Verizon Wireless Defends Increased ETF for Advanced Devices

Verizon's decision to increase the ETF for it's advanced devices have attracted a lot of attention including US senators like Amy Klobuchar. Recently, the FCC has requested the carrier to explain the reasoning behind the increase in early termination fees from $175 to $350 for "advanced devices" (Click here to see the list of Verizon's Advanced Devices).

Well, Verizon Wireless has released a statement in defense of its decision to increase the controversial fees for some of its products. Unfortunately, the carrier released a 77 page response which would be impossible to post here in its entirety.

So let me just give a brief summary of the highlight points of Verizon's defense of the $350 early termination fee for advanced devices.

• the increased ETF allows the carrier to provide more capable handsets at lower upfront costs, and to reduce its losses if/when a customer chooses to leave their contract early.
• Verizon claims that the new rules causes the company to lose money when customers who choose to cancel their contracts during the 23rd month, during which time they would still owe $120 ETF.
• Advertising and marketing collateral are sufficient to make sure customers are informed of these new wireless contract policies.
• In 2003, the FCC stated that it doesn't support the concept of customers breaking contracts and that carriers have a right to recoup those fees.
• the additional cost it incurs to procure the devices on its advanced list is greater than the difference between the two ETFs ($175) on average.
• Advanced devices strains the broadband network up and extra guaranteed revenue is needed to keep the network at optimum performance.

Well, this has certainly turned interesting. I didn't expect the change in wireless contract policy would trigger such reaction from the government. Perhaps the tough economic atmosphere is making the government more aware of possible consumer abuse.

That's it for this wireless contract update. Tune in to this blog for more developments on this important mobile phone contract issue.

Sprint Settles Wireless Contract Dispute in Minnesota

Here's an important wireless contract update that happened last month. Consumers at the state of Minnesota filed a lawsuit against Sprint for having their commitments extended without their consent. This wireless contract dispute has been resolved since Sprint decided to settle with the complainants.

Let's dig deeper into this cell phone contract news.

The consumers, represented by State Attorney General Lori Swanson, filed a complaint against Sprint Nextel in September 2007. The lawsuit claimed that the company extended the contracts of thousands of customers when they made small changes. The extension was enforced without their informed consent.

Consumers who violated the extended contract were forced to pay as much as $200 per line as an early termination fee.

The complaint seeks for restitution and civil penalties of up to $25,000 per incident. More than 439,000 Minnesota residents were asked to pay cancellation penalties between July 1999 and December 2008. Consumers from Minnesota are eligible to file claims if their contracts were extended without their permission.

This time it appears that consumers have gained the upper hand.

Sprint Nextel has decided to settle the mobile phone contract dispute. The carrier has agreed to review claims of improper cancellation penalties and reverse or refunds some of the fees.

The office of State Attorney General Lori Swanson are accepting claims through March 15. Estimates indicate that more than 400,000 Minnesota customers who signed contracts with Sprint Nextel since Sept. 26, 2001 are potentially eligible to benefit from this wireless contract settlement.

Click here to go to the Sprint Settlement Claim Form.

That's it for this post on the wireless contract settlement. Tune in to this blog for the latest news and udpates on cell phone contracts and related matters.

Senators Introduce the Wireless Contract Early Termination Fees Bill

Lat month, I posted about Senator Amy Klobuchar opposing the recent Verizon Wireless ETF increase. She talked about her plan to introduce legislation to oppose this decision and to discourage wireless carriers from unfairly raising penalties on costumers who cancel their contracts early. Well, Klobochar and three of her colleagues have introduced the Cell Phone Early Termination Fees (EFT) bill.

This legislation aims to limit the early termination fees on wireless contracts charged by mobile phone service providers. The Cell Phone Early Termination Fees (EFT) bill would also enforce prorated ETFs

Klobochar's bill also forces carriers to notify customers in a clear way about the fees. Carriers will be required to spell out the EFT instructions at time of purchase and at various times during the duration of contracts.

This new wireless contract bill also prevents cell phone service providers from charging an ETF that is higher than the discount on the cell phone.

Here is Sen. Klobuchar on the introduction of the Cell Phone Early Termination Fees (EFT) bill:

"Changing your wireless provider shouldn't break the bank. "Forcing consumers to pay outrageous fees bearing little to no relation to the cost of their handset devices is anti-consumer and anti-competitive."

The senators who support this wireless contract legislation also include Mark Begich of Alaska, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, and Jim Webb of Virginia.

That's it for this post. We'll see if this bill can p[ass through congress and be enacted into law. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone contract news and updates.

Wireless Contracts Similar to Forced Marriage

I've read about various complaints on wireless contracts since I've started this blog. Most of the cell phone contract disputes focus on the fees that are imposed on consumers who want to terminate a commitment. I've also found an interesting article expressing that a contract is like forced marriage.

Here's an amusing tidbit from the article. This piece of conversation illustrates a consumer negotiating with a service provider (Vodacom):

"That's longer than a lot of marriages last these days."

"Sorry, two years or nothing."

Apparently it was because Vodacom was "giving" me a "free" phone.

"A friend has given me an old phone, I don't need or want your 'free' phone."

"Sorry, two years or nothing."

The article was written by Ann Crotty from BusinessReport. She was narrating her experience and frustrations while trying to live with a wireless contract. She expresses that it is similar to a forced marriage. However, in some cases the arraigned couple eventually falls in love but she did not grow fond of her wireless contract.

