thanks. DebiN