nytimes.com— It’s not easy to escape a two-year cellphone contract. But it can be done by turning to the innovators on the Internet.
Mar 10, 2007View in Crawl 4
@ klawz"So, by your logic, when the contract is broken on the other end (e.g. credit card companies changing the interest rate, just because they want to, or the cell phone provider upping the rates you signed up with (e.g. txt msg rates, 411, etc.) I can charge them a penalty right?"Actually, yes. You can... IF -- and that's a huge if -- they haven't reserved for themselves the right to change the rates. Unfortunately, the have, most of the time, and you agreed to giving them those rights when you signed up.
Here's a tip: Ask your employer for the "FAN" discount number and call Cingular to get it added to your account. many companies have employee discount codes you can add to get a percentage off your monthly service plan, handset discounts that do not extend your contract, accessory discounts, and you get forwarded to Business Care representatives instead of regular Customer Care when you call. You get a lot better service in my experience and the reps seem to know what they're talking about (at least more than the CC reps). That way you don't ever really need to visit a store at all.
If you don't want a contract, don't expect a $400 phone (retail price) for free. Also, don't expect to get the "free nights and weekends" promotions. Someone said "buy a phone off eBay and then sign up for Cingular"....make sure that you're getting a Cingular phone. A lot of US carriers won't activate a phone that doesn't have their "preferred software" loaded in it, even if it is a SIM card equipped phone.We consumers want everything for cheap or free, so expect to sign a contract. It's the same as trying to buy a car and bargaining on the monthly payment, rather than the cost of the car.
If you have multiple lines in one account (i.e. sharing with family) you can use one of their contracts to 'upgrade' for yourself. My folks were pretty happy with their phone, but I needed a new one badly because I had signed on a 2-year with a junk phone that was now dying out on me. Now I used their 'upgrade' to get my new phone, and best of all they can my 'upgrade' at the end of the year when my contract runs out.
Remember the saying "there is no free lunch"If they are giving you a cell phone for free with a contract they are recouping their costs through other means which definitely isn't going to be free for you in any case.
im sorry but cellphone companies really don't care about there clients. My girlfriend just got her phone stolen so i call them to ask what i should do. And instead of helping me out they suggested that i cancel my account and get a new one. lol...im like why would i cancel my account i already have one..lol .. so then they wanted to charge me a activation fee..lol...so ya but i already have a contact. And then im like i spend 2400$ per year and you cant even offer a good services. So finally i had to pay the phone !!..lol..and they didnt even know wich one was cheaper to buy...i hate cellphone companies !!! THere LIKE the Mafia But Legal !!!!I think we should start a petition !
I cannot see why people have a problem here. Even in the USA, there are alternatives to long contracts, for anyone bothering to search for them. If you want the $400 phone without paying for it upfront... it's your greed, not the phone company that causes the problem. I have a simple prepaid plan that I pay at 10c/minute, no extra for roaming/long distance (with the limitation that I can't make int'l calls -- there's Skype and calling cards for that). I bought a simple and functional Nokia phone for $50, but it came with 300 free mintues, so it was effectively $20. Minutes do expire after 60 days, so the minimum charge is $15 (my average monthly bill is $20).This is with NET10, but other similar plans are on offer. Additional benefit is privacy -- the company doesn't even need to know your name or address (let alone SS#).
After getting bitten by Iphone fever and already being locked into a new 2 year contract with a brand new chocolate I just called my carrier found out the deactivation fee was $175 went on craigslist sold my new chocolate to some 19 year old kid who had a crappy phone for $150.(they are about$250) without signing a new contract. with that money i paid my deactivation fee, the chocolate would have been just sitting in my draw anyways.It was a lot less work then selling the rest of my contract.
selfdisplacedMar 10, 2007
Hey, Look! Another one of these articles that say the same information that has been posted a billion times on digg. Thanks for the no-news.
