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Sprint Gives You A Way Out Of Your Contract
Once again raises and adds new monthly fees...
After doing the same thing last year and earlier this year, Sprint appears poised to tinker with their wireless user fees early next year. According to a memo obtained by Phonenews, Sprint's "regulatory line charge" will double to forty cents per line. The fee, like most such fees, isn't an official government fee -- but is dressed up to look like one so you get mad at Uncle Sam, not the carrier. It's simply a cost of doing business added below the line, and such fees allow carriers to effectively slowly raise prices on consumers without changing their advertised rates. According to the memo, Sprint will also be adding a new $4.99 fee for Account Spending Limit (ACL) customers. As is usually the case, such changes constitute a significant enough change to your contract that you should be able to cancel service without paying an early termination fee.
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

1 recommendation

pnh102

Premium Member

We Need UnFee Reform

quote:
Sprint's "regulatory line charge" (which like most such fees isn't an official government fee but is dressed up to look like one) will double to forty cents per line.
I'm usually the last person to call for a law, but I think a law that mandates that all the costs of all these unfees be included in the advertised price of service is sorely needed. Companies would be allowed to break down the fees any way they want, but the sum total must equal the advertised price before any government-imposed taxes.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

1 recommendation

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

I would agree that this is something that's long overdue for all telecom services...it's never brought up at FCC or FTC roundtables or the countless discussions about how to improve the sector.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by Karl Bode:

I would agree that this is something that's long overdue for all telecom services...it's never brought up at FCC or FTC roundtables or the countless discussions about how to improve the sector.
Because they secretly know that while they claim the cellular market is full of robust competition, it's really not and it's not hard to compare the fees among the puny selection of providers.

Are the government mandated fees even the same carrier to carrier? I wonder if anyone has ever looked into that?
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to Karl Bode

Premium Member

to Karl Bode
It's not just telecom services. Does anyone else remember all of the fuel surcharges that started being added to just about everything a couple of years ago? I do believe that advertised prices should be the cost that you pay for a product/service....to include miscellaneous fees, surcharges, taxes, etc.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by openbox9:

It's not just telecom services. Does anyone else remember all of the fuel surcharges that started being added to just about everything a couple of years ago? I do believe that advertised prices should be the cost that you pay for a product/service....to include miscellaneous fees, surcharges, taxes, etc.
Not a single issue, here, on the fuel surcharges. When gas spiked suddenly in the market, businesses had a SHARP increase in expense. The fuel surcharge, as I see it, was valid. You will also notice that the fuel surcharges went away, as well, in most all cases.

I 100% agree that phone companies should be placing these routine fees in the over all cost of the base service. However, taxes and government charges should be itemized separately still due to too many factors that would make it hard not to - not to mention, I want to know what I'm paying the government for the privileged of being free.

Some fees are straight across the board the same and are part of providing the service at hand to begin with. Some fees, however, are regional based and should be able to be broken out (again, if they are a legit tax)
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by fiberguy2:

Not a single issue, here, on the fuel surcharges. When gas spiked suddenly in the market, businesses had a SHARP increase in expense. The fuel surcharge, as I see it, was valid.
It's a cost of doing business. If businesses can't absorb the cost, then they need to raise their rates.
said by fiberguy2:

You will also notice that the fuel surcharges went away, as well, in most all cases.
Negative. I still had services that tagged fuel surcharges on them a few months ago before I moved.
said by fiberguy2:

I 100% agree that phone companies should be placing these routine fees in the over all cost of the base service. However, taxes and government charges should be itemized separately still due to too many factors that would make it hard not to - not to mention, I want to know what I'm paying the government for the privileged of being free.
It's one thing to have taxes itemized on your bill, it's another thing not to advertise that all-inclusive cost.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

Okay, I'm going to keep this response very short..

Fuel surcharges, in some cases, are added becuase of what it takes to raise prices in some industries. Instead of spending the enormous amount of money to restructure pricing, especially when gas prices spiked and DID settle down, a fuel surcharge is added. It's life.. it's been around for years and years.. it's nothing new. (and seriously, you're making a huge deal of FS more than you should)

Second - yes, fuel surcharges did in fact go away for many companies that once charged them. They either finally settled their pricing, or readjusted their business models. Notice, I said "in most cases".. however, cleverly you come back with some of the ones that may not have removed them.

