AT&T

Full review
I've been with Cingular just over a year, my contract has expired and I'm on a nice month-to-month basis now.

I've received numerous emails that I'm "Eligible for an upgrade" on my phone. The email explains that they are offering me an upgrade from my old phone at a reduced price. I presume this is because I've been with them for a while, and they want to keep me as a loyal customer. Awesome.

After visiting the site and carefully choosing a new phone and going to check-out, I discover I cannot purchase my new phone without SIGNING A NEW CONTRACT.

For Cingular, that's all "UPGRADE" means: "SIGN A NEW CONTRACT". They make it sound like your getting something for being a loyal customer. In fact, you're getting exactly the same deal as if you were a new customer walking in from the street.

Let me reitterate that:

The "UPGRADE" is the SAME DEAL that a new customer, right off the street, gets.

In which case, I was "Eligible for an Upgrade" long before I was ever even a Cingular customer.

I have no problem with Cingular wanting me to sign a new contract, and in exchange I get a new phone. I have a huge problem with Cingular deceptively using the terms "Eligible" and "Upgrade" in order to do so.