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Reply With QuoteGreat, now maybe providers will start doing a little more to hang onto their loyal customers.
California judge rules early cell phone termination fees illegal
good they fucking should be! im trying to get out of my t-mobile bullshit contract (ive been a loyal and faithful subscriber for like 5 years and got a bunch of fees all of a sudden and other bullshit) but i sure as shit ain't willing to pay the ridiculous $200.00 fee!!! fuckers.California judge rules early cell phone termination fees illegal
Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:48PM EDT
California judge rules early cell phone termination fees illegal : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech
In one of the most significant legal rulings in the tech industry this year, a Superior Court judge in California has ruled that the practice of charging consumers a fee for ending their cell phone contract early is illegal and violates state law.
The preliminary, tentative judgment orders Sprint Nextel to pay customers $18.2 million in reimbursements and, more importantly, orders Sprint to stop trying to collect another $54.7 million from California customers (some 2 million customers total) who have canceled their contracts but refused or failed to pay the termination fee.
While an appeal is inevitable, the ruling could have massive fallout throughout the industry. Without the threat of levying early termination fees, the cellular carriers lose the power that's enabled them to lock customers into contracts for multiple years at a time. And while those contracts can be heinously long, they also let the carriers offer cell phone hardware at reduced (subsidized) prices. AT&T's two-year contract is the only reason the iPhone 3G costs $199. If subsidies vanish, what happens to hardware lock-in? Could an era of expensive, but unlocked, hardware be just around the corner? It's highly probable.
Of course, the carriers aren't going to take this lying down. Early termination fees are seen as critical to business, so carriers are expected to look for ways to reclassify the fees (such as by calling them "rates," part of the arcane set of laws that covers the telecommunications industry). The industry is also pushing for the federal government to step in and claim oversight over the early termination fee issue, which would invalidate any state ruling. The FCC is generally more tolerant of such fees, though Chairman Kevin Martin has proposed a plan whereby the fees are decreased the closer you are to the end of your contract.
The FCC may also buy the argument that, since carriers are nationally based (and consumers can use their phones anywhere in the country), that a single policy should apply across the nation, rather than creating a patchwork of legislation that could lead to confusion and chaos caused by having 50 different policies.
Is the early termination fee dead? Not yet, but it's looking a little haggard.
Great, now maybe providers will start doing a little more to hang onto their loyal customers.
FUCK YOU AND GIVE ME MY GODDAMN VENTI TWO PUMP LIGHT WHIP MOCHA YOU COCKSUCKING WHORE BEFORE I PUNCH YOU IN THE MOUTH. I just get unpleasant in my car. - Deej
Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.
Iowa Attorney General determined that early termination fees were unconstitional. So, if you're in Iowa and want to change cell phone providers. Just say this:
"Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said termination fees are unconstitutional and against the law, and I don't think he'd appreicate it if I sent him your information about the fees you are trying to charge me."
I know several people who've done this and the contract fee gets waived every time.
yeah no shit; ive fucking had it with coverage changes and shit and my rates going up whilest being stuck in a contract.Originally Posted by greysfang
Try Metro PCS or Leap or something; I know at least Metro doesn't have contracts. They can flash CDMA phones to their network too.
I know but MetroPCS has such crap coverage im sorry to say, i know someone with it and i can never get a hold of them and/or my text messages and theirs never go through, they take like hours to go through if at all!
I get really awesome coverage with T-Mobile where I'm at but there are some things recently that are pissing me off.
KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GOD DAMNED HONEY!!!!!!!!!!
Come on, let's have lots of drinks.
yeah i get great coverage too with tmobile; but they're scamming me lately and im a long time customer; i dont think thats right. their customer service has all but gone out the door. and the new $18.00 upgrade fee for phones where it was free before; wtf is that?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK YOU & YOUR "FEES"!
Yeah, I got the "upgrade fee" I was fucking pissed. Basically I signed up for more time with them, bought a new phone and then they charge me an "upgrade fee" to do it. I was so pissed.
They gave me some bullshit about how it was to cover shipping or stocking or something and I said "Why am I paying a basic part of your overhead?"
KILLING ME WON'T BRING BACK YOUR GOD DAMNED HONEY!!!!!!!!!!
Come on, let's have lots of drinks.
i know i hear ya!its fucked.
Weird; I have it and it works great for me. No dropped calls, no missed texts. I got it specifically because I didn't want to deal with contract bullshit and I'm very pleased with it.
well i just might need to switch pronto; i cant afford these overage charges; buncha bullshit.
Oh I know, my dad wants to cancel..our tmobile..and switch to at&t I guess...and it's $200 per phone..and there are four phones per person...Who the fuck can pay that..wait until I tell him about this.
Hahaha..I used to work for Metro PCS. yes, no contracts with prepaid. The coverage area stuff seemed limited when I worked for them.
*and YAY to no termination fees on other providers. I wish Ohio would join in with these other states also.
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