Wireless Contracts Info

T-Mobile Alters its Wireless Contract Early Termination Policy

2011-02-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a mobile phone contract update for T-Mobile subscribers. The carrier appears to have changed its policy towards the Early Termination Fees (ETF) for its mobile phone contracts.

The new T-Mobile Early Termination Fees (ETF) policy indicates that consumers that are moving out of the carrier's coverage area or overseas will be charged with the fee. However, customers moving overseas due to military deployment will not be charged with an ETF.

This T-Mobile Early Termination Fees (ETF) policy change took effect on February 8th, 2011. This means that consumers who cancelled service (without paying the ETF) before February 8th will not be charged with the fee.

So why did T-Mobile enforce this new cell phone contract policy? Well, the word on the street indicates that the change was made to discourage the abuse by some consumers who are specifically moving out or signing contracts before they knew they were moving overseas.

What do you think of this change? Do you think that it's fair?

Stay tuned for more wireless contracts news and information.

No-Contract Android Smartphones

2011-02-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

A number of consumers have shied away from handsets that are paired with cell phone contracts in an attempt to save money. However, no-contract phones are usually simple devices that are meant for occasional users. Fortunately, the landscape has changed and t is now possible to purchase a solid Android smartphone without being tied to a mobile phone contract.

Let's look at the no-contract Android smartphones that are available in the market.

Huawei Ascend

Cricket Wireless and MetroPCS are offering the Huawei Ascend as a prepaid Android smartphone. Features for this phone include 3.5-inch HVGA display, Swype keyboard, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a 16GB card slot, and supports 3G and Wi-Fi.

LG Optimus V

The Optimus M is available via Virgin Mobile for only r $149.99 off-contract. The features for this no-contract Android smartphone include Wi-Fi, GPS, EV-DO Rev. A, stereo Bluetooth, and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

LG Optimus M

The main features for this phone include Wi-Fi, EV-DO Rev. 0, GPS, a 3.2-megapixel camera, and Bluetooth. The Optimus M was launched with a price of $229 with no contract.

There you go. Three solid smartphone that can be purchased without a cell phone contract. If you don't want to be bothered with ETFs, credit checks and other fees, then check out these handsets.

Sprint Surcharges, Taxes, Fees and other Charges

2011-01-31T10:33:00.000-08:00

A look at your monthly mobile phone bill will tell you that one needs to pay for surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges in addition to your usage. You are obligated under you cell phone contract to pay these surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges. However, understanding and knowing about these charges may one understanding the need to pay for them. Let's look at some of these charges that are included in your Sprint monthly bill.

Now, these surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges may vary according to your wireless service and your geographical location.

Administrative Charge: this fee is applied per line, per month by Sprint to help defray various costs imposed on Sprint by other telecommunications carriers. It not required to be collected by law and the calculation for this charge are subject to change from time to time.
Regulatory Charge: This fee is collected to help defray costs of various federal, state, and local regulatory programs. It not required to be collected by law and the calculation for this charge are subject to change from time to time.

Gross Receipts Recovery: This fee is charged to recover receipts taxes and excise imposed by some states, counties, and cities. It not required to be collected by law.
State & Local Taxes: Some States, counties, cities, and special taxing districts assess various taxes on Sprint communication services and/or the sales and rentals of wireless phones. These charges are remitted to the jurisdiction that is assessing the tax.

State & Local Required 911 Charges: Some states and localities require wireless carriers to collect a fee for 911 funds. These fees vary by state and locality.

Federal & State Universal Service Fund Assessment: All interstate telecommunications service providers are required to contribute to the Federal Universal Service Fund (USF) and some states may require Sprint to contribute to a State Universal Service Fund (USF).

These are just some of the surcharges, taxes, fees and other charges that are included in your monthly bill. I hope you'll get a better understanding of these fees after this post.

Stay tuned for more mobile phone contract related topics.

Android Update Delay Causes Class Action Suit Against Samsung and T-Mobile

2011-01-24T10:06:00.000-08:00

It's has been some time since we featured class action suits in this blog. The last one was on November of last year. But here's a new one filed against the 4th largest US carrier. This new class action suit filed against T-Mobile also involves Samsung and one of the manufacturer's most popular handsets.

If you own a smartphone, then you probably know that software update releases can take a long time. Now, were not talking about fix updates but new versions of operating systems. The Samsung Galaxy S has been notorious for delays in software updates. In this case it's T-Mobile's versin of the Galaxy S, the Samsung Vibrant.

It appears that one user has finally had enough and has filed a filed a class action lawsuit against T-Mobile and Samsung. This complainant claims that both companies have violated the law concerning Unfair and Deceptive Consumer Business Practices. The suit argues that these telecom companies have the deceived users regard ing the hardware, and software reliability of the Samsung Vibrant.

So do you think that this class action suit is valid?

I think that it shows that smartphone users are concerned with OS update delays. After all, no one wants to be stuck with a device with outdated and defective software.

Tune in to this blog for more issues on mobile phone contracts and related topics.

Verizon Wireless Ends its "New Every Two" UPgrade program

2011-01-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

The start of 2010 brought some major changes in the US mobile phone arena. Of course, the coming of the CDMA iPhone for Verizon Wireless is the biggest one so far. However, Verizon also delivered some disappointment when it informed subscribers of the end to the popular "New Every Two" upgrade program.

But what is the "New Every Two" program anyway? Well, this program offers Verizon subscribers a credit of $30 to $100 toward a new phone every two years. So you see why it has become quite popular.

Unfortunately, this program will halt as of January 16. The company will stop offering the credit to new customers and won't re-enroll current customers in the program. Consumers can also say goodbye to the early upgrade program.

Brenda Raney, a spokeswoman for Verizon Wireless, has indicated that the carrier plans to shifting to a "simpler program" in which customers will be offered promotions and discounts directly. She stated in an email that "We are a retail business so the New Every Two promotion is evolving to be more in line with how retailers work with customers today. This will include promotional offers via e-mail based on preferences that are more tailored to customers' needs."

This means that customers signing up after January 16, they will not get to access this program. However, Verizon Wireless customers under contract prior to January 16, 2011, who meet the qualifications for New Every Two program will be grandfathered so they can use the benefit one more time.

That's it for this update. Tune in next week for more wireless contract related news and updates.

T-Mobile's Phone Return and Replacement Policy

2011-01-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

Thousands of consumers each year go though the process of returning or asking for a areplacement for a handset vis their wireless carriers. This process can be triggered by a number of reasons including defective phones or damaged handsets.

But what are the carriers' policy towards returning phones and replacement handsets? Well, let's look at T-Mobile's phone return and replacement policy.

If you want to a newly purchased T-Mobile cell phone then you have 14 calendar days (30 in CA) from the date of purchase to return the handset. However, the mobile phone must be good working condition with original contents and packaging. Otherwise, you won't be eligible for a refund of the purchase price. One must also present a proof of purchase and a restocking fee may be charged.

Yu can return a defective phone and ask for a replacement if its is still under warranty. Remember that you need to return the defective phone to T-Mobile to complete the exchange. IF YOU DO NOT RETURN THE DEFECTIVE PHONE WITHIN SEVEN (7) DAYS, YOU WILL BE CHARGED T-MOBILE’S REPLACEMENT FEE FOR THE NEW PHONE.

If the handset is found to be outside the warranty period and/or is physically damaged then you will need to pay a replacement charge for the value of the phone. A new T-Mobile phone, it is under warranty for 12 months from the activation date on the T-Mobile network or the date of receipt, whichever is earlier. If you purchased a refurbished T-Mobile phone, then it is under warranty from either 90 days of receipt or the remainder of your 12-month service agreement, whichever is longer.

A T-Mobile cell phone is considered defective if it has stopped properly functioning due to no fault of the user.

But what about if an upgraded T-Mobile phone does not meet your expectations? Well. you can return the phone plus all associated original contents, undamaged and in good working condition, within 14 days from the day you received it.

If your mobile phone has been lost or stolen then you should read this:

Call Customer Care immediately to suspend your service. If your phone was stolen, please provide the Customer Care representative with the police report number (if available). Ask Customer Care about phone or SIM card replacement options that may be immediately available to you.
You will be charged for any call charges made prior to when you reported your phone as stolen and you will receive a credit for any charges made after you reported the phone as stolen. Your monthly bill will be prorated based on the time that your account is suspended.
Once you have called Customer Care to report the phone as lost or stolen, your service will be suspended for up to a maximum of 30 days. If your phone has not been recovered within this time period, your current account will be cancelled to prevent any possible misuse. To avoid account cancellation, call Customer Care regarding your options for replacing the lost or stolen phone.

That's if for this post on T-Mobile's phone return and replacement policy. Stay tuned as we tackle other important wireless contract policies and related topics.

How to View Your AT&T Contract End Date

2010-12-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

When does my contract end? When does my service expire? When is my service end date? These questions often cross the mid of subscribers who are nearing the end of their mobile phone contract. Well, here's some useful news for AT&T subscribers.

I've dug around the AT&T website and found some steps on how to know or find out the end date for your contract. It's quite simple and no complicated steps are necessary. Here are the simple steps.

Log in to your myWireless Account.
From the Account Overview page, select My Profile.
Select the User Number Information tab in the center of the page. Your contract end date can be found under the Contract Information section.
For more information on account cancellation, select the Early Termination Fee link at the bottom of the page.

If you have multiple phone lines on your account, you must select the phone number associated with the User Information you would like to view.

Of course, a subscriber must be registered and logged in to myWireless Account to view this wireless contract information.

That's it for this post. We hope that this wireless contract information will help one to find out about your mobile phone contract end date. Stay tuned as we tackle similar topics n this blog.

Verizon Wireless Contracts and Relocation

2010-12-13T09:37:00.000-08:00

Relocation appears to be a major concern for mobile phone contract customers. And rightfully so since coverage and network strength may vary greatly from one area to another. Fortunately for Verizon Wireless contract consumers, the carrier has devoted a program to deal with this eventuality.

The Verizon Wireless Customer Relocation program caters to customers moving from one area to another. It handles the complications that relates to mobile phone contracts of consumers who decide to relocate to another area.

Relocating Consumers should contact Customer Service at (800) 922-0204 and a representative will help determine what changes need to be made on the account.

But the big question is, will you need to sign a new Verizon Wireless contract when you relocate?
Here is the carrier's answer:

It depends on the plan type. If you are keeping the same plan and promotion in the new market as the old, your contract will not be extended. The contract, however, will be extended if you purchase equipment at our discounting prices, or accept a new promotion.

But what about fees? Well, there are no fees for changing your calling plan or your area of use. However, prorate charges will apply if you change your service.

Check out the Verizon Wireless Customer Relocation program if yu have more questions.

That's it for this post. Tune in next week for more mobile phone contract information and related news.

AT&T No-contract Phones and Plans

2010-12-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

A large number of consumers are expected to choose prepaid services over mobile phones and plans with wireless contracts. So I thought that it would be interesting to look at some no-contract offers in the market.

AT&T is one of the major wireless carrier's in the US and it offers both no-contract offerings as well as mobile phones and plans that require a contract. his time let's take a quick look at AT&T no-contract phones and plans.

The carrier's prepaid program is called GoPhone. This prepaid mobile phone service is divided into Pick Your Plan and Pay As You Go.

The Pick Your Plan program is no longer available for new customers but existing Pick Your Plan service accounts are still being supported.

The Pay As You Go prepaid program provides no-contract phones and plans. Consumers can refill airtime at their leisure by purchasing prepaid cards. They can also purchase airtime packages available through the AT&T refill site.

These are the advantages of the Pay As You Go prepaid program:

No long-term contract and no credit check
No bills to pay and no age requirements
Unlimited calling to anyone nationwide on select plans
No long distance fees across our national service area
Usage tracking
24/7 account refills

But what about the cellphones. Well, the AT&T GoPhone program offers a selection of new or refurbished cell phones and devices and choose from a wide variety of styles and manufacturers. Many of them can be purchased for less than fifty bucks.

