Getting out of cellphone contract

[kserg]

Want to see if anyone had this experience.

Here is what happened so far.

Still have 11 months left on my contract with t-mobile.

about 2 months ago, my phone broke down. Screen went blank. I have the premium warranty with tmobile so phone was replaced with refurbished phone.

2nd phone broke down month later - same thing. Phone again was replaced (again refurbished)

That lasted until a week ago, same issue, screen went blank. Phone was replaced.


New phone arrived with physical damage. The SD card holder was broken off. Called Customer service and told them i would either want a new phone that's not broken or won't brake or i want out of my contract. Got denied. Talked to 3 people, still denied. Last guy basically told me "if you can live with a broken phone for 4 more months you can sign a contract and get a new phone with 90% discount of price tag."

Thanks?

So i told them i want out of my contract because it seems that they can't provide me with service they said they would. Answer was no, they will charge me $200 for early cancellation. Out of 2 months I've been with out a phone for 2 weeks.

I wrote to BBB regarding this few days ago, still waiting.

Has anyone dealt with that crap before? If so, were you able to get out of the contract?

In about a house i am going to Verizon and getting phone from them, but still need to figure out how to get out of the contract with t-mobile. Any ideas would be appreciated.

What's total crap is i've been with that company since 1998. Always been great, but ever since they tried to sell to ATT it just became crap.

Thank you

[bassbrad]

Good luck getting outta the contract.

Rad Shak and other retailers offer a "free upgrade" or even a T-Mobile store may be able to offer you better fairer service.

Whatcha doing to the phones to break 'em?

[kserg]

Originally Posted by bassbrad

Good luck getting outta the contract.

Rad Shak and other retailers offer a "free upgrade" or even a T-Mobile store may be able to offer you better fairer service.

Whatcha doing to the phones to break 'em?

Common issue with that phone. The last one doesn't have a single scratch on it.

Tmobile store said they can't do anything about it, i have to call. One guy tried to rip the SD card slot from old none-working phone and put it in new one. Don't think it works that way, heh.

[MatticusMania]

I would never advise someone to not pay their bills, but Id just cancel it and then not pay the $200, telling a customer service rep to take note that I am no longer paying for a service if they cannot provide me with a means to effectively use said service.

[jmattbassplaya]

It might be worth talking to companies you're considering transferring to. I believe some of them will cover any cancellation charge your previous provider might try to charge you.

[nashvillebill]

Refusing to pay the termination fee would only screw up your credit rating and get you numerous calls from debt collectors.

Instead, how about politely writing them--not calling, but actually writing a letter, printed out on real paper--outlining the chain of events and requesting waiving the termination fee. Start it off by writing something like "Gentlemen, I've been a satisfied customer of T-Mobile since 1998 and have always been impressed with your excellent customer service..." Lay on a little honey here, then lead into "but regretfully the experience I've had with these phones recently has proven so frustrating that I cannot longer tolerate the poor service I've recently received..." Then eventually politely request that they waive the termination fee so you can pursue a phone from a competitor.

Again (IMO) the keys to resolving this in your favor:
-write them on real paper using snail mail
-keep the letter polite
-write concisely and factually
-it's a business letter so grammar and punctuation and spelling count

I have successfuly received a waiver of an early termination fee from T-Mobile myself, but under a different and much sadder circumstance.

[kserg]

Originally Posted by nashvillebill

Refusing to pay the termination fee would only screw up your credit rating and get you numerous calls from debt collectors.

Instead, how about politely writing them--not calling, but actually writing a letter, printed out on real paper--outlining the chain of events and requesting waiving the termination fee. Start it off by writing something like "Gentlemen, I've been a satisfied customer of T-Mobile since 1998 and have always been impressed with your excellent customer service..." Lay on a little honey here, then lead into "but regretfully the experience I've had with these phones recently has proven so frustrating that I cannot longer tolerate the poor service I've recently received..." Then eventually politely request that they waive the termination fee so you can pursue a phone from a competitor.

