Sprint ups admin fee again, extends ETF-free cancellations through January 31
If you’re a Sprint customer right now without any major service issues, leaving the carrier so close to Pre-Day seems crazy. The most anticipated handset in recent history is on its way to your carrier, as an exclusive for the time being, and it’s coming along with an exciting new OS that will be embraced by developers around the globe. At the same time, there are a variety of reasons for wanting to part ways with your mobile service provider and if the Pre isn’t enough to keep you on board we have good news for you. It looks like Sprint has once again made a change to its Terms and Conditions, opening yet another door to escape from the carrier without having to pay an Early Termination Fee (ETF). Last month we learned that Sprint was increasing its administrative fee to $0.75, giving customers until January 1 of this year to back out without a penalty. It seems that $0.75 wasn’t going to cut it as Sprint has raised its fee yet again, this time to $0.99. Customers now have through January 31 to sever ties sans-ETF, so if you missed the boat last month you’re in luck. Though some customer care reps apparently aren’t yet aware of the change, we did confirm it with Sprint so keep trying and as always, contacting them via chat seems to go a bit more smoothly than calling them up. Do you plan to take advantage of this newly opened door? Hit us in the comments section and let us know why.
Thanks, S!
UPDATE: We posted a link to connect to Sprint customer care via chat in the comments but it is apparently buried well enough that people are missing it. Here are the details:
Go to https://sso.sprintpcs.com/sso/SignOn.do
In the sidebar on the right, click “Got questions? Click to chat.”
I had sprint for 5 years and had nothing but problems with them. They will not honor anything they tell you they will do and then if you go over your so called “spending limit” even by a penny your phone gets turned off they’re billing is so screwey. On top of everything else if you want to raise you’re spending limit bc your plan is just as expensive as your spending limit they want you to pay a deposit when you never had to initially pay a deposit. I went to AT&T and haven’t had any problems, even if the plans are a little higher but the customer service makes up for it! I will never recommend sprint to anyone.
Didn’t work.
If you have a corporate discount account, or an account opened before 11/08- the no ETF provisions do not apply to you.
I was unable to wiggle free of my $200 ETF despite my passionate arguments.
Good luck, and if someone is successful please share how you did it!
I have both the corporate discount and my plans anniversary start date is 10/07. Does the waiving of the ETF apply to me or not. I have talked to sprint about this and they are unwilling to budge much on getting me new phones prior to 10/09. If I can get out without the ETf then I will go to another carrier. Otherwise I am stuck in this never ending plan. Please advise and thanks!
T-Mobie provides web2go service which is same as your sprint wap for only $10 and it lets you send or recieve up to 100 text. cant beat T-Mobile
I just went through 2.5 hours of back and forth with Sprint trying to get them to let me cancel my account without an ETF. After many refusals I finally hit on something that they conceded.
I brought up the fact that the administration fee hike was a breach of contract on Sprints part. Because it was a breach of contract, I had the right to dispute the rate increase and cancel my contract without an ETF.
The online customer service rep agreed and allowed me to cancel my account with no ETF. I specifically asked if I had the right to dispute the charge and cancel my account due to breach of contract. This forced the online rep to agree that I was able to cancel my account for this reason without an ETF.
Hope this is helpful.
^It’s a shame you’ll never get those 2.5 hours back, but at least you won’t have additional lost hours with your former carrier.
To the ones who left, happy journey and to those not able sorry for you. My advice is to keep trying because according to the article you only have til 1/31. Keep us updated, those trying to leave and those that have left, what’s the experience with the new carrier
I was planning on taking advantage of this but after talking to sprint account services, I was informed that the etf waiver is false. I was told that even with the increased admin fee, etf charges still apply. I have another cell company , who provided me with this information, investigating. I hope this article is true. Sprint’s customer service and its cellular service sucks. I can’t wait to leave sprint.
Use the link, that’s at the bottom of this story
I tried just to see if I could get out of my contract and they tried to tell me I would still be charged $200 because I was breaking my contract
I was just on the sprint website and the chat option has disappeared. Anyone else notice that?
Yes – it was gone for close to 2 hours. i was on the chat waiting to speak to someone for an hour and finally closed the chat and went to open another one, and it was gone!
but after searching for what seemed like forever the icon appeared again.
Man this was the dumbest move in the world, with people leaving here like they were running from the plague why do this now. Silly move Hesse, you better show more of the cool phones you have in better ads
If you are a business owner in the Cincinnati area and are interested in changing from Sprint to another carrier please contact me at vanarsja@yahoo.com. I work for a well known telecommunications company in that area and would be more than happy to assist you.
Thank you.
just this past friday – heard a rumor that sprint’s getting out of business. then today the news is reporting they’re laying off 8,000 workers.
The line is still within contract. If the account is cancelled you will be charged the $200 early termination fee.
1:14:57 PM Customer
Yikes. That’s a bit spooky.
1:15:47 PM Customer
Now I have to mention it even though I know there’s a possibility it’s sheer pipe dreaming…I’ve heard due to the increased administration fees that early termination fee can be waived. Is there truth to this at all?
1:16:12 PM Agent
Yes that is correct.
1:16:33 PM Customer
Does that apply to my current situation at all?
1:17:37 PM Agent
If you were to cancel due to the increase in administrative fees, the early termination fee would be waived.
Then I waited for a while to transfer and SUCCESS! Check it out.
Agent
Thank you for your patience.
3:01:13 PM Customer
No problem at all sir.
3:03:33 PM Agent
I have cancelled line. The cancellation will go into effect on 2/18/2009. There will be no early termination fee for this cancellation.
All agents involved were extremely helpful and kind. I highly recommend this route to anyone looking to make use of this loophole. Thanks to all who have contributed and brought this to light.
worked for me, i waited for 15 minutes as opposed to 2 hours compared to the guy above.
I’m just curious, does the ETF get waived if you’re a Nextel customer then? Or is this strictly geared for Sprint customers only?
Really? you think you are getting 3G? haha ATT is the only network that has true 3G coverage the other companys are running off EDGE which is slower speeds. its the only company that has nothing but tri and quad band phones that are able to work overseas. There is no competition there.
I successfully cancelled my contract with no ETF today using the chat feature on the Sprint website. The first person on the chat had to “transfer me to a different department”… I waited about 2 hours before someone else entered the chat and finalized the cancellation.
I was also successful in canceling my contract with no ETF today. And, I have a business account with multiple lines. Like ecoli, I had to be transferred to another department on the online chat screen. At first, the rep told me biz accounts don’t apply. Then I asked if that means my admin rates are not being raised. After a few mins he came back and said I can cancel. YAY!
@armywife2891: EDGE? CDMA based providers don’t use EDGE. Do some reading.
only a few select customers can get out of there sprint contracts. they needed to recieve a letter from sprint stating so. if you have any info about this please let me know.
I didn’t receive a letter and was able to get out of my contract, I just had to wait 2 hours on their web site chat feature to be “transferred to another department” then I repeatedly told them I wanted to cancel becuase of the administrative fee increase.
I agree. In fact, I was able to negotiate a plan equal to the mid-level SERO plan for $10 less (before my 18% corporate discount).