Do You Want to Swap Your Phone?

Do you have problems with your cell phone plan? That's certainly understandable since many people feel dissatisfied or too restricted with their wireless phone contract. You can choose to drop your contract by paying a termination that may be prorated depending on the carrier or provider. However, if you don't think that it's practical to pay a couple hundred bucks to be released from your cellphone contract then you should think about swapping your contract.

There are now plenty of online websites that offer this kind of service.The idea behind cellphone contract swapping is simple. Those who want to get rid of their contracts and plans would post them on a website for a small fee. Those who are interested in these plans can then browse over posted offers in the site after a free registration.

Of course, you still have to make sure that the swap is allowed by your carrier before you commit to swap your plan. If you are lucky your carrier may be able to switch you to a cheaper one without a charge. Some carriers are also not opposed to the whole cell phone contract swapping idea. For example, one carrier only require both parties to fill out the paperwork, and an account is in good standing to allow the swap. Some carriers may require the person picking up the account may still have to complete a credit report before the transfer can be completed.

It's not difficult to find people who may be interested to take your plan or swap them with you. Since an take over a contract with maybe five months or four months left on a contract instead of a year or two year plan, people like these deals. It would allow them to get a free phone or may not be force to pay for an activation fee.

Like most quick solutions, cellphone contract swapping can also present some problems for both parties. There are cell phone contracts that prohibits the signer from participating in the swapping process. And even if you are permitted to swap your plan, your carrier may still come after you if the new customer falls behind in his or her payments.

It would be best then to exercise caution and to do plenty of research when engaging in Cellphone contract swapping deals. You have to check all the aspects of the deal before you finalize it. If you go through the process quickly with going through the proper channels or with securing all the bases, then the deal might backfire on you.

The Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007

Last September, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Jay Rockefeller unveiled a legislation that was driven towards empowering the 200 million cell phone customers nationwide. The bill would allow consumers to be able to make informed choices about a wireless service that best fits their needs and their budget.

The bill named the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007" will put pressure ton wireless service providers. It will encourage them to share simple, clear information on their services and charges with customers before they enter into long-term contracts. Customers will have a thirty-day window in which to exit a contract without early termination fees. The service providers will also grant customers greater flexibility to exit contracts with services that don’t meet their needs if this bill will be implemented.

Sen. Klobuchar explains her views by saying that “Early termination fees are a family budget-buster; families should be able to terminate service without outrageous fees; know if their cell phone will work on their drives and in their home and office; and understand what to expect in their monthly bills once you pile on charges and fees. It’s a simple matter of fairness.

These are some of the key points of the Cell Phone Consumer Empowerment Act of 2007 :

EARLY TERMINATION FEES (ETF)

The FCC shall set forth regulations to pro-rate ETFs. At a minimum, the ETF for a 2-year contract shall be reduced by ½ after 1 year.

DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANS AND CONTRACTS

Publication of the terms of a wireless plan shall include information on: contract terms; charges; minutes; information on taxes and surcharges; wireless E-911 service; and other information that the FCC considers appropriate.

This information shall be given to a consumer prior to entering into any contract.

CONTRACT EXTENSION, MODIFICATION, OR RESCISSION

Extension: An extension of a contract shall not be valid unless the wireless provider provides point-of-sale notice of the extension to the customer and allows the customer to cancel the extension within 30 days after such notice.

Modification: Wireless carriers must provide subscribers with written notices of changes in rates and terms at least 30 days before such changes are to take effect.

Rescission: A contract for wireless service may be canceled upon the request of a subscriber for any reason up to 30 days after entering into the contract.

ENFORCEMENT

The FCC shall enforce the legislation’s provisions and the attorney general of a State, or the public utility commission of a State may bring a civil action in federal district court or establish or use existing administrative procedures to enforce the Act’s provisions.
-The Act preempts state law, except that the Act does not preempt state laws that provide additional protections to wireless subscribers.


This billed coupled with the Congressional hearings on the issue of wireless contracts have pushed wireless service providers to have a softer stance on their contracts. Some of them have preempted the bill by pro-rating their early termination fees and have allowed their consumers to alter their contracts.