That's it for this quick preview of AT&T no-contract phones and plans. Join as every week as we look at mobile phone contract or wireless contract news and updaes.

One in Five Wireless Contract Cosumer to Switch to Prepaid

2010-11-22T10:36:00.000-08:00

It appears that the decline in consumers committing to wireless contracts is still continuing. A study conducted by Infogroup for the New Millennium Research Council indicates that 20 percent of wireless customers (estimated to be about 24.6 million adults in the U.S.) will move to "less expensive unlimited prepaid wireless service with no early-cancellation penalty" at some point within the next six months.

Last year's study estimated the number at almost twenty percent.

The reasons for abandoning mobile phone contract offers? Well, its about cost. Most prepaid plans are cheaper than contract offerings.

Interestingly, 10 percent of respondents said they would switch to a prepaid plan if they weren't "subject to an early-cancellation penalty." his indicates that the infamous early termination fee or ETF for mobile phone contracts are successful in encouraging consumers to be faithful to their agreements.

So what can carriers do to keep their customers from switching to prepaid deals? Well, the study shows that unlimited talk, text, and Web or e-mail access for $50 a month with no penalty will do the trick.

Will this trend continue next year? Stay tuned as we bring you the latest news and updates on wireless contracts and related topics.

AT&T Settles In Class Action Suit Over Fees and Taxes

2010-11-17T10:05:00.000-08:00

Here's some good news for Cingular/AT&T customers who paid for mobile internet services between November 1, 2005, and September 7, 2010. The carrier has decided to settle the conflict over collected taxes on mobile data plans.

The carrier was hit with a class action lawsuit filed over the improper collection of some taxes and fees. Apparently, AT&T collected the fees and taxes even after some states and local governments ceased requiring the payment of certain taxes on mobile data plans. Thus, a class action suit was filed.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted preliminary approval of the settlement on Aug. 11, 2010, and the carrier has requested the judge to issue a final approval of the settlement.

AT&T denied any wrongdoing in a statement to the folks at Phonescoop,

"AT&T Mobility collected only those taxes that we believed we were required to collect, and turned them over to the appropriate taxing bodies. We strongly deny any wrongdoing, and no court has found that AT&T Mobility committed any wrongdoing. However, we agreed to settle these cases to avoid the burden and cost of further litigation, and to facilitate any tax refunds that we may be able to obtain for our customers."

So what is the result of this settlement?

Well, AT&T will no longer charge some taxes and fees on data plans. The carrier will refund its customers from whatever monies are reimbursed by the state and local governments involved.

Do you think that you deserve a piece of this settlement? Consumers that take Data Connect Plans (wireless Internet on your PC), Smart-phone Data Features bolt-ons, smartphone data plans, iPhone data plans, personal Blackberry plans, or enterprise smartphone plans are all potentially included in the settlement.

That's it for this update. TUne in o more wireless contract related news and updates.

Cell Phone Contracts and Taxes

2010-11-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

A cell phone bill contains information that can cause confusion among consumers. The taxes included in your bill are a good example of this especially for consumers who have recently transferred to another state.

Taxes and governmental fees are included in your bill. That's why your residential or business street address is very important because it allows a carrier to determine which jurisdiction's taxes and assessments to collect for you cell phone bill. This information is emphasized in your mobile phone contract.

On average American cell phone consumers are taxed 15.75 percent on every month's cell phone bill. This average percentage includes state and local taxes as well as federal taxes.

Now, calculating the cell phone tax that goes into your bill may not be accurate. This means that a carrier may be overcharging you. Of course, it may also mean that you are being charged less than the amount that you should be charged.

So how do you know that a carrier isn't over charging you with taxes?

Well, you need to know that you are paying for several cell phone taxes. Your bill includes the federal tax, which is about 5.05 percent of your phone bill a and is used to fund the Universal Service Fund.

Then there are state taxes and local taxes and fee. Some states also include a sales tax ands add fees for e911 service. Refer to MyWireless.org to get the average state and local tax rates for your residence.

You may contact your carrier if you feel that you are being overcharged with the taxes on your bill. It's the carrier's responsibility to charge you the correct tax based on your billing address. A refund is justified if a carrier is not applying the appropriate rates.

That's it for this pice of info on cell phone taxes. Tune in next week for more information on cell phone contracts and related topics.

The Anti-Bill Shock Rules

2010-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

There have been recent talks of the FCC's efforts to lessen the occurrences of bill shock. But what is "bill shock" anyway and why should consumers be concerned over it.

Well, here's a good illustration of bill shock from Cnet:

When Kerfye Pierre returned home to Maryland from a visit to Haiti in February after the devastating earthquake, she received yet another shock: a $30,000 phone bill from T-Mobile USA.

Pierre, who had gone to Haiti to visit her sister who was having a baby, was there when the earthquake struck in January. Before her trip, she had suspended her phone service to avoid expensive charges. But after the disaster struck, she was told by a T-Mobile representative that she could use a courtesy plan that allowed her to communicate with people back home.

What she didn't realize was that the plan only included voice minutes. But because the voice network was so unreliable after the quake, Kerfye used texts, e-mails, and Facebook posts from her phone to update loved ones.

Eventually, Pierre was able to get a $25,000 credit to her account, but she still owes T-Mobile $5,000.

Have you ever experienced this? Well, I sure hope not. Fortunately, the FCC has started making a way to counter bill shock. The agency has proposed new regulation that would require wireless operators to alert customers with a text or voice message when they are about to exceed a bundle of voice, text, or data.

The FCC also suggested that wireless operators notify customers when they are about to incur international or other roaming charges that are not covered by their monthly plans, and if they will be charged at higher than normal rates.

The agency proposed that all wireless carriers offer easy to find and use tools that help customers monitor usage and review usage balances.

Hopefully, these efforts will not go to waste and consumers will be able to avoid any incidences of bill shock.

That's it for this post. See you next week for more wireless contract news and related topics.

Pros and Cons of Wireless Contract Services

2010-10-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Last week, we discussed the pros and cons of prepaid offerings. This week, we'll go to the other side and look at the advantages and disadvantages of phones and plans that come with a contract agreement.

Hopefully, this info will help you decide between prepaid services or post pais offers that require a wireless contract.

Contract Pros:

Subsidized price on mobile phones: Contract consumers can get subsidized prices on phone upgrades every two years.
Strong phone selection. the latest and greatest cell phones on the market come with contract plans.

Contract Cons:

Early Termination Fees: If you break your contract, then a hefty fee awaits.
Expensive: contract plans could be more expensive than a prepaid offering especially for consumers with an individual cell phone plan with expensive data and texting services.
Credit check: a credit check is a requirement for those who want a taste of contract goodness.

That's it for now. Keep on visiting for more information on mobile phone contracts as well as related news and updates.

Pros and Cons of Going Prepaid

2010-10-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

The current trend in consumer preferences show that a majority of subscribers are choosing prepaid options of phones and services that come with a wireless contract. Should you also choose the prepaid route?

Well, here are the advantage and disadvantages of prepaid services. This should help one decided to choose this option or go for services with mobile phone contracts.

Prepaid Pros:

Cheaper. Prepaid can be less than some postpaid contract service plans depending on the consumer's usage pattern.
Absence of credit checks. Prepaid has historically offered the best option for consumers with less than perfect credit.
No wireless contract. One can cancel service at any time without a penalty. yeah, no need to worry about annoying ETF's or early termination fees.

Prepaid Cons:

Can be more expensive. Individual usage patterns may cost an individual more. Contract family plans can be less expensive than some prepaid deal.
Limited Mobile phones. prepaid handsets are getting better but the best mobile phones come with a contract
No subsidized price. Consumers will need to pay the full retail price for a new device that may locked to a single operator's network.

That's it for this post. Check out our blog every week for more on mobile phone contracts and related subjects

AT&T's iPhone Upgrade Policies

2010-09-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

The length of a consumer's wireless contract is one of the factors that determine upgrade eligibility to get the new and exciting iPhone 4.

The reduced pricing on the new Apple handset applies to AT&T customers whose contracts have already expired or for current iPhone users. However, the case is different for subscribers using phones other than an iPhone.

Aside from mobile phone contract length, the carrier also takes into account other factors such as spending level and paying his bills on time.

Existing iPhone customers who are eligible for an upgrade between June 7 and the end of this year to get the best pricing for the iPhone 4 with a two-year term commitment. They can purchase the handset for $399 for the 16GB model and $499 for the 32GB variant. A new two-year mobile phone contract.

Only current iPhone customers can upgrade six months early. All other AT&T subscribers must wait until their existing contracts expire.

These factors pretty much sum up the carrier's policy on upgrading to the new iPhone 4. The length of your wireless contract is very important but other factors will be considered as well. In this instant it pays to be a faithful AT&T subscriber.

That's it for this post. Tune in for more wireless contract news and related articles.

AT&T's Grounds for Terminating your Wireless Agreemeent

2010-09-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

Do you know that AT&T can terminate your wireless contract without notice? Well, you should. After all, its part of the company's terms and agreements.

You can terminate your wireless contract with a carrier but you need to pay an early termination fee and other penalties. However, AT&T can also "interrupt or terminate your Services without notice" if they find you guilty of the following violations:

for any conduct that we believe violates this Agreement,
if you behave in an abusive, derogatory, or similarly unreasonable manner with any of our representatives,
if we discover that you are underage,
if you fail to make all required payments when due,
if we have reasonable cause to believe that your Equipment is being used for an unlawful purpose or in a way that (i) is harmful to, interferes with, or may adversely affect our Services or the network of any other provider, (ii) interferes with the use or enjoyment of Services received by others, (iii) infringes intellectual property rights, (iv) results in the publication of threatening or offensive material, or (v) constitutes spam or other abusive messaging or calling, a security risk, or a violation of privacy,
if you provided inaccurate credit information, or
we believe your credit has deteriorated and you refuse to pay any requested advance payment or deposit.

I would avoid committing any of these errors if you want to continue your service with AT&T.

That's it for this piece of info on the wireless contracts of mobile hones. Tune in every week for more mobile phone contracts information.

T-Mobile's Early Termination Fee Schedule

2010-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

T-Mobile has a pro-rated ETF (early termination fee policy) which means that consumers pay depending on the length of time have left on their mobile phone contracts. However, this system can also be confusing since consumers do ot have a fixed penalty for terminating a T-Mobile contract.

So how do you calculate your T-Mobile early termination fee?

The carrier has provided an ETF schedule that allows subscribers to estimate their fees as long as they know their contract start date (which is also listed on their wireless contract):

As listed in these Terms & Conditions, the early termination fee is $200, if termination occurs with more than 180 days remaining on your term; $100, if termination occurs with 91 to 180 days remaining on your term; $50, if termination occurs with 31 to 91 days remaining on your term; and the lesser of $50 or your monthly recurring charges (including any applicable taxes and fees), if termination occurs in the last 30 days of your term.

If you wish to know exact information about the term of contracts and the early termination fee that would apply if you cancel your then you should can call T-Mobile Customer Care.

That's it for this post. Tune in every week for more on mobile phone contracts and wireless contract topics.

Can a Buggy Software Upgrade Free a Customer from a Wireless Contract?

2010-09-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

The current trend in mobile phones indicates a transformation from feature phones to smartphones. Consumers are now more able to purchase smartphones while the smart handsets are beginning to offer high-end consumer features. However, this trend also comes with an implication that is related to mobile phone contracts.

Smartphones require software updates that are supposed to keep them up to date with the latest technology, fix bugs and add enhancements. However, new versions of software can be buggy and break things that worked perfectly well with the previous version of software. This can be a problem for smartphone owners since the next software upgrade can take several months before release.

So can a problematic software upgrade free one from a smartphone contract?

Well, it's unlikely. The a buggy software update is not covered by the relevant section of most carrier's terms and conditions. This means that you can terminate your contract but you will be required to pay an early termination fee.

Finding ways to fix the bugs might be a cheaper choice than terminating a contract.