Thirdly, I'm not really sure what you meant by your last post.. however, you can't, in many cases, simply advertise an all inclusive cost.. take phone and cable for example. Radio and TV reach FAR into many different tax rate areas... how do you suppose they manage that? Taxes are a fact of life.. if you, or any other consumer, hasn't yet figured that out.. then, there's really no need to further a discussion on that..

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

KrK to Karl Bode

Premium Member

to Karl Bode
said by Karl Bode:

I would agree that this is something that's long overdue for all telecom services...it's never brought up at FCC or FTC roundtables or the countless discussions about how to improve the sector.
I would argue such a law as part of a "Consumer's Bill of Rights" needs to include all commerce in general. While Telecom is currently the biggest violater, this method of adding un-fees and various breakout charges are showing signs of spreading--- for example into the automotive sector.

I agree a company can charge you what they wish--- but they should have to declare it and it should be included in the advertised price.
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned) to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
Agreed.

But, you have to look at it from the company's side. If you use the trucking company example, many of them added fuel surcharges instead of raising their rates. Why? "We didn't raise our prices. Fuel costs are to blame." Airlines did the same thing. This way they can get around price increases by blaming, in this case, the government.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by moonpuppy:

Agreed.

But, you have to look at it from the company's side. If you use the trucking company example, many of them added fuel surcharges instead of raising their rates. Why? "We didn't raise our prices. Fuel costs are to blame." Airlines did the same thing. This way they can get around price increases by blaming, in this case, the government.
I understand completely. But in the case of shipping and airlines, you at least get to see the fee before you commit to paying for the service, you do not get this opportunity with cell phone providers.

I figure that if people knew beforehand what the monthly cost of service really is, we'd be able to make better informed purchasing decisions regarding cell phone service.

dmwagner
Qwest DSL -alltel
join:2002-04-29
Canton, SD

dmwagner to moonpuppy

Member

to moonpuppy
Fuel Surcharges are supposed to go up and down with the price of fuel. Key word.. supposed to. A lot of non-trucking businesses added that surcharge in last year and kind of forgot to take it out this year with low price fuel.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by dmwagner:

Fuel Surcharges are supposed to go up and down with the price of fuel. Key word.. supposed to. A lot of non-trucking businesses added that surcharge in last year and kind of forgot to take it out this year with low price fuel.
Not to mention the airlines and their BS bag fees!
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by dvd536:

said by dmwagner:

Fuel Surcharges are supposed to go up and down with the price of fuel. Key word.. supposed to. A lot of non-trucking businesses added that surcharge in last year and kind of forgot to take it out this year with low price fuel.
Not to mention the airlines and their BS bag fees!
Sorry.. gonna stop you there.. that BS bag fee has saved me a crap load of money.

Many of the fares I paid for in the past, for example MPLS to SMF, are now in the $220 range instead of the $350 range. When I add in the bag fee, the tickets come back to where they used to be. When I travel with just a carry-on, I'm actually saving money..

I am a VERY VERY VERY frequent flyer and I have noticed the prices of tickets coming down in many cases.

I PERSONALLY do NOT find the bag fees to be BS at all and I KNOW I'm not the only one that feels that way.
Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL

Mr Matt to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
I agree with pnh102, but Ronald Reagan fired the first volley at American Citizens, when he declared his intent to eliminate all government regulation of corporations. Ronald said let the corporatist do whatever the want to consumers. Ointment or Suppository! Then came the break up of the Bell System, (Old, old AT&T in 1982) when the FCC created the first below line charge, the Customer Access Line Charge. That was a nod to the telecommunications industry that it was open season on consumers. The charge grew from $0.50 for single line service to over $6.00 for my current single line service. Whenever I check pricing on landline service the quote never includes the addition of about $18.00 in crap charges.

