Want to get out of your wireless contract? The T-Mobile edition
If there’s one thing we get asked most, it’s probably the “I want to get out of my contract because _____ sucks!” email. We decided to put together a nice little guide for all you T-Mobilers wanting to jump ship. Bits and pieces have actually been pulled from some of our commenters, so thanks David and everyone else! There are a couple downsides, though. For one, this particular method does not allow you to port your number over to another provider. You’ll have to do some more work to get that accomplished. Check out the full rundown after the break, and check for other carrier editions coming soon!
-
David points out that this method only works for people that do not currently have a messaging plan. If you do, the recent text messaging rate increase won’t work as there is no contractual change that applies to you.
- If you haven’t sent or received a SMS message within the last three months, send a text to your T-Mobile phone. If this isn’t done, T-Mo will most likely deny your request stating that the change doesn’t affect you since you don’t get your text on.
- Log in to your T-Mobile account online at www.t-mobile.com. Hit the billing tab, then current usage, and verify you see the text message you sent yourself. Or any other received text. As long as you see a recent text message, you are good to go.
- Call T-Mobile at 800-937-8997. When prompted by the automate system say scream iPhone as loud as humanly possible “cancel my account.”
- When you are transferred over to a live person, they’ll ask you why you wish to cancel your service. Tell them that you were notified that the text messaging rate will be increasing from $.10 to $.20 on 8/29. If the rep doesn’t know about this yet, they will likely go ask someone and come back to you.
- Most likely, they’ll try and bait you to stay by offering you secret golden deals. Deny all of them!
- If you have not used text messaging in the past 3 months the CR will tell you that the change doesn’t affect you and you’ll need to pay the ETF. Tell them about the text you sent yourself (or any other text message you received in the past 3 months) and have them check your recent activity.
- If the rep tells you that the change doesn’t take effect until 8/29, quote T-Mobile’s Terms of Service. Tell them that according to the Terms of Service, you must cancel within 14 days of receiving the notification. If they really try and push your buttons, banhammer them with the following Terms of Service excerpt: Section 3:
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. - If you had to read that whole damn thing to the Krispy Kreme junky on the phone, they’ll briefly put you on hold while they cancel the account.
- Once the account is cancelled, check back on www.t-mobile.com to ensure that you can’t access anything. If you can’t access anything, your account has been successfully cancelled.
- If you still haven’t got anywhere by the end of this long ass post, hang up, and talk to someone else. They’ll most likely help you.
- If all else fails, tell the CR on the phone that you’re going to file a report with the FCC. Fill out this form here http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm. That should ensure a swift action taken by your wireless carrier.
Let us know how this works for you and what provider you end up switching to!
Tags: cancel service, cr, ETF, port number, T-Mobile
this actually works if you already have a txt plan and if you have gone over between the last 3 months then they will waive your early ter fee
Permalink | Reply
Ok, let’s think about this logically. The, “tip” says that you have to have a text messaging charge on your bill in order to be eligible for this. However, further down it states that the terms of contract (which I would bet are outdated) state that anybody can do this because of the, “notification” of change of contract terms. Therefore, the two actions are completely unrelated because you haven’t been hit with the extra charge.
Additionally, if you have a text messaging package (which I am confident that everybody reading this blog does) then you, again, won’t be eligible because you have not been affected by the change.
Permalink | Reply
I love T-Mobile! I love the rates,customer service, and great coverage… Why would I need to cancel?
Permalink | Reply
This whole thing is STUPID! ANYONE who leaves for an iphone is CRAZY!! FUCK YOUTUBE! if 20 whole cents per message is too expensive then you don’t deserve to have a damn phone!!
Permalink | Reply
HEY boy genius, I would expect to hear from some lawyers from T-Mobile. This site is so biased it aint funny anymore, so you claim to ike T-Mobile but this is plain BS!!
Permalink | Reply
I have done this for two different accounts tonight. They did not question this in the least. Thanks for the tip BG.