She felt abuse about being charge even in the months that she did not make or receive one call. I'm sure other have felt the same way.

You can read the rest of Crotty's article by clicking this link.

That's it for this story on wireless contracts. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phone contract news and updates.

Simple Language in Wireless Contracts

If you've ever read a wireless contract, then you know that a layman won't be able to easily understand all the policies that are stated in the agreement.

The complicated language used in wireless contracts may be one of the main reasons why consumer complaints over policies have risen in recent years. I previously blogged about wireless contract disputes in this blog so it's clear that misunderstandings occur.

A contract is a long document with plenty of fine print and combined this with sophisticated language, a consumer will often choose not to read it at all. This means that a consumers is not fully aware of the agreements and policies contained in the wireless contract which often lead to complaints and disputes.

Perhaps the US mobile phone industry should follow the example of their neighbors up North. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association has recently introduced a code of conduct that aims to minimize disputes between carriers and consumers. The code obliges wireless service providers to provide subscribers with complete details on rates, charges, terms and coverage and help them understand contracts.

Here's a key statement from the code of conduct:

“We strive to communicate with our customers in plain, simple language. This includes taking steps to make sure that that our documents, including service agreements, contracts, and invoices are clear and readable.

I think this is a good approach. The FCC has started a inquiry into the billing practices of wireless operators and a similar code might help.

Do you agree that wireless contracts should contain simple language?

That's it for this post. Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on wireless contracts and related topics.

List of Advanced Devices with Verizon's $350 ETF

Verizon Wireless' increased early termination fee became effective a few days ago. The $350 ETF applies to a select number of devices and will decline by $10 per month through the life of the contract. The carrier has released the list of advanced products that will be covered by the new policy.

I expected this Verizon Wireless early termination fee to be imposed on elite products. However, the carrier appears to have included a large number of products in its new wireless contract policy. Here are the products included in the increased Verizon Wireless early termination fee.

• Blackberry 8130
• Blackberry 8130 Pink
• Blackberry 8230
• Blackberry 8703E
• Blackberry 8830
• Blackberry 8830 Red
• BlackBerry Tour
• BlackBerry Tour (No camera)
• BlackBerry Curve 8330
• BlackBerry Curve 8330 Pink
• BlackBerry Storm 9530
• BlackBerry Storm2 9550
• Casio Exlim C721
• LG Versa VX9600
• LG Dare VX9700
• LG Env Touch VX11000
• LG Versa VX9600WOK
• LG Voyager VX10K Silver
• Gateway LT20 Netbook Gateway LT2016u
• Samsung Glyde SCH-U940
• Samsung Glyde Revision SCH-U940R
• HP MINI 1000 Netbook
• HP Mini 110–1046NR Netbook
• HP Mini 3111037NR Netbook
• HTC Droid ERIS ADR6200
• HTC Imagio HTC Imagio XV6975
• HTC Ozone XV6175
• HTC Touch Diamond XV6950
• HTC Touch Pro XV6850
• HTC Vogue XV6900
• Motorola Krave MOT ZN4
• Motorola Q9C
• Motorola Droid A855
• Samsung Omnia SCH-I910
• Samsung Rogue SCH-u960
• Samsung Saga SCH-I770
• Samsung SCH-i760
• UTStarcom SMT5800
• Palm Treo Pro
• Palm CENTRO
• Verizon Hub VZHUB
• UTStarcom XV6800
• UTStarcom XV6875

So yeah. They included quite a number of handsets under the new wireless contract policy. Even the devices that were launched more than a year ago.

I have to say that some of these devices shouldn't have been categories under advanced.

That's it for this posts on the products under the new Verizzon ETF rule. Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on wireless contract topics.

US Senator Opposes the Verizon Wireless Contract ETF Increase

Verizon Wireless recently announced it's intention to raise the early termination fee or ETF of premiere device to $350 starting on November 15. However, it appears that this change in wireless contract policy has caught the eye of a vigilant US senator.

Senator Amy Klobuchar is planning to introduce new legislation to prevent wireless carriers from unfairly raising penalties on costumers who cancel their contracts early. This would obviously be in conflict with Verizon's decision to raise the ETF on premiere devices.

I blogged about Senator Klobuchar in the early development of this blog because she is one of the main proponents of the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007. This legislation aimed to allow consumers to be able to make informed choices about a wireless service that best fits their needs and their budget.

Anyway, wrote the FCC regarding the recent shift in Verizon's wireless contract ETF policy. She wrote,

"Verizon Wireless' decision shows us once again that the wireless industry cannot police itself and will not, on its own, make its practices more competitive and consumer-friendly. To that end, I urge the FCC to review the recent Verizon Wireless decision as well as the competitive and economic impact of ETFs on wireless consumers."

She also wrote a letter to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam urging him to reconsider the shift in ETF policy because it "unfairly penalize consumers" and "bear little to no relationship to the cost of the handset device."

Well, this is certainly interesting. Well see how this plays out. I doubt if Klobuchar will be able to stop this changes in Verizon's ETF policy but with a little help for her colleagues it might just work.

That's it for this latest development in the Verizon early termination fee saga. Tune-in for more developments in this story.

No Changes in Sprint ETF Policy

Verizon Wireless recently announced its decision to increase the early termination fee or ETF for its premier or advanced devices. Starting the 15th of November, the ETF for Verizon's high-end products will be $350 declines by $10 per month through the life of the contract.

