Somehow, an arbitrator has approved a massive $1 billion class action lawsuit against Verizon over their early termination fees. In letting the lawsuit proceed, the arbitrator wrote, “…millions of class members are entitled to adjudication of the central common questions of fact or law in this arbitration related to whether the $175 early termination fee imposed by respondents Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless … is based upon an unenforceable liquidated damage clause.” With cellphone companies switching to prorated ETFs and the rise in ETF-related lawsuits around the country, one wonders if we won’t see the death of ETFs in the next few years. By that time, cellphone companies will have figured out a new technique to keep people from leaving their contracts.
etfs
Alltel Tells Father They Won't Waive ETF For Soldier Deployed To Iraq Unless He Is Deceased
Mark writes in,
My son recently was deployed to Iraq. His cell phone carrier is Alltel. Prior to leaving for Irag, he cancelled his cell phone coverage before the completion of his 2 year contract commitment. As his father, I telephoned Alltell, explained the situation and asked Alltel to have the $200 early termination fee waived. Alltel explained they only waive the $200 early termination fee if the party is DECEASED.
Seriously, that’s just messed up.
I Escaped Sprint Without Early Termination Fee And Lived To Tell The Tale
A Consumerist reader reports his success with escaping Sprint without paying an early termination fee by calling the Sprint Consumerist Executive Help Line (703-433-4401), who were the only people who didn’t give him a line of bull when he called. He argued that the new fees Sprints was imposing were a material change of contract (see “Sprint Mails Customers A “Get Out Of Sprint Free” Card“) and thus voided his agreement so he could now switch carriers and port his number without penalty.
Sprint Mails Customers A "Get Out Of Sprint Free" Card
Sprint has mailed postcards to its customers saying that, beginning January 1st, it will stop charging so-called “recovery” fees and create new fees to replace (or possibly exceed) them. Sprint customers are now asking themselves whether or not this is a change to the Terms & Conditions—if so, then they should be able to cancel their contracts without paying an ETF, or early termination fee.
Sprint Joins The "Prorated ETFs, No Contract Extension For Rate Plan Changes" Pool Party
Sprint decided yesterday that the water was fine at the “prorated ETF/ no contract extensions for rate plan changes” pool party and has jumped right in. You can change your rate plan starting Monday, but will have to wait until sometime next year for the prorated ETFs.
Chicago Wants To Keep The Change, Eliminate Parking Meter "Piggybacking"
Ah, that most delightful of surprises: The parking meter with time already on it. If the City of Chicago has its way, (and let’s face it, they usually do) the gift of a partially full parking meter will a thing of the past.
Introducing The Most Impressive Cell Phone Bill Of The 110th Congress
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) recently announced plans to introduce our wet dream of a cellphone bill. The bill realizes our wildest legislative fantasies: a world where cellphone companies stop inventing official-sounding fees and levying harsh ETFs, and instead allow their customers to take unlocked phones to the company with the best reception according to precise coverage maps provided free of charge.
6 Ways To Cancel Any Cellphone So You Can Get An iPhone
If you want to get an iPhone but you’re stuck in a contract, here’s six ways to escape your service plan without paying a $175 early termination fee:
Cancel Sprint Without Early Termination Fee Over Roaming Rate Change
A new 19 cent Sprint roaming rate increase means customers can cancel contract without early termination fee, as long as they meet these conditions:
Cancel Time! T-Mobile Rate Change Starts Today
A T-mobile text message rate change that just went into effect means that customers can cancel their contract without early termination fee.
Cingular Denies Contract Termination Without Penalty Request Based On Supposed Difference Between The Words "Revised" And "Modified"
William tried without success to cancel his Cingular contract without early termination fee based on the info in “Script For Escaping Cingular Contracts Without Fee, Based On New Arbitration Clause.”
Poll Results: Why You Want To Cancel Your Cellphone
Yesterday, we asked why our readers wanted to get out their cellphone contract without paying early termination fee so bad.
Why Do You Want To Cancel Your Cellphone So Bad?
We’ve run a bunch of different posts on various tactics to employ to get out of your cellphone contract without early termination fee… but why do you people want to do it with such fervor?
Cingular Arbitration Escape Script Addendum
After attempting to use the, “Script For Escaping Cingular Contracts Without Fee, Based On New Arbitration Clause,” some readers reported failure, but we’ve got a possible solution.
Script For Escaping Cingular Contracts Without Fee, Based On New Arbitration Clause
UPDATE: We added case law to throw back at Cingular if they try to argue the change in arbitration agreement is not a material change.
Another Way To Escape Sprint For Free?
Potentially opening the door to penalty-free cellphone contract cancellations, Sprint customers received the following in their December invoice:
WABC Looking For Angry Cingular Customers
WABC wants to hear from NYC-area Cingular customers who are against the text-message rate price hike.
