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story category AT&T To Pro-Rate Wireless Early Termination Fees
Amount paid reduced by $5 for every month under contract...
(old news - 09:15AM Tuesday Apr 01 2008)
tags: prices · business · wireless · consumers · Cingular Wireless
AT&T has announced that the company has changed the structure of their early termination fees. Instead of charging you $175 for cancellation at any time during your contract, the company will now pro-rate your ETFs -- meaning that you'll pay a smaller ETF depending on how much time is left on your contract. The amount you'll pay will decrease by $5 for every month you're under contract. Most wireless carriers are shifting to this new model in reaction to rising consumer complaints and Congressional pressure.

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Forums » AT&T To Pro-Rate Wireless Early Termination Fees
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JSRoman
Premium
join:2005-03-10
Callahan, FL

Typical AT&T accounting.

175/24(2 year contract)= 7.29 per month not 5 $
--
»www.seabee.navy.mil
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:23:56 · Reply to this

Count Zero
MD2Be
Premium
join:2007-01-18
Warner Robins, GA

Re: Typical AT&T accounting.

The other $2.29 is for their efforts...
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:27:48 · Reply to this

Corona
It's cool, I'm takin it back
Premium
join:2000-03-14
San Antonio, TX
said by JSRoman See Profile :

175/24(2 year contract)= 7.29 per month not 5 $
For every month you're in contract, your ETF reduces by 5 dollars.
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:40:47 · Reply to this

DataDoc
My avatar looks like me. If I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC		 If it was $5 it wouldn't hurt, would it?
permalink · 2008-04-01 10:47:45 · Reply to this
RadioDoc
58ef2c0
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-05-11
1 edit		 I don't see anywhere that they say it's an equal portion. The ETF shrinks from $175 to $55 as the contract plays out. Whose "typical accounting" do you use? Is it Enlightened?
--
Toolmaster of La Grange.
permalink · 2008-04-01 11:01:51 · Reply to this

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA
1 edit		 =$5 more than most other wireless providers do.

Anyone not liking AT&T's terms is free to go with Sprint, Verizon or any of the zillion other wireless carriers.
permalink · 2008-04-01 11:49:24 · Reply to this

gaforces
United We Stand, Divided We Fall

join:2002-04-07
Santa Cruz, CA
1 edit

Sure

The April fool! Should have gone with ... ATT deploying fiber to the home!
Looks like it was posted yesterday, but I remain skeptical.
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:29:56 · Reply to this
Airwolf7
Premium
join:2004-12-12
Franklin, KY
·AT&T Southeast

AT&T Adds Two More Customer-Friendly Policies

It's not an April's Fool joke.

This was announced on October 16, 2007.

AT&T Adds Two More Customer-Friendly Policies

"AT&T today announced two customer-friendly policies that provide greater flexibility for customers who are changing calling plans and for those exiting contracts early.

Beginning in November, customers who change to any one of the company's standard wireless calling plans during the course of their contract will no longer be required to extend their current contract or enter into a new one.

In addition, those customers who choose to exit their contract early will no longer be required to pay a flat early termination fee. Instead, that fee will be progressively lowered during the term of the contract. Beginning early in 2008, this early-termination policy will apply to new and renewing wireless customers who sign one- or two-year service agreements. More details will be forthcoming at that time."
permalink · 2008-04-01 14:28:27 · Print · Reply to this
Lineage
rawr?
Premium
join:2006-10-19
USA

IS lies.

All lies!!
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:36:36 · Reply to this
deadzoned
Premium
join:2005-04-13
Baton Rouge, LA

If True

Then it's a step in the right direction. Too bad it takes them being inundated with customer complaints and threatened by Congress before they decide to do something pro-consumer though.
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:50:37 · Reply to this
rickonline

join:2005-11-15
North Bergen, NJ
1 edit

T-Mobile to follow?

I hope this forces T-Mobile to do the same. That company also still extends your contract for plan changes and refuses to offer any text or data blocks.
--
Rick
permalink · 2008-04-01 09:57:50 · Reply to this

atangel
Now What??
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Bronx, NY

Re: T-Mobile to follow?

LOL! I actually wrote to T-mobile customer support three weeks ago about this and asked them if they had implemented it yet (they had a press release last October).

Needles to say, I got an e-mail back saying they had no information and asking if I was unhappy! LOL!
--
The reason you think I'm way on the left is cause you're so far to the right.
permalink · 2008-04-01 12:11:01 · Reply to this

jt65

@comcast.net		 i thought t-mobile does not do contract?
permalink · 2008-04-01 16:36:29 · Reply to this

jhacker

join:2001-12-11
Peoria, IL
·Comcast
·Vonage
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Insight Communicat..
·AT&T Midwest

US Cellular used to pro-rate ETF

When I was with US Cellular up to 2001, I was so dissatisfied with their service I cancelled 2 months early. At that time they pro-rated the early termination fee so I ended up paying only $19. I believe it was only an 18-month contract at that time also. I have never had so many failed and dropped calls than I had with US Cellular and their TDMA network. It wasn't because of poor signal strength either. With their TDMA network my calls would drop even if I was within sight of their tower. I'm sure their network has improved with CDMA, but I was burned by that experience.
permalink · 2008-04-01 11:03:27 · Print · Reply to this
tmc8080

join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY

terms

That's if they don't violate or substantially change the terms of the contract... which in that event early termination=$0
You can dispute the charge and sue them for their efforts to gouge money from you. AT&T customer shouldn't give an inch when it comes to getting what you pay for!
permalink · 2008-04-01 12:06:33 · Reply to this

AZ_OGM

join:2007-01-12
Phoenix, AZ

Too little too late

If only this happened a few months ago. I dumped the Death Star in favor of another carrier. Since I still was under contract until June, they whacked me with the $175 ETF. It was worth it considering it would be cheaper than paying for all those months of worthless service.
permalink · 2008-04-01 12:16:11 · Reply to this

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:
·Charter Pipeline
·AT&T Southwest

Re: Too little too late

ever think about not paying the $175 ETF?

if i didn't need future credit (say not planning to move for 30 years, no need for financing for a car or big purchases), then i think it could be fun to not pay it. let it go to collections, then dispute it on credit report every year, multiple times per year, for the rest of the time it is on the report. it's death by a thousand cuts, kinda like calling customer support all the time costs them money. nothing better than to occupy a rep's time for 30 minutes then decide to purchase nothing and change nothing.
permalink · 2008-04-01 14:18:52 · Print · Reply to this

jhboricua
ExMod 2000-01
join:2000-06-06
Minneapolis, MN
clubs:

Somewhat misleading title

This will ONLY apply to new customers OR renewing customers after May 25th. The rest of us who don't fall on this category are still bound to the full flat fee.
permalink · 2008-04-01 19:34:19 · Reply to this

Nacy L

@verizon.net

"Pro-Rated" Early Termination Fees

Getting out of my contract was going to cost $250 in "pro-rated" fees (4 lines). I posted my plan on www.adioswireless.com Got someone to take over my plan (about 2 1/2 weeks) and saved $250 in fees. It did cost $19.95 to get it done.
permalink · 2008-04-09 19:30:32 · Reply to this
Forums » AT&T To Pro-Rate Wireless Early Termination Fees

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