Since most of the ETF offered by carrier are pro-rated there's a chance that you wont pay a high fee as long as you do not have a ot of time left in our contract.

That's it for this week. Tune in for more mobile phone contract news and updates.

How to Access Wireless Contract and ETF Information Online

2010-08-31T11:54:00.000-07:00

Contracts are notorious for the tricky terms and hard-to-read fine print they employ. This can lead to painful fees and fines for consumers who find it hard to find out when their contract expires and other important details on their contracts. Fortunately, some important mobile phone contract and early termination fee information can be accessed right on your computer. Here are a few tips to help you find out:

AT&T

Customers can view their contract expiration date when accessing their account online (Att.com/mywireless).
To find out whether the contract has ended or provide a specific date for expiration simply click on the "My Profile" tab on the far right of the screen and click on "User Info."
This section also provides a hyperlink on ETFs, which directs customers to an Answer Center that provides specific details on AT&T's ETF policy and fees as well as a two-page "Customer Service Summary" which is a PDF detailing the customer's service, plan, and support shortcuts.

Sprint

Log into My Sprint, select "My Account," and scroll over the "I Want To" tab in "About My Devices." Look for the "I Want To" tab and select the "See My Contract Details" link once the box pops up. This will lead to information on when their wireless contract expires.

Sprint provides a chart that allows customers to calculate their prorated fees. IT also provides a link from the site footer to Sprint.com/terms and conditions and Sprint.com/etf.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile subscribers can get general information about T-Mobile's ETFs within the "Terms & Conditions" link at the bottom of the home page on the carrier's main website . The "MyT-Mobile" account page also provides a link to general ETF policy details via the "Terms & Conditions" link.

T-Mobile does not currently include details about individual ETFs on the customer's online account site.

Verizon Wireless

Go to MyVerizon.com and click on "Change Plan".

That's it for this post. Tune in for more info on mobile phone contracts and related news.

No-Contract iPhone 4 No Longer Available Online

2010-08-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Want to purchase the Apple iPhone 4 without an AT&T contract? Well, you won't be able to do it online. Apple's online web store and AT&T's web store no longer offers the iPhone 4 without a new two-year contract.

Does this mean that one can't purchase the handset without a wireless contract?

Well, no since both Apple Stores and AT&T-owned retail stores are still selling the iPhone 4 without a contract. Consumers can purchase the device for $599 (16GB version) and $699 (32GB version). The subsidized prices of the 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4 remained the same.

Carriers and manufacturers allow consumers to purchase a device without a mobile phone contract as long as they pay the whole retail price. The subsidized price is offered with a 2 year contract and an early termination fee.

The iPhone 4 is one of the hottest mobile phones in the market. It provides new features such as multi-touch, Retina Display, 5 MP camera and a front facing camera.

Tune in for more news and information of wireless contracts news and updates.

T-Mobile 'Unlimited' Data Plan Results in Class-action Lawsuit

2010-08-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a wireless contract dispute that involves T-Mobile USA. A consumer from California has filed a class action lawsuit against the 4th largest US wireless carrier for offering unlimited data but imposing caps data use once consumers are locked into a wireless contract.

The class action lawsuit against T-Mobile was brought in Superior Court in Yolo County, California.

The complainant, Trent Alvarez, alleges that advertisements for T-Mobile's “Unlimited Web & E-mail” plans falsely offer promise the consumer access to an “unlimited” amount of data.

Alvarez received a message that stated: “Your data usage in this billing cycle has exceeded 10GB; Data throughput [speed] for the remainder of the cycle may be reduced to 50kbps or less.” He was unable to do anything with his handsets except make or receive phone calls and text messages.

This cap on T-Mobile's 'Unlimited' Data Plan was only mentioned on a statement “on the very last page of the carrier's brochure. It was reportedly buried in minuscule type barely readable and states: 'Your data session may be slowed, suspended, terminated, or restricted if you use your service in a way that interferes with or impacts our network or ability to provide quality service to other users …'”

Well, this isn't the first time that a US carrier hit with a class action suit based on false advertising of its 'Unlimited' Data Plan. Other complainants have filed cases against other carrier's as well.

That's it for this wireless contract news. Tune in for more information, news and updates on mobile phone contracts.

Benefits of Settlement Agreements on Mobile Phone Contract Disputes

2010-08-09T12:34:00.000-07:00

Many consumers turn to class action suits in times of disputes over violations of a mobile phone contracts. Many hope to win a settlement agreement with a wirless carrier who has violated terms of a contract. but what are the benefits of seeking a settlement agreement over a wireless contract dispute?

Well, the benefits of wimming a settlement is varied. Monetary compensation is a common reward for a class member and will be awarded o those who have fulfilled the requirements. This usually includes an Approved Claim Form. Of course, you have to be qualified to be included in the complaint.

Another common benefit offered by a settlement agreement is a phone card that provides a few hundred minutes of state-to-state calling.

Keep it mind that you may only receive one benefit per line.

That's it for this quick post on settlement agreements of wireless contracts. Tune in next week for more info, news and updates on wireless contracts.

Updates to CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service

2010-08-02T10:47:00.000-07:00

CTIA–The Wireless Association, one of the groups that fight for consumer rights, have made significant changes to its Consumer Code for Wireless Service.

But before we discuss the changes, you might want to know about the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service. Well, this important document was originally developed in 2003 to help consumers make informed choices when selecting and managing their wireless service. Since, that was around seven years ago, changes have to be made to keep up with the changes to the industry made over time.

The revised Code includes new provisions that cover messaging and data services for both prepaid and postpaid wireless customers. It will take effective on January 1, 2011.

So what are the changes to the CTIA Consumer Code for Wireless Service?

The wireless companies that support the CTIA Code must follow the following criteria:

full disclosure of rates, additional taxes, fees, surcharges and terms of service
provide coverage maps
make customer service readily accessible
allow a trial period for new service

Obviously, these criteria have to be reflected on the wireless contracts of the companies that support the CTIA Code.

There are other changes but you have to read the official release to know them. The Code helps to regulate wireless carriers and keep them from abusing consumer interest on the best mobile phones and other services.

Here are the initial batch of companies supporting the new CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service:

AT&T
Cellcom
CellularOne
Clearwire
Illinois Valley Cellular
SouthernLINC Wireless
Sprint
T-Mobile USA
Unicel
U.S. Cellular
Verizon Wireless

That's it for this post. Tune in next week for more wireless contract news and elated topics.

AT&T's Open Letter for ETF Increase

2010-07-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last may, AT&T decided to change its termination fee to $325 for smartphones and $150 for feature phones. However, the announcement was preceded by leaks that draw the ire of some consumers. To counter this AT&T released an open letter to explain the ETF increase to their "valued" customers.

I know that this open letter is round two months old. However, this might offer some relief and information to consumers who are unaware of the reasons behind the AT&T' early termination fee increase for the best smartphones they can offer.

Here's the AT&T Open Letter:

An Open Letter to our Valued Customers

May 21, 2010

At AT&T, we work hard every day to provide you with a great wireless experience at competitive prices.

One of the ways we do this is to offer you the industry’s leading wireless handsets below their full retail price when you sign a two-year service agreement. In the event you wish to cancel service before your two-year agreement expires, you agree to pay a prorated early termination fee (ETF) as an alternative way to complete your agreement. Of course, if you prefer not to enter into a term commitment, we offer the same great selection of devices at their full retail price with no term commitment or ETF, as well as prepaid GoPhone options.

We are now making changes that will lower the ETF for many customers who agree to new term commitments, and will increase it for others. Current AT&T wireless customers who are within their two-year consumer service agreement or have an existing enterprise service agreement will see no change to their current terms.

Beginning June 1, 2010, we will reduce the ETF in new and upgrade two-year service agreements for all customers who are buying basic and quick messaging phones. Whether you are new to us or upgrading handsets, the ETF will decrease to $150 from $175, and be reduced by $4 for each month that you remain with us as a customer during the balance of your two-year service agreement. After the term commitment is completed, the ETF will no longer apply.

For customers who enter into new two-year service agreements in connection with the purchase of our more advanced, higher end devices, including netbooks and smartphones, the ETF will increase to $325, and be reduced by $10 for each month that you remain with us as a customer during the balance of your two-year service agreement. After that, the ETF will no longer apply.

Thank you for being an AT&T customer. We hope you enjoy your AT&T wireless device and service. We appreciate your business and we will continue to work hard to earn it.

That's it for this post. Tune in next week for more news and information on wireless contracts.

The Sprint Free Guarantee for Wireless Contracts

2010-07-19T10:29:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting announcement from Sprint. This was two-months ago dated March 31, 2010. Sorry I missed it so I hope it's too to. Anyway, I think it's good news for consumers as the new "Sprint Free Guarantee" allows subscribers walk away from a wireless within 30 days and not have to pay any sort of fine.

Consumers who terminate the wireless contract within 30 days will money back for the phone. But that's not all. Sprint will also give the activation fee back and refund your entire month’s service including surcharges and taxes. The Now Carrier will also waive associated taxes and Sprint surcharges associated with these charges waived as well as the restocking fee and the infamous early termination fee.

Sheryl Kingstone, Director, Yankee Group comments on the new "Sprint Free Guarantee" wireless contract policy:

"Sprint's new guarantee policy is yet another effort by them to respond to the needs of wireless consumers today. It's giving consumers the transparency they need to best determine whether they are completely satisfied with the services they want from their carrier. Sprint is putting more power in the hands of its customers and helping to create a better experience for them overall."

That's it for this update on Sprint's wireless contract policy. Stay tuned aw we bring you weekly updates, news and opinions on mobile phone contracts.

Settlement Proposal for AT&T Wireless Contract-related Lawsuits

2010-07-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

AT&T has proposed some benefits as settlement for wireless contract-related lawsuits. Perhaps after witnessing Verizon paying a substantial sum to a class action suit, the carrier has decided to take pro active actions.

This proposal was made to consumers who sued AT&T for unfair billing practices. A hearing to consider the fairness of the proposed settlement will be held Nov. 15.

AT&T Wireless customers who signed wireless contracts after March 1, 1999 and who submit the appropriate forms may be eligible for the following benefits:

$8 for mMode data service
$10 for ENH Discount International Dial
$8 or a 250 minute AT&T phone card for out of cycle billing
$7 for Universal Connectivity Charge.

If you wish to participate in this settlement, then you must mail or submit a claim form by Feb. 13, 2011.

Click Here to get more info on settlements with AT&T.

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

Verizon Wireless to Pay $21 Million for Wireless Contract ETF Settlement

2010-07-05T10:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a great update for those who have a score to settle with Verizon Wireless. The nation's largest wireless carrier will pay for a class action lawsuit in California over early termination fees. Verizon Wireless will pay a total of $21 million to the 175,000 members of the class.

Each person in the class-action claim is estimated to receive $87.50 after challenging the carrier's practice of charging a $175 fee for breaking a wireless-service contract early.

The carrier will be made to pay after appeals court in California ruled that the class-action settlement should be upheld.

This Verizon Wireless contract settlement ends all litigation over how early termination fees were applied. However, this should not be applies to its current early termination fee policy. Verizon Wireless has increased ETF from $175 to a pro-rated $350 for "advanced devices" like smartphones and netbooks.

Scott Bursor, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the case commented,

"Yesterday's ruling by the Court of Appeal confirms that this is a terrific settlement for Verizon Wireless customers, and now more than 175,000 of those customers will get a substantial refund"

This case was filed in 1999 and centered on a flat $175 ETF.

Tune in for more details on this wireless contract news and update.

StraightTalk: a No Wireless Contract Service from Wal-Mart

2010-06-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

The current trend indicates that consumers are turning to pre-paid and other no-contract services in a n effort to find cost-effective solutions. They are favoring these services over the wireless contract services that offer more benefits but come with a heavier price tag. Wal-Mart was among the few to take advantage of this movement and offer its Straight Talk, a no-contract cell phone service.

The Straight Talk a no-contract wireless phone service is available from 3200 Wal-Mart stores nationwide. This prepaid option offers two options: $30 USD a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts or $45 USD for unlimited minutes and texts.