I was wondering how other major carrier's will react to this change in major wireless contract policy. Well, so far only Sprint has issued a statement via Twitter:

One more tweet on ETF policy. We won't be following suit as other carriers increase fees. Official Sprint ETF policy

Sprint is Verizon's main competitor among CDMA wireless networks. Maybe the Now Networks is trying to gain an advantage by not emulating the ETF increase instituted by its rival. Well, they probably need all the help they can get as they are planning to cut costs by cutting jobs.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Some experts think that this shift in wireless contract fees will lead people to purchase devices for its full price to avoid any trouble with the ETF. However, the full price is quite heavy and with the weight of the recession, consumers may go for mid range devices which charges the normal $175 early termination fee.

That's it for this post. Tune in to this blog for more news and info on the wireless contract issues.

Confirmed: Verizon to Raise ETF to $350 on Premiere Devices

A couple of days ago I blogged a rumor claiming that Verizon Wireless might raise its early termination fees for high-end products to dissuade scammers. Well, that rumor has been confirmed.

According to the folks at Phonescoop, Jeffrey Nelson, a Verizon Wireless spokesperson has confirmed the rumor.

This means that the $350 early termination fee will apply to new wireless contracts for advanced devices beginning Nov. 15. The will fee will decline by $10 a month.

The early termination fee for non-premiere devices remains at $175.

However, the devices that will incur a $350 Verizon Wireless early termination fee have not been specified. the new policy will not be limited to mobile phones and will also apply to notebooks.

So what do you think? Well, I don't really mind. After all, this only applies to a limited number of consumers. Those who choose to close the service before the term is up and those who are after the premiere devices.

The strategy aims to prevent people from reselling handsets on online auction sites. I think it's a good strategy on the part of Verizon since it protects their exclusive handsets. I wonder if other carriers will also adopt this wireless contract policy.

That's it for this update on the Verizon Wireless early termination fee increase. Continue to visit this blog to get the latest news and views on wireless contracts.

Rumor: Verizon Wireless Early Termination Fee to be Raised?

Here's some intriguing news for Verizon Wireless consumers. According to the folks at BGR, the carrier maybe considering raising its early termination fees to thwart scammers.

The report say that the Verizon Wireless early termination fee for high-end phones such as the Storm2 and Motorola Droid will be raised to to $350. This will be implemented on Nov. 15 and will decrease by five bucks every thirty days. The usual ETF amounts to around $150-200 so the rumored increase is significant.

But what is the main reason for this possible increase in Verizon Wireless early termination fee for high-end smartphones?

Well, it appears that the carrier is trying to crack down on scammers who purchase a new smartphone on contract and then cancel the line, pay the termination fee and sell the phone for twice or three times its original price.

We've already explained that contract fees are the primary tool that allow carriers to recover the subsidies they’d lose on early contract terminations. This means that this increase in Verizon Wireless early termination fee can be justified.

Well, this is just a rumor so it may not happen. Tune in to this blog for more updates on this increase in Verizon Wireless early termination fee rumor. Drop by often to get the latest news and views on wireless contracts.

Cell Phone Contracts Declining Due to Recession

The current economic recession is causing havoc on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the globe. Business are among the hardest hit and unemployment is on the rise. The tough economic climate is also having a great impact on the mobile phone industry. For instance, some consumers are dumping their mobile phone contracts to save money.

According to a recent study, almost twenty percent of polled cell phone users claim that the financial crisis have forced them to cancel their wireless contracts. This research was conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) for the New Millennium Research Council (NMRC).

But why are consumers choose to terminate their cell phone contracts? Well, they are looking for cheaper alternatives for wireless communication. Some have decided to go with prepaid cellphones which are cheaper and does not involve fees that are associated with wireless contract handsets.

Some of the consumers involved in the ORC expressed that they are thinking about ditching their cell phones altogether and communicate using landlines. Some users have also revealed other recession countermeasures like cutting back on "extras" such as text messaging and mobile web browsing.

Well, the current recession is certainly forcing people to change their spending habits including mobile phone communication. I have to say that there are plenty of deals out there that can help consumers to minimize spending. Sacrifice is need until the economy becomes robust again and we have money to spend on extras.

That's it for this post. Tune in to this blog to get more information and updates on the realm of wireless contracts.

Renegotiate a Wireless Contract

Consumers who are not happy with their contract usually seek to cancel them. However, this is not simple as there's the issue of the ETF or early termination fee.

There are other ways of dealing with a restrictive and "unfair" contract. One can actually renegotiate with the service provider to come up with a better deal.

I've found a CBSNEWS article that mentions several important points that a user needs to look at when negotiating a contract. No, I'm only going to mention a few so you'll be tempted to read the whole article by yourself.

It's obvious that research is the key when discussing your agreement at the table. You need to know what the competitors are offering their customers. This way you can point out to your service that you are not getting a fair deal.

One also needs to have a clear idea of what one really wants to get while negotiating a plan. The consumer needs to clearly express their desire be it more minutes or lower fees. However, the demands should also be realistic or a deal will not be reached.

Persistence and tenacity is also important when renegotiating your wireless contract. You must be determined not to back down when discussing your realistic demands.

That's it for this post. You should read the rest of the article to learn the proper ways of renegotiating a mobile phone contract.