It also seems that this bill has encouraged wireless service providers to pay attention to customer satisfaction. They have began to make plans to implement consumer friendly programs in an effort to provide better service and to attract more customers.

Some Tips on Ending Your Wireless Contract

Do you want to get out of the clutches of your current two-year contract? Well, you can pay a termination fee to be free of it. But what if you don't have money to pay an early termination fee? I did some research online and found that there are ways that can help you squirm your way out of a wireless carrier contract without paying the termination fee.

Often the best way to get rid of a contract is too opt out of it as soon as possible. You can cancel a wireless contract with some carriers if you just signed up for service. You simply have to call customer service and inform them that you would like to cancel your plan. However, if you have used the service , then you may have to pay a prorated amount. Here is a piece from Verizon Wireless' customer agreement,

You can cancel (if you're a new customer and not assuming another customer's service) WITHIN 30 DAYS of accepting. You'll still be responsible through that date for the new service and any charges associated with it.

One of the thing's you can also do is to find someone who may be interested in purchasing your unwanted contract. You can try looking for a buyer online. Their are websites that specialize in transferring the financial responsibilities of cell contracts from one person to another. It may be possible to transfer the plan over to a recipient without paying the early termination fee as long as the recipient meets the minimum qualifications for the contract.

You could also try to register a change of address with your carrier or move to a different location to worm your way out of your contract. If you call and complain about not getting reception after you transfer to an area your cell carrier doesn't have service then perhaps you will be free from your contract. Your contract maybe null and void if your service provider can’t offer access in a given area. Look at this statement from Alltel's Terms and conditions,

A change in your service address or the location to which any Service is provided to you may constitute, at our sole discretion, termination of the Services or an increase in the prices you must pay for the Services.

It would also be a good idea to turn into news about your carrier's Terms of Service. If your Service Provider may make major changes to you plan, they may automatically void the contract and give you as much as 30 days to cancel it. As stated by Sprint Nextel's Terms and Conditions,

Except as provided below, if a change we make to the Agreement is material and has a material adverse effect on you, you may terminate each line of Service materially affected without incurring an Early Termination Fee only if you: (a) call us within 30 days after the effective date of the change; and (b) specifically advise us that you wish to cancel Services because of a material change to the Agreement that we have made. If you do not cancel Service within 30 days of the change, an Early Termination Fee will apply if you terminate Services before the end of any applicable Term Commitment.

I'm sure there are more ways of canceling a restrictive wireless phone contract and that you can also find them. You can find a lot of good ideas online if you you do your research or asked the people you know. Another good way would be to read the contract you signed more carefully. you may find a section that would help you become free of the contract and become available to sign another that would suit you better.

More-Flexible Contract Terms for T-Mobile Customers

This month T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced that customers entering into contracts for their service will benefit from a new and more flexible policy due to upcoming changes. For example, there will be a decline of early termination fees (ETFs) during the course of a customer’s contract with T-Mobile according to the new guidelines.

The world class company T-Mobile USA, Inc., is a member of the T-Mobile International group that is based in Bellevue, Washington. This company specializes in mobile communications, and is the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. This wireless company's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect effortlessly to their family and friends.

T-Mobile is ranked highest by multiple independent research studies in terms wireless call quality and wireless customer care. This year, the company also earned the highest ranking from the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Wireless Customer Care Performance Study – Volume 2. This award marked the sixth consecutive period that T-Mobile has held the top spot in customer care.

Sue Nokes, senior vice president, Sales and Customer Service, T-Mobile USA explains that,

“T-Mobile is widely recognized as the undisputed service leader in wireless. We want to do everything possible to create a great experience so customers want to stay with us for years. This announcement builds on our heritage of listening closely to our customers and always striving to meet their needs.”

During the first half of 2008, the new ETF policy, and the specific details of the policy, are expected to be finalized and introduced. New customers as well as current customers renewing contracts with T-Mobile will all benefit when the new terms become effective.

