Comments on: T-Mobile to prorate early termination fees

Mobile operator has outlined details of its new policy, which reduces the cost of ending a cell phone contract early over time.

[umbrae]

People only need to pay early termination fees if they don't do the research. I have never had to pay an early termination fee (http://www.wikihow.com/Get-out-of-a-Cellular-Service-Contract). The best way is the FCC trick. Call to complain about an issue a few times (billing problem, dropped calls, etc.) then cancel. When you get the bill, call them and ask them for the local FCC office that handles customer complaints. They will NOT want to give you this number. Explain to them you want to complain to the FCC that you were charged a termination fee after to terminated your service for bad services. FCC regulations make it illegal for the company to put you in collections while they are reviewing your complaint (which can take YEARS). As such, most will just waive the fees since they also do not want the FCC to get any complaints on them either.

[Travis742]

Waiting to prorate a 2 year contract until only 6 months is left is silly; they should use a straight-line prorating scheme where an equal amount is taken off each month until it hits zero at the end of your contract (similar to Verizon). If they really are trying to recoup their costs, then each month you are with a cell phone carrier should reduce your obligation under your contract; the way TMobile is doing it is quite greedy and is one of the worst proration schemes of all the carriers.

[cherylc50]

well what i don't understand is for people that have been with a cell phone company for yrs why do they still have to pay a fee? i've been with at&t for 4 or more yrs now and they told me i would have to pay an early termination fee which is not fair at all. they are just helping the new customers that sign up not the ones that have been there for awhile now???????

[D_Skinner]

They will only charge you an early termination fee if you are in the middle of a current contract. Remember, when you buy a new phone at a subsidized price, they will most likely place you under an additional 1 or 2 year contract. I suggest that you read the fine print before making any changes to your plan.

Once you are not under contract, you can go to another service provider and they are not entitled to charge you any fees for termination, since there is no contract to terminate.

[mattetch12]

"T-Mobile also offers a Pay As You Go plan, which had previously been called T-Mobile To Go. This plan allows customers to pay for minutes they use. If they top off their account with $100, they get a 15 percent discount"

Total Lie!

once up on a time ; before july 2006.. a 10 dollar top up would get about 52 minutes with the supposed 15% discount, but after that tmobile changed there rules and regulations and it went down to only 35 minutes, regardless of the gold rewards program or not..

i dont get american cell phone companies, all they want to do is rip you off...

[Pretty_Prue]

Well looks like they are offering new alternatives to the ETF. There is Pay as you go plans that are much lower then contract plans. I recently found this deal that is 50% off the monthly contract plans:

http://www.dealdigs.com/interAction.php?linkid=10756

Let me know how you guys are liking the new T-Mobile pay as you go plans. I just got started with the $55 unlimited plan and so far the service is great and T-Mobile coverage in my area is excellent.