jasqid
Fiber In Your Diet?
join:2002-04-02
East Palestine, OH

jasqid

Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

The point of that was to open up competition. Companies that compete for business and the better business wins. Competition drives prices down, demand up.
Sammer
join:2005-12-22
Canonsburg, PA

Sammer to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
It's definitely false advertising and should be against the law but as long as our bought members of congress care more about corporations than consumers things won't change.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

1 recommendation

en102 to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
I agree as well.
The 'Sprint below the line' costs should be all available BEFORE you purchase service.
The 'governement' BS fees are a little more tricky, as they all change depending on your zipcode.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by en102:

The 'governement' BS fees are a little more tricky, as they all change depending on your zipcode.
It would also be nice if before you agree to service you can get an idea of what these taxes are.

It might entice you to "live" in a different zip code.
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2

Premium Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by pnh102:

said by en102:

The 'governement' BS fees are a little more tricky, as they all change depending on your zipcode.
It would also be nice if before you agree to service you can get an idea of what these taxes are.

It might entice you to "live" in a different zip code.
Hah! that argument doesn't work on this site... I use that very one when it comes to choosing a place to live and ensuring that it has the internet, tv, and phone services, among other things, BEFORE you decide to buy or rent.. yet, I'm constantly bashed for saying that becuase people believe they should have everything they want no matter where they choose to live.

Entice... you're funny
sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH

sonicmerlin

Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by fiberguy2:

said by pnh102:

said by en102:

The 'governement' BS fees are a little more tricky, as they all change depending on your zipcode.
It would also be nice if before you agree to service you can get an idea of what these taxes are.

It might entice you to "live" in a different zip code.
Hah! that argument doesn't work on this site... I use that very one when it comes to choosing a place to live and ensuring that it has the internet, tv, and phone services, among other things, BEFORE you decide to buy or rent.. yet, I'm constantly bashed for saying that becuase people believe they should have everything they want no matter where they choose to live.

Entice... you're funny
Uh...people believe they should have the choice to purchase the things you mentioned as long as they not living in the middle of nowhere.

Moving is not an option for most people, especially if their choice of habitation was based in large part on the the job they could acquire. You`re just being an elitist fool to say otherwise.

pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium Member
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

pnh102 to fiberguy2

Premium Member

to fiberguy2
You missed the word "live" in quotation marks. It is no secret that quite a few people choose the billing address for their cell phones to be in places where the taxes are the lowest (i.e. nowhere Nevada, etc.), provided they can get away with it.

All it takes is paperless billing and autopay and you're good to go. Isn't competition in taxing authorities great?
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88 to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
Whats wrong with charging your sales tax payments to your customers?
moonpuppy (banned)
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD

moonpuppy (banned)

Member

Re: We Need UnFee Reform

said by patcat88:

Whats wrong with charging your sales tax payments to your customers?
Because we already pay a sales tax on the service. This is a fee to pay for all the supposed regulations they have to follow. Fact is, it should be included in the price of the service but it is not so they can blame Uncle Sam when it goes up.

cameronsfx
join:2009-01-08
Panama City, FL

cameronsfx to pnh102

Member

to pnh102
Sprint

We Still Suck. Big Time!
russotto
join:2000-10-05
West Orange, NJ

1 recommendation

russotto

Member

Sprint should honor its contracts

Contracts ought to work both ways. If you agree to a rate of service of $X/month for a year, the company shouldn't be able to raise prices with your only recourse being to cancel your contract; the contract should be binding on the carrier as well as the customer.
glinc
join:2009-04-07
New York, NY

glinc

Member

Meh

It seeems that the everything data plans are not bringing enough profit eh? It was a big mistake to begin with.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Here We Go Again

I guess we should not be surprised when Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile increase their fees too in the game of "Me Too". Maybe I should enter into a T-Mobile contract so I can get out of it when they increase fees.

BTW, Sprint is only charging a $.40 regulatory fee? T-Mobile is getting about $1.21.