Better Customer Experience form Sprint Nextel

There is now no need for Sprint customers to extend their contracts when changing their rate plans. With its new programs driven towards better customer experience, Sprint became the first wireless carrier to give customers additional contract flexibility.

Sprint Nextel is a company that offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services. These services will bring the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. The company prides itself in developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Its two robust wireless networks serving about 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter 2007.

The company has decided to extend its Right Plan Promise policy to six months allowing customers to benefit from more contract flexibility. Customers are now able to change their rate plans without having to renew their contracts. In the next year, a new prorated early termination fee (ETF) policy will be implemented.

Of course, there are other programs that will improve customer experience such as the:

Welcome Call

A customer care representative will welcome a customer to Sprint after a he or she activates service. The representative will then thank the customer for his or her business. Any questions from the customer will be entertained by the representative to ensure the customer feels fully informed about the product and/or plan. Customers are sure to become fully educated about the Sprint products and services they purchased with this great process.

Premier Loyalty Rewards

Sprint customers will have even more enhanced experience next year because the company is planning to add new and innovative reward programs for long-time customers.

Overage Courtesy Call

In this program new customers' wireless usage during the first six months of service will be monitored. The purpose of this will be to ensure that new customers are on the right plan. They will be then notified during the first time they have incurred significant excess voice, text or data overage charges. Then a new plan will be offered to customer to help them avoid future overage charges and better meet their wireless needs.

Are you interested with Sprint's new programs? If you are, then you can check them out at their
official website.

If Your cellphone is Lost or Stolen....

Have your ever lost your cell phone? Maybe someone stole it from you or you've left it behind at school. If you this situation has happened to you then you should know the proper steps that should be done. You wireless carrier might have a certain policy that will be applied in this situation. Let's have a look at these policies.

AT&T 's service agreement states that,

If your wireless phone or other device ("Equipment") is lost or stolen, you will be responsible for all charges incurred on your phone number until you report the theft or loss and provide a police report number to us. After you report the theft or loss to us, you remain responsible for complying with your other obligations under this Agreement including, but not limited to, payment of any monthly service fees.

This means that it is important that you should immediately inform AT&T if your phone was stolen or if you have lost it. You don't want to be charged with all the calls on your stolen or lost phone on top of the misery of having lost it.


If you signed a deal with Verizon Wireless then you should remember that,

If your wireless phone is lost or stolen, it is very important that you notify us immediately for your own protection, so that we can suspend your service to prevent further usage. If your bill shows charges to your phone after the loss but before you reported it, and you want a credit for those charges, we will investigate your account activity. You do not have to pay the charges you dispute while they are being investigated to determine whether the charges resulted from usage by someone not authorized to use the phone. Further, if we haven't given you a courtesy suspension of recurring monthly fees within the prior year, we'll give you one for 30 days, or until you replace or recover your wireless phone, whichever comes first. You may need to provide further information regarding the theft or loss if we ask for it.

Verizon's stance on the loss or theft of a cellphone is softer than that of AT&T but it still stresses the importance of reporting the loss or theft of the wireless phone immediately. They are also offering a suspension of recurring monthly fees until your replace or recovered your phone provided they did not give you a suspension a year earlier.
Sprint/Nextel has this to say about the loss or theft of a wireless phone:

Call us immediately if your Device is lost or stolen because you may be responsible for usage charges before you notify us of the alleged loss or theft. You agree to cooperate if we choose to investigate the matter (provide facts, sworn statements, etc.). We may not waive any Early Termination Fees if you choose to terminate Services as a result of loss or theft of your Device.

Their policy is basically the same with other carriers. Informing them of the loss or theft is extremely important. However, if you choose to terminate Services after losing your phone they may not waive any early termination fee.


T-Mobile's terms and conditions states that,

If your Phone is lost or stolen ("Lost Phone") you will not be liable for unauthorized airtime charges incurred on the Lost Phone if you: (a) notify us immediately; (b) ask us to deactivate the Lost Phone; and (c) provide within 14 days any documentation we request, including a police report. You must fulfill the remainder of your Term by activating a replacement Phone (which may be full price) or the cancellation fee will apply.