Permalink | Reply
I just wonder how is T-Mobile scammed by such low quality customers
oh well, T-Mobile customers are the lowest in loyalty in the entire industry, period
however, I prefer to stay to play with 3G with heavily invested gear
want real youtube? get nokia N800 and tether with any T-Mobile phone (3G phone is preferred)
Permalink | Reply
Jeff, your a fool! If you leave a carrier over the iphone or SMS rates you deserve what you get!
Permalink | Reply
IT WORKEDDDD!!!!!!
ok so u for sure can do it if u have a txting plan but it CANNOT BE UNLIMITED!!!!! because u have to go OVER your plan in order to qualify..
it only took me like 5 minutes!!!!!
iPhone 3G HERE I COME !!!!!!!!!!!
Permalink | Reply
WHy would I want to cancel T-Mobile? I have the option of a prepaid plan which is relatively cheap at 10cents/minute. I get some limited web surfing through T-Zones. I can check e-mail, use several different chat clients, and so on without any contract hassles. Furthermore T-Mobile works where I live. AT&T doesn’t. If I wanted an iPhone on a prepaid plan with AT&T it looks like I’d need to shell out nearly $600 for the privilege.
I love T-Mobile. Why would I want to switch?
Permalink | Reply
This is stupid, why don’t people just stick by their word and stay with a company, especially T-Mobile because they have the best prices. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ is all that counts, also most people have a message plan already, I know I do so it wont effect me.
Permalink | Reply
Why leave Tmobile? Good luck finding value and support in anyother carrier! So what the their phone delivery is a little slow…its worth the wait!
Permalink | Reply
Leaving for an iphone 3g? Lol people are insane to pay those prices. Tmobile is myFav carrier
Permalink | Reply
T-Mobile customers remain the most ignorant group of consumers ever.
1. People are not screwing over T-Mobile. Quite the contrary. This post is about leaving T-Mobile because T-Mobile is RAISING rates. THEY are altering the contract, not the consumer. Did they ask your permission to charge more? Do they care how this impacts your personal financial situation? T-Mobile is doing what’s best for their bottom line - period. Why shouldn’t you do the same?
2. T-Mobile offers great price points for the minutes but they are awful in smartphone offerings and data speeds. When 3G gets to everyone it will be a different story (and at a much higher price point). For right now, T-Mobile is great for kids that use the SideKick and others that love spending thousands of minutes chatting with friends. Poor phone selections + poor data speeds = lousy options for professionals or multimedia users.
3. johnj takes the cake for being the biggest moron on the board. What an idiot. Newsflash - I choose not to accept the price increase. Why? Because I can’t afford it? Wrong. I can afford the rate increases no problem (since I only send or receive 5 text messages/month it’s no big deal). However, I would rather cancel my contract, sell my old phone for $150 on eBay and get a new phone that is subsidized by T-Mobile. That’s called being smart. That’s called making money.
Open your eyes people - there is life outside of T-Mobile.
One example: Sprint SERO // 500 minutes // Free nights-weekends // unlimited high speed data // unlimited text messages // unlimited picture messaging + other goodies. All for $30. Show me a T-Mobile plan that is close to that. Throw in Pick 3 and GrandCentral and you have unlimited minutes with unlimited data, etc.
Permalink | Reply
When is the 14day of notice over? Dnt wana call n them tell me its been 14days.
Permalink | Reply
Just wait, in a couple months these iphone rejects will have something to bitch about with AT&T. Its the age old story, something new comes along, you dog the old, but soon experience the same thing. And just for the record, tmo has the best texting plans around. BTW, is BGR financed by AT&T. T-Mobile sure gets shit on a lot in these posts.
Permalink | Reply
To all the TMo posters that keep asking why switch away from TMo:
For me, their coverage in my area is just so-so. my wife and I ofter miss calls that come in, but don’t cause our phones to ring (she has a nice Nokia & I have a Dash). I like my payment plan, but the coverage in the Aurora, IL and the surrounding cities doesn’t seem to be as good as the TMo coverage map says it should be.
I’m looking to switch to Verizon mainly because our company started a great deal with them and I can get a BB Curve for $4 (the local Vzw rep is pushing hard to get our business…woot!). Besides, their coverage is much stronger in our area.
We’re in contract until December…if I could switch now but keep our numbers without paying the cancellation fee, I’d do it.