Bill Neilson
Premium Member
join:2009-07-08
Alexandria, VA

Bill Neilson

Premium Member

Good, Karl. Keep telling us

about these things as 2 friends of mine are looking to leave Sprint and they would have had NO IDEA about this unless you told us.

tenpin784
I Went To The Dark Side?
join:2001-03-30
Brierfield, AL

tenpin784

Member

Re: Good, Karl. Keep telling us

As am I looking to leave sprint too.

jhboricua

join:2000-06-06
Minneapolis, MN

jhboricua

I did get the notice

And I'm leaning heavily into leaving Sprint because of 2 issues so I'm glad to see this news piece:

1. They canceled ebill thru my Wells Fargo account with little warning.

2. Coverage at my home and my work is simply abysmal, draining the battery of my phone.

That said, can someone tell me what are the steps to accomplish this? I want to port my number if I change providers. Do I get the new service, have the number ported and THEN call Sprint and cancel with them by not agreeing with the new terms?

Can someone that has done this shed some light on the process?
CybermatriX
join:2008-06-13
North Hollywood, CA

CybermatriX

Member

Re: I did get the notice

When you port a number, once the port is complete, the service you had with the previous carrier is automatically canceled. I've ported my number many of times and I had to pay ETF for every port until I decided to stick with Sprint and have been for the last about 4 years.

jhboricua

join:2000-06-06
Minneapolis, MN

jhboricua

Re: I did get the notice

Cyber, I understand the porting process.

Perhaps I wasn't clear in my question. I'm trying to figure out what's the process of getting out my contract with Sprint in light of these changes while at the same time not lose the number I've had for the last 8 years by porting it to another provider.
unoriginal
Premium Member
join:2000-07-12
San Diego, CA

unoriginal

Premium Member

Re: I did get the notice

You can keep your number even if you port out in the middle of a contract. What you need to do is make sure you aren't charged an early termination fee for leaving Sprint. But that I can't really offer any help with. Perhaps look at consumerist.com? I bet they are covering this as well.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

What we need is not unfee reform, but tax bundling

All taxes and fees should be included in the base price. The carriers should not be allowed to show them as line items.

If the carriers weren't allowed to "pass through" USF, excise, 911, and other dubious government charges, but instead, had to reflect the roughly 20% tax in their basic rate schedule, they would work overtime to protect the consumer from such exploitation. Instead, with many bills featuring a double-digit number of tax line items, the carriers feel comfortable sneaking in a few unfees of their own.

Dest
Bolo
Premium Member
join:2000-03-21
Naperville, IL

Dest

Premium Member

Re: What we need is not unfee reform, but tax bundling

while i hate this so call "fees" including them in the base price is not feasible, as each states, county, city can have their own taxes and fees... you would end up with a trillion base price...
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray

Member

Re: What we need is not unfee reform, but tax bundling

said by Dest:

while i hate this so call "fees" including them in the base price is not feasible, as each states, county, city can have their own taxes and fees... you would end up with a trillion base price...
No, forcing them to bundle would result in telco lobbying to prohibit local taxes. Cities and counties could vie a piece of the general tax levy, which would be minimized by effective lobbying.

It is very feasible. It only takes political will.
CMoore2004
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Jonesville, MI

CMoore2004

Premium Member

Other charges?

Two of my surcharges went up, and that's not including the one that's going to. Maybe it has something to do with me having less phones than the previous month? Most recent month is first, followed by last month. Had 4 lines, now have 3.

Federal-Univ Serv Assess Non-LD
....................-......................... $2.04

Federal-Univ Serv Assess Non-LD
..................-.......................... $1.88

Michigan State-Gross Receipts Surcharge ........................-............ $0.62

Michigan State-Gross Receipts Surcharge .......................-................ $0.56

Administrative Charge ....................-................................ $2.97

Administrative Charge ....................-................................... $2.97

Regulatory Charge .........................-......................................... $0.60

Regulatory Charge ..............................-............................... $0.60

•••••••

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536

Premium Member

Poor sprint

They need a way to pay for this:
»Sprint Sued For Distracted Driving Death [210] comments

TMMerlin
The Devil made me do it
join:2003-06-19
Oxford, MI

TMMerlin

Member

Stuck .. just have to put up with it !

It's "dirty pool" .. and regulators just turn a blind eye to it becuase they are "bought off" by the lobbyists !