Some of the phones included in the Straight Talk line-up include :

Samsung Finesse
Samsung R355C
Samsung R451C
LG 290C
LG 100C

This new provider hopes to compete with more established no-wireless contract cell phone services like Boost Mobile and MetroPCS.

Check out this service and other similar offers if you want an alternative to contract cell phones.

Tune in for more mobile phone contract news and updates.

AT&T's Smartphone Plans Overhaul and Wireless Contracts

2010-06-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

AT&T has recently announced major changes for its smartphone plans. The carrier has decided to dissolve its unlimited data plan and now offer two-tiered data plan pricing. Since changes in plans allow consumers to terminate their wireless contract without any fees, some consumers are wondering if this will be the case with these new plans.

But before we answer that, here's a brief over view of AT&T's new two-tiered data plans.

DataPlus plan: offers smartphone customers 200 megabytes of data for $15 a month. An additional 200MB of data for $15 until the end of that billing cycle is offered if customers exceed 200MB in a monthly billing cycle.

DataPro plan: 2 gigabytes of data for $25 a month. An additional 1GB of data for $10 will be offered to those who exceed 2GB during a billing cycle.

Now to the important question. Will these new plan allow one to cancel your current mobile phone contract without paying any fees?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Why? Well, these changes do not require existing customers to switch to the new tiered data service plans. Consumers can keep your existing unlimited data plan so no material changes has affected the terms of your contract.

Only a material change such as an increase in charges can allow a consumer to terminate a contract without incurring an early termination fee.

That's it for this post. Stand by for more news and updates on wireless contracts for mobile phones.

Terminating a Wireless Contract to get the iPhone 4G

2010-06-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

The release of a new iPhone always triggers a consumer migration from other carriers to AT&T. Consumers find all sorts of ways to abandon their contract just to get Apple's prized smartphone. This years iPhone 4 is expected to be no different. Here are some points that you might want to consider before terminating your mobile phone wireless contract to get the iPhone 4.

First you need to think about the ETF or early termination fee of your carrier.

Verizon too has two tiers of ETFs, $350 for smartphones, and $175 for feature phones.

Sprint's ETF starts at $200 and goes down by $10 every month beginning after the first four months.

T-Mobile ETF is $200.

Then you need to consider one you have terminated you contract. What to do with your old phone. Well, there are plenty of options.

First you can get some of your money back by selling it on Craigslist or eBay.

You can also donate your old handset to charity, or one of the many programs that delivers old or unwanted handsets to members of the military, or people in developing countries. You can also donate it as a cell phone for seniors.

That's it for this post and good luck with ditching your old wireless contract for the new iPhone 4. Tune in to this blog for more on wireless contracts news and updates.

Class Action Suit Against Verizon Wireless Now Allowed

2010-06-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here's some good news for consumers who have some wireless contract grievances against the nation's largest carrier. Last month, a federal appeals court has ruled that Verizon Wireless customers can resolve disputes over alleged fraudulent cell phone charges on wireless contracts as a class.

The former ruling only allowed consumers to dispute fraudulent cell phone charges on wireless contracts individually through arbitration.

Verizon's wireless contract states that disputes should only be arbitrated individually. However, various consumer advocates say this can unreasonably favor companies since it makes arbitrations, especially small claims, very expensive.

This decision made by the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia is more consumer friendly towards those who wish to dispute any wireless contract problems a s a class.

That's it for this wireless contract update on class action suits. Tune in next time for more on the latest happenings in the world of cell phone contracts.

The FCC's Advice on On ETFs of Wireless Contracts

2010-05-31T11:34:00.000-07:00

The recent increase in early termination fees more mobile phone contracts of AT&T and Verizon Wireless has moved the Federal Communications Commission to issue advice addressed to cell phone consumers. The FCC has released a set of guidelines to help educate consumers on early termination fees.

The FCC hopes that this set of guidelines will ensure that consumers make informed decisions and avoid any extra charges when purchasing a contract mobile phone.

Here are the Federal Communications Commission guidelines on early termination fees:

When signing up for a new cell-phone service, make sure you are fully aware of any “early termination fees” (ETFs) that may be associated with the contract you are signing. The salesperson may not mention an ETF, so be sure to ask.
Ask how much the early termination fee will be and how it is prorated. Prorating means that the amount of the ETF you are responsible for decreases month by month. But different carriers prorate different plans in different ways. For example, one $240 ETF might decrease by a steady $10 a month over two years, while another high ETF might drop by only $5 a month until the last four months.
Ask if it would be possible to buy a handset at full price and avoid an ETF.
Think before you make any changes in your contract, such as buying a new phone or more minutes that your carrier might offer. This could trigger a new two-year contract with another ETF.
Ask about the trial period during which you can cancel the service without an ETF penalty. This is typically 14 to 30 days. Also ask whether you will get your first bill before the trial period is up – and if not, whether you can find out about your costs during the trial period in another way.
If you use your phone sparingly, consider avoiding the whole ETF issue by buying a pre-paid phone. These phones do not involve a contract.

That's it. Hopefully, these guidelines will lessen the number of mobile phone contract disputes. However, I'd prefer to have the FCC impose stricter policies tha would prevent carriers from implementing fees that are unfair towards consumers.

AT&T to Increase ETF for Smartphone Wireless Contracts

2010-05-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

AT&T has become the second major US carrier to increase its ETF in the last several months. Verizon decided to increase its charge for early contract termination for mobile phone contracts last November. Now, AT&T is set to ramp up its early termination fee next month.

The folks at WSJ blew the whistle in this upcoming change in AT&T wireless contract policy. The carrier plans to almost double the fee for terminating a contract for its smartphones and laptops. New contracts signed for smartphones and laptops next month will carry a hefty $325 which will fall by $10 for each month a customer stays in his/her contract. The previous fee was set at $175.

On the other hand, AT&T decreased the fee for its feature phones. Perhaps increasing the fee for these devices will be too much.

The early termination fee for AT&T feature cell phones will be $150 and will fall by $4 for each month a customer stays in his/her contract. The previous fee was also set at $175.

This decision is sure to catch the ire of the FCC. The commission recently questioned carriers about their practices and stated that competition has "dramatically eroded and is seriously endangered by continuing consolidation and concentration in our wireless markets."

Well, see how the market reacts to this new development. Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on US wireless contracts for mobile phones and other devices.

ETFs Effective in Preventing Consumers from Switching Carriers

2010-05-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you've followed this blog, then you'll be familiar with ETF or early termination fees. This penalty is charged to consumers who want to opt out of a wireless contract before its expires.

I recently read a stud showing that a significant number of consumers who are dissatisfied with their carriers chose not to switch to another service provider to avoid paying the heavy early termination fee.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently made a study on cell phone complaints and the ways that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) deals with those complaints. One of the interesting findings of this GAO study show that 42 percent of consumers who wanted to switch carriers decided not to because they did not want to pay an early termination fee.

The research also show that ETF or early termination fees is one of the one key reasons for consumer dissatisfaction.

This illustrates the restrictive aspects of charging these fees. A representative said that, consumers should not be chained to their wireless provider for years through exorbitant early termination fees.

And I agree with him. Thankfully, congress has responded with legislation like the "Cell Phone Early Termination Fees (EFT) bill" to protect consumers from the unfriendly fees from wireless contracts.

That's it for this post on the crippling effects of wireless contracts. Stay tuned for more on this and other related topics.

AT&T Wireless Contract Customers Decreasing?

2010-05-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

We've recently posted a report showing that prepaid services are starting to dominate the wireless phone industry. Well, here's another clue indicating that wireless contract customers are in decline. According to AT&T's 1st quarter report, the carrier only signed 513,000 new wireless contract--or postpaid--subscribers.

While half-a million subscribers may seem to be a huge number, this figure is down 43 percent from AT&T's new contract customers from the previous year. The carrier expected to add around 600,000 contract customers.

This trend indicates that new customers will likely sign up for prepaid service rather than contract services going forward. However, the impact of this trend may not be as alarming as it seems.

Consumers that sign wireless contracts are valuable to carriers because they pay more. A decrease in their number may seem to be bad for business. However, contract customers are expected to continue to spend more each month on service so the impact of the loss in growth will not be significant.

AT&T will also make adjustments to its prepaid offering in an attempt to take advantage of this new wireless phone service trend.

That's for this wireless contract update. Stay Tuned for more news and updates on this topic.

Mobile Misperceptions: A Research on Wireless Contract Design

2010-04-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting study that delves on how wireless contracts are designed. This research recently attracted the attention of the FCC, which was looking at ways to make the mobile industry more mobile friendly.

Mobile Misperceptions is a study conducted and published by Professor Oren Bar-Gill and Rebecca Stone in 2009. This study looks at consumer confusion regarding cell phone contracts.

According to Mobile Misperceptions, cell phone carriers use knowledge of “systemic mistakes and misperceptions” on the part of subscribers when designing mobile phone and wireless contracts.

The service plans offered by US carriers become burdens because consumers either underestimate their monthly usage, resulting in overage fees, or overestimate the level of service required. These mistakes cost U.S. consumers up to $12 billion a year.

The problem is also fueled by contract lock-ins and the sheer complexity of calling plans.

The significant findings of the Mobile Misperceptions led the Federal Communications Commission to invite Bar-Gill to present the paper’s findings at the FCC on April 9. Bar-Gill also consulted with FCC staff who are drafting new regulations for the cell-phone and other telecommunications service markets.

Well, I have to agree. We have seen numerous wireless contract disputes that originate from consumers failing to grasps all the legalities contained within their service agreements.

I hope that Mobile Misperceptions will contribute to improved and easy to understand wireless contracts.

FCC Abolishes Home Wireless Roaming Rules

2010-04-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

Way back in 2007, the FCC enforced rules regulating wireless roaming. A couple of years ago, the commission did not require carriers to offer roaming services to other carriers in areas where they owned spectrum but had not built out network coverage.

However, smaller carriers have argued the existing practice harms consumers since they need roaming agreements while they build out their networks. The FCC at that time was undecided on the issue. This time the commission has decided to overturn its decision.

This means that Wireless network operators will now be required to offer voice roaming services to other carriers in areas where those carriers own spectrum but have yet to build network coverage. Carriers will now be forced to forge reasonable agreements about voice roaming.

The commission will also consider if the same rule will apply to data roaming.

I have to say that this is a good decision. It helps smaller carriers because they will be able to roam on the networks of bigger wireless companies.

That's it for this post on roaming. Tune in to this blog to read about issues on other wireless contract policies and topics.

Top Non-Contract Smartphones for 2010

2010-04-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

I've been talking about wireless contract for years in this blog. Well, I think it's refreshing to talk about handsets that do not require a mobile phone contract. Let's do a quick list of the top unlocked on non-contract smartphones for this year.

One can own these handsets without being restricted by a wireless contract. That's right! No ETF's, credit card checks and hidden fees. The drawback? Paying the full and unsubsidized price.

Without further ado here are the top no contract-smartphones:

Google Nexus One: $529.00
Nokia N900: $479.00 to $589.99
Nokia E72: $339.99 to $469.99
Samsung i8910 Omnia HD

If you are looking for a smartphone that's free from the shackles of a service contract, then this quartet should be among your options. The full price for these handsets may seem high but they are worth paying if you want freedom from a wireless contract.

That's it for this post for the best non-contract smartphones in the market. We'll get back to wireless contract matters in my next post.

Wireless Contract Services Losing to Prepaid Offers?

2010-04-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

It appears that services requiring a wireless contract are becoming unpopular due to cheaper options such as prepaid plans and devices.

The New Millennium Research Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, conducted a study revealing that new prepaid wireless customers exceeded the number of new wireless contract subscribers that signed up for service in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Apparently, this is the first time that prepaid services have outsold post-paid or contract services.

This trend may be due to the crippling recession as more people are seeking more affordable wireless services.

