This document provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Finance & Administration (F&A) Cellular Reimbursement Policy.
No, personal usage is not allowed as a corporate responsibility account. All lines and phones provided for corporate liability use will be audited periodically for compliance.
Please review your business needs with your manager who can provide this guidance.
An employee's position may require 100% University responsibility, however the employee may choose to carry one phone. In this case, the personal liability phone will be limited to a stipend of $75.
This seems like a good application for phones requiring 100% liability. You might consider a shared phone for your department for on-call technicians supporting the international sites. Please review your needs with your manager who may make this situation an exception.
Yes, you can change plans with the same carrier and no termination fee will apply.
If you stay with the same carrier, you can change plans with no termination fee. If you change phone devices, you will enter a new agreement with the carrier. Changing your carrier or canceling the line before your contract end date will result in an early termination fee.
Once you also have financial responsibility, the process is complete. Please complete the appropriate transfer of your responsibility. When this is completed, you will own the line and any decisions to be made. If you cancel the service with the carrier before the contract termination date, you are responsible for any incurred costs. If you have no contract termination date, you can make the change when you wish.
It depends on your vendor. Verizon phones will work on another carriers network. AT&T phones will work once the phone is unlocked.
There is no single answer to this question, but it seems that devices that are required for testing (likely ITS devices) will be attained separately and potentially shared for testing purposes. This request would be submitted as an exception and would not be assigned to a specific person.
The stipend is applied for one cell phone. Please review the remaining devices with your manager for either 1) exception approvals, 2) cancellation of the line, 3) possible use of wireless access in-line cancellation.
We recommend using wireless access as a more economical means for data use while using tablets. Please review this need with your manager for continued use or exception approvals.
First, it is not likely that the AT&T provided iPhone will work on the Verizon network. Second, if your account does not have a contract, then you can move the line to Verizon. Third, if your account has a contract, you are responsible for the termination fees associated with this line.
The stipend ends for lines reimbursed.
If the employee is using a 100% corporate liability phone, the University owns all responsibility. We may choose to reassign the phone/number or terminate completely. Since the employee has no financial responsibility, the employee cannot change plans.
The University owns all corporate liability lines. It is our choice to allow the employee to retain the number. This will require both personal and financial responsibility assignments.
If you feel you have a need for service that is not defined in the policy, talk with your manager. Your manager will review with your department's Finance Manager. If the exception is approved at this level, the Policy Administrator will review and either approve or decline with reason.
What if I really do not want to attain a personal cell phone?
You should review the need for availability requirements with your manager. You may also want to research cellular plans if cost is a concern. There are cellular plans and phones that are well within the allotted stipend amounts.
You do not have to share your actual phone number. Instead of sharing your personal mobile phone number, you can opt to forward your University extension to your mobile phone. University phone service includes the Single Number Reach feature which enables calls to your office extension to reach your mobile phone based on a schedule that you configure.
No, it does not. It is best to review the frequency of after-hours calls with your manager to determine if this may be a shared department phone instead, which your manager will assign and manage on behalf of your team.
All AT&T phones are purchased as a "locked phone." This means, the phone cannot be moved to a new carrier before the end of the contract. At the end of the two-year term, the phone can be moved to a different carrier. The employee can request the phone be unlocked within 24-48 hours.
We recommend that you review your cellular line costs with your manager. If you are using your current cellphone for both business and personal use, you'll need to assess your own use of this line for business needs.
IT Services can provide you with the summary level of information for text, data, and voice. However, call detail requests require IT Security and the Office of Legal Council approval.
This is a budget decision. Once you and your manager agree to the stipend level, your department manager should submit this request to your division's finance manager for approval.
Yes, if you have an agreement with your manager on a stipend amount based on business needs. You can receive a stipend for any phone type or plan which you pay directly to your provider.
The stipend is not taxable.
No, the stipend reimbursement is the University's means for cellular reimbursement. Any item considered an exception should be reviewed with your manager and finance manager, and submitted for approval through the division controller.
The Policy Office will review this program and determine the appropriate levels for reimbursement if any. Many organizations do not provide stipends or reimbursement for cellular use. Many organizations stipend limits are significantly less than this policy.
If you feel that the stipend does not cover your costs then be prepared to share your total bill amount with your manager. If you feel it's worthwhile, you may also summarize your call detail utilization to review with your manager.
Many cellular stores or kiosks do not have access to corporate liability services, therefore the store cannot fulfill our procedures for this transfer of responsibility. Please follow the process as defined in the communication and if you need assistance, please call 773.702.5800 (2-5800).
Unfortunately, IT Services' Support staff will not be able to assist you.
Termination fees will be paid for lines that are determined as no longer required by the University. Termination Fees will be paid by the University and applied to the cost center for that cellular line.
We recommend that you stay with the current carrier through the contract end date in order to avoid Early Termination Fees.
The stipend will cover the costs for your business needs. No, this does not result in a pay increase.
This is fine, the phone number will no longer be available for use, assumes their function does not require they be reached through means other than their desk phone.
This would allow the employee to change carriers without paying the termination fee. They would not be able to claim the same number. If the University cancels the number, this assumes their function does not require cell phone use therefore no further reimbursement or stipend will be approved and applied to their bi-weekly/monthly paycheck.
Yes. Fill out the cellular request form in ServiceNow and select port. You will receive the porting information needed to port your cell line from AT&T or Verizon to your preferred carrier.