Getting around data charges
 

So I'm with AT&T and I have an upgrade coming up in February, and I shop around on the site for a new phone. What I discover is that all Blackberries require a $30/month data plan. I don't want a data plan and since I'm sure someone will say "Why would you want a blackberry without a data plan that's not putting it to its full potential?" -

1. I'm not rolling in cash; $30 a month is alot to a 17 year old.

2. Why would I need it in the first place? Blackberries have wifi so I can use that instead. If I want to check the weather or look for a street address while away from wifi I can text google for free. Besides there isn't 3g coverage in my area anyway.

3. I don't necessarily need a blackberry, but any phone that doesn't completely suck requires a data plan anyway, so why not get the best out there

So anyways, I know that you can no longer cancel data plans with AT&T, so is there another method, perhaps buying the phone on Ebay or something like that? By the way, I'm not sure if it matters but our family has all data blocked.

AT&T will add a data plan to your line as soon as they see you have a BlackBerry, so there is no way around it. Even if you buy it on eBay.

Sorry....

I can confirm that ATT checks your devices and will add the dataplan when it sees a device requiring one. Did that when I plugged in my SIM to an old BB to see if it worked. Got a text and an email saying that I now had a dataplan on that account.

If you can't afford a data plan, don't get a device that uses data. Simple as that.

aight thanks guys

People need to remember that a BB requires "pay to play". They are not fashionable accessories or things to acquire because "your friend has one". 8-)

Verizon is now requiring a data plan for all "smart" phones. It is the wave of the future. If you don't want to have to pay a monthly fee for data get a phone with minimum features as Dubdub suggested. Or, as you are 17 and have no cash consider not having a phone. Go to college, get a job and then you can have some perks. BlackBerrys, iPhones, and other smart phones will run you about $ 100 a month minimum unless you are on a family plan and then you will be paying about $ 40-50 after tax, fees, money to grease congressmen, etc.

Well worded TBOLTRAM. Best sentence I've heard in a while.

Little side-note here: T-Mobile carries BlackBerries, such as the Bold 9700 (my wife and I just got one each) and do not require a data plan. They DO require a minimum $14.99 service added on, though, so I was cheap and got the $14.99 unlimited text messaging. Just putting this out there, as it's cheaper than a full data plan. Though if you ask my wife, she couldn't exist without her Facebook etc on the go :)

T-Mobile DOES require data plans on smartphones. Please do not spread false information.

I'm not. It's a widely held myth that even a lot of T-Mobile reps believe, but NOT reality.

I bought my Bold 9700 at a third party T-Mobile affiliate store. They explained that a $14.99 or above service was required, not necessarily a data plan. I chose the unlimited text option, knowing I'd be doing all my data usage at home, where I have wifi. This has worked out great, and saved me a bit on my monthly bill.

After I had the phone for a week, my wife fell in love with it... so I got her one. This time, I went directly to an actual T-Mobile store (an hour and a half away... long story, no one stocks the 9700's around here!). When I explained my Texting plan setup to them, they'd never heard of it before- pretty much stating what you are, dc/dc. However, they called customer service themselves and found out that it's true; a data plan is NOT required. I left the store with my wife's new 9700, adding only another $14.99 unlimited texting to her line- NOT a data plan.

Of course, within minutes of getting the phone, my wife had to have the data plan so Facebook would work ;-) One phone call and sixty minutes later, she was happily posting updates while I drove... The point is, even if it's not widely known, I'm not spreading lies. My T-Mobile 9700 has no data plan; I'm okay with it and so is T-Mobile. Sorry if anyone else is irritated by it 8-)

Listen cupcake, it is reality. Data plans are required. Just because your store and some CSR said it isn't doesn't make it the truth.

If they're like any other carrier, such as AT&T, and do sweeps of what devices are on their network, they could add the data plan to your account seeing that you have a BlackBerry. AT&T does this and I wouldn't be surprised if T-Mobile does as well.

I don't know what to tell you. An affiliate store (who explained they hook up about half their BlackBerry upgrades this way), a bona fide T-Mobile store (who called not just "some CSR," but their support), and multiple T-Mobile phone reps are all telling one story, and you're telling another. If they are all smoking something, then I'm sorry. In the meantime I'll enjoy my lack of data plan. *shrug* I'm not hiding anything, they're all well aware of the situation and okay with it.

Edit: Brand new billing cycle tripped on the 20th, so posting a screenshot of my T-Mobile line's online account (BB 9700 / no data plan, just Unlimited Texts).

Yes, they're all smoking something, and I really hope you get stuck with some fat per-kb data charges.

Also, just because the idiots you spoke to are ok with it does not mean that the company is.

Thanks for the good will. Received a bill already, and keep track online; we pay about $93 per month, no data charges. Hadn't realized that everyone I talk to are idiots... good to know. :razz:

really? so let me get this straight, you want him stuck with a fat data charge for a plan that T-Mo customer service setup for him and said was fine? amazing the things you read on this site sometimes.

That $14.99 add-on sounds like some kind of BlackBerry data plan. T-Mobile offered something a while back called a "feature enabler" that would give you *some* of the functions of a BB data plan without subscribing to the full plan. The idea was that you could audition the BB data plan features and decide it you wanted to continue using them by buying the full plan. But it was supposed to be temporary.

I'm pretty sure it's a bona fide Unlimited Texting plan. That's how it was described to me as, how the T-Mobile folk see it, and how it is shown on my web account (see screenshot), both on that page and in the more detailed view. It was explained to me as "You need at least a $15 per month service to have the BlackBerry; you can either choose the $30 data plan, or just add Unlimited Texting for $15." I chose the latter, being terrified of what our bill would turn into. Now I'm glad I did, since the wife got the $30 data plan added to her line... the $15 savings doesn't seem like much, but would have pushed us over $100 a month. Hence my piping up here in the first place, so others would know how to scrimp a little when needed :smile:

Yep, everyone you've spoken to at T-Mobile is an idiot.

Absolutely. He knows it's not right and he's continuing to do it.

Okay, now this is getting silly. Everyone I've spoken to, including people employed by, representing, and speaking for T-Mobile are 'idiots' ... because you say so?

I'm sorry, I know what? Everyone I've talked to except you thinks it's just fine. I wasn't aware you're in charge of Right vs Wrong, or that I should take some anonymous forum poster's word over various people employed by my phone company whom I've spoken to in person.

Seriously, man. Is all this sour grapes and animosity over a measly $15 a month?