Reasons for Getting Multiple Wireless Contracts

Should you commit to a second mobile phone contract? How about a third or a fourth? Does signing multiple cell phone contracts make sense?

Well, a study conducted by the folks at Moneysupermarket.com indicates that one in five Brits have more than one mobile phone or contract. The subjects were British but the figures may also apply to the US market with a bit of difference.

So we know that a number of consumers choose to sign multiple wireless contracts. But what are the reasons behind their decision to sign more than one agreement?

Some of the respondents of this wireless contract information study reveal that they want to get the latest or hottest handset in the market. Six percent of those who have admitted to signing multiple deals revealed they had taken out a second contract in a bid to get a brand-new must-have handset. Extremely popular handsets like the iPhone have been known to influence consumers top sign an additional agreement.

Eight percent of those guilty of having more than one contract contend that signing multiple contracts is one of the best ways to get the texts and minutes they wanted for a cheapest price. I take this to mean that another carrier have attracted them to sign a deal because of better rates and offers

One in eight users is the survey revealed they had an additional handset for 'privacy' reasons. I think this means that they have separate devices for business and personal life hence they have multiple wireless contracts.

Some experts say that many consumers feel the need to sign multiple agreements because handsets have evolved into a part of modern life. We use these devices for a variety of reasons and so it has become common for a user to have multiple handsets and contract.

However, it is still advisable for consumers to shop for better deals before resorting to signing a new mobile phone agreement.

That's it for this wireless contract update. Tune in to this blog to get more mobile phone contract related news and information.

AT&T Terms of Service Bans Class Action Suits?

I've recently read about some news that AT&T has made changes to it's terms of service. Apparently, the carrier's wireless contract now discourages class action suits.

AT&T's wireless contracts apply to both new and existing customers. Consumers who sign the agreement agrees to waive the right to right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action.

If AT&T and the consumer cannot agree on a dispute then the customers are forced into arbitration. In this situation, the case presented as a forum in which neutral arbitrators dispense the same legal implications as a lawsuit in court. However, some experts contend that consumers face disadvantages at arbitration.

Here's the statement from AT&T's terms of service:

“You agree that, by entering into this Agreement, you and AT&T are each waiving the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action. This Agreement evidences a transaction in interstate commerce, and thus the Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this provision. This arbitration provision shall survive termination of this Agreement”

AT&T has gotten wind of this wireless contract information and has released a statement via SlashGear to counter it. The carrier expressed that the arbitration clause in its terms of service has been this way since January 2001.

Here is AT&T's response:

AT&T has not recently made any changes in its terms of service regarding our arbitration clause. This approach has been in effect since Jan. 2001. We have made changes to our arbitration clause – most recently in Jan. 2009 – but those changes have been to the benefit of the consumer. It is worth noting that this approach – an arbitration clause with a class action waiver — is standard for the wireless industry.
We continue to believe that a consumer is better off pursuing a claim under our arbitration clause, rather than pursuing a class action. Arbitration is typically a fast, cost-effective, and pro-consumer way to address disputes, and AT&T’s arbitration agreement is among the most consumer-friendly in the nation.
A federal judge in West Virginia, even before recent improvements to AT&T’s arbitration policy, praised it as “unusually consumer-centered.”
Our current arbitration clause calls for the company — if it does not settle a consumer complaint and the consumer receives an award that is greater than the company’s settlement offer — to pay the greater amount of either the arbitration, or $10,000. This is what changed in Jan. 2009; previously the amount was $5,000.
Likewise, if the consumer has used a lawyer in winning an arbitration case and is awarded more than the company’s settlement offer, the company would pay two times the lawyers’ fees. Finally, we pay the entire cost of the arbitration, except if a customer is claiming $75,000 or more.
In short, we are confident our approach is both fair and in the best interest of our customers.

Well, this is certainly interesting. AT&T contends that it has done nothing wrong to its customers. Some experts also say that this clause is ineffective in preventing class action suits. Some state courts have decided to dismiss this waiver but it has also been upheld in some states.

That's it for this post on T&T changing its wireless contract. Tune in to this blog to get more news and info on mobile phone contracts.

AT&T Defends Early Termination Fees Against Government Review

There were recent news of a possible government review against major wireless carriers based on accusations of anti-trust violations. AT&T and Verizon Wireless were named in the review to be headed by Sen. Herb Kohl, chair of a congressional antitrust panel.

The government review was directed towards major issues in the mobile phone industry including texting prices, large carriers failing to cooperate with smaller carriers to resolve roaming disputes, disputes over spectrum, deals that give one or another carrier exclusive access to popular phones and early termination fees attached to wireless contracts.

Well, AT&T decided to take defensive measures against this government review on possible anti-trust violations. The company responded to all the issues covered by the review. However, our interest here lies in the carrier's defense of early termination fees attached to wireless contracts.

AT&T started that the early termination fees on wireless contracts are necessary because they allow the company to recoup money spent discounting handsets. For instance, AT&T offers the iPhone 3GS for $199 with a two year contract instead of the hefty full price. The ETF or early termination fee discourages the customer from breaking the wireless contracts and paying for the subsidized device.

AT&T is currently implementing a prorated early termination fee which means that the penalty for breaking a wireless contract will be progressively lowered by $5 during each month, every month, for the term of the contract.

Well, I expected the carrier to defend itself actively. But it would also be interesting to find out what this government review will achieve. Perhaps it would initiate practices that would be more beneficial to wireless consumers.