Again (IMO) the keys to resolving this in your favor:
-write them on real paper using snail mail
-keep the letter polite
-write concisely and factually
-it's a business letter so grammar and punctuation and spelling count

I have successfuly received a waiver of an early termination fee from T-Mobile myself, but under a different and much sadder circumstance.

Thank you.

[MatticusMania]

Good luck Serg, hope it works out for you.

[kserg]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Good luck Serg, hope it works out for you.

Hope so too, man. Yeah, not paying if they try to charge me i am not going to do. $200 is not big enough money to ruin your credit history. I am trying to have them wave the $200. At most, if they charge me $200 i am going to get the phone replaced one last time and sell it on ebay or craigslist.


Hopefully the next owner will have better luck with the new phone.

heh.

[Pilgrim]

Not a problem. Go to Ebay, find a T-Mobile phone spend a few bux and buy it. Granted you aren't getting a free replacement, but you already know the replacements stink. You can choose the price point and features you want, and they'll activate it for you when it arrives.

I've done this for years with my daughters phones - never had to renew a contract, and they can have any phone they like - within my price parameters.

This will get you through your contract - and past it. You can keep swapping phones this way as long as you want, and have no contract.

FYI - it's "waive".

[nutdog]

About 7 years ago I got fed up with my ATT service. After trying to get it right with customer service, I wrote them a letter, documented my complaints and told them I was cancelling the contract based on their inability to provide adequate service.

I went to the local office and spoke with the manager with my letter. She agreed.

[mpdd]

you may be able to tell them that you'll pay 90 or 100 dollar cancellation fee, some people have been able to get them pro rated

[Steve]

If you're lucky enough to have one of those unlimited everything plan...

I've heard that some people get good results by driving the bandwidth use through the roof until the provider will drop you voluntarily. (apparently, that little provider option is buried in the fine print somewhere)

[MakiSupaStar]

Threaten to break fingers with a straight face. Don't ask details. GO.

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by Steve

If you're lucky enough to have one of those unlimited everything plan...

I've heard that some people get good results by driving the bandwidth use through the roof until the provider will drop you voluntarily. (apparently, that little provider option is buried in the fine print somewhere)

Might be hard for him to do without a working phone

[CapnSev]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

It might be worth talking to companies you're considering transferring to. I believe some of them will cover any cancellation charge your previous provider might try to charge you.

Yup. I've had this done for me twice by two different companies. Both offered to pay my cancellation fee from my old company.

[fhm555]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Not a problem. Go to Ebay, find a T-Mobile phone spend a few bux and buy it....

+1

Did this for wifey a few years ago. Her phone died and AT&T was holding her feet to the fire on contract. She was within a few months of ending, but it was enough to get her hit with a fee if she canceled, and there was no free replacement phone option.

Long story short it was going to cost her $90 for a replacement phone or $120.00 to drop her current contract. Turns out the guy she talked to lied when he told her those were her only options.

I did a little digging and found out that as long as the phone conforms to the communication protocol used by you provider, it will work and they can't keep you from using it. I found out what AT&T was using and scored her a new phone off ebay for less than $30.00, swapped the SIM card, called AT&T and got it recognized, or whatever it is they do to make it official, and sent her on her merry phone using way.

[oldrocker]

Originally Posted by fhm555

... I found out what AT&T was using and scored her a new phone off ebay for less than $30.00, swapped the SIM card, called AT&T and got it recognized, or whatever it is they do to make it official, and sent her on her merry phone using way.

Did AT&T charge you an activation fee?

[ShredderMaximus]

Tell them your moving to an area where they aren't supported...

[Johnny Alien]

Call again and explain they are in violation of their end of the contract. When the rep tells you that they can't waive the fee get her name and employee number and ask for the manager. If the manager doesn't comply get his name and employee number and ask for who he reports to. Eventually you will get to someone high enough up to not want to deal with you. Explain that you have been getting the names and employee numbers of everyone you talk to so that you can report back to your legal representation. They will not want to deal with it and bow I can almost guarantee it. Anytime I started collecting names at a company I have gotten them to comply.