Jose Guzman, the NMRC project's coordinator stated,

"Thanks to the recession, the U.S. cell phone marketplace continues to undergo fundamental changes that will just get bigger as the economic downturn deepens. What is different from a year ago is the explosion in new 'all-you-can-eat' and unlimited prepaid deals as low as $30 and $45 that will remain attractive to consumers long after the current recession is over."

The prepaid wireless customers have grown steadily in recent years. Estimates indicate that one out of every five of the 285 million cell phone subscribers in the U.S. now use prepaid phone service. On the other hand, wireless contract-based cell phone subscribership grew only 3 percent over the last year.

Is this trend a lasting one or simply an abnormality brought by the poor economic conditions? Well, more study is needed to draw a conclusion. However, this trend may benefit consumers. The rising popularity of prepaid phone services may force big cell phone providers to slash prices on wireless contract service plans to keep consumers from defecting.

That's it for this wireless contract news. Stay tuned for the latest updates and developments from the wireless industry.

Sprint's New Customer 30-Day Trial Wireless Contract Policy

2010-03-31T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a note worthy change instituted by Sprint. The carrier has announced a new wireless contract policy on its 30-day trial period for new customers.

New Sprint customers will benefit from the carrier's new "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" wireless contract policy. What does this new policy entail? Well, new customers who wish to cancel will have all fees returned to them as long as they are in the first 30 days of the wireless contract.

Yes, tha's right. new consumers who wish to cancel before the end of the 30-day trial period will get their money back from device and activation fees, the early termination fee, a full refund for service plan monthly daily charges, all associated taxes, and all Sprint surcharges associated with these charges.

This new "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" policy is more consumer-friendly than the previous one which enforces fees on customers canceling in the first 30 days.

Consumer Lifestyle Advisor Jennifer Jolly comments on the "Satisfaction Guaranteed or Money-Back" from Sprint,

"This is a big win for cost conscious consumer . We want this kind of honesty and transparency. We want to know there's no more sticker-shock or bait and switch, that when a company promises us something, their word is good. Can you imagine if we could test drive a bank, health insurance, a credit-card, or any of the other things we spend our hard-earned money on every month - free for 30-days? This is a big step in the right direction for Corporate America and we savvy shoppers are the ones who will benefit the most."

That's it for this post. Tune in next time for more wireless contract news and updates.

Wireless Contract Termination Awareness

2010-03-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've been surfing websites on wireless contract disputes recently and I have noticed a disturbing trend. Some of the consumers hit with ETF's were not aware that their phone was still under contract.

These cases usually occur when consumers move or transfer to an area that is not covered by their existing provider. They thought that their handsets were no longer under contract since their present location is not being served by their service provider. Unfortunately, they letter from a collection agency stating that need to pay a certain amount to cover the early termination fee that the incurred.

Here's a story of a customer who suffered this fate. This article was published at lawyersandsettlements.com Here's a brief teaser:

Shirley W. was aware that her phones were under contract but was told her early termination fee could be waived. It was almost a year before she learned that her fees were not waived and her account was sent to collections.

Fortunately, lawmakers are aware of this problem. The Cell Phone Early Termination Fees (EFT) bill introduced by Sen. Klobuchar includes a provision that forces carriers to notify customers in a clear way about ETF. Wireless service providers will be required to spell out the EFT instructions at time of purchase and at various times during the duration of contracts. This way a customer will be aware that he or she is in danger of incurring the fee and be given a chance to deal with the situation.

That's it for this post. I hope that you'll stay aware of the contractual status of your handsets and won't be hit by a nasty early termination fee.

New Wireless Contract Disputes And Complaints

2010-03-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile sice we posted conflicts between consumers an carrier's on this site. Let's revisit the halls of Consumer Affairs.com and look at recent contract disputes.

Here are a trio r recent contract related complaints.

Tobin of Coralville, IA August 5, 2009

I have attempted to get some satisfaction on 4 different occasions, twice by calling their help line and twice in person at the store. I am paying full price for cell phone service that does not work at my home; so, my friends/family/work have to try both my cell and work numbers (if they think of calling both) to reach me. The first time they sold me a new phone, the second time told me something to try that didn't work, and tonight they told me I'd have to pay 155 early termination fee because their service is so bad I have to get another carrier.

Todd of Torrance, CA June 30, 2009

I was signed up for and paying for their 900 minute/month plan. This plan includes a free phone upgrade every year. As usual with Verizon phones, mine started having problems after a year. I was shopping online for a replacement when I started having some questions about the cost of plans for their smart phones. I called customer service because the answers were not on the website.
The customer service representative answered my questions. As I was about to hang up, she asked to review my usage. I let her and she talked me into agreeing to lower my plan to the 450 minute per month plan because my usage was low. What she decided not to tell me at all was that this would cancel my eligibility for a new phone now. I agreed because of the sales pitch that she gave me on how I'm not using enough minutes. Once I hung up the phone, I went back online and the prices of the phones had gone from free to over 400 in some cases. When I called back, I was told that what I was seeing online didn't exist and to call back. After much back and forth via email, Verizon has told me that I am stuck with a phone that does not work until December 2 or I can pay them 80 to be released from my contract early.

There are a few ways of making effective complaints with regards to wireless contracts disputes. One would be to publish them online (see above) and allow other consumers as well as service providers to know about your problems.

One can also complain to the FCC. Click here for the online complaint form. This agency has power to deal with carriers so it would be an effective vehicle for your complaints on wireless contracts.

You should also bring the matter to your state utility board or public service commission. This agency deals with disputes including conflicts on wireless contracts. Click here for a state-by-state list.

That's it for this post. Tune in for more wireless contract disputes and complaints on this blog.

Verizon Wireless Hit with Class Action Suit Over Data Fees

2010-03-08T10:33:00.000-08:00

Verizon has another wireless contract dispute on its hands and it involves the issue of data fees. The major wireless carrier is facing a class action lawsuit from the law firm of Goldman Scarlato & Karon, P.C. in the state of New Jersey.

Verizon is being accused of charging its non-smartphone customers for data service that these customers never used. According to the lawsuit, the carrier has forced consumers to pay for alleged 'accidental' charges that could accrue if a non-smartphone user, that is a user who is not paying for a data plan, accessed the Web or other data services. Verizon Wireless charges non-smartphone users without a data plan $1.99 per megabyte.

The folks at Goldman Scarlato & Karon, P.C. wants to reimburse people and businesses should it turn out that these alleged Verizon charges were improper.

However, Verizon has previously commented on these alleged accidental charges and explained that simply opening the mobile browser on a phone does not incur any charges. The carrier explained that users will only be charged when they navigate away from the Verizon Wireless home page and access other information, applications or services.

Well. let's see how Verizon deals with this wireless contract disputes. Perhaps, the consumers will get lucky as in the recent case where AT&T decided for a settlement.

That's it for this post. Standby for more news and information on wireless contracts.

Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Google Defend ETFs

2010-03-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, the FCC sent out letters of inquiry to major wireless carriers and Google to ask for explanations regarding the controversial early termination fee or ETF charged on wireless contract terminations.

Well, all four major U.S network operators (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless) together with Google has responded to the FCC's wireless contract inquiry. Here are the highlights of the companies' defense of the ETF:

customers are well-informed about ETFs before committing to wireless contracts
consumers are aware that they have plenty of choice, given the wide range of pre-paid providers also serving the market
customers have a minimum of 14 days to test products at the onset of their contracts before the ETF becomes mandatory.
the mobile phone industry is highly competitive, and ETFs are needed to recoup fees that go towards customer acquisition and equipment subsidies.
Verizon plans to clearly put ETFs on device cost labels, and emphasized that reduction of number of handsets on its "advanced devices" list, which require a $350 fee (compared to the standard fee of $175)
Google defended the equipment recovery fee it is charging Nexus One customers who break their T-Mobile contracts because it says T-Mobile pays it a commission for each customer T-Mobile acquires through Google. Google passes that commission on to the customer in the form of a device subsidy.

Well, it's the FCC's turn to respond to the united defense put up by Google and the major US carriers. Let's see if the commission stands firm in its policy of defending the welfare of US consumers.

That's it for this post. Tune in to this blog for more update on this wireless contract issue.

Articles on Terminating a Wireless Contract

2010-02-22T06:58:00.000-08:00

Things seem to be quiet on the mobile phone contract font this week. It appears that there are no recent developments on carrier's wireless contracts or cell phone agreement settlements. However, I did come across plenty of articles on how to break free from a contract without paying a large sum.

These informative articles come from fairly reputable sites. They offer options for consumers who want to get rid of a contract but don't want to pay the heavy early termination fee.

Here is a compilation of articles on how to terminate a contract without paying the ETF:

I hope this collection of articles will help you figure out a way to escape a contract without paying a huge fee.

That's if for this week's post. Tune in to this blog for more news, updates and information on various wireless contract topics.

Google Cuts Nexus One ETF!

2010-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

It appears that the FCC has convinced Google to take a softer stance on the the equipment recovery fee it imposed on the Nexus One.

The FCC has recently expanded its crackdown on excessive and unfair early termination fees or ETF's that was previously focused on Verizon. Google draw the attention of the FCC when it decided to impose a high ETF on the new HTC Nexus One.

The fee has been cut down to $150, down by $200 from the original fee. The original equipment recovery fee for the Nexus One was set at $350.

The company explained its decision to cut the ETF with this statement:

"Google's overall financial philosophy with regard to operator service plans remains unchanged: We make no profit from commissions from operators or from equipment recovery fees, and our recovery fees are based on operator charges to Google for early termination of service,"

However, some consumers still feel that the fee is unnecessary since carriers already charge a termination fee with its service contracts on the Nexus One.

Verizon Wireless also eased back on the devices included in its raised ETF device list.

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

AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile Also Targets of FCC ETF Inquiries

2010-02-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

For the past few months, Verizon has been bombarded by questions regarding its raised ETF or early termination fee. However, the FCC appears to have widened its scope and included other major US wireless carrier's in its inquiries.

The commission has broadened it's inquiry into termination fees because "there is no standard framework for structuring and applying ETFs throughout the wireless industry." Letters were sent asking a series of questions probing how each carrier's ETFs are determined and applied. T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint were among the recipients.

Google was also included among the FCC's targets. The company has caught the attention of the commission due to the equipment recovery fee it imposed on the Nexus One.

The companies were asked to detail how each discloses early termination fee information to consumers in advertisements, in statements on corporate websites, in brochures and sales scripts and in monthly bills.

Well, let's see if this inquiry forces these companies to take a softer stand on their ETF policies. Verizon felt the pressure and took off ten devices from products under its increased ETF rates. It will be interesting to see how the other carriers will respond.

Thta's it for this wireless contract policy update. Tune in to this wireless contract blog for more news and updates.

AT&T Settles Wireless Contract Dispute for $18 Million

2010-02-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Here's a good case where a wireless contract dispute worked in favor of the consumers. About a week ago, AT&T has decided to settle an ETF class action suit to the tune of $18 million! This settlement applies AT&T subscribers that paid a flat-rate ETF between January 1, 1998 and November 4, 2009.

These settlement appear to be a loss for AT&T but a closer look shows that paying a substantial amount to a class of complainants is actually cheaper for AT&T. Since thousands of folks are qualified for the settlement, individual settlements to be relatively minor. Of course, the lawyers will take the lion share of this wireless contract dispute settlement.

Anyway, Here is AT&T's statement on the settlement of the mobile phone contract dispute:

We strongly deny any wrongdoing, and no court has found AT&T Mobility committed any wrongdoing regarding these fees. However, we have agreed to settle to avoid the burden and cost of further litigation.

It's important to note that the litigation involves old early termination fee policies of the old AT&T Wireless and Cingular. In 2008 we introduced a new, more flexible early termination fee policy, in which we pro-rate the ETF if you are a new or renewing wireless customer who enters a one- or two-year service agreement.

That's it for this ETF class action suit settlement. Consumers that paid an AT&T flat-rate ETF between January 1, 1998 and November 4, 2009 should take advantage of this small victory. Click here for the claim form. Tune in for more wireless contract news and updates.

