Cell Phone Termination Fees Ruled Illegal...

[JR2004]

I hope this ruling stands up. I'd like to receive some money back for a phone I terminated early with Sprint if it's found to be against state law here in Texas like it has been out in California.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/99655

[Emerson1]

Why are they illegal? They signed the contract and knew they would be there.

[SWMustang]

I think the court is saying it's illegal to put that in the contract. I personally like having the price of my phone subsidized. The early termination fee should be on a sliding scale and decrease as the contract is fulfilled. That would be fair.

[JR2004]

Originally posted by SWMustang
I think the court is saying it's illegal to put that in the contract. I personally like having the price of my phone subsidized. The early termination fee should be on a sliding scale and decrease as the contract is fulfilled. That would be fair.

Apparently every other major cell phone company besides Sprint has a sliding scale and pro-rates their early termination charge. I'd be happy if Sprint would at least do that.

[rockdale80]

Well.... I agree that if you sign a contract and it should be honored, but I hope this forces carriers to start providing the services they promise. I lived in Manor (13 miles from downtown Austin) and I could not get a Sprint signal to save my life. The map of their coverage area shows that this zone was covered by Sprint, but I could not get signal. I lived with two people (also with Sprint) that could not get a signal either. I drove around my neighborhood, and still no signal. I think if they guarantee coverage in an area and do not deliver then they are in breach of their contract. Could I leave them and charge them $250 dollars? Absolutely not. I guess the point is that when you sign up with them, it gives them all the power to interpret the contract and how it benefits them. I think a contract should be fair and they should deliver the service they promise you. Otherwise I think you should be able to walk away without having to face a fine. Perhaps some middle ground can come of this that will benefit everyone, and not just the corporations.

[mwynn05]

Originally posted by rockdale80
Well.... I agree that if you sign a contract and it should be honored, but I hope this forces carriers to start providing the services they promise. I lived in Manor (13 miles from downtown Austin) and I could not get a Sprint signal to save my life. The map of their coverage area shows that this zone was covered by Sprint, but I could not get signal. I lived with two people (also with Sprint) that could not get a signal either. I drove around my neighborhood, and still no signal. I think if they guarantee coverage in an area and do not deliver then they are in breach of their contract. Could I leave them and charge them $250 dollars? Absolutely not. I guess the point is that when you sign up with them, it gives them all the power to interpret the contract and how it benefits them. I think a contract should be fair and they should deliver the service they promise you. Otherwise I think you should be able to walk away without having to face a fine. Perhaps some middle ground can come of this that will benefit everyone, and not just the corporations. I see where you are comin from man and completely agree but we all know thats not how it works with these companies they have lawyers who they employes 24/7/365 so its easy for them to push you around when it will cost you more than its worth to get a lawyer and fight the contract and you will just pay it to get out imo an thats where they have you trapped...pay the fee or pay a lawyer more than the fee and fight it...lose lose for you the consumer...

[rockdale80]

Originally posted by mwynn05
I see where you are comin from man and completely agree but we all know thats not how it works with these companies they have lawyers who they employes 24/7/365 so its easy for them to push you around when it will cost you more than its worth to get a lawyer and fight the contract and you will just pay it to get out imo an thats where they have you trapped...pay the fee or pay a lawyer more than the fee and fight it...lose lose for you the consumer...

Exactly my point. If I would known my phone would not work at my home, I would have never signed the contract.

[SWMustang]

Originally posted by rockdale80
Exactly my point. If I would known my phone would not work at my home, I would have never signed the contract.

you can get out of it. It would take some time and repeatedly calling or going by the store to voice your concerns, but at some point they'd get tired of seeing you and let you out.

[DDBooger]

no kidding i've wanted to walk in the store and ask "alright who's eye socket do I have to collapse to get someone to fix this problem" seriously, Sprint is just nearly impossible to get customer service.

[SWMustang]

Originally posted by DDBooger
no kidding i've wanted to walk in the store and ask "alright who's eye socket do I have to collapse to get someone to fix this problem" seriously, Sprint is just nearly impossible to get customer service.

that reminds me - I was banned from my local Cingular store for a few months. I guess they didn't like my negotiating techniques.

My company had a corporate account with someone - I can't remember which carrier but is there really a big difference? Anyway they kept screwing up the billing. After three or four months of this my boss got tired of it. We snuck into some office building (followed someone in who had a card key). This building was where the customer service people that he had been dealing with him on the phone worked. He had the ladies name that was supposed to get this all straight and we went to her desk and asked - hey wth!!!! She was extremely surprised to say the least and the billing issues were resolved. We were promptly escorted out after he gave her a verbal beat down.

[scrub c]

for what it is worth... I think there has to be some kind of clause in the contract about early termination or everyone (including me) would sign up and cancel as soon as the next guy had a better deal, just wish it was not on a 2 year term. AND how about after your initial 2 years, you can just walk away at any time... But NO! at some point you are going to upgrade phones or change service and there you go, another 2 year commitment....

BTW...verizon sucks just about anywhere south of Houston. I think all there service is tied up in those stupid tv commercials.

We switched to sprint, have been very pleased so far.

But now many friends and family have switched to the "new at&t" and say it is great. Too bad I cant switch over and try it out for myself.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by scrub c
for what it is worth... I think there has to be some kind of clause in the contract about early termination or everyone (including me) would sign up and cancel as soon as the next guy had a better deal, just wish it was not on a 2 year term. AND how about after your initial 2 years, you can just walk away at any time... But NO! at some point you are going to upgrade phones or change service and there you go, another 2 year commitment....

BTW...verizon sucks just about anywhere south of Houston. I think all there service is tied up in those stupid tv commercials.

We switched to sprint, have been very pleased so far.

But now many friends and family have switched to the "new at&t" and say it is great. Too bad I cant switch over and try it out for myself. yeah, i have the new at&t, it is good. decent to good customer service. can't complain. with sprint, if I sneezed it showed up as a charge on my phone bill.

[Phil C]

:clap:

Let the seller beware! :)

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by Phil C
:clap:

Let the seller beware! :) hey Phil, with sprint, i didn't get a good signal near ***Port Isabel*** so I couldn't tell people about the entertainment in SPI

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by DDBooger
yeah, i have the new at&t, it is good. decent to good customer service. can't complain. with sprint, if I sneezed it showed up as a charge on my phone bill.
My son started with Cingular, now the "new" AT&T (LMAO!). He's in Austin and I get more dropped calls talking to him than I do anyone else, including my mom who has Caprock or Ceullar One or whatever covers Matador.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
My son started with Cingular, now the "new" AT&T (LMAO!). He's in Austin and I get more dropped calls talking to him than I do anyone else, including my mom who has Caprock or Ceullar One or whatever covers Matador. i don't get any, with sprint they told me because I was near a faultline here in san marcos it may effect my service, guess the faultline only messes up sprint :)