[Explained] What Happens When AT&T Contract Ends

AT&T offers two different kinds of wireless phone service. Those are – Pre-paid and Contract.

In terms of Contract, You must acquire a one or two-year contract for Contract phone service to keep your cellphone service regular with AT&T.

The notable fact is, under any circumstances, you’ll pay a termination charge as a penalty if you decide to terminate your services before the contract expires.

But the key question, in this case, is – What happens when AT&T’s contract ends?

Well, keep reading till the end to know the answer and further necessary information.

What Happens When AT&T Contract Ends According to Expiry?

Your service will continue after your contract ends on a month-to-month basis unless you decide to stop using it or sign a new phone service agreement. 

If you’re on a Family Talk plan, there shouldn’t be any changes to your monthly payment. But if you have a Mobile Share Value Plan, you should automatically begin receiving the out-of-contract discount on your statement.

Moreover, you can extend your phone service agreement with AT&T (or another wireless provider, if you wish so) when your current one expires.

How to Check When AT&T Contract Ends?

It’s a very easy task to do. Simply logging into your AT&T online account will allow you to see when your contract will end.

Step 1: Log into your account by visiting the AT&T Wireless website.

Step 2: Go to the Account Overview page and select the My Profile section. Track the User number information section by scrolling down to the page’s center.

Step 3: Now, select the User number information section to check out the Contract information section.

Step 4: Find the date of your contract’s expiration on this page. For details on early termination fees and to find out how much you’ll pay if you decide to end your contract early, go for the link labeled Early termination cost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need to do anything when your phone contract expires?

Basically, you’re not required to take any action after your contract expires. But if you don’t, you’ll generally continue to pay the same amount for the same plan.

Does AT&T still offer two-year contracts?

Besides committing to one and two-year commitments, AT&T has now decided to standardize three-year contracts for their device sales; such as smartphones, tablets, etc. Experts claim that this action is probably intended to level out their long-term service profit and lower consumers’ volatility rates.

Do phone contracts automatically renew?

There are some contracts that have a provision that, without further action from you, the contract will automatically renew at the end of the term. If this is the scenario then your telecom operator must maintain a formal copy of your contract that has been signed and specifies that it’ll automatically renew.

Is it possible to upgrade my phone after expiring the contract?

Yes, it’s possible. Your ability to upgrade even early may depend on your plan. The remaining device cost under your contract must often be paid as it’s typically your responsibility.

Should I upgrade the phone or pay it off?

You don’t necessarily need to upgrade your phone just because you’re qualified to do so. By prolonging your phone upgrade, you can save a significant amount of money and, once it’s paid off, enjoy the benefits of affordable cell phone plans available.

Conclusion

That’s it. If your contract ends in time, either you’ll go for the typical month-by-month option, or go for another suitable plan. You might be better off switching to a different form of a plan if your previous one included phone subsidies. It’ll be wise to compare plan costs rather than purchasing a new phone.