Customer service would not replace phone for me

Is it possible that the reason they are telling him that he has to
change plans is that his old plan/phones were working on what was left
of the old analog network. New Phones would cause him to convert to
the new GSM phones, which would entail a new voice plan. It is
possible that at least one of his phones was not a GSM phone if it is
3+ years old. Otherwise, if this is not the case, I would suggest the
same thing that others have suggested and tell him to get his phones
off of ebay and he can buy a SIM card to replace the one that was lost
and switch the SIM card in his old phone and put it into the new one
he has just purchased.

might I suggest going on ebay and finding the style/type of phone you
had. The phones listed there usually list what service you can use
the phone with.

This way you can keep your AT&T plan and all you need to do is all in
the serial number of the new phone so your calls can be transmitted.

I think this is a suitable solution that you are looking for.

Just make sure you check the feedback of the party you are buying
from.

It doesn't matter how long you have been a customer of AT&T - -
Cingular - - AT&T. Plans change and you are obviously under a
grandfathered plan that is no longer available. It happens. And the
fact you are asking them to send you two replacement phones because
you lost one and the other is "aging" tells me you just don't
understand how the wireless indudstry operates. They are not going to
provide you two phones without requiring something in return - - and
in this case, it is your signature on a new contract that covers as
currently offered plan.

You may not be happy about this situation but there is really nothing
you can do other than try to find a better deal with another carrier
and port your numbers.

This is not an FCC issue.

Thanks that is all

I agree with your complaint.

You lost a phone, but agree to cover its replacement cost.

Have you considered buying a new phone through a non-ATT retailer and
then just call ATT with the upgrade information?

I'm confused as to how this works.

See, with Verizon, I am in a plan for xx amount for the first line,
and xx amount more for the second line. My line and my husband's. If
one of us loses our phone, we go to the store and pay for a new phone.
We continue on with the same service contract, they just switch our
service over to the new piece of equipment. We didn't opt for
insurance on the phones, so we pay for the phone, if it is lost.
Should it break, same thing. Our phones will never get old, though,
because we get a free new one every 2 years or equal value, or pay the
difference for an upgrade. It's very straightforward.

Anyway, I have been a Cingular customer in the past. Call me biased,
because I hate them and think they suck, but I don't see why your
service changes just because you replaced equipment under the same
plan. Yes, I can see you paying for new phones (and noticed you agreed
to pay for the phones). Maybe a new activation fee, to "punish" you
for their inconvenience of having to transfer your service to the new
phones. But a total change in your service plan? That makes no sense
to me. Are you still under contract? Look over your contract. Is there
something in the fine print about your contract becoming null and void
should you chose to replace the equipment (be it lost, broken, or
old/outdated)? If there is, I guess you're SOL, but that's Cingular
for you.

I would say ride out your contract and find another provider.

Thomas--I think you have every right to be angry. ATT is using the
loss of your phone as an excuse to extort more money out of you. That
is just terrible! I suggest you file a compaint with the FCC about
this terrible treatment. You can do so here:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm

Seems like a perfect opportunity to look at other companies. Is
someone else offering a more reasonable plan? If so, a switch may be
in order.

I can tell you what I think is happening. Since you need a new phone
(to replace the lost one), they need to activate it with a plan. The
plan you had on your old phone, with Cingular, is no longer available.
The only way to activate a new phone, with the "new" AT&T is to use a
currently available plan.

In order to get two new phones, you will have to sign a new contract
no matter what. You do need to tell them what phones you want, they
are not going to randomly send you phones.

I suggest going into an AT&T store and discussing the various plans
and available phones.