Anyone know how to interpret AT&T Wireless billing?

jrsharp21 · October 29, 2018

So a few months ago we made some changes on our account that was supposed to have reduced our bill significantly. We have seen a small drop, but not like the AT&T rep promised us. I am trying to figure this piece out:

We switch our 4 phone lines to AT&T Unlimited & More Premium Multi Line. This package includes unlimited talk, text, and data. But there is also an individual charge on every line that says "Access for Iphone 4G LTE with VM". I was thinking that line item would go away since we are now paying for an unlimited plan. But is it that the "Access" piece is paying to just have your phone on their network and then the unlimited plan is the ability to actually do things on their network?

So like paying an entrance to amusement park but then having to buy tickets if you actually want to get on rides?

jpdx · October 30, 2018

I was previously grandfathered into the original unlimited plan and paid for a couple other lines with small data plans. when I switched to the new plan similar to yours, I had a $35ish dollar drop per month. each line you have will have the access charge, but then all the lines have unlimited t/t/d. in the end, 35ish a month and unlimited on the other lines is a win for us.

jrsharp21 · October 30, 2018

I was previously grandfathered into the original unlimited plan and paid for a couple other lines with small data plans. when I switched to the new plan similar to yours, I had a $35ish dollar drop per month. each line you have will have the access charge, but then all the lines have unlimited t/t/d. in the end, 35ish a month and unlimited on the other lines is a win for us.

Thanks. Same exact situation you were in. We had the grandfathered unlimited plan. Then we switched to the new unlimited plan because they told us it was cheaper.

So if I doing this math correctly:

4 lines x $35 access fee: $140

AT&T Unlimited Plan: $100 - $30 discount for 4 lines = $70

So $210 plus all the stupid taxes is what we should be paying.

jamie · October 30, 2018

I think the access fee is the payment plan for the phone before they switched to payment plans for all phones. With my company plan...I used to pay the $200 for new phone and think that was it but the bill had an access charge which would go off when you paid off your phone...unbeknownst to me that it was payments as I thought it was paid off with the $200. Now billing is more clear with the payment plan #/payments left clearly listed.

jrsharp21 · October 30, 2018

I think the access fee is the payment plan for the phone before they switched to payment plans for all phones. With my company plan...I used to pay the $200 for new phone and think that was it but the bill had an access charge which would go off when you paid off your phone...unbeknownst to me that it was payments as I thought it was paid off with the $200. Now billing is more clear with the payment plan #/payments left clearly listed.

I don’t think it is because two of our 4 phones are old and clearly paid off.

highergr0und · October 31, 2018

I hate ATT and just left them. They purposely make it really difficult. Go to a store and ask to talk to the manager to have it all explained and hope they can do it.

CHuntsman · November 1, 2018

I hate ATT and just left them. They purposely make it really difficult. Go to a store and ask to talk to the manager to have it all explained and hope they can do it.

Ask for Lilly...

jpdx · November 10, 2018

I was previously grandfathered into the original unlimited plan and paid for a couple other lines with small data plans. when I switched to the new plan similar to yours, I had a $35ish dollar drop per month. each line you have will have the access charge, but then all the lines have unlimited t/t/d. in the end, 35ish a month and unlimited on the other lines is a win for us.

Thanks. Same exact situation you were in. We had the grandfathered unlimited plan. Then we switched to the new unlimited plan because they told us it was cheaper.

So if I doing this math correctly:

4 lines x $35 access fee: $140
AT&T Unlimited Plan: $100 - $30 discount for 4 lines = $70

So $210 plus all the stupid taxes is what we should be paying.

I guess I’m stuck figuring why your access fee is $35. I just checked and my bill says $20. I’d just go in and check. There’s different levels of this unlimited plan now I guess.