That's it for this post on AT&T's defense of early termination fees attached to wireless contracts. Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on wireless contracts.

AT&T iPhone Data Contract

The iPhone 3G S is currently the hottest mobile phone in the business. Apple just sold more than 1 million of these touchscreen phones in the first few days of launch. However, this phone is not accessible to everyone. Customers who want to get the newest iPhone need to commit to a data contract.

A data plan is usually required for customers who sign a cell phone contract to get a Smartphone. Carriers often require Smartphone buyers to commit to a data plan to ensure that they can get back some of the costs of subsidizing a high-end phone.

Can one get an iPhone without signing a wireless contract for a data plan. There is, but it will cost several hundred dollars. You see the only way to get the iPhone 3G S without a contract is by paying for the whole price. Signing an AT&T iPhone data contract will allow one to pay $199 to get the phone.

Getting stuck to an AT&T iPhone data contract is not as bad as it sounds. After all, a Smartphone without a data plan is not much use at all. The problem is that the contract limits the user to the AT&T network.

The AT&T iPhone data contract plans offer unlimited data for a fee of $129.00.

Some people are saying that AT&T iPhone data contract should be dropped entirely. An analyst also stated that dropping the AT&T iPhone data contract with its expensive data plan, the move could earn Cupertino $7 billion and create a bridge between the iPod and iPhone market.

Apple would be able to break out of the limited Smartphone segment and open the doors to an iPod touch userbase worth $7 billion in income and $4 billion in profit each year by dropping the required $70 per month data plan.

However, in the meantime Apple plans to continue with offering a phone with an AT&T iPhone data contract. I know that it may seem a heavy price to pay but the iPhone is worth it.

That's it for this post on the AT&T iPhone data contract. Tune in to this blog to get more of the latest news and updates on wireless contracts.

Alltel Announces New 1 Year Wireless Contract Option

Most people would usually choose 2 year wireless contract over a 1 year contract because a long term contract provides a higher phone subsidy. A phone on a two-year contract is twice as a cheap as a deal that comes with a 1 year agreement.

However, Alltel has come up with a revolutionary 1-year wireless contract offer. Alltel is offering 2-year postpaid handset pricing to those signing 1-year contracts. This means that new and renewing Alltel customers will get the benefits of long term agreements on a shorter commitment.

The company is hoping that this offer will provide enhanced flexibility and greater choice for their customers.

Well. this Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer appears to be quite beneficial for customers because they can get a cheaper deal with a shorter commitment. However, it appears that this offer is limited only to selected markets.

Apparently, this Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer is only offered to customers in the 91 cellular market areas (CMAs) that Verizon is required to divest. These areas will operate under Alltel Wireless until they are sold.

The Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer will only be available in some areas of Idaho, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. It's a shame that this Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer is limited only to some areas. Maybe this concept will catch on and the major providers will join in on the act.

Is this the end of the 2-year wireless contract. probably not. the major carriers want to keep as much customers as possible and a two year agreement is a useful tool in achieving this goal. However, the competitive market might give this Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer a chance to bloom.

A carrier might see this as a chance to lure customers into their service. Indeed, a shorter agreement would be a good way to convince customers because they will not be committed to a contract for long. The Alltel 1-year wireless contract offer definitely has potential and appeal.

That's it for this post on the Alltel 1-year wireless contract option,. tune in to this blog to get the latest news and updates on wireless contracts.

Tmobile Early Termination Fee Case Settlement

If you decided to cancel your T-Mobile contract and paid the early termination fee on or before February 19th of this year, then you might be eligible in the class action lawsuit settlement.

What is this Tmobile early termination fee case settlement? Well, T-Mobile customers who were forced to pay the ETF or early termination fee upon canceling their contract have decided to file a class action lawsuit against the carrier.

The class action lawsuit accuses T-Mobile of violating the customer's her under the laws of various states, as well as federal law, by imposing flat-rate ETFs. The consumers are hoping for a quick resolution to this dispute. A Tmobile early termination fee case settlement is a likely outcome.

Again, customers who paid the ETF on or before February 19th of this year are welcome to join this Tmobile early termination fee case settlement.

What happens if one jouins this crusade to force a Tmobile early termination fee case settlement? Well, the court will make a decision on the merits of the the claims made in the lawsuit. If submitting a Claim Form, then you may be eligible for money ($125) or non-cash compensation (T-Mobile HotSpot access). However, you will not be able to participate in any other lawsuit against T-Mobile about any issues relating to the flat-rate ETF if you take part in this case.

If you decline from participating in this quest for Tmobile early termination fee case settlement, then you will not reap the benefits but you will keep your right to sue T-Mobile separately about the unjust early termination fee.

Click here to know more or participate in this Tmobile early termination fee class action lawsuit.

That's it for this information on the Tmobile early termination fee case settlement. This lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Civil Action No. 08-04149 (JLL) (ES). Stay tuned to get the latest news and info on mobile phone contracts

Alltel Contract Termination

Verizon and Alltel has recently worked out a merger. The union is still incomplete but some Alltel subscribers may not be happy with this development. Some do not want to do business with Verizon and may wish for Alltel contract termination.

Un the the terms and condition, an Alltel contract termination would require a heavy early termination fee or ETF . Of course, the average consumer would like to come out of a contract unscathed. Fortunately, their are Alltel contract termination techniques that would help one to pay no or less fees.

