Now that mobile carriers have switched from subsidizing handsets to making us buy them our own darn selves, their inducement for customers to switch is now offering to pay off what you owe to our old carrier. That could be early termination fees, or your balance from buying a device on installments: doesn’t matter. T-Mobile started the trend, and now AT&T is increasing their incentive.

As always, though, you have to pay attention to the fine print, and there’s a lot of it. Like Verizon, AT&T has increased their offer to “up to $650,” and that’s calculated based on how nice of a phone you have and how much you still owe on it.

“The value of your AT&T Promotion Visa Prepaid Card will be determined by the amount of the Early Termination Fee or device payment plan balance noted on your final bill,” AT&T explains, “minus the Buyback value of your trade-in, up to $650.” Let’s say that you still owe $400 on your phone, and AT&T determines the trade-in value on your phone to be $300. That means AT&T will issue you a bill credit or prepaid debit card of $100, which you can only use to make payments to AT&T.

Is that for you? Maybe, if you really dislike your carrier and live in an area with strong AT&T coverage. Engadget notes that you can combine this deal with a buy one, get one free deal on Samsung Galaxy devices. Both offers end on March 31.

Switch carriers to AT&T without Early Termination or Cancellation Fees [AT&T Wireless] (via Engadget)

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