Verizon Removes 10 Phones from $350 ETF Advanced Devices List

2010-01-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

It appears that Verizon Wireless has felt the pressure from consumers, the FCC and other government officials. The carrier has covertly removed ten mobile phones from the list of phones that require its new $350 early termination fee.

The carrier has recently imposed a bold wireless contract policy that required a $350 ETF (early termination fee) for a select group of smartphones and “advanced devices.” Naturally, this action was met by stiff resistance from consumer groups, the FCC and a few senators headed by Amy Klobuchar.

I posted the complete list of "advanced" or multimedia phones several weeks ago. Well, that list has to be updated now that Verizon has chopped off ten devices. The devices taken off the list include the Motorola Krave, Samsung Rogue and five LG devices.

But why did Verizon remove ten devices from its $350 ETF advanced devices list? Well, a Verizon spokesman was unable to answer queries about the change. Some experts say that pressure from the FCC, who criticized Verizon's $350 ETF explanation and from other groups has moved the carrier into removing the devices from the list.

That's it fro this post on Verizon's controversial wireless contract policy. Tune in to this blog form more news and updates on wireless contracts and related topics.

iPhone Reponsible for Two-Year Wireless Contract Surge?

2010-01-18T07:53:00.000-08:00

It appears that the number of consumers that are signing two-year mobile phone contracts are on the rise. A study conducted by the folks at Ofcom.org indicated that more than two in five mobile phone users have signed up to a two-year wireless contract. This number has reportedly increased significantly in the last few months due to the popularity of the Apple iPhone.

The iPhone 3GS has recently become widely available to mobile phone consumers throughout the globe. Apple's hit mobile phone was released in the U.S., Canada and six European countries on June 19, 2009, in Australia and Japan on June 26, and in other international markets in July and August, 2009.

The subsidized price that come with a two-year cell phone contract has made the iPhone more accessible to consumers. Customers also recognize that they can reduce their monthly bills since phone companies reserve the best rates for customers willing be tied in for a long time.

However, signing a two-year agreement also comes with some disadvantages.

For instance, the contract may restrict a consumer's choice for two years. This means that a user may not be able to keep track of the latest technologies to hit the market while being committed to a two-year agreement.

There are also some stiff penalties for consumers who decide to terminate an agreement. Verizon Wireless has recently taken heat for imposing a $350 early termination fee or ETF on its advanced devices.

Consumers should weigh the advantages and disadvantages of signing- a long term contract before they sign on the dotted line.

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

FCC Demands Improved Increased ETF Explanation from Verizon

2010-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

In my last post for this wireless contract blog, I posted about FCC member, Mignon Clyburn's comments on Verizon Wireless explanation for raising the ETF on advanced devices.

Clyburn expressed that Verizon's 77 page statement in defense of its new wireless contract policy is "unsatisfying" and "troubling." This time Federal Communications Commissioner Julius Genachowski has spoken out against the carrier's ETF increase explanation.

The commissioner was clearly unsatisfied with the carrier's explanation. Genachowski said, "I thought that response raised more questions than it answered. The bureau is looking into that... There's a very real level of consumer confusion around these areas"

However, Genachowski declined to say what the FCC's next move to mend this problem.

I guess we'll have to wait and see if the government exerts pressure to turn back the Verizon's ETF from $350 to $175.

Tune in to this wireless contract blog to keep tracks of developments in this story.

FCC on Verizon ETF Explanation: "Unsatisfying" and "Troubling"

2010-01-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, Verizon Wireless released a 77 page statement in defense of its decision to increase the early termination fee or ETF for its "advanced devices" at the request of the FCC. This time, the commission has released its response to the carrier's defense of its increased ETF.

Well,. it appears that the 77 page statement did not impress the FCC. Mignon Clyburn, a Federal Communications Commission of the, described Verizon's official response to the FCC's query as "unsatisfying" and "troubling."

Here's more from Clyburn:

"Consumers already pay high monthly fees for voice and data designed to cover the costs of doing business. It is hard for me to believe that the public interest is being well served."

Those are some pretty scalding words for the Verizon Wireless. Let's see if they respond to these comments.

The FCC plans to investigate the matter further when it reconvenes in 2010 so tune in to this mobile phone contract blog to get the updates to this wireless contract news.

Verizon Wireless Defends Increased ETF for Advanced Devices

2009-12-21T09:02:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-11-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-08-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-22T11:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have documented many users wanting to be free of their wireless contrac t. 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?

2009-04-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-20T12:34:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2009-03-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-26T06:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Sprint Secures Preliminary Approval To Settle Wireless Contract Disputes on ETF

2008-12-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

Here's some good news for those who have wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee. According to RCRWirelessNews.com, a New Jersey court has given Sprint preliminary approval to settle pending lawsuits over early termination fees. Now that's great news for those involved in wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee.

Sprint will be doling out up to $17.5 million and would cover cases on wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee across the country. However, those connected with wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee in California were not included in the approval to settle pending lawsuits.

The approval to settle the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee has also put a separate $1 billion ETF lawsuit in jeopardy. Apparently this wireless contract dispute was filed by a different team of plaintiffs’ lawyers.

The judge in charge of the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee in California has ruled that the fees charged by Sprint Nextel to subscribers in the state between 1999 and 2007 could not be collected because it is illegal. In response, Sprint said that it will not go after the $225.6 million in unpaid ETFs of those concerned in the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee in California.

The team of plaintiffs’ lawyers who filed the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee in California will contest the ruling that gave preliminary approval to allow Sprint to settle pending lawsuits. They believe that the $17.5 million settlement that the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee is not enough.

To deal with the numerous wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee, the company has decided to instituted a new policy to pro-rate its ETF. Sprint is now among the carriers that implement a pro-rated ETF policy. Perhaps this new policy will cut down on the wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee.

That ends this post on Sprint getting approval to settle with wireless contract disputes involving Sprint's ETF or early termination fee. Tune in to this blog for more wireless contract updates.

Sprint Pro-rated ETF Policy Now Official!

2008-11-03T05:14:00.000-08:00

Sprint has finally made it official. In my previous post, I blogged about Sprint's plans to finally pro-rate its ETF or early termination fee. A few days ago, Sprint released an announcement containing the details of its new wireless contract policy on pro-rated ETF or early termination fee.

Sprint's announcement contained the details and benefits that are included in its new contract policy on pro-rated ETF. Sprint's new ETF policy is basically designed to give customers who have signed wireless contracts more freedom. By pro-rating its ETF or early termination fee, Sprint is making it easier for customers to make changes or opt out of their wireless c0ntract.

Sprint's old ETF policy charges customers who want to get out of their contracts a flat early termination fee of $200. The carrier's new wireless contract policy allows subscribers to pay a reduced fee based on how long they have remained faithful to their wireless contract.

Starting on November 2 Sprint subscribers with new or renewed contracts will have a $200 ETF for the first six months. Then Sprints ETF will be reduced by by $10 for the succeeding months that the customer stayed with the wireless contract. The old early termination fee will only apply for customers who want to get out of a wireless contract for the fir six months.

Subscribers who stay faithful to Sprint's wireless contract after six months will have the benefit of paying a reduced early termination fee based on the new pro-rated ETF wireless contract policy. The new Sprint pro-rated ETF policy will charge only $100 for customers who have stayed on a contract for 15 months. The pro-rated early termination fee policy allows a fee of as low as $50.

However, this new Sprint ETF policy does not apply for old wireless contracts that were signed before Nov. 2. Subscribers have signed a Sprint Wireless contract will be under the old ETF policy that demands a flat amount. Old wireless contracts will not benefit from the pro-rated early termination fee of Sprint's new wireless contract policy.

Sprint also announced other initiatives and programs designed to improve the customer experience in their announcement for the new pro-rated ETF policy. These new Sprint programs include one-on-one interaction between subscribers and sales representatives and detailed summaries that explains transactions.

Wireless Contract Update: Sprint to Prorate Early Termination Fee

2008-10-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Here's some great news for all Sprint subscribers. According to an AP article, Sprint is planning to follow other mobile phone carrier's with pro-rated Early Termination Feesor ETF's.

Now ETF's are probably the most controversial aspect of mobile phone contracts because they prevent customers from moving to another carrier before their existing contracts expired. In the past, national and regional US carriers used to charge a flat rate of around $150 to customers who want to get out of a contract before it expired.

Carriers impose this wireless contract policy to recover the cost of subsidized cell phones and to reduce the expense spent on signing up new customers. Of course, subscribers and consumers are no fans of ETF's because it restricts their freedom to move to other carriers and the fee is quite expensive for those who have multiple handsets or phone lines.

Fortunately, many of these carriers have decided to prorate the Early Termination Fees that bind their customers to their existing wireless contracts. And Sprint seems to be on the verge of deciding to prorate its Early Termination Fee. But what is a prorated ETF anyway?

A contract with a prorated ETF will charge a reduced reduce the fee based on each month a subscriber stays with the plan. This means that a subscriber who has stayed with a contract for 14 months will pay less than a customer who wants to opt out of a contract after three months. The less number of months remaining in a contract, the lower the Early Termination Fee.

Sprint's plans to reduce their ETF charges was revealed by CEO Dan Hesse during an an interview. Hesse indicated that the wireless carrier will be able to implement a prorated early termination fee system as early as December.

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse explained that a new billing software should first be put in place before the prorated early termination fee system can operate. Customers will be able to benefit from Once is has the new software in place, it will deduct a small amount of money from the $200 ETF for each month that a subscriber stays with the plan.

I thin that this is a great update. One that many Sprint subscribers have been hoping for and they won't have to wait long. Sprint has been facing a lot of disputes and lawsuits based on ETF and perhaps this decision will provide a solution. Tune in to this blog for more information on wireless contract policies.

US Carriers Respond to Rising Text Messaging Rates Concerns

2008-10-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Here's an update to the concerns over the rising rates of Text Massaging that are being charged by Wireless carriers.

A few weeks ago, I made a post about Sen. Herb Kohl, chair of the antitrust subcommittee sending a letter to the four major U.S. wireless network providers. The letter conveyed the senator's and consumer's concerns about the doubling of the rates for sending text messages even though the cost involved with sending them remained constant. The letter was sent ot the offices of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless.

Now, these carriers have expressed their response to Sen. Kohl's letter on the doubling of the rates for sending text messages. According to an RCRWireless article, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have denied that anything illegal was involved in the doubling of the rates for sending text messages.

According to the carriers, they have offered competitive bulk texting plans that have actually made the costs of sending text messages more affordable for mobile phone to consumers. They also would like to express that thay have suffered an increase in antitrust class-action lawsuits due to the congressional questions about the rising text messaging charges.

T-Mobile's representative defended his company by declaring that charges for text messages charged by the carrier has even dropped by half. He also expressed that the concerns over the rising cost of text messaging are exaggerated and untrue. Sprint and AT&T have also released public responses to Sen. Kohl's letter. Interestingly, Verizon Wireless requested that its response remain confidential.

The wireless carriers want to make an effective response to the inquiry because a number of class-action lawsuits have been filed against them citing Sen. Kohl's letter as the foundation for the complaints. They want to clear up this problem as soon as possible since text messaging is a major part of their revenues.

Well, I expected the major US carriers to respond effectively to this inquiry. Text messaging has steadily grown in popularityover the years so they have to take it seriously. Of course, the antitrust class-action lawsuits that have been filed against them also needs to be taken seriously. Tune in to this blog for more updates on this wireless contract issue and other related news.

Roaming in Rural Areas may be Enforced by Legislation

2008-10-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting update for mobile phone users residing in rural areas. A US Representative has introduced legislation that aims to require telecom recipients of rural universal-service funds to provide automatic roaming to wireless service carriers. But before we discuss this bill let us us first discuss mobile phone roaming.

Now I have discussed roaming in my previous blog posts but it wouldn't hurt to give another little introduction to this wireless contract term. Roaming as used in wireless telecommunications refers to the extending of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered.

