Cell Phone Early Termination Fees

Six Hundred Dollars in Early Termination Fees

Many customers who complain that they were charged early termination fees for canceling their cell phone contracts say they were not aware that they could be charged those fees. Others say that they had no idea their phone was still under contract. [MORE: CELL PHONE TERMINATION FEES]

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Early Termination Fees: "Sprint Destroyed My Trust"

Many cell phone customers are learning even if they have been with the same carrier for years, they may still be charged an early termination fee for canceling their service. Thomas H. says he canceled his service because his life depended on his cell phone and his coverage was not dependable. Despite that, he was charged $600 in early termination fees. [MORE: CELL PHONE TERMINATION FEES]

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Cell Phone Early Termination Fees "Ridiculous"

Gloria M. would like cell phone companies like Sprint to change their policies regarding early termination fees. She knew an early termination fee would be charged if she canceled her contract, but the amount charged for a termination fee was high and Gloria says Sprint took that money out of her account without her authorization. [MORE: TERMINATION FEES RIDICULOUS]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees:"You Want To Pull Your Hair Out"

Douglas M. says that he has finally resolved his complaints with Sprint, but it took a long time, many phone calls and two complaints to the Better Business Bureau before his early termination fees were dropped. He had been with Sprint for many years when his problems started in 2005 and says that he never actually authorized a new plan with his cell phone provider. [MORE: CELL TERMINATION FEES]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees:"A Lot of Money"

Karen C. (not her real name) says she did everything that Sprint customer service representatives told her to do. She says she was even told that when she moved, she would not be charged an early termination fee. However, she was charged a fee of $1,000, and she says every time she phones Sprint, she speaks to a new customer service representative, who gives her different answers to her questions. [MORE: CELL TERMINATION FEES TOO HIGH]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees: "Don't Give Them the Money"

Like many other cell phone customers, Charles G. thought his contract had expired and become month-to-month when he decided to cancel his service. He had his two year contract with Sprint for three and a half years and had not made any changes to either his phone or his plan. So, he naturally assumed that he could now cancel his contract at any time without paying cell phone early termination fees. [MORE: DON'T PAY CELL TERMINATION FEES]

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Early Termination Fees: Contracts Inadvertently Extended

Despite company promises about prorating cell phone early termination fees, many consumers still report that they are being charged outrageous fees for canceling contracts that they thought had already expired. [MORE: CELL PHONE CONTRACTS EXTENDED]

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Consumer groups testify before a House Subcommittee

Consumer groups testified in July before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet to speak out against the industry's most abusive practices - "excessive early termination fees, hobbling mobile phone features, and locking out competitive applications." [MORE: UNFAIR TERMINATION FEES]

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Sprint PCS Cell Phone Services

This new contract, which the writer claims was never agreed to, is $35 for 300 any-time minutes and unlimited nights and weekends. It also comes with an early termination fee of $200.00. The customer says he has never agreed to a new contract with Sprint. "I have been using Sprint PCS for three or more years," he writes. "And the initial contract has expired a long time ago and I do not intend to have any contract to get myself trapped." [MORE: SPRINT CONTRACT TERMINATION]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees - New Legislation Proposed

When Jon Ross signed a contract for his cell phones in the spring of 2006, he didn't know that, in less than three months, he would have to pay $400 in early termination fees to cancel his contract, even though it was canceled because of poor cell phone service. [MORE: LEGISLATION FOR TERMINATION FEES]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees Outrageous

"It's exasperating, being on a business call for 45 seconds and realizing that you have no service," Ric says. "And I was in my home. I wasn't roaming, I wasn't wandering around. It's really exasperating." [MORE: KUGEL SURGERY GONE WRONG]

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Cingular cell phones out of home range

After moving from one Atlanta suburb to another, Frank discovered a 'dead spot' in his home. This supposed dead spot occurred even though a map showed that the home was within Cingular coverage area. [MORE: CINGULAR TERMINATION FEES]

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Getting less than you pay for with Verizon Wireless

"I've probably spent at least forty hours on the phone with customer service trying to fix mistakes they've made but I've been charged for," he complains. "And I'm still being ripped off. I guess I have to see my contract out or pay the early termination fee for me and my wife to get out of it." [MORE: KUGEL MESH HEALTH COMPROMISE]

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Cell Phone Companies Under Fire for Early Termination Fees

With a major lawsuit filed against AT&T and lawmakers questioning the tactics of cell phone companies, some cell phone carriers are now moving to change their practices, including early termination fees. However, the move comes too late for many customers and not enough cell phone carriers are following suit, meaning that scores of customers are still responsible for paying ridiculously high early termination fees. [MORE: EARLY TERMINATION FEES]

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Customers and Lawmakers Frustrated by Early Termination Fees

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, cited in the Daily Titan, 47 per cent of cell phone customers would consider switching phone companies except for termination fees. Furthermore, the most common reason people want to cancel their contracts is poor reception. [MORE: FRUSTRATING TERMINATION FEES]

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AT&T in Hot Water Over Early Termination Fees

The problem is that the iPhone can only be used on the AT&T network and will not be available for other networks until at least 2012. This means that customers who are unhappy with AT&T's service and leave the company will no longer be able to use their iPhone, for which they paid up to $600 dollars. [MORE: AT&T TERMINATION & iPHONE]

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Cell Phones to Hell Phones

Cellular phones aren't loved by everyone, such as supporters of the American Association of Retired People - a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that protects the interests of senior citizens. Consumers are enraged at cell phone companies that charge excessive termination fees and they are frustrated when they try to cancel contracts because a cell phone company fails to provide proper service. [MORE: CELL PHONE USERS ENRAGED]

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States Begin Taking Action on Cell Phone Termination Fees

Under the new bill, customers could cancel their cell phone service if the cell phone carrier is in violation of its contract. This includes equipment failures and falsely representing areas of coverage. Although cell phone companies claim customers can legally end their contracts if cell phone carriers violate their contracts, in reality it is very difficult to get cell phone companies to listen to angry consumers. [MORE: CELL PHONE TERMINATION FEE BILL]

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Cell Phone Termination Fees Hold Customers Hostage

If you've ever felt locked in to your cell phone contract because of ridiculous termination fees, you're not alone. Many people are complaining about the cost of canceling their cell phone contracts even when they are suffering through poor service, dropped calls, and errors on their bills. [MORE: TERMINATION FEES RESTRICTING]

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