T-Mobile increasing SMS rates, get out while you still can
Joining the ranks of just about every other wireless carrier in America, T-Mobile has decided to increase their text messaging rates (while simultaneously decreasing the cost of each MMS). As has been the case when other carriers have made similar moves, this constitutes a material breach of contract on T-Mobile’s part, allowing customers to jump ship without paying the hefty $200-per line ETF. I can confirm that this works, as I just canceled two lines hours ago, but as always, your mileage may vary depending on the CSR you get.
does anyone know what to ask for about canceling due to text rates going up?
How do I keep the current phone number and avoid the ETF due to this rate hike?
Can I port out the # to Cingular, and then call T-Mobile to explain why???
Another question: Can I do this in June when the iPhone comes out and I want to move to Cingular?
Can I re-sign a new contract with T-Mobile after I cancel?
Why would I want to switch to Cingular? Friends don’t let friends pay for SMS, educate your friends on how to use data instead.
Dose anybody know if i can cancle my 2 lines that I have with tmobile, one of them dose not have text in the plan and the other one is blackberry mail and munites it includes unlimited text, data, and a 1000 minutes, do i need to have text included in my plan to cancle right now?
Tmobile really needs to do something to knock it out the box, cause they are lacking in handsets and network capabilities so we’ll have to see what happens
I second the question – how long does one have to jump ship from T-Mobile? Long enough to see what new phones they have coming for their 3G or better network – all possibly showing up in April?
Thank goodness for $14.99 unlimited messaging.
It amazes me how some of the commenters just don’t get the point of this post (I guess reading comprehension has taken a slide in our educational system). This post is NOT about how much T-Mobile is charging for SMS. It’s about a material change in your contract with T-Mobile that voids the contract (so it could have been a price change on ANYTHING, it just happens to be SMS in this case). So if you like being on T-Mobile, more power to you…if you don’t, then this is your chance to break contract with no fees and run.
I would also like to know the how to’s on this one (need to break contract, keep the #, and port over to another carrier), any info out there???
What exactly do I tell the CS rep to cancel my contract but keep my number? I call them about an hour ago and the rep gave me some bogus excuse that it would not affect my contract in any way. I wanna cancel my contract because I get zero reception at my home and job but I still have about 1 year of contract left. Can anyone help me with this issue?
I guess just insist that you are now legally free and push the issue. If the rep doesn’t understand his or her supervisor should. They will try to bullshit you into staying.
To keep the number I think you have to sign up with another company right away. I am not sure about that part.
Maybe it would be worth losing your number just to get your self free. It looks tricky to port over your number – your new company would have to handle it.
From the FCC site:
Initiating the Process
If you want to change companies:
Do not terminate your service with your existing company before initiating service with the prospective new company.
Contact the prospective new company, which will start the process of porting your number by contacting your current company.
Be aware that when terminating service with a wireless company, you may be obligated to pay any early termination fees under your existing contract. Also, when terminating service with any company, you are usually required to pay any outstanding balance owed. Review your bill or contract to determine what fees or charges apply. Once you request service from the new company, however, your old company may not refuse to port your number, even if you owe money for an outstanding balance or termination fee.
You may request service from a new company at any time.
Boy Genius, I need help getting out of my contract , what should I say to the CSR to make him terminate my contract without a ETF? I tried calling them an hour ago and she told me that the change will take effect in june but I think that she was just trying to make me stay with T-Mobile.
it would be great if the hike wasnt until June, then we could wait to see all the new blackberries and who will carry them
im with tmobile now and was wanted to switch to cingular to get the 8300 first…but if t-mobile is going to have the 8320 i might as well stay
Leave T-mo eh?
Grandfathered buddytime: $10 unlimited texts and mobile to mobile, I don’t think I have it in me.
When Cingular did this early 2007, it was a 30 day period that you could switch without penalty.
This is totally bogus. Change doesn’t go into effect until June 1st. CSR said the rate change does not affect terms of contract. So they won’t let you bust out w/o a penalty. The texting is viewed as an extra service, not the core plan you are contracted with the carrier for. People who sign up for TMobile a couple of months before June 1st will have the option to opt out they said.
Does anybody know the deadline to cancell your contract? Or when will they begin the raised price? Cause im thinking of calling them when my bill comes and saying:
“WTF? Why are you charging me this much for text, its supposed to be 10 cents……. What. Hell nah, I didn’t sign up for that, cancell my contract!”
I read these posts and just don’t understand the company hopping, angry had it right stayed with same company and has the grandfathered buddy time, when will people relize that staying does have benifits. You also have to relize being mean to the csr will not get you far, being nasty enough times and you will have to write in all your requests.(all the wanting something for nothing….new phones,not wanting to pay for services provided) I just can’t belive the mentality of people today!!!!!
People there is a 14 day buyers remorse with all cell companies,,,,if you do not want to live up to your end of the contract or you don’t get the service you want you do have the option of canceling within 14 days (longer in some areas). all I see is greed. The suggestion of bullying the csr is just apalling you people should be ashamed. I can only hope someone comes to your job and treats you the same as you treat the csr on the phone. Screaming, threatening, and just plain rude. (sorry for the rant just get tired of seeing posts on how to weasle out of things agreed to)
People today have to resort to things like screaming, threatening, and being rude because CSR are now trained to not respond to anything else. Why is that the best plans are only available when you call to cancel? Why is it that only people who scream and threaten have access to the best deals? It’s because these companies are businesses, and they are in it to make money. Just like how we are in it to save money.
@Mystified, I don’t see anyone here posting their reasons for wanting to ditch T-Mobile so I don’t understand how you can condemn their reasons to leave. Just because you can’t think of a reason does that mean others can’t have one? What if they moved to somewhere with poor service too late in the contract to cancel for free? What if they could save more with mobile to mobile minutes on another network? What if they just plain found a much better deal and want to save some bucks?
Yes, I firmly believe that you should honor any contract that you enter, but the point of this post is that T-Mobile changed the contract. If this is indeed true, why should you be obligated to hold up your end? If you’re not satisfied with the service anyway (or any reason like from above), then why not take the opportunity to leave early with no penalty?
I agree that sitting tight can have benefits (like in Angry’s case, but I’ve seen much better) but some people do have valid reasons to jump ship.
If someone merely takes this opportunity to try to get something free, why not? If we have to pay for early termination, why shouldn’t they pay for changing what was agreed upon? Isn’t that the point of a contract?
I don’t think anyone here calls up CS just to yell at them for fun (if you do then yes, you’re an @ssh0le). But, for the most part when you do call, aren’t you angry about something in the first place?
It’s fine to rant but don’t rant without trying to see other points of view. I bet you that all of the posters here that want to leave are, for whatever reason, NOT satisfied with their T-Mobile service. Anyone that is, simply won’t care about this price change.
@joddo, do you have an SMS plan? I think this only applies if you pay per SMS…
I have a SK3 and I tried cancelling so I could switch to Helio. They told me that the text rate would not affect me and the 15 cents increase would only be to new users and not me since I got mine back in July. I asked if she can guarantee that it will not change, and she said yes. Is she lying to me or will they really not change my contract? I’m so confused and can anyone help me?