Final call for ETF-free Sprint contract cancellation
Have you been itching for a way to escape the shackles of your Sprint Wireless contract, but aren’t willing to pony up the cash to pay off the Early Termination Fee? While Sprint’s impending doom may be a foregone conclusion, you can expedite your exit by exploiting yet another material breach in contract from the carrier. Subscribers are free to exit based on Sprint’s decision to raise their non-government mandated administrative fee from $.50-.$75. The change goes into effect on the 1st of January, 2009, giving you 4 days and some change to sever your ties. As with anything like this, your mileage may vary, but we have a hunch that if you’re persistent enough you’ll probably be successful. Anyone out there looking to jump on this opportunity? Where will you take your newly freed wireless number?
The only thing Sprint is doing is picking people up and driving them to the ATT and Verizon stores.
I hope this didn’t come too late, My girlfriend just got her $200 ETF bill in the mail when we switched to ATT. I used to work for Sprint and I got her on the SERO plan about 3 years ago, then BIG SURPRISE! I got laid off about 2 years ago so the SERO plan obviously didn’t apply anymore, but it appears that when THEY THEY THEY changed the plans they extended her contract for another 2 years, AND SHE DIDN’T EVEN GET A NEW PHONE when she went to the SERO plan………So WHAT’S the ETF for?????????????? But this does give me some hope for the 2 hours/ 7 calls I’m about to spend/make on the phone.
I used to hate Sprint due to issues with the phones I owned (Blackberry 8830 and the Mogul). Customer service tried to override issuing replacements when level twp tech support reps were telling them to send it. The trick I learned is to locate the names of their board and executive members and try to email them directly. Their email convention typically is first.last@sprint.com or first.(Middle inital).last@sprint.com. I emailed all of the executives and hit 8 with the emails. A call a few hours later and miracles happened.
Look Sprint is cool, I just hate the fact that I just got stuck into 4 lines which 2 are mines, and the others are my parents. This sucks, I need to find a way out of these contracts. I can see if they were all ending on the same date, but unfortunately their not. I wish I was one of the lucky customers who got booted out.
No thanks. I will keep my cheap-ass plan with $15/month unlimited 3G data. Nobody else comes close on smartphones. I’ll handle the slimy .25 fee since they all seem to make money on the same kind of nonsense. I’d rather not be paying another $30 per month for unlimited 3G.
VZW just jacked up the cost of toting a smartphone and folks are bitching about a quarter? Been with Sprint 8 yrs. Also had the other guys along the way. The grass may look greener but its just weeds. Its the same BS with every carrier. just screwed me and I want out. Happy trails and good luck.
This doesn’t count as material adverse. 90% of supervisors will offer a credit of the change ( $.25 over a 20 month contract would be $5. ) So, I doubt anyone would be able to get out of their contract without an etf.
Ok, just got out of my ETF, but not because of the change in the Administrative fee, they told me that won’t work until AFTER the first of the year when they actually change it. Not sure if that’s true, but that’s what I was told. I got out of it because I used to be an employee and when they laid me off they kicked me off the SERO plan and extended my contract 2 years. The representative talked to his manager and got it waived. I guess even though I now live in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER I must be kind of lucky. Customer service was very helpful (of course I got my way) so if they survive another 3 years they might just turn it around.
Had a SERO plan and my contract ended 2010 JAN. I got on the phone and within 10 minutes and tellin him the contract changes he agreed he asked why not an upgrade to a new phone or insurance ?(i told him i had to many probs) Noq i just have to wait if they try n screw me on that last bill..
PS i quit sprint cuz i had horrible service. sero or no sero
i was part of that 1st wave of fleeeing customers last year……so oh well….
“No thanks. I will keep my cheap-ass plan with $15/month unlimited 3G data.”
I agree. I was out of my contract in Sept and shopped pretty heavily. While Sprint lacks the WOW factor with phones, they offer the cheapest plans and reception is great here in Chicago. I have unlimited data, music, tv, and turn-by-turn navigation for just $15 per month. Customer service also hooked me up for 500 text messages for $1.
I’m happy with my Touch Pro and cheaper plan. Is it really worth $200-$300 a year to switch to Verizon or AT&T? Maybe. But not for me.
