I’m trying to get a SIM added to my AT&T data plan for 60 days. I’ve looked at pay as you go options like Tracphone. It looks like I can add a line to my existing plan for $15. Mind you that this is AT&T so $15 actually means $20. Even so, it looks like a financial wash. I have $40 budgeted for this service. All things being equal, with AT&T I’d have access to my shared data plan.
Seems like a good idea until you get into the weeds. First thing is the activation charge. When you go to add the line to your account, it shows the $15 per month charge and $0 one-time charges.
All looks good until you click on the “See terms” link. Then you see a screen that tells you of course you’ll have to pay the ($40) activation fee.
So now my budget is blown if there is a one-time activation fee. Since the two screens contradict each other, I cannot tell if I’ll be charged or not. Come on AT&T, is there an activation charge or not‽ If there is a charge, how much is it?
The next gotcha is that the first month is prorated but the last month will be a full month. This means that I could be on the hook for up to an entire extra month. All of this together really kills the convenience of having a temporary phone added to my existing account. I’ll be going with Tracphone or something similar.