tippisMar 10, 2007
@ klawz"So, by your logic, when the contract is broken on the other end (e.g. credit card companies changing the interest rate, just because they want to, or the cell phone provider upping the rates you signed up with (e.g. txt msg rates, 411, etc.) I can charge them a penalty right?"Actually, yes. You can... IF -- and that's a huge if -- they haven't reserved for themselves the right to change the rates. Unfortunately, the have, most of the time, and you agreed to giving them those rights when you signed up.
kmehthasMar 10, 2007
Here's a tip: Ask your employer for the "FAN" discount number and call Cingular to get it added to your account. many companies have employee discount codes you can add to get a percentage off your monthly service plan, handset discounts that do not extend your contract, accessory discounts, and you get forwarded to Business Care representatives instead of regular Customer Care when you call. You get a lot better service in my experience and the reps seem to know what they're talking about (at least more than the CC reps). That way you don't ever really need to visit a store at all.
sylvanisMar 10, 2007
If you don't want a contract, don't expect a $400 phone (retail price) for free. Also, don't expect to get the "free nights and weekends" promotions. Someone said "buy a phone off eBay and then sign up for Cingular"....make sure that you're getting a Cingular phone. A lot of US carriers won't activate a phone that doesn't have their "preferred software" loaded in it, even if it is a SIM card equipped phone.We consumers want everything for cheap or free, so expect to sign a contract. It's the same as trying to buy a car and bargaining on the monthly payment, rather than the cost of the car.
comkeenMar 10, 2007
If you have multiple lines in one account (i.e. sharing with family) you can use one of their contracts to 'upgrade' for yourself. My folks were pretty happy with their phone, but I needed a new one badly because I had signed on a 2-year with a junk phone that was now dying out on me. Now I used their 'upgrade' to get my new phone, and best of all they can my 'upgrade' at the end of the year when my contract runs out.
pabeachbumMar 10, 2007
Or just, you know....don't sign a freakin 2yr contract.
mrsteamtankMar 11, 2007
Remember the saying "there is no free lunch"If they are giving you a cell phone for free with a contract they are recouping their costs through other means which definitely isn't going to be free for you in any case.
igotapluscomMar 11, 2007
im sorry but cellphone companies really don't care about there clients. My girlfriend just got her phone stolen so i call them to ask what i should do. And instead of helping me out they suggested that i cancel my account and get a new one. lol...im like why would i cancel my account i already have one..lol .. so then they wanted to charge me a activation fee..lol...so ya but i already have a contact. And then im like i spend 2400$ per year and you cant even offer a good services. So finally i had to pay the phone !!..lol..and they didnt even know wich one was cheaper to buy...i hate cellphone companies !!! THere LIKE the Mafia But Legal !!!!I think we should start a petition !
Closed AccountMar 11, 2007
I cannot see why people have a problem here. Even in the USA, there are alternatives to long contracts, for anyone bothering to search for them. If you want the $400 phone without paying for it upfront... it's your greed, not the phone company that causes the problem. I have a simple prepaid plan that I pay at 10c/minute, no extra for roaming/long distance (with the limitation that I can't make int'l calls -- there's Skype and calling cards for that). I bought a simple and functional Nokia phone for $50, but it came with 300 free mintues, so it was effectively $20. Minutes do expire after 60 days, so the minimum charge is $15 (my average monthly bill is $20).This is with NET10, but other similar plans are on offer. Additional benefit is privacy -- the company doesn't even need to know your name or address (let alone SS#).
ponosochegMay 12, 2007
Unbelievable! I can't open the link.
middayshaddowAug 3, 2007
After getting bitten by Iphone fever and already being locked into a new 2 year contract with a brand new chocolate I just called my carrier found out the deactivation fee was $175 went on craigslist sold my new chocolate to some 19 year old kid who had a crappy phone for $150.(they are about$250) without signing a new contract. with that money i paid my deactivation fee, the chocolate would have been just sitting in my draw anyways.It was a lot less work then selling the rest of my contract.