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Cellular forums Home > Archive > T-Mobile cellular service > February 2006 > free cancellation period re: sms charges??
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free cancellation period re: sms charges??
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| How do I go about cancelling my contract during this 30-day period that
was discussed in a previous post? I mentioned that the increase in SMS
charges were out of line and they basically told me to "shove it, you're
stuck". Where did you guys here that this was even possible??
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| Steevo@my-deja.com 2006-02-07, 5:48 pm |
| On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 22:53:48 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
>How do I go about cancelling my contract during this 30-day period that
>was discussed in a previous post? I mentioned that the increase in SMS
>charges were out of line and they basically told me to "shove it, you're
>stuck". Where did you guys here that this was even possible??
They want you to call on the phone. But they have now had training to
combat this cancellation right you have under their contract. You
will have to take a strong position.
I wouldn't do anything like this by phone. Only in writing.
FWIW, it's easy to cancel cellphone contracts. I have documented
numerous incidences of no service and 2 hour late voicemail
notifications. I say they are in breech in any case. They would have
to prove they are not, I can prove they are with my contemporaneous
notes and my complaints about the problems, all in writing.
Go ahead, see you in court.
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| Yeah they're now telling me in order to terminate the contract, I have
to give up my service. So it's either keep the service with the contract
or I'm not allowed to be a customer. What kind of garbage is this?
Steevo@my-deja.com wrote:
> On Mon, 06 Feb 2006 22:53:48 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> They want you to call on the phone. But they have now had training to
> combat this cancellation right you have under their contract. You
> will have to take a strong position.
>
> I wouldn't do anything like this by phone. Only in writing.
>
> FWIW, it's easy to cancel cellphone contracts. I have documented
> numerous incidences of no service and 2 hour late voicemail
> notifications. I say they are in breech in any case. They would have
> to prove they are not, I can prove they are with my contemporaneous
> notes and my complaints about the problems, all in writing.
>
> Go ahead, see you in court.
>
>
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| BruceR 2006-02-08, 5:48 pm |
| Doesn't sound like garbage to me. What they're saying is that they admit
that they are indeed breaching the contract by not honoring the pricing
originally agreed to and that your sole remedy is to renounce the
contract without penalty and no longer have the account. I don't know
if the contract specifies any other remedies but you can look it up and
see. If you feel strongly enough about it you could file suit or enter
arbitration to seek specific performance of the contract by making them
honor the contracted pricing. Clearly this would make no sense for an
individual to persue as the cost would be far more than a lifetime of 10
cent messages. However, there are law firms who specialize in creating
class action suits for things far more trivial than this. They will put
up all the costs and then get paid out of the settlement. If you're the
lead plaintiff you will get something substantial as well if there is a
settlement. Everyone else will get a coupon for a free ringtone.
From:Eddie
eg2@jf.com
[color=darkred]
> Yeah they're now telling me in order to terminate the contract, I have
> to give up my service. So it's either keep the service with the
> contract or I'm not allowed to be a customer. What kind of garbage is
> this?
>
> Steevo@my-deja.com wrote:
| |
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| Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote in news:19rGf.334$dP6.160@fe11.lga:
> Yeah they're now telling me in order to terminate the contract, I have
> to give up my service. So it's either keep the service with the
> contract or I'm not allowed to be a customer. What kind of garbage is
> this?
Indeed, this sounds very logical! If you are so upset by the increased
SMS rate - feel free to cancel your account without a penalty (that's
what the whole contract thing is all about). But just cancelling contract
without closing your account won't remedy the increased cost situation
for you, would it? If you don't intend to cancel your account - why
cancel the contract? Just to get a promotional handset upgrade for
entering another one? I think it won't happen anyway, because they have
some sort of guidelines that allow you no more than one such upgrade per
year.
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| Oh trust me, I'm gone. Definitely out now. Just received another e-mail
from them where they're confirming that I am free to terminate the
contract without having to pay the early termination fee, however if I
do so they'll close my account. So basically they are saying they no
longer want me as a customer if they can't have me by the balls for two
years. I told them flat out that I had no plans of leaving them (this
was true), and that I still wanted to remain a customer on a
month-to-month basis. Nope, not good enough for them.
So long T-Mobile, you bastards. This from a customer who's been with
them since Jan. 2001 when they were Voicestream. To hell with them. I'm
out! Some of you guys brush it aside like it's nothing, but 100%
increase in messaging charges now. Maybe it's a 100% increase in your
overall monthly charge tomorrow, maybe 50%. A contract's a contract and
they just go ahead and change rates even for customers with nearly two
years left on a contract. Think about that!
LEM wrote:
> Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote in news:19rGf.334$dP6.160@fe11.lga:
>
>
>
>
> Indeed, this sounds very logical! If you are so upset by the increased
> SMS rate - feel free to cancel your account without a penalty (that's
> what the whole contract thing is all about). But just cancelling contract
> without closing your account won't remedy the increased cost situation
> for you, would it? If you don't intend to cancel your account - why
> cancel the contract? Just to get a promotional handset upgrade for
> entering another one? I think it won't happen anyway, because they have
> some sort of guidelines that allow you no more than one such upgrade per
> year.
| |
| BruceR 2006-02-09, 5:48 pm |
| Let's see how Cingular works out for you (assuming that's where you're
going). Why would you want to stay w/TMo anyway? Even if they changed
you to mo to mo you'd still pay the dime for messaging (or if you get a
lot of them buy a bucket). If you stayed mo to mo then you would be
accepting the rate change so why should they cancel the contract if
you've accepted the new rate. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
From:Eddie
eg2@jf.com
[color=darkred]
> Oh trust me, I'm gone. Definitely out now. Just received another
> e-mail from them where they're confirming that I am free to terminate
> the contract without having to pay the early termination fee, however
> if I do so they'll close my account. So basically they are saying
> they no longer want me as a customer if they can't have me by the
> balls for two years. I told them flat out that I had no plans of
> leaving them (this was true), and that I still wanted to remain a
> customer on a month-to-month basis. Nope, not good enough for them.
