This is the final installment of a four-part series on communication and entertainment. 

First, let me mention, Union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO can get 5% off cell service with AT&T.  Check out the Actors’ Equity website under Discounts for this deal, or you might find it on the AFL-CIO page.

Now, on to the real deal...  A few years back, I was on the cheapest AT&T plan, of course.  It was $30/mo for 300 daytime minutes, prior to the days of rollover. 

I went on the road, as many artists do, and started going over my minutes habitually.  My cell phone costs for the first 5 months of traveling totaled $900.  More minutes was clearly the way to go.

My contract finished just as I came off the road.  I found my usage was down to 250-300 daytime minutes per month again.  It was time to downgrade, but I was in dire need of a new phone (I dropped it in water, and it stopped answering reliably).  The last free phone didn’t come with a camera, and I wanted one… for free.  What were the chances AT&T would let me downgrade my plan, upgrade my phone, keep it free, and not “accidentally” throw out my 5% union benefit?

Answer:  I have 450 daytime minutes, 5000 nights/weekends minutes, rollover, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile.  I kept my 5% union benefit, even though I worked it all out online, and 450 minutes rolled over from my previous plan.  Best of all, I’m paying $39/mo.

But, it wasn’t totally free.  AT&T charged a one-time $18 “activation fee” for the new phone.  This is a secret way to get you to pay for the phone, right?  The phone retails for $180, and the best online deal I could find was $30, so it was still a great deal.  It also arrived fast, just 2 days after the order was placed.

If you want to downgrade your plan and get a new phone, move now.  It’s probably a loophole AT&T will close, once they figure it out.  Jump on it while you can.