AT&T offering unlimited data to customers leaving for Verizon

I'm on the phone with AT&T right now and the person I am talking to said that they just got a notification this morning that stated No Account Reps or Supervisors can reinstate the Unlimited Plans anymore. From the supervisors comments it has physically been removed from their system and their access has been restricted.

I was offered a $30 rebate for the next 3 months ($90 total) for my continued service. She did offer me a plan for the Family Plan that is not listed on the site it goes from 1400 minutes to 1000 minutes but you loose the A-List ability. To me that's not a big deal since my wife is on the family plan and I call her the most, and the rest of my family is on AT&T as well. Bye bye A-List, hello $10/mo savings to 1000 minutes (plenty of roll-over left too).

Here is the transcript of my recent chat with AT&T on the subject.

FYI: I have had an iPhone since day one, I also have added two 3GS iPhones to my account that my current iPhone 4 is on. The iPhone 4 I have is grandfathered in to Unlimited Data on AT&T and all I would like is to pay the extra $15 each for the two 3GS to have unlimited instead of 200 MB/mo. They are all on a family plan as well.

Chat Transcript follows:

Thank you for your patience! An AT&T sales representative will be with you shortly.
You are now chatting with AT&T Rep, an AT&T sales representative.
AT&T Rep: Welcome to AT&T online Sales support.  How may I assist you with placing your order today?
ME: Wondering how I can adjust my data plans to my benefit
AT&T Rep: I would be more than happy to assist you. Which data plan do you have now?  
ME: 1 iphone 4 with umlimited and 2 3gs iPhones with 200 MB each
ME: Would like to get unlimited across all three
AT&T Rep: Are you trying to save money?  
ME: Not necesarily
AT&T Rep: We no longer have unlimited if you dont currently have it.  I do apologize.
ME: Well I have unlimited on my iPhone 4 as I have been a customer since the first iPhones came out but am thinking of dropping ATT for Verizons Unlimited data plans
AT&T Rep: I understand.  I assume as well that you have gotten very comfortable with multitasking with your iphone.  You are not able to do this with Verizon.  
ME: I actually don't use that much voice so it has never been an issue, I think I have almost 10000 minutes in my rollover right now to attest to that fact
AT&T Rep: When I say multitasking, I mean being able to do multiple things with the phone at the same time.  
ME: That has nothing to do with ATT or Verizon, that is a functionality of iOS
ME: Besides I don't surf or check e-mail while talking on the phone
AT&T Rep: You are not able to do this with Verizon.  
AT&T Rep: I understand.  Did you have any further questions or concerns today?  
ME: Yes can I switch back to unlimited data on my other two iphones for the difference in plan price for each? Or shall I drop my plans and move to Verizon for the Unlimited Data
AT&T Rep: Once you change, you are not able to go back to unlimited data.  I do apologize.  
ME: I never changed
ME: I just added to
AT&T Rep: We no longer have the unlimited data plans.  
ME: sure you do I am on one right now with my iPhone 4
AT&T Rep: If you have always had it then you can keep it but its not available for new lines or customers.  I do apologize.  
ME: Ok, then thank you, I will be cancelling my account and switching to Verizon for their data plan. Thank You for your time.
AT&T Rep: We do hate to lose you as a customer as we have lots of great features that other providers not have.  
ME: What features?
AT&T Rep: We have rollover minutes, ease of upgrades, great coverage, best network, etc.  
ME: Ok , well rollover for me isn't neccesary as I never come close to my plan minutes, upgrade to what? I have the best phones on the market, ATT coverage in Utah is crap outside of the city and I spend a lot of my time in the desert outside of Moab so where is the benefit?
AT&T Rep: I understand.  Did you have any further questions or concerns?  
ME: Yes can I switch back to unlimited data on my other two iphones for the difference in plan price for each? Or shall I drop my plans and move to Verizon for the Unlimited Data
AT&T Rep: You have asked this question before and I gave you an answer.  I do apologize but we no longer have unlimited data.  
ME: Ok then thank you for your time.
AT&T Rep: Thank you for choosing AT&T.  Have a great day.
ME: Not anymore
ME: Good night
The chat session has been closed by your AT&T sales representative.

I called and threatened to leave AT&T. They also declined. I was persistant and said I want it canceled now. I followed threw with almost canceling, then they broke and gave it to me. I only lost it because I tried tethering 1 day. She told me that if I had lost it, the unlimited plan, within a month of me calling and threatening to leave, she could do it. Just a how I got my unlimited back... Gl guys.....

I'm forced to pay for 3G service when there is none within a 20 mile radius. And Edge barely works. I work 1 mile from a tower and can't stream music or get on the Internet. Verizon, here I come!!

Thing I don't understand is that even if you use tethering it has it's own data cap so why do I need to lose unlimited phone data to add tethering? I am not asking for unlimited tethering, I just want the option when I need it. I should just be able to have my unlimited data for phone data and use tethering on a capped basis, for an extra fee if I so wish, and I can't see why I'd need to call and beg or hassle for any of this...

Ah, competition.

Just tried to get the unlimited plan and was denied. Still switching my 4 phones to verizon. att needs to treat everyone the same.

I called and they said that since I had the unlimited before that I could go back but I would lose my tethering. She said it was a software issue. If I could get the unlimited with tethering without jailbreaking would be so nice.

I had an unlimited data plan with an iPhone 3G. When I upgraded to the iPhone 4, somehow I was grandfathered. As I understood it, I'd have to choose from 2 limited plans offered.

For whatever reason, I was able to keep my unlimited data plan. Now if only I could make a call that didn't drop.

You would not believe HOW INSANELY EASY it is to go over 2GB.

All you have to do is:

-watch youtube in HD.
-load images in Tumblr
-listen to podcasts.

And what will you get? Take a look:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leoofborg/4414826658/

To answer two questions, yes, I'm grandfathered on a 3GS, and yes, I was being a 'good boy' that month and not doing things like, say, downloading the iPhone SDK or a Combo update.

-Leo GrumpyFace