Tags: at&t, billing, customerservice, family, iphone, money saving, travelplanner

Note: This post was updated on September 3, 2010 and should only serve as a guide. Talk to at&t for the most up to date information!

Solvate is the country’s premier on-demand workforce. Solvate Talent Marlene Eldemire is an executive assistant who updated this post to help those of you who need iPhone help – and she’s available to combine your iPhone plans for you. Just submit a request to connect on a complimentary call with her or call 646.720.7110. Want to do it yourself? Read on:

If you and your significant other are both using iPhones — even if it’s a 2G/3G split — you can combine those individual plans onto a Family Talk plan and save money.

These instructions are for combining two plans.

The basics:

• Designate who is going to transfer their account (Account A) and who is going to be the “master” (the one receiving the transfer, Account B).
• Combining these two accounts will cost Account B $18, and no penalties except it kicks out Account A’s AT&T contract.  This transaction can be completed at an AT&T corporate store (not an authorized AT&T retailer) for the cost of $18.00 or on-line at no cost..
• You need to check how much time Account A has left on the contract. If it’s more than 11 months, you are stuck with the same contract. If it’s less than 11 months left on the contract, AT&T makes you extend it to 11 months from the date of transfer.
• OPTION 1:   If Account A has more than 11 months remaining on the contract the transaction can be completed on-line or in person at an AT&T corporate store (not an authorized AT&T retailer.
• OPTION 2:   If Account A has less than 11 months remaining on the contract the transaction can be completed on-line, in person at an AT&T corporate store (not an authorized AT&T retailer) or on the phone at 877-745-2179, Transfer of Financial Responsiblilty Department.
• To transfer on line for either option:  Account A should set up an authorization on-line to transfer to Account B.  Account B will receive an e-mail on how to accept and complete the transfer of service
• Both accounts must have been in service for at least 60 days.
• Accounts cannot be combined if either account has a past due balance.

You can view your contract end date online by visiting the myWireless Account home page, selecting the My Profile link, then selecting the User Information tab in the center of the page,.  If you have multiple phones on your account, select the appropriate phone number.  Your contract end date is under the Contract Information section of the page.

• You’ll both have access to the combined account, but the account owner will be the one whose name is listed on the master account; the non-owner will need the last 4 digits of the owner’s social security to access the account moving forward.
• 2G/3G? Only difference is the pricing on your data plans– usually $15/month for 200 MB, $25/month for 2GB unlimited. That stays the same unless you choose to bundle your data plans (more expensive!)

Now onto pricing. AT&T provides you four  options — here’s the layman’s rundown:

Every user on the account must have a cell phone plan and a data plan. Everyone on the account must be on the same cell phone plan, however each user can choose from one of two data plans for their iPhone.  Messagng plans are optional.  All 4 options listed below allow you to add a messaging plan.

Option 1

• 550 shared minutes $59.99/month for first 2 lines (max 3 lines) ($9.99 for additional line)
• features are rollover, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile
• data and texting are in addition to these rates
• data: $15/month for 200 MB of data or $25/month for 2 GB.  messaging: $30/month for unlimited messaging ($30 total, not $30 each), $20/month each for unlimited messaging, $15/month for 1500 messages/month and $5/month for 200 messages per month.

Option 2

• 700 shared minutes $69.99/month for first 2 lines (max 5 lines) ($9.99 for additional line)
• features are rollover, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile
• data and texting are in addition to these rates
• data: $15/month for 200 MB of data or $25/month for 2 GB.  messaging: $30/month for unlimited messaging ($30 total, not $30 each), $20/month each for unlimited messaging, $15/month for 1500 messages/month and $5/month for 200 messages per month.

Option 3

• 1400 shared minutes $89.99/month for first 2 lines (max 5 lines) ($9.99 for additional line)
• features are rollover, unlimited nights/weekends, unlimited mobile to mobile and A-List
• data and texting are in addition to these rates
• data: $15/month for 200 MB of data or $25/month for 2 GB. messaging: $30/month for unlimited messaging ($30 total, not $30 each), $20/month each for unlimited messaging, and $5/month for 200 messages per month.
• A-List feature

Option 4

• Unlimited shared minutes $119.99/month for first 2 lines (max 5 lines) ($49.99 for additional line)
• features are unlimited nights/weekends and unlimited mobile to mobile.
• data and texting are in addition to these rates
• data: $15/month for 200 MB of data or $25/month for 2 GB. messaging: $30/month for unlimited messaging ($30 total, not $30 each), $20/month each for unlimited messaging, $15/month for 1500 messages/month and $5/month for 200 messages per month

Instructions to combine the iPhone accounts:

• Transferring account, Account A, needs to call AT&T (611 from iPhone or call 877-745-2179), or go to myWireless Account or an AT&T corporate store and authorize the transfer. If there are more than 11 months on contract you cannot transfer by phone.
• Master account, Account B, calls (877-745-2179),  goes to myWireless Account  next to accept transfer.
• Account B tells AT&T which plan options (from above) it wants.
• Account B makes sure to confirm that only A’s contract will be extended, and for how long.
• Your joint statement will kick in at the end of the master’s billing cycle.
• Done!

Bonus round: you want to combine your now-combined Family Talk iPhones to an AT&T land line. Ambitious!

You can combine your iPhone to an AT&T land line at no charge if you have the Family Cell Phone Plan that includes the A-List feature, which is option 3 above:

1400 minutes (maximum 5 lines) @ $89.99 per month for the 1^st two lines and $9.99 for each additional line.

You can create your own A-List and add up to 10 numbers on your Family Talk Plan.  You get unlimited calling to and from these 10 numbers including any domestic numbers, numbers on any network – including landline numbers.

Restrictions are: no numbers outside of the U.S., your voice mail number, your own number, 900 calls, or directory assisatance.

You can change the numbers at any time by going to myWireless Account.

CAUTION:  It takes 24 hours after you add a new number for that number to be effective.

HINT:  Do not add AT&T numbers.  Calls to and from your A-List numbers are not charged against your rate plan, Mobile to Mobile, or Rollover minutes.

Steps:

• First you combine the iPhone accounts (above)
• Then create your A-List.

Too much work? This post was updated by Marlene Eldemire, star Solvate Talent and an executive assistant who’s available on demand to sort out your iPhone plans, travel plans, and any other things you might need help for.

Marlene is part of the Solvate Talent Network, the nation’s premier on demand workforce.

Submit a request to connect with Marlene or give us a ring at 646.720.7110.

Last, don’t go abroad without reading our step-by-step guide to setting up iPhones to go abroad.