AT$T wants more money, upgrade fee to double on the 12th

As if upgrading your device didn’t already cost enough, AT&T is upping its ‘upgrade fee’ from the current $18 to a whopping $36. This was confirmed multiple times from various sources over at BGR and appear to be legit and not a hoax. The image below is one of the change announcements sent to retailers across the nation. As it were, customers are also reporting getting courtesy emails from AT&T to alert them of the new fee. Why are they doubling this fee??

Because the overall costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased, effective Sunday, February 12, 2012, AT&T will change its upgrade fee from $18 to $36

How quaint. I can remember back when T-Mobile first initiated their ‘Upgrade fee,’ it wasn’t met with open arms by customers. I do believe we were the last or the top 4 to implement one though. Expect what ever price you see for a new phone to cast you another $36 to actually own it. Kinda takes the FREE aspect out of the equation doesn’t it. It would have been pretty amazing if this was for iPhone upgrades only though wouldn’t it?

I have yet to ever get a straight answer as to why this fee ever popped up on carriers in the first place. If anyone could give me a real answer other than the tradition corporate answers, that would be appreciated.

Via BGR