Roaming is significant because it allows users to communicate beyond their wireless networks. It is an important service to those who live in rural areas are because the reach of wireless networks is usually limited. Roaming is also significant to customers because it's an important part of their monthly mobile phone service bills. If you "roam" a lot when you use your mobile phone, then you might be looking at a huge bill. Now let's proceed to the legislation that might force roaming in rural areas.

The bill is officially named the Universal Roaming Act of 2008 and was introduced by Rep. Henry Waxman of California. This legislation aims to attach the automatic roaming obligation to any affiliate of a telecom carrier that receives high-cost USF subsidies. Some experts feel that this bill will affect the current debates on on roaming rights by some auction winners that cannot yet access their spectrum. However, the current economic crisis will keep congress busy so further action on the bill is expected to be done next year.

This legislation has been met with some opposition from large carriers because they feel that they not be forced to provide access to licensees that own spectrum but have yet to established networks. If they provide roaming access to these licenses, then a delay in build out of wireless systems is a good possibility.

However, the Universal Roaming Act of 2008 also have its share of supporters. The Rural Cellular Association feels that the legislation introduced by Waxman is far-reaching and beneficial to smaller wireless carriers. The Rural Cellular Association would also want to abolish the cap on USF subsidies given to wireless carriers desiring to build systems in rural areas.

Well, I guess we have to wait until the economic crisis has subsided to gauge whether this bill will pass. This legislation has significant impacts on the current roaming scene so it will be interesting to see further action on it.

Courts Hand Different Rulings on Carriers Billing Litigation

2008-10-06T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here's an update to the complaints that have been filed against a few mobile phone carriers. According to a RCRWireless.com article, various federal courts made different decisions on the billing litigation against Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility. The article also indicated that the number of antitrust class-action texting lawsuits filed against major US carriers have increased steadily. All of these factors indicate that the mobile phone industry will continue to face challenges from frustrated customers and plaintiffs’ lawyers.

Let's look at the various federal courts decisions on the billing litigation. Verizon Wireless scored well when a U.S. District judge ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act preempts New Jersey law. This means that Verizon's motion on the enforceable arbitration clause was granted. However, the story doesn't end there.

Verizon Wireless did not scroe well with other courts including the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. These courts ruled in favor of consumers by deciding that class-action complaints cannot be necessarily foreclosed by individual arbitration clauses.

AT&T also faced some rough waters in the decisions made on the litigations and suits that they are facing. For instance, a federal court in San Diego did not rule in favor of the top US mobile phone carrier. The case filed against AT&T and other carriers including T-Mobile for charging customers for unauthorized mobile content on their monthly bills was not dismissed. The judge in charge of this case has temporarily ordered that AT&T cannot settle the class action case in Georgia.

However, AT&T Mobility has not yet raised the flag of surrender even though, the judge ruled in favor of the consumers. The company is currently reviewing and considering their next course of action.

Well, it seems that the battle is till raging. Class action suits are still being filed against carriers despite the waivers on the wireless contracts they require from their customers. We just have to wait and see who gains the upper hand on this one. Weill it be the consumers or will the carriers win at the end of the day. Tune in to this blog to find out.

Senate Questions Wireless Carries on Rising Text Rates

2008-09-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting info for mobile phone subscribers who send a lot of text messages. According to this article, Sen. Herb Kohl, chair of the antitrust subcommittee sent a letter to the four major U.S. wireless network providers.

Sen. Kohl's letter was delivered to the offices of AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. The chair of the antitrust subcommittee wanted the letter to convey his concerns about the doubling of the rates for sending text messages even though the cost involved with sending them remained constant.

Here's the statement released by Sen. Herb Kohl the chair of the antitrust subcommittee:

"What is particularly alarming about this industrywide rate increase is that it does not appear to be justified by rising costs in delivering text messages. Also of concern is that it appears that each of companies has changed the price for text messaging at nearly the same time, with identical price increases. This conduct is hardly consistent with the vigorous price competition we hope to see in a competitive marketplace."

The current charge for sending text messages is 20 cents which represents double the messaging rates imposed by carriers three years ago. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless serve roughly 90 percent of cell phone users in the US and charge them the same text messaging rate.

The letter sent by Senator Kohl contains a formal request to the network operators asking them to explain the reasons behind the text price increases. Sen. Kohl is also asking AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless to justify the 20 cents rates compared to the rates of sending / receiving emails and other services.

As of the making of this wireless contract post, the recipients of Sen. Kohl's letter has not yet responded. Well, this is certainly an interesting development. I for one, do not comprehend why the rate for text messages has doubled when the cost of sending them remained the same. It would be interesting to see how AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless respond to this letter. That is, if they will offer any response.

Standardized Billing System Might Solve Third-party Services Struggles

2008-09-05T08:54:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting wireless contract scoop. According to this article, Mobile phone carriers are trying to find ways to gain more control their third-party content partners. Third-party content is a part of most mobile phone contracts. Let's delve into this story.

Apparently, carriers like Sprint have been finding ways of dealing with their partners. Sprint for example have have warned their partners that they will forfeit their profits and lose their short codes if they continue to violate Mobile Marketing Association guidelines. Some Mobile Marketing Association guidelines violations involve failure to report billing errors and high refund rates. This move Sprint has encourage other mobile phone service providers to make similar warning to their third-party partners.

But why are the carriers trying to control third-party providers? Well, the main reasons seems to be the increasing complaints in the form of lawsuits from consumers and advocacy groups. All the major carriers and content-subscription service providers have been targeted by consumer advocacy groups.

Mobile phone carriers are also concerned about the reaction of customers to the incompetence and deception of some third-party providers produce. These unsatisfactory performance may cause the carriers to lose customers. Complaints about poor third-party also increases expensive calls to customer-service centers of mobile phone carriers.

There have been some suggestions that a standardized mobile payment platform will be a solution to the problems associated with third-party providers. A standardized mobile payment platform may also ease some the m-commerce space problems. However, a system in the US would would require an enormous effort from carriers and service providers. It may take some time before such a system can be implemented in the US.

let's take a look at some wireless contract policies that deal with third-party services. Here's a statement from Alltel's wireless contract:

The Services will be provided either by us or by our third party vendors or contractors. We reserve the right to change or modify the source of any Services provided to you without notice.

And here's the statement form AT&T's contract:

Third-party content or service providers may impose additional charges. Policies regarding intellectual property, privacy and other policies or terms of use may differ among AT&T's content or service providers and you are bound by such policies or terms when you visit their respective sites or use their services. It is your responsibility to read the rules or service agreements of each content provider or service provider. Any information you involuntarily or voluntarily provide third parties is governed by their policies or terms. The accuracy, appropriateness, content, completeness, timeliness, usefulness, security, safety, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, transmission or correct sequencing of any application, information or downloaded data is not guaranteed or warranted by AT&T or any content providers or other third party. Delays or omissions may occur.

Tune in to this blog to know more about wireless contracts and related topics.

FCC Undecided on Changing Mobile Phone Roaming Rules

2008-08-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting wireless contract scoop for those who make a lot of roaming calls. According to a Reuters article, the Federal Communications Commission or FCC has not yet made a decision on chaining certain cellular roaming issues that have caused some problems for some mobile phone carriers.

This delay on changing the mobile phone roaming rules was seen as significant since smaller carriers have been expecting a decidion on this issue. Let's look at the heart of this conflict since roaming is one of the many aspects of mobile phone contracts.

The problem lies on whether carriers should be allowed to roam in areas where they own airwaves, but have not built networks, are affecting smaller carriers. Smaller carriers own spectrum in certain markets but lack the means to build the wireless networks and so they have to rely on o roam on the existing networks of larger rivals. The FCC has decided to look at this issue after the commission reaffirmed the rights of smaller carriers to roam on the networks of bigger wireless companies about a year ago.

Minor wireless network providers wanted to gain access to areas where they had acquired spectrum. unfortunately, they lack the means to build networks top exploit those areas. Neverthe less, thses small carriers wanted to preserve their right to roam in those areas.

Earlier, the FCC made a proposal that allowed smaller carriers who owned unused spectrum could continue roaming for four years before they lost roaming rights. The FCC wanted to give smaller carriers time to build out their own networks or to give the spectrum back to the government and continue roaming.

However, the FCC's five commissioners were unable to agree on the proposal so it was withdrawn. Some commissioners were concerned that they need more time to study the issue while some wanted to grant a longer phase-in period to smaller carriers.

The FCC did not indicate a specific time frame for making a decision in this issue. Well, this looks like an issue that won't go away soon. This issue affects regional customers who might lose their ability to make roaming calls if the FCC did not grant smaller carriers to roam on major net works.

Tune in to this blog for more news and updates regarding issues related to mobile phone contracts.

Sprint's ETF Lawsuit Loss Could Shake the Industry!

2008-08-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

It been a few weeks since I've made a post here. The wireless contract scene has been quite so There wasn't anything to write about. But that's not the case right now. I've just found out that Sprint lost a lawsuit on its ETF wireless contract policy. Let's explore the details of this story.

Apparently, Sprint's early termination fees has violated a state law according to a California state judge when he ruled against the company. The members of the class who sued Sprint for it's ETF were awarded a total of $73 million in reparation for the fees.

The judge's tentative ruling says that Sprint will have to pay $18.3 million to customers who sued over the fees. Sprint should also credit $54.8 million to those who were charged but did not pay the fee. Well, Sprint seems to be in a bind now but the company does have two weeks to contest the ruling.

Not on to the bigger picture. The judge is also considering other lawsuits against telecommunications companies over mobile phone contract policies covering early termination fees. And recently, Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $21 million to settle an identical lawsuit. Overall, things are not looking well for mobile phone carriers.

FCC representatives refused to release any comment on this pivotal court decision however they did indicate that it will not affect the agency's plans on ETF. Currently, the FCC is dealing with lobbying over how best to handle the ETF policies in the wireless contracts of carriers.

The FCC has been asked by various Telecommunications companies to regulate the fees. They want the agency to protect them from class action lawsuits in state courts. The FCC has released information on a plan in which the cancellation fees would be reduced over the life of the contract.

Customers and consumer groups have continually assailed the ETF policies in the mobile phone contracts of cell phone carriers. Perhaps this important decision will fuel the efforts to regulate this troubl;e some fee. Tune in to this blog for more wireless contracts info, news and updates.

Wireless Contract Updates: ETF Settlements and Wireless Wiretap Immunity

2008-07-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of news update that are related to wireless contracts. Let's begin with Verizon agreeing to pay some ETF settlements.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Verizon Wireless has settled with subscribers who have filed class-action lawsuits over early-termination fees in wireless contracts. The mobile phone carrier is willing to pay $21 million to settle these wireless contract disputes. Some experts say that this move will to put renewed focus on a federal effort to restrict early termination fees.

Well, this is certainly good for Verizon wireless subscribers especially those who are disputing ETF's. It will be interesting to see the effect of this move. Perhaps the other carriers will also decide to settle the class action suits that they are facing. Maybe the FCC will implement guidelines to take control of these fees.

Let's move on to the news about telecommunication getting immunity from warrantless wiretaps.
http://www.rcrwirelessnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/FREE/732008705/1078

The US President Bush will soon sign the new electronic surveillance legislation that can free companies from dozens of privacy lawsuits. The 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was revised and the changes were passed by the Senate yesterday and the House last month. These revisions effectively grants AT&T Inc., Verizon Communications Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. retroactive immunity to in connection with their participation in the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretap program.

Here's a statement from the American president regarding the wireless wiretap immunity granted to the carriers.

“This bill will help our intelligence professionals learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they’re saying, and what they're planning. It will ensure that those companies whose assistance is necessary to protect the country will, themselves, be protected from lawsuits for past or future cooperation with the government. It will uphold our most solemn obligation as officials of the federal government to protect the American people.”

Well, I think this is great news for both subscribers and and the carriers. The mobile phone carriers will be able to protect the privacy over their customers and won't have to worry about privacy lawsuits. Privacy is part of the wireless contract between the two parties. No customer would want to trust any carrier who will not be able to provide security and privacy so they can be protected from losing customers.