We’ll see.
Permalink | Reply
Clymmer, HOTSPOT@HOME!?!?! cheap and works great!!!!
Permalink | Reply
To: Clymmer
I think switching to VZW is the best choice for rural areas.
Hope it works out for the best.
Permalink | Reply
This is misleading. T-Mobile’s contract defines materials change as being to recurring charges. Casual (pay-by-each) text/SMS use is NOT a recurring change and changes are NOT a material change. This is what’s known as an “optional” service. A careful read of T-Mobile’s contract will show that they can change optional services, without you being about get out of your contract.
Some may be able to convince a CSR to let you out, without ETF. However, this same thing happened at Verizon and Sprint. At first, the CSR’s get scared of people yelling “material breach of contract” and let you cancel. Then, the lawyers send the CSR’s a memo that says that there is no such breach of contract.
If you want out, go ahead and give it a try. But be aware that, if they turn you down, it’s because they are staying compliant with the contract. Oh, and if you want to challenge them on the legality, be aware that you’ve agreed to arbitration, have agreed to waive a jury, and that you will not join in a class action suit.
For more, read the entire T&C at http://www.t-mobile.com (see “Terms & Conditions” link at the bottom of the home page).
Note: I’m not a T-Mobile customer, nor do I work for them or any competitor.
Permalink | Reply
i cant wait for the new iphone to be out so then i can snag an old one cheap and use it on t-mobile!!!!!!!!!!!
Permalink | Reply
Doesn’t work if you have messaging plan, and didn’t go over for at least 3 month. Their point if you don’t get effected MATERIALLY, you don’t qualify. Statement above is incorrect. Here is what the original say:
5. Our Rights to Make Changes. Your Service is subject to our business policies, practices, and procedures, which we can change without notice. UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED BY LAW, WE CAN CHANGE PRICES, CHARGES AND ANY TERMS IN THE AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME. IF WE MATERIALLY MODIFY THESE T&Cs IN A WAY THAT IS MATERIALLY ADVERSE TO YOU, OR IF A CHANGE INCREASES YOUR SET MONTHLY RECURRING CHARGE(S) (the set amount – which does not include overage, features, optional services, taxes and fees – you agreed to pay each month for at least a one-year Term), WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH AT LEAST 30 DAYS NOTICE AND YOU MAY TERMINATE YOUR SERVICE WITHOUT AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE (WHICH IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY) BY NOTIFYING US WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER YOU RECEIVE THE NOTICE. IF YOU FAIL TO TERMINATE WITHIN THOSE 30 DAYS, YOU ACCEPT THE CHANGES.
Permalink | Reply
Jeff, you’re an idiot. Obviously TM says it’s a change of terms of service hence the option of getting out of contract without ETF.
I used this exact method to get out of my contract and it wasn’t because of sms rates,
it was because of their lousy coverage, dropped calls, no 3G, calls going direct to VM and on and on.
I tried to get out of TM four months into my contract and they told me to go to hell that their crappy service wasn’t a reason to cancel their service.
So they provide me the out without an ETF and I grabbed it, go F yourselves T-mobile you suck.
Permalink | Reply
Its stupid if people leave just because of iphone on the excuse of increased text prices. Don’t they realize they end up paying more with any of the iphone plans??????
the only valid reason would be if the signal quality in your area is poor (every carrier has their weak spots) or if you are just bored with your carrier after 2-3 or more years and want to try another.
as for some smart excuses about lack of smartphone choice, dude get on ebay & buy what you like which usually one can get at a decent price. I purchased an excellent condition Dash for much cheaper than what I would get from tmo and without having to extend my contract. later gave that to my wife and got a treo 750 (again gr8 condition for about $175).
as for internet plans, the 4.99 tzones plan fulfills my needs of checking emails, google traffic/maps, cnnmoney, bbc, msnbc etc.
for any heavy duty internet like youtube etc. i use my pc.
Permalink | Reply
In order to be able to take advantage of any new phone prices after canceling an account you have to wait 90 days after cancellation. Otherwise your account will be restarted from where it left off with a different number. After waiting the 90 days you would be subject to activation fees again.
Permalink | Reply