I hope Sprint survives.
I’m pretty much a cell phone geek, I’ve tried all the carriers – AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Alltel, and Sprint CDMA and iDEN, and in my area (I “try” out the networks using prepaid phones), Sprint CDMA has the fastest network and most signal strength. Sprint’s CMDA network in Southwest Michigan and in the midwest is managed by iPcs Wireless, Inc. who has done a great job in making Sprint PCS service superior to the other carriers in the midwest.
It’s pretty ignorant to think Sprint is going to die anytime soon. Sprint has a vast robust network which includes PCS, iDEN, Boost Mobile, and Virgin Mobile users. The only mistake they made was the Nextel merger which is the only reason Sprint is churning customers (mostly iDEN customers). Sprint CDMA is gaining customers.
I will never leave Sprint. Yeah, I’m one of those SERO customers with a $30/month 500 minute/everything included plan and a smartphone. Even if I wasn’t one of the lucky grandfathered SERO customers, Sprint is still pretty much the best bang for the buck. Where else could you get a BlackBerry with unlimited voice and data for $100/month?
I considered jumping ship after reading about this, but I haven’t had any real problems with Sprint. The only carrier I would seriously consider (after looking at vzw, at&t, t-mobile) is T-Mobile but they just don’t offer coverage everywhere I need. Sprint coverage is excellent, the plans are reasonably priced, and I’ve never had customer service issues. Not to mention I get the equivalent to new customer phone pricing every year by being a “Sprint Premier” customer as well as a nice discount because of my employer.
What is the life expectancy for Sprint/Nextel?
One thing you fail to understand is although sprint has good service, if all you were doing was testing the networks using prepaid service – you were not getting the most realistic perception. Many companies, including AT&T (which I work for – so expect bias) do not have the same coverage with Prepaid plans as they do post paid. Main reason is they do not have the same roaming agreements as post paids.
pass this on to jim at campus asap so they can save some money
the main problems we have had so far is the phones. if they take care of us on that end then it will be all good. but they have to fix their billing every month mine is messed up.
I was able to successfully use this loophole to break free from the clutches of Sprint. I logged into my sprint account and used the chat link that lets you chat with a customer service rep. I told them about the change in fees and send them a link to their terms & agreements page and within 5-10 minutes I was able to cancel the contract ETF free 6 months early!!
I’m not bashing Sprint, I actually liked the service and I had a grandfather SERO plan which was amazing. My problem was that their handset selection was sub par and the few good phones they did have were plagued with bugs that they took too long to patch. Good Luck!!
If you get out ETF free, can you port your number out? Or won’t they allow that?
Wow BGR I use to come to this site believing it be very reliable source for tech info, but now I’m not so sure anymore. Your one paragraph you wrote about the sprint increase was incorrect on two very important points. First off the administrative fee is raising from 0.75 to .99 cents, not 0.50 to 0.75 cents. They did that increase in Jan 2008 and sprint customers do not have only “four days and some change” left to get out. They need to wait until it becomes eff on 1/1/09 and then call in to sprint within 30 days to get the ETF waived.
I have to say I’ve lost a lot of confidence in this site now. Do you guys even edit or confirm your post for it to be as correct as possible? I know not everything here is concrete, but come on something like this I would expected you to at least get this right.
good find BGR, but how about posting ways of getting out of VZ contract and switching to Sprint?
I know Sprint doesn’t have coverage everywhere because no carrier does but I’m so confused as to why the majority of the post about Sprint aren’t good. They have one of the best voice and data network’s in the country in addition to the the lowest all inclusive prices with some of the best and most powerful devices. You would never know it if you read here though
We signed a contract with sprint in October of this year. Would they let us out using this loophole? what would i say to costumer care?
Uhhh from my understanding the FCC won’t allow a company as large as Sprint to go under. More then likely the assets will be sold to another company and Im sure there are PLENTY of companies that are more then willing to buy Sprint once the price is right….
Just did the online chat with Sprint.
2:59:32 PM Customer Eric
so this is a change in our contract then, and i can technically cancel my account without paying the end of contract cancellation fee
3:01:49 PM Agent Mike S
This is correct.
3:02:24 PM Agent Mike S
You may opt out of your contract without paying the early termination fee.