Reader Jonathan writes in to tell us how he canceled his Verizon contract without an early termination fee...even though he has a txt messaging plan.

If you pay close attention, even for text plan-ers the international receive rates are increasing. I had to escalate to a supervisor, but just be strong and polite and it will work out.

Effective March 1, 2007, the price for receiving TXT messages from customers of foreign wireless carriers will increase from $0.10 to $0.15 per message.

International Text Messages do not appear to be covered under the messaging packages:

Q: I subscribe to a messaging package. Will I be affected by the TXT Messaging rate increase?
A: Customers who do not subscribe to a messaging package will be charged $0.15 per message to send or receive text messages to the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. All customers, regardless of whether they subscribe to a messaging package or not, will be charged $0.15 per message for text messages received from customers of foreign wireless carriers (international text messages).

PREVIOUSLY:Verizon Makes Canceling Over Their Txt Msg Hike Impossible
Break Your Verizon Contract Without Fee, Thanks to TXT Msg Raise
Verizon: 34 Txt Msgs = Material Adverse Effect