I've heard that some lucky subscribers were able to get Verizon Wireless to pay for their Alltel contract termination. Apparently, they were able to convince the carrier that the union was not in their best interest. Unfortunately, this Alltel contract termination technique mostly depends on the CS rep.

One might also save a few bucks on Alltel contract termination by telling the CS rep that one wishes to cancel, and to pay the difference in the price of the phone with your contract discount and the full retail price. This Alltel contract termination option is cheaper usually then paying the early termination fee.

It is also possible to get a free Alltel contract termination if you reside in an area with no Alltel service. The company is legally binded to cancel with out an ETF if the customer is having reception problems. One can also use the phone frequently in a predominantly partner coverage area. An Alltel contract termination would be awarded if the customer ends up costing the company in partner coverage fees.

But if you feel that switching to Verizon is not a bad option then you might get a free Alltel contract termination. Here's a quote from the Alltel-Verizon Wireless Integration website:

Can I switch to Verizon Wireless now instead of waiting until the transition period is over?
Alltel customers who switch before the transition is complete will become new Verizon Wireless customers with new customer agreements.

There you have it. Those are some solid Alltel contract termination tips. Tune in to this site if you want to know more about wireless contracts.

How to Get out of Tmobile Contract

I have documented many users wanting to be free of their wireless contract. The reasons vary from poor service to annoying monthly fees. However, canceling a contract often results in being charged with heavy fees. Fortunately, there are some ways to get out of a wireless contract but they vary form carrier to carrier. Let me show you how to how to get out of Tmobile contract.

However, these steps may only work for people that do not currently have a messaging plan. This steps on how to get out of Tmobile contract is based on a recent text messaging rate increase so it may not apply to new messaging plan subscribers.

Without further delay here are the steps on how to get out of Tmobile contract:

• First you need to call T-Mobile at 800-937-8997. Then say “cancel my account” when prompted by the automate system.
• The next step on how to get out of Tmobile contract is to communicate with the live sales rep. T-mobile will want to know the reaso0n for your decision to cancel your service. inform them that you want to get out of Tmobile contract because you were notified that the text messaging rate will be increasing.
• At this point, T-Mobile will offer tempting deals to convince to stay. Needless to say, you should deny all of their offers.
• If the sales rep refuses to allow you to cancel your contract without a fee then you should remind them that you are allowed to cancel within 14 days of receiving the notification.
• If they still refuse then you should refer to this Terms of Service excerpt: Section 3 (This how to get out of Tmobile contract is founded on this statement):

• IF WE MODIFY A MATERIAL TERM OF OUR AGREEMENT WITH YOU AND THE MODIFICATION WOULD BE MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU, WE WILL NOTIFY YOU OF THE INCREASE OR MODIFICATION AND YOU CAN CANCEL THAT SERVICE WITHOUT PAYING A CANCELLATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY) BY FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN THE NOTICE. IF YOU DO NOT CANCEL YOUR SERVICE BY FOLLOWING THOSE INSTRUCTIONS, OR YOU OTHERWISE ACCEPT THE CHANGE, THEN YOU AGREE TO THE INCREASE OR MODIFICATION, EVEN IF YOU PAID FOR SERVICE IN ADVANCE. IF THE NOTICE DOES NOT SAY HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO CANCEL, THEN IT IS WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE NOTICE, UNLESS A LONGER PERIOD IS REQUIRED BY LAW.

• At this point, they will generally cancel your contract. You can visit www.t-mobile.com and check if you can’t access anything. If you can’t access anything, then your T-Mobile your account has been successfully canceled.

Those are the basic steps on how to get out of Tmobile contract. Unfortunately, if you want to port your number over to another provider, then this how to get out of Tmobile contract guide will not help you. you need a lot more work to get that done.

There are other helpful guides on how to get out of Tmobile contract on the web. This guide only works during an increase in text messaging rates. I'm sure that there are other ways to show you how to get out of Tmobile contract.

How can I Terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract?

How can I terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract?

I found a quite a few people asking about this on Yahoo! answers and online forums. However, these questions weren't specific enough to indicate if this involves paying the ETF. I guess I'll have to provide two ways of canceling or terminating a Verizon Wireless contract. The basic steps of terminating a contract and paying for the ETF and escaping the contract without incurring a fee.

First let me provide some steps on can I terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract.

1.) Dial *611 from your Verizon Wireless 1-800-922-0204 from any phone. This will connect you to with Verizon Wireless customer service where can I terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract.

2.) Press the extension (3 or 4) to be forwarded to account services. You may be put on hold for a few minutes.

3.) Then, you will be able to speak with a living Verizon Wireless customer service representative.

4.) Inform the Verizon Wireless rep that you desire to terminate your Verizon Wireless 2yr contract.

5.) The Verizon Wireless customer service representative will then confirm your identity and begin the process of closing the account or terminate your Verizon Wireless 2yr contract.

6.) You may owe anywhere from nothing, to 200 dollars depending on how long you have been faithful to your Verizon Wireless contract. The ETF is pro-rated depending on how close to the end of the two year contract you are.

7.) The Verizon Wireless customer service representative will normally ask you why you are closing your account and who you are switching to, and then hang up.

That's the basic steps on how to cancel an agreement. I hope that those who asked" How can I terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract?", will be able to benefit from those instructions.

