Stolen iPhone

babyminx · 11-05-2009, 10:27 AM

Hi, I'm new to the forum (and soon-to-be iPhone 3GS owner, the closest thing I can get to my beloved Japanese phone after being back in the States).

I'm currently on a family plan with my brother; he has/had a refurb iPhone 3G that he upgraded to a few months ago when our contract was up. His phone was stolen a few days ago, and now we're trying to come up with ways to replace it for the cheapest price. I spoke to an AT&T rep that said he could qualify for an early upgrade, but the same refurb 3G phone would cost $249.

So I've come up with a plan for replacing his phone, and I would like to know if this sounds possible:

Add a third line (my other brother wants a cell phone) and use the new customer deal to get a 3G refurb ($49). On my brother's old line, get a cheap regular phone so that he can have a new SIM card for his telephone number. Afterwards, switch the two SIM cards so that my first brother has an iPhone again and my other brother has a regular cell phone. Then, cancel the data plan on the third line (because now it's not using an iPhone) and add a data plan back to my first brother.

If this plan is feasible, does anybody know how long I would have to wait to cancel the data plan on the third line and add it to the second line?

Other suggestions welcome.

MrEous · 11-06-2009, 02:01 PM

You could delete it right away...though you have a problem.

The 3rd line will be $10/month for 24 months now. While that doesn't seem like a lot just remember 10*24=$240. Also don't forget that you'll be paying the activation fee and possibly the first month's data...so he's paying 240+49+$30data=at least $319! before the activation fee for the 'new' refurb.
If you shut the 3rd line down, then it will be cheaper but the ETF is going to be $175. Also don't forget that you'll be paying the activation fee and possibly the first month's data...so that option will be 175+49+$30data = $254 before the activation fee for the refurb.

Either way you're going to spend $249 to $319 for his replacement...at least with the $249 quote you will be getting a new refurb without the headache of adding the 3rd line.

biggrumpy · 11-07-2009, 10:29 AM

if you are going to use the 3rd line anyway, add a new line. tell them at the att store that you want the iphone to have the old number on it. you can buy a cheap go phone to use for the new line. that way, you never have a data plan on the new line.

my 3G went into the washing machine...I didn't qualify for reduced price. I added another
line to my account, bought the new iphone 3GS at new customer rate, put it on my old
number, and had the new sim card put into another phone

you will have to pay activation fees, but there is activation fees on any phone you add
with att

babyminx · 11-08-2009, 12:41 PM

Thanks for the replies!

We went to the AT&T store and explained the situation about the stolen phone and also wanting a third line for my other brother. So the guy added the third line and used the new customer phone subsidy from the third line to get an iPhone (16GB 3GS, since now my brother wants to use his iPhone as his only iPod) and added it back to my first brother's line. So for the third line, all we paid was $26 for the activation fee (I'm giving him either my old phone or getting him a GO Phone; he's only 11). So my first brother has a phone again (Happy early Birthday and Merry Christmas to him), my other brother now has his first cell phone, and I'm a proud owner of my first iPhone!

Cjvdh · 11-08-2009, 01:14 PM

There you go everyone is happy now.