lost phone, ATT wont do anything

lost our phone 6 months into two year contract. ATT wont upgrade, wont replace, wont let us get a free cheap phone under same contract. basically they just want us to get a new phone and a new contract. what are our options please? we would like to get a new phone but keep the current contract going w/out penalty.

Pastogie,

The first relevant question worth asking is whether or not you purchased insurance with AT&T on your phone. To the best of my knowledge, the company (nor any cellular service) doesn't automatically offer to replace lost phones. Without insurance, that responsibility is solely on the owners.

With regards to a new contract: frankly, AT&T doesn't care what kind of phone you use (or if you ever use your phone!), only that you pay your monthly dues and don't use the service in ways illegal or illicit. Many AT&T customers buy & use phones that are not available from AT&T; I use an unlocked O2 Jet - which is only available in the UK!

The point is that you can buy a new phone - from AT&T or not - and use it with your existing contract. The only thing standing in your way is which phone; you want to make sure that your new phone is compatible with AT&T's network (unlocked, GSM and using, at least, the 850/1900 bands).

What I suspect happened is that an AT&T salesperson, upon hearing your request for a new phone, gave you the subsidized price of a phone, along with the fact that you can only receive subsidized pricing if you open a new line/contract. Otherwise you pay the full price of the phone. I'm sorry that wasn't clear, but know that AT&T does not require that you purchase a new line or contract to get a new phone - only to receive subsidized pricing. You can buy any phone that AT&T supplies... at full price.

I recommend buying a phone outside of AT&T - or buying a refurbished phone from AT&T (they only sell those online, but don't require a new line or contract. There are two really cheap phones available: The Nokia 6085 & the Nokia 2610 - both for $20 + tax & shipping. If you want a phone right now, you could simply buy an AT&T GoPhone (T-Mobile/Verizon/Virgin Mobile/Tracfone and others are NOT compatible) and slip in your own SIM chip instead of activating the pay-as-you-go service. I did that once when my phone was stolen.

Alternatively, a little searching on eBay could find you good phones at decent prices (the Motorola RAZR V3 generally runs at about $100, after shipping).

It is frustrating & expensive to have lost your phone, but you have plenty of options in replacing the phone and no obligations to burden yourself with another contract or line with AT&T. Happy hunting in finding a new phone that fits you (and perhaps exceeds your previous phone).

Respectfully,
Jacob M.

thanks for the quick response and info jacob. i actually have a previous phone, razor and tried to have att activate it with the old sim card. said they couldn't do it. is it possible to use my old razor.and how to go about in doing it? and do i need a new sim card?

thanks

If you lost your sim then yes you will need to be issued another sim card.

You'll need to purchase another sim card from an ATT store and call customer service to activate it. Once activated it should work in the razr. Sim cards go for about $25 at the store.

Pastogie,

I'm glad to help! Its good to be able to ease some of the frustration of losing (or having been robbed, in many cases) a phone.

Like the others say above, the problem here is your old SIM card. With regards to the requisite $25, AT&T is somewhat fickle on its policy to charge for SIM cards. I've been charged at some stores and not at others - it depends on the reason you are getting a new one and the salesperson. But you can purchase the card at any store and have it activated right there. Just make sure that the store is a full-fledged AT&T store (not a kiosk stand in the middle of the mall or a setup like RadioShack).

Is the RAZR you have an AT&T phone? If not, just know that you'll need to get it unlocked to use it with AT&T. If I'm reading you right, though, your saying that it is a previous phone with AT&T. If thats the case, you shouldn't have any problems.

Peace,
Jacob M.

if the phone is lost stolen or damaged and you dont have insurance there is the nokia 2610 for 39.99 available thru customer care or at a corporate retail store

its not a *fancy* phone but it will get you by.

25 for a sim? seems a little pricey. then again it is att.

the store **can** charge 25 bux for a sim. but in a lot of cases its provided free . thats just stuff you have to say

the store **can** charge 25 bux for a sim. but in a lot of cases its provided free . thats just stuff you have to say

lost phone, ATT wont do anything

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