However, it is also possible to terminate your Verizon Wireless 2yr contract without incurring any ETF. Here's the statement from your contracts terms of service:

Your service is subject to our business policies, practices and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN ALSO CHANGE PRICES AND ANY OTHER CONDITIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME BY SENDING YOU WRITTEN NOTICE PRIOR TO THE BILLING PERIOD IN WHICH THE CHANGES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT. IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SERVICE AFTER THAT POINT, YOU’RE ACCEPTING THE CHANGES. IF THE CHANGES HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON YOU, HOWEVER, YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE, JUST BY CALLING US WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER WE SEND NOTICE OF THE CHANGE.

This basically means that if these changes have a material adverse effect on you and you would like to to terminate your Verizon Wireless 2yr contract, then you can leave without an early termination fee.

That's it for this post. I hope it answers the question: How can I terminate my Verizon Wireless 2yr contract?

No Contract Cell Phone Companies

One of the things I've learned in the course of making this blog is the fact than many people dislike cell phone contracts. Of course, they do not dislike wireless contracts because of the benefits they bring but because of the restrictions and hidden fees that come with this agreements.

However, some are customers also not suited to commit to mobile phone contracts. Limited phone users would benefit more by using pre-paid plans or phones that does not require a contract. there's no sens to being tied up with an agreement if you hardly use your phone. Some users also avoid cell phone contracts because of the credit checks and the infamous ETF or early termination fee.

Some business men have picked up on the potential of no contract services and handsets so they set up companies on this concept. This gave birth to no contract cell phone companies which offer cheap services and mobile phones without any agreement requirement.

I've compiled a list of no contract cell phone companies that might be useful for those who want a service with out signing any agreements. These no contract cell phone companies offer affordable phones and plans without a contract requirement. However, you should not expect high-end devices from these no contract cell phone companies because they focus on affordable handsets for occasional phone users.

If you want to get connected to your friends and family without signing any contracts, then you should check out this list of no contract cell phone companies.

• Consumer Cellular
• Tracfone
• Blue Wireless
• Boost Mobile
• Virgin Mobile
• Pure Mobile
• CallPlus Prepaid Cellular
• Net10

These are some of the no contract cell phone companies that specialize in no commitment phones and cheap prepaid plans. If you're allergic to credit checks or early termination fees, then this no contract cell phone companies may have the best device for your lifestyle.

How to Terminate a Cell Phone Contract

If you do a few Google searches on mobile phone agreements or contracts, then you'll realize that a lot of folks are interested to know how to terminate a cell phone contract. It seems that a lot of people are dissatisfied with the agreements they sign with carriers. A lot of people want to learn how to terminate a cell phone contract so that they can be free from their carrier and move on to another service.

But why do we have to sign mobile phone contracts? Why are so many people interested in knowing how to terminate a cell phone contract? Well, cell phone contracts are one of the tools used by carriers to protect their business. They ask their customers to sign a contract in exchange for the low price of subsidized handsets. Carriers even offer free phones as long as their customers sign the agreement. However, problems occur and customers find themselves wanting to learn how to terminate a cell phone contract.

What could cause people wanting to cancel an agreement with their carriers. Well, some people want to know how to terminate a cell phone contract because they want to get an exclusive device on another carrier. The iPhone for instance caused a lot of people to scramble and learn how to terminate a cell phone contract.

Terminating a contract is not simple because of the early termination fee or ETF. This fee is charged to people who want to cancel their contracts before it expires. People are interested to know how to terminate a cell phone contract without being hit by the dreaded ETF. Here are a few ways to do this:

The best way of avoiding an ETF when canceling a contract is by finding out if there were any changes to the Terms of Service. If a material change is made to a contract such as a sudden increase in text messaging fees then you have no obligation to stay with the contract. Carriers often inform their customers of any major change in a contract to give them a chance to cancel their contracts.

You can also simply choose to pay the ETF when you want out of a contract. You don't really need to learn how to terminate a cell phone contract if your carrier has prorated ETF policy and you only have a few months left in your contract. A pro rated ETF means that you will pay a fee depending on how many months are left in your contract.

Some people who learned how to terminate a cell phone contract tried and succeeded trading their contact off with someone else. This process is commonly known as “assumption of liability" where users transfer their contract to another person, free of charge. There are also websites that charge a small fee to list your cell phone contract for “sale” to third parties.

There are other ways that can help you to cancel a contract. the web is full of articles and sites on how to terminate a cell phone contract. Research and find a way to get rid of a contract that you want to vanish.

ETF-free Sprint Wireless Contract Cancellations has been Extended

Last January, I blogged about the opportunity for ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations. This opportunity came up because Sprint decided to increase it's administrative fee from $0.75 to $0.99. However, according to online sources the ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations has been extended up to March 15, 2009.

If you weren't able to take advantage of the ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations last January, then you don't have to worry. the door is still open. The reason for the extended ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations is not clear but some online sites have confirmed that the chance is still available.

Sprint's administrative fee has not been readjusted so the extension given to ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations may be due to the initial increase. Nevertheless, if you want to be free of your current contract, then it's recommended that you contact customer care and apply for ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations.

I've also mentioned in my previous post that this opportunity for ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations came about due to a contract clause that allows a customer to become free of a contract if any material changes have been made. This generally works with all wireless contracts not just on Sprint.

