You might think you just got a great deal on a cell phone and a steal of the monthly plan for $34.99 per month, however, this phone comes with an upgrade fee
" Julie-Ann Klein, a Washington, DC real estate agent, found out about upgrade fees the hard way. Klein had an old AT&T wireless phone and decided recently to get in all in one gadget that would make her calls and receive e-mail on the road. Cingular acquired AT&T wireless two years ago, so Klein had a turn to Cingular for the new e-mail phone.
The gadget worked fine, and she had no complaints, until the first bill came. On page 4 of the 22 page bill, there was a long list of "other services"... at the bottom of this list was the entry: "promotion for upgrade processor." $18 "
Klein was furious about the fee. She says she was never told about the fee. When she contacted Cingular, they held their ground and refused to remove it.
Cingular says all fees are disclosed to customers before they sign their phone contracts.
The charge for upgrade fees depends on the cellular phone company which can range from $18- $36. Other companies like Verizon and T-Mobile do not charge an upgrade fee.
The purpose of the upgrade fee is for the process of changing your hand set out and programming the new one (and) making adjustments to your account, according to Mark Eliot spokesman for Sprint.
a good FYI... the last phone that I bought (upgraded), I was informed up front about the fees.
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