Can $39.99 PAM for PPC6700 w/contract be deferred?

[miamicanes]

In another day or two, I'm going to be getting a PPC-6700 as a gift from my Dad. I currently have a Samsung SPH-i500 w/Vision and $39.99 voice plan with around 350 anytime minutes, 2150 night/weekend minutes, 8pm evenings, free long distance, probably free roaming (never used it), and some unknown number of free text messages (I think 100... I've never sent enough in a month to find out). I haven't been under contract for around 18 months, and I'm currently eligible for a $150 rebate since I haven't had a Sprint-subsidized phone since 2000 (My SPH-i300 was bought on eBay, and my two i500s came from insurance).

I'm 99% certain that Sprint is going to try hard to bully me into a new contract, possibly by claiming that I can't keep Vision with a PPC-6700 and saying I need to upgrade to $39.99 PAM w/2-year contract instead. So... just so I know where I stand... can they? Or if I keep hanging up and calling back (or, eventually, threaten to leave Sprint if they don't let me keep everything "as-is" and transfer it to my new phone without a new contract), will I eventually be allowed to do it?

OK, that said... I'm not entirely hellbent on refusing to signin a new contract if I get something MAJOR in return for my voluntary enslavement... so...

1) If I agreed to sign a new contract, is there any provision in Sprint's system for allowing me to replace my current plan with the $39.99 Power Pack (450 anytime minutes, free nights/weekends, 7pm nights, free m2m, free roaming, free long distance), then keep my current $15 unlimited data plan for now, but have the guaranteed right in writing to upgrade it to $39.99 PAM (keeping my 100 free text messages/month) at any point during the two-year contract WITHOUT extending it further at the time? That would be my preferred option, because it would let me add PAM when the day comes that I really, truly need it (ie, the day after a hurricane), but save the $25/month difference in the meantime.

2) Alternatively, if I agreed to sign a 2 year contract, could they...
* switch me to the new $39.99 plan
* give me a free pcmcia data card and add it as a new line
* give me unlimited datacard use for $39.99/month + the second-line fee
* give me free unlimited data use & 100 free text messages for the phone (to mitigate the second-line fee)
... ultimately increasing my bill by about $35-40/month from what it is now, but giving me a slightly better voice plan (not that it really makes much difference to my usage) and the ability to be online at will from my laptop without tying up the phone, while retaining the ability to get online with the phone itself?

Or is #2 asking for way too much?

To be honest, option 2 would basically have me throwing the $35-40/month down the toilet for all the use I'd really get from it, but I could at least rationalize it since I'd be getting something of tangible value in return.

The fact is, however, that if Sprint stands their ground and refuses both 1 and 2, AND refuses to let me activate the 6700 with my current data plan intact and no new contract, I will buy a cool imported WM5 phone w/hard keypad AND stylus text input (like the ASUS p505) and leave Sprint, because there's no way in hell I'll sign a 2-year contract that gives me nothing besides continued service with a new phone that wasn't even subsidized by them :irked:

[Dzalumni]

Option number 2 is more than likely your best option, however they will only give you a Data Card for $39.99 a month if you are a very valuable customer. It's worth a shot, it *2 is unwilling to work with you, tell the rep you want to cxl and then you could talk to retentions. They might be able to do more for you.

I would try to go with option 2. Trying to get something in writing from sprint with a PAM guarantee for later would be very difficult IMO to obtain.

Where did you see the Unlimited Data Card for $39.99 a month service fee?

[Obliark]

39.99 is for 40mb, 49.99 Sero unlimited, 59.99 unlimited with a sprint phone, 79.99 no other sprint service, not sure if you'd get the 39.99 unlimted through retentions. And Sprint's new policy on PDA's is they Need a 25 dollar Vision plan or higher at time of activation if it's with the NFY upgrade program, full price does not matter, and you can use any vision plan you want, The only phone that NEEDS a PAM plan is a blackberry, all other phones can use any other data plan they want.

[deanwoof]

if you make it pam for 40 bucks, it's a 2 year contract. no way about it.

even if you add a new line with new contract for the card, it'll be 60/month.

sprint will not keep your old vision plan for the ppc. you're looking at 20 bucks a month for power vision. <B> if anything</b>, try retention and see what they can get you in terms of getting ANOTHER phone on your current line, resign the contract, and use the ppc instead of your new phone and SELL the phone they give you?

[miamicanes]

sprint will not keep your old vision plan for the ppc. you're looking at 20 bucks a month for power vision.
Hmmm... so if I'm determined to not sell the bastards my soul for the next 2 years just to keep the level of service I already have with my new phone, I could grudgingly upgrade from my $15/month unlimited data plan to a new $20/month power vision plan (which presumably includes unlimited data service for the phone) and not sign any new contract?

Is there any chance that if I did have a momentary lapse of judgment and agreed to a 2-year contract w/the switch to the new $39.99 voice plan and $39.99 unlimited PAM (with at least 100 free text messages/month), they'd at least give me a credit for $75 (half the NFY rebate I'd otherwise qualify for), or some reasonable monthly credit on top of everything, in lieu of the NFY discount?

[miamicanes]

Wow. I'm (pleasantly) in shock. I just finished activating my new phone. The rep didn't even say the word "contract", and replaced my old $15 vision plan with the new $15 Power Vision plan (unlimited internet). At that rate, I might voluntarily consider a contract to get PAM after all.

It's amazing how much of a difference having the choice to do something vs being forced and/or extorted into it makes. For the first time in days (since it first seemed like I'd be forced into it), I don't feel compelled to use the words "evil", "nazi", and "bastards" in any sentence containing the word "Sprint". If they keep this up, I might actually have to start saying nice things about them occasionally. :clap:

Of course, if they managed to silently remove my pre-existing 5% courtesy discount or unlimited text messages (despite assurances that nothing on my account changed besides the Vision plan), there'll be hell to pay... but I'll withhold judgment until I find out one way or another :fingers:

[deanwoof]

your original post said you had 100 txt msg going with your vision plan.

your lastest post said you had unlimited text messages.

i'm going to guess 100% that if they posted give you power vision, your text msgs that were included on your vision plan are gone.

[miamicanes]

Actually, my original post was wrong... it was unlimited text (at some point after posting it, I went to Sprint's website and looked it up, and was surprised to see it was 'unlimited').

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