Again this policy emphasizes the importance of letting the carrier know about the loss or theft of the cellphone. T-mobile also stresses that a customer must activate a replacement phone if he or she loses the original device.

It's clear that informing your wireless carrier is the first step you should make when you lose your wireless phone. It also helps if you have proof of the lost of your phone because investigations will follow. However, the best way to avoid this situation is to take better care of your wireless phone so that you won't misplace it or have it stolen by a dishonest person.

Wireless Contract Changes and Congress

U.S. Congressional hearings were recently held to decide if it was best to legislate more consumer-friendly practice among wireless cell phone carriers. Perhaps rumors about this hearings prompted wireless companies, Verizon and AT&T to loosen their restrictions on wireless contract changes.

This is Verizon Wireless' policy on their right to change their contract:

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.

And this is AT&T's policy on terms and condition changes:

These terms and conditions may be changed from time-to-time. AT&T will post the most current version of these terms and conditions at att.com/MediaTerms or other appropriate location. Please check these regularly to inform yourself about changes to the terms and conditions.

Sen. Amy Klobluchar introduced a bill that would require wireless providers to prorate fees charged to customers who cancel cell phone contracts. A two-year contract usually requires a $200 fee if a customer wants to cancel the wireless service before the contract expires. Another facet of the Sen. Klobuchar's bill demands that customers will not be forced to sign up for a contract extension if they want to make changes to their calling plans.

Verizon and AT&T have already removed the contract-extension stipulation and their customers can now change their plans without signing a new contract. Here is a statement from Verizon Wireless contract on contract-extension:

Except as explicitly permitted by this agreement, you're agreeing to maintain service with us for your minimum term. (Periods of suspension of service don't count towards fulfillment of your minimum term.) After that, you'll become a month-to-month customer under this agreement. AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE WILL APPLY IF YOU CHOOSE TO END YOUR SERVICE BEFORE BECOMING A MONTH-TO-MONTH CUSTOMER, OR IF WE TERMINATE IT EARLY FOR GOOD CAUSE. FOR SERVICE ACTIVATED PRIOR TO 11/16/06, THE EARLY TERMINATION FEE IS $175 PER WIRELESS PHONE NUMBER. FOR SERVICE ACTIVATED ON OR AFTER 11/16/06, OR FOR LINES OF SERVICE WITH MINIMUM TERMS EXTENDED ON OR AFTER 11/16/06, THE EARLY TERMINATION FEE IS $175, WHICH WILL BE REDUCED BY $5 FOR EACH FULL MONTH TOWARD YOUR MINIMUM TERM THAT YOU COMPLETE. (The Early Termination Fee applies only to the extent permitted by law. If you buy your wireless phone from an authorized agent or third-party vendor, you should check to see if they charge a separate termination fee.) If you terminate your service as of the end of your minimum term, you won't be responsible for any remaining part of your monthly billing cycle. Otherwise, all terminations by you during a monthly billing cycle become effective on the last day of that billing cycle. You'll remain responsible for all fees and charges incurred until then and won't be entitled to any partial month credits or refunds. You may be able to take, or "port," your current wireless phone number to another service provider. If you request your new service provider to port a number from us, and we receive your request from that new service provider, we'll treat it as notice from you to terminate our service for that number upon successful completion of porting. After the porting is completed, you won't be able to use our service for that number. You'll remain responsible for any Early Termination Fee, and for all fees and charges through the end of that billing cycle, just like any other termination. If you're porting a phone number to us from another company, we may not be able to provide you some services, such as 911 location services, immediately.

Some experts see the loosening up of wireless contracts as peace offerings so Congress will not see a need for regulating the business of wireless cell phone companies. Well, only time will tell if lawmakers will agree with that notion. Many consumers have filed more complaints with Better Business Bureau about the wireless industry so maybe the recent changes are a move in the right direction. As a wireless customer, I have to agree with that.