I am stuck and must just roll with it. I have no contract and a very, very low price per month which is grandfathered now for two years; along with a perfectly good phone and my service is excellent.

Changing to a new carrier will only result in a minimum increase of about $15.00/mo [ and their hidden fees ].

On the other hand .. I am screwing them as they have to keep me and my low monthly price they would love to raise to current market levels.
steveymacjr
join:2001-01-25
Matthews, NC

2 edits

steveymacjr

Member

4.99 fee

Actually just wanted to point out, the $4.99 fee for accounts with a spending limit has always been in the contract..the fact that they are going to start charging this now, doesn't mean you can get out of your contract, as it was in the contract when you signed it...
here is the section of the contract about the $4.99 fee
Terms of Service - Subscriber Agreement: The agreement is provided to you at activation and includes any documents you are asked to sign, the detailed service terms (in this guide & other relevant materials) and a specific Terms and Conditions document for the services selected. General Terms: If you agree to maintain service for a minimum Term, the Term begins when you accept the Subscriber Agreement (e.g., signature, activate service, use phone, etc.). You may terminate any line of service before its Term ends by calling us, however you will be responsible for an EARLY TERMINATION FEE of up to $200 ("ETF") for each line/number terminated early – except for terminations consistent with our return policy. Subscriber Agreements starting after 11/02/08 are subject to Sprint's prorated policy ($200 through month 5 of term, decreasing $10 a month until $50 minimum applies to remaining terms). Payment of the ETF does not satisfy other obligations owed to us, including Term commitments with other lines or service/equipment charges. We reserve the right to cancel offers early or extend offers without notice. Offers are subject to credit approval. An account spending limit may apply – ask for specific amount. In certain areas, a $4.99 per month account spending limit fee will apply per line. Monthly service plan charges accrue even if your service is turned off for exceeding your spending limit or non-payment. Offers may not be available everywhere or combinable with other promotions/options. Coverage is not available everywhere and varies by service – see mapping brochures or visit sprint.com/coverage for details. Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge (varies quarterly), cost recovery and administrative fees, & state/local fees by area (e.g., in some areas up to 16% but in most areas less than 3%)]. Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or gov't – required charges and are subject to change. Up to a $36 phone activation fee applies to new activations, certain service plan changes or upgrades of phones or devices ("phones"). A $25 reconnect fee may apply to reestablish service on all accounts that have been disconnected for nonpayment. A deposit, in most instances between $50 and $750 (but sometimes up to $1000), may be required per line to establish service. Our services will only work with our phones – not all services are available with all phones or on all networks. Monthly service charges are not refunded or prorated if service is terminated or modified before your billing cycle ends. All phone usage, including incoming/outgoing calls, incurs charges unless specified otherwise. Except where specified, included plan minutes are not good for off-network roaming calls. International roaming rates for voice and data services are additional and will vary. On calls that cross time periods, minutes are generally deducted or charged based on the call start time. Unused monthly plan minutes do not carry forward. Partial minutes of use are rounded up to the next whole minute.
Here is an archive.org link to a sprint.com from 2008 with the $4.99 fee stated:
Terms & Conditions »bit.ly/6yq3Lm

JohnKirchner
join:2005-04-30
Great Falls, MT

JohnKirchner

Member

Re: 4.99 fee

Even though it has been there, it is still not right to suddenly start charging for it because they can. I would be completely fine with this...if I were getting charged that fee from day one of my service. That is not the case though. We have never been charged this and now Sprint feels the need to start enforcing it. Not good business practice, especially around income tax time. This is not a good move for Sprint and we are canceling regardless if we can get out of contract or not.

kayceespix
@Level3.net

kayceespix

Anon

Thank you!

Thank you so much for posting this! I just cancelled my less-than-one year mobile broadband account w/no fee! Yeehaw, Millenicom, here I come!

HarleyYac
Lee
Premium Member
join:2001-10-13
Allendale, NJ

HarleyYac

Premium Member

Re: Thank you!

Did you port your number first or after the cancellation ?
Lee

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD

Premium Member

Whats an ACL???

Doesn't that apply if you don't pay a bill?