This deal is also great for customers because they won't have to worry about the threat of wire tapping. They know that their private conversations and messages will be safe from the prying eyes of the government.

Tune in to this blog for more wireless contract updates.

Lawmakers Argue Over Roaming

2008-07-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here's some more wireless contracts news. Apparently, lawmakers have been debating about over roaming. Some experts say that the controversy over this wireless contract policy may grow into a major fault line in the mobile-phone industry. Let me discuss roaming before we proceed to the meat of this news.

The term "Roaming" is used in wireless telecommunications to describe the extending of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Now every carrier has it's own wireless contract policies on roaming and the charges that come with it.

Here's a statement from the wireless contract of on roaming:

Roaming charges for wireless data or voice service may be charged with some plans when outside AT&T's wireless network. Display on your device will not indicate whether you will incur roaming charges. Services originated or received while outside your plan's included coverage area are subject to roaming charges. Use of Services when roaming is dependent upon roaming carrier's support of applicable network technology and functionality. Check with roaming carriers individually for support and coverage details. Billing for domestic and international roaming usage may be delayed up to three billing cycles due to reporting between carriers. If your usage of the Services on other carriers' wireless networks ("offnet usage") during any two consecutive months exceeds your offnet usage allowance, AT&T may at its option terminate your wireless service or access to data Services, deny your continued use of other carriers' coverage, or change your plan to one imposing usage charges for offnet usage. Your offnet usage allowance is equal to the lesser of 6 megabytes or 20% of the kilobytes included with your plan and for messaging plans the lesser of 3000 messages or 50% of the messages included with your plan. AT&T will provide notice that it intends to take any of the above actions and you may terminate your agreement.

Now that we have discussed the concept of roaming, it's time to get back to the news. The trend to consolidate roaming policies and fees among mobile phone carriers is making an already rough-and-tumble roaming dispute even more volatile. Small carriers have remained dissatisfied with last year’s FCC ruling that declared automatic roaming a common-carrier obligation for cellular operators.

Unfortunately, the FCC ruling has fan the flames over an in-market exemption, the applicability of the mandate to push-to-talk service and the possibility of extending the new rule to high speed wireless Internet services.

To make matters worse the FCC has yet to rule regulatory challenges to its roaming order. Some lawmakers have made inquiries ion to the FCC's plans to proceed on challenges to the automatic roaming ruling.

The legislators are also concerned that the in-market exception will affect districts with large concentrations of low-income and minority citizens. This market is largely served by small and regional wireless providers.

Leap Wireless International Inc., SouthernLINC Wireless, U.S. Cellular Corp., MetroPCS Communications Inc., Sprint Nextel Corp., T-Mobile USA Inc. and several rural telecom associations are questioning the FCC roaming rule.

Well, I hope that the legislators and the FCC can figure out the best solution to this roaming controversy. Tune in to this blog for more wireless contract info and news.

T-Mobile Announces New Approach to Early Termination Fees

2008-06-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Here's some interesting wireless contract news for T-Mobile fans. According to Gizmodo.com, T-Mobile has just announced that they are taking a new approach to the early termination fees for their mobile phone contracts to provide greater flexibility for their customers.

Well, it seems that that ETF's are still a hot issue in the mobile phone industry. This announcement may also be related to AT&T's announcement that they have begun prorating their early termination fees. Here's a statement from Sue Nokes, Chief Customer and Operations Officer, T-Mobile USA, regarding this new approach,

“T-Mobile continues to set the pace in offering customers a number of flexible plans and services that don’t require a contract to help them stay connected to those who matter most. In addition, by providing this flexibility and choice, our hope is that T-Mobile customers will be happy customers for years to come.”

Let's discuss the details of this new T-Mobile early termination fees approach as it may be a bit confusing. T-Mobile wants their customers to know that starting on June 28, 2008, the ETF for customers who choose a one-year or two-year service agreement will decline during the course their contract.

This means that if customers terminate service with 91 to 180 days remaining on their agreement, then the ETF decreases from $200 to $100. It will then decrease again to $50 with fewer than 91 days remaining. Now in the event that a customer want to terminate in the last 30 days of their term, then the ETF is $50 or their standard monthly charge, whichever is less.

Now according to Gizmodo, this new approach to the ETF's of wireless contracts is not the same with pro-rated ETF's because the fee goes down in increments and never touches zero.

I think that this is a positive step towards resolving the wireless contract disputes between the mobile phone carriers and customers. Much of those complaints are focused on ETF's so any move towards reducing it should appease customers. Even the FCC has made proposals to reduce the conflict over early termination fees for cell phone contracts. Perhaps this move by T-Mobile will encourage other carriers to develop their own consumer friendly approach towards ETF's.

Tune in to this blog for more wireless contract news and information.

FCC Plans for Wireless Contract and ETF

2008-06-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

In my last post I discussed the struggles that are centered on the controversial ETF or early termination fees that are charged for canceling a wireless contract.

Mobile phone companies usually charge early termination fees that can range from $150 to $225. These fees help them to recover the cost of devices, which they subsidize under long-term wireless contracts. These ETF's also lessens the burden signing up new customers. However, these fees have been assailed because they have curtailed the freedom of customers to shift to another carrier. The imposition of these fees have resulted in class-action lawsuits in several states and legislative proposals.

Now it seems that the FCC has decided to act and laid out some proposals on ETFs. Hopefully, these proposals will solve some of the problems concerning this policy but let us first take a look at the FCC proposals.

Kevin Marti, the current FCC Chairman, expressed that the proposal is similar to an industry plan that was offered by mobile phone carriers headed by Verizon Wireless. He also expressed that the proposal was drafted because ongoing class-action lawsuits would probably not provide an answer to the ongoing issues about the unpopular fees.

Here are the main elements of the proposal:

the ETF would be related to the actual retail price of the device being purchased so that a $100 handset would have a cheaper ETF than a $300 phone

ETFs should be prorated and reduced over the length of a cell phone contract

wireless contracts should only last for a reasonable length of time

Extended wireless contracts should not necessarily have their ETFs reinstated

allow class action lawsuits regarding ETFs against certain carriers to move forward

These proposals seems to provide some answers to the problems that are plaguing the mobile phone industry, However, some experts think that the proposal lacks many vital elements. For instance, the proposal did not offer specific information on the government body that would be in charge of monitoring ETFs. The proposal also did not propose any federal program that would preempt state governmental rights.

I guess we have to wait for more updates on this development. Let's hope that the FCC and the mobile phone companies can come up with plans to provide the best service to customers. Tune in to this blog for more wireless contracts news and information.

The Battles Over the ETF Policies of Wireless Contracts

2008-06-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

I have often blogged about ETFs or early termination fees in this wireless contract blog. That's no surprise because ETF's are probably the most controversial fees charged by wireless contracts.

These fees are very restrictive and expensive. The huge numbers of contract disputes and consumers complaints arising from early termination fees have been documented. All you have to do is to visit consumer rights websites, and you'll see that plenty of consumers are unhappy with these fees and the wireless contract policies that enforce them.

Currently, significant battles or disputes over early termination fees raging in major courts while carriers are being encouraged to make commitments on embracing consumer-friendly practices and opening their networks. The current scenario indicates that the foundation of a decades-old reign of ETF's are under attacked on all sides and it could be on its way out. I'm sure many consumers would like to see the demise of ETF wireless contract policies. Let us explore it more deeply.

Apparently, the mobile phone industry’s long-held argument that ETFs allow carriers to recoup costs associated with subsidized handsets are being undermined by a series of class-action lawsuits in California state court against national cellular carriers. Complainants feel that ETF's have another purpose and they intend to show the ETF was embraced as an arbitrary penalty. Experts say that other suits will use the same line of argument in pending class actions.

The disputes are also being held in the nation's capital. CTIA continues to lobby the Federal Communications Commission to approve a 2005 request to declare ETFs a component of wireless rates and therefore off limits to states. A 1993 law pre-empts state regulation of wireless rates, but reserves limited powers over “terms and conditions” to states. Some senators are also pushing a wireless consumer empowerment bill that would mandate pro-rated ETFs.

Experts are also saying the the impact of these battles over wireless contract ETF policies might be significant. For example, if courts rule in favor of the complaints then carriers may be forced to pay huge amounts of money. Some estimates say that the figures run in the billions.

The disputes over early termination fees might also have a huge impact on churn or the transfer of consumers from one carrier to another. Some carriers may be deeply affected if frequent shifts in subscribership results from the absence of wireless contract ETF policies.

I guess there's nothing we can do but wait. the battles are still raging and there are no clear winners. Tune in to this blog for more updates on wireless contracts, early termination fees and related topics.

AT&T's Prorated ETFs Are Now In Effect

2008-05-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here's some excellent wireless contract news for AT&T subscribers.

The wireless carrier has formally announced that the change ion their wireless contract policy regarding ETFs or early termination fees has been implemented. Customers who have signed up an agreement or wireless contract with AT&T starting on May 25 will be charged with a prorated early termination fee should they choose to end or terminate their contract or agreement before it expires.

Here's the official press release issued by AT&T:

More Flexibility for Wireless Customers

San Antonio, Texas, March 31, 2008

AT&T (NYSE:T) today announced a new approach to early termination fees (ETFs) that provides greater flexibility for wireless customers.

Beginning on May 25, the company's new and renewing wireless customers who enter into one- or two-year service agreements will no longer be required to pay a single, flat early termination fee. Instead, that fee, which is $175, will be progressively lowered by $5 during each month, every month, for the term of the contract. (The single, flat ETF will continue to apply to new and renewing customers who enter into one- or two-year service agreements prior to May 25.)

The company noted that it continues to offer options for those customers who do not want term commitments or ETFs, including:

* Buy a phone at full price and go on a month-to-month service plan.
* Bring your own compatible GSM device. With this option, you can buy a SIM (subscriber identity module), slip it into the back of the phone, and select a month-to-month service plan.
* Choose one of AT&T's GoPhone prepaid wireless plans.

I know that a lot of customers have been waiting for this to happen. I have read countless of complaints about the high cost of these fees. Early termination fees can be a pain especially if you have signed several contracts. This decision by AT&T should make it easier for customers to shift to a different carrier.

You can tune in to the AT&T News Room for more press releases regarding wireless contract and important announcements.

Proposal to Ease ETF's of Wireless Contracts

2008-05-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here's some more interesting wireless Contract news. CNN.com reported that the government is quietly negotiating to help cell phone customers avoid expensive early termination fees when they decided to cancel their wireless contracts.

Verizon Wireless has submitted a proposal to the FCC after the carrier consulted with other leading mobile phone service providers. The wireless contract proposal to the Federal Communications Commission states that the wireless industry would give consumers the opportunity to cancel service without any penalty. This would only apply up to 30 days after customers sign a cell phone contract or until 10 days after they receive their first mobile phone service bill. The proposal ton the FCC also suggests that the fees should be capped and and be reduce month by month over the course of a contract based on how long customers have left.

The article posted on CNN.Com reports that cell phone companies will be freed from suits filed in state courts by angry customers, in exchange for the government's approval. The proposal ,made by Verizon also request that the authority of states to regulate the charges, known as early termination fees should be taken away. Interestingly, the Federal Communication Commission declined to release any comment on this issue.

However, there have also been reports that the proposal is doomed even before it was filed to the FCC. Those who are close to the issue have suggested that the negotiations are on the verge of collapsing. Key stakeholders are continuing to negotiate on an ETF compromise but there are indications a deal remains an uphill battle. Two consumer groups approached by Verizon Wireless appears not to believe that the concessions offered by industry are adequate when consumers could surrender the ability to take legal action against mobile-phone operators.

I have blogged several times about wireless contract complains arising from ETF's or early termination fees. The wireless industry is currently facing a series of long-running, class-action lawsuits in state courts. If this proposal is unsuccessful, then I don't see the class action suits beign filed against carriers decreasing any time soon.