However, if you don't have any problems with Sprint then sticking around might be a good idea. Sprint is set to release an exciting new device in the Palm Pre, so might want to think twice about applying for the extended ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations.

That's concludes this post on an update to the ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations. keep on visiting this blog to keep abreast on the latest happenings and news on wireless contracts and opportunities to cancel your wireless contract.

How to Cancel Your Wireless Contract ETF-Free

It would be great to have the freedom to switch carriers whenever we want. However, the wireless contracts we sign with mobile phone carriers hamper our freedom to switch from one service provider to another. Then, there's also the heavy ETF or early termination fee that you can incur when you wish to cancel your contract with a carrier. Fortunately, there are ways of getting out of a wireless contract with out paying the early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations.

The best scenario for not incurring an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations is when your carrier makes material changes to your contract. You can freely cancel your contract without paying any early termination fee when your carrier makes any changes to your original such as increased text messaging fees. You contract allows termination without incurring an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations in this scenario.

However, carriers do not make changes to your wireless contract very often so this may not work if you need to have early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations ASAP. This means that you might have to resort to other methods when it comes to not incurring an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations.

Another option for escaping a wireless contract without being charged an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations is by selling or trading your contract. Try websites that specialize on people trying to sell their contract without early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations. These websites might help you terminate your agreement without an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations. However, you might want to be careful when trying this method to early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations because your carrier might not agree with this deal.

The first two steps are the best options when it comes to terminate your agreement without an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations. Of course, there are other ways to achieve early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations but they require a lot of luck and hard work.

For instance, a complaint campaign might help you get out of a contract without without an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations. Complain about poor reception, frequent drop calls, dead zones or other problems. Polite and numerous complaint address to your carrier, the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission might convince your carrier that allowing you to get out of a contact without without an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations is the best recourse.

I'm sure there are other ways of becoming free of your carrier agreement with out being force to pay an early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations. The Internet is an awesome source and can certainly help you switch carriers without being forced to pay early termination fee or ETF-free contract cancellations.

ETF-free Sprint Wireless Contract Cancellations

Here's a hot tip for those who want to get rid of their Sprint wireless contract. According to the folks at Boy Genius Report, Sprint has increased its' administrative fee to $0.99. This gives some customers the opportunity to take advantage of ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations.

According to BGR, the ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations has been extended until the end of January. These means that you have several more days to benefit from this ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations opportunity.

Before raising its administrative fee to $0.99, Sprint also increased it to o $0.75 last December. Some customers used this increased to apply for ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations. If you are bound to a Sprint agreement and want to change to another provider then you should explore this possibility of ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations.

Most wireless contracts allow customers to cancel a contract with out any when any material changes are made to the fees and other aspects of a wireless contracts. The increase in Sprints administrative fees are material enough to justify ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations.

Here's a part of Sprint's contract policy that deals with the basis for ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations:

"If a change we make to the Agreement is material and has a material adverse effect on Services under your Term Commitment, you may terminate each line of Service materially affected without incurring an Early Termination Fee"

If you want to take advantage of this ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations opportunity, then you should try to communicate with customer care reps through chat. Some of them may not be aware of the ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations so negotiate patiently.

That's it for this update on ETF-free Sprint wireless contract cancellations. Tune in to this blog to get the latest news and updates related to wireless contracts or mobile phone contracts.

How to Read Your Wireless Contract

Reading a wireless contract is not an easy task. Wireless contracts and all other types of contracts are notoriously long and difficult to read. Going through the complicated language and fine lines of a mobile phone contract can be an ordeal. Signing on the dotted line is a lot easier than reading each line of a mobile phone wireless contract.

However, you should realize that spending time to read your mobile phone wireless contract is a wise thing to do. Remember that a wireless contract is legally binding document that can cause you a lot of problems. You can be sure to run into a lot of problems if you don't take the time to read your mobile phone wireless contract.

Here's a few steps that may help you to understand and read your mobile phone wireless contract. This guide on how to read your wireless contract can come in handy when you purchase a new new cell phone.

You may encounter some complicated terms when you read your wireless contract. In this situation, you should ask the the sales associate to explain these terms. Understanding these terms is necessary when trying to understand and read your mobile phone wireless contract.

Remember that glancing through your mobile phone wireless contract is not enough. You need to be thorough when you read your mobile phone wireless contract.

Some wireless contracts have hidden fees that you can easily miss. Read your mobile phone wireless contract carefully and make sure that there are no hidden fees or any fees that wasn't talked about in the document.

Read the return policy or risk-free guarantee in your contract. This is an important part of your mobile phone wireless contract because it allows you to return your phone if it has any defects. The return policy in most cell phone wireless contracts usually last for a month.

Take note of the the cancellation fee for your mobile phone wireless contract. Some wireless contracts have a fixed price while other have a pro-rated early terminations fee. If you you have a long term mobile phone wireless contract then you should be charged not less than $150 for canceling it.

Always asked all the necessary questions before you sign on the dotted line. Once you sign your mobile phone wireless contract thereis no going back. Questions may arise as you read your mobile phone wireless contract. Don't hesitate to ask the sales person about anything that bothers you.

Those are my tips on how to read your mobile phone wireless contract. Research online to find more pointers on how to read your mobile phone wireless contract. I'm sure that you won't regret having a full understanding of all the terms of your mobile phone wireless contract.