>
> So long T-Mobile, you bastards. This from a customer who's been with
> them since Jan. 2001 when they were Voicestream. To hell with them.
> I'm out! Some of you guys brush it aside like it's nothing, but 100%
> increase in messaging charges now. Maybe it's a 100% increase in your
> overall monthly charge tomorrow, maybe 50%. A contract's a contract
> and they just go ahead and change rates even for customers with
> nearly two years left on a contract. Think about that!
>
> LEM wrote:
| |
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| Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote in news:i1EGf.1850$gA6.1436@fe10.lga:
> Oh trust me, I'm gone. Definitely out now. Just received another
> e-mail from them where they're confirming that I am free to terminate
> the contract without having to pay the early termination fee, however
> if I do so they'll close my account.
Farewell! I think T-mobile got it right. Customers like you cost
companies lots of money, so they would rather have you use a rival
network. And save on having paid reps to listen to your complaints and
answering your e-mails. All for a 5 cent increase in the SMS charges.
More folks like you gone - more savings to T-mobile, more savings to the
rest of us...
> So long T-Mobile, you bastards. This from a customer who's been with
> them since Jan. 2001 when they were Voicestream. To hell with them.
> I'm out! Some of you guys brush it aside like it's nothing, but 100%
> increase in messaging charges now. Maybe it's a 100% increase in your
> overall monthly charge tomorrow, maybe 50%. A contract's a contract
> and they just go ahead and change rates even for customers with nearly
> two years left on a contract. Think about that!
I don't know... but it seems like not a big deal to me. It's a big
increase in a small portion of your bill. Let's see an example: You
normally go through 51 messages per month (for sake of argument, to
maximize damage), so it's not worth it for you to get a $4.99 bucket and
you pay $2.55/month on your bill for them. Now that messaging rate
increases same 51 messages would cost you $5.10/month, so it makes sense
for you to buy the $4.99 bucket. Your damage - a whole whooping $2.44 per
month! WOW! Definetly worth cancelling a contract and looking for a new
carrier!!!
If for your bill this is a substantial increase - no surprise T-mobile
doesn't want you, you are not one of the revenue generating customers to
start with, and with all your complaints that have to be dealt with - you
are a big loss for them. For my bill, $2.44 increase would ammount to
less than 2% of total. And if I switched right now, I would probably be
looking at a higher bill or less minutes with a different provider one
way or another. Now, if they made a move that would increase the overall
bill substantially - than your arguments would make a lot of sense, and
it would've been worth taking an action. But not now. Sorry. It seems to
me that your attitude is simply standing by the principle, rather than
looking for a better deal.
| |
| Steevo@my-deja.com 2006-02-09, 5:48 pm |
| On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 13:55:57 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
>Yeah they're now telling me in order to terminate the contract, I have
>to give up my service. So it's either keep the service with the contract
>or I'm not allowed to be a customer. What kind of garbage is this?
They said that to me, though not in so many words. I rejected it.
I wrote them back and said I would remain a paying month to month
customer. Just the same as if the contract had tolled.
Remember, the customer acquisition cost for cellular companies is
about $400. It's much better for them to keep you month to month than
to have to replace you. Unless they plan on standing on a principle.
Counterproductive.
It makes no difference for them, month to month or under contract,
they still get the same amount of money. That is the goal of business
after all, get the most money you can.
EVERYONE should just exercise their option, then they would be playing
chicken with us ALL.
| |
|
| LEM wrote:
> Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote in news:i1EGf.1850$gA6.1436@fe10.lga:
>
>
>
>
> Farewell! I think T-mobile got it right. Customers like you cost
> companies lots of money, so they would rather have you use a rival
> network. And save on having paid reps to listen to your complaints and
> answering your e-mails. All for a 5 cent increase in the SMS charges.
> More folks like you gone - more savings to T-mobile, more savings to the
> rest of us...
>
>
>
>
> I don't know... but it seems like not a big deal to me. It's a big
> increase in a small portion of your bill. Let's see an example: You
> normally go through 51 messages per month (for sake of argument, to
> maximize damage), so it's not worth it for you to get a $4.99 bucket and
> you pay $2.55/month on your bill for them. Now that messaging rate
> increases same 51 messages would cost you $5.10/month, so it makes sense
> for you to buy the $4.99 bucket. Your damage - a whole whooping $2.44 per
> month! WOW! Definetly worth cancelling a contract and looking for a new
> carrier!!!
>
> If for your bill this is a substantial increase - no surprise T-mobile
> doesn't want you, you are not one of the revenue generating customers to
> start with, and with all your complaints that have to be dealt with - you
> are a big loss for them. For my bill, $2.44 increase would ammount to
> less than 2% of total. And if I switched right now, I would probably be
> looking at a higher bill or less minutes with a different provider one
> way or another. Now, if they made a move that would increase the overall
> bill substantially - than your arguments would make a lot of sense, and
> it would've been worth taking an action. But not now. Sorry. It seems to
> me that your attitude is simply standing by the principle, rather than
> looking for a better deal.
IT is absolutely all about the principle. It's not the few bucks at all.
Plus the service in my area has really gotten shoddy and doesn't work at
my new place of work at all, so it's time to move. But yeah it's
definitely the principle. Not the few bucks extra month. FOr what it's
worth, I call customer service at most twice a year, if that. I'm not a
bickering schmuck looking for problems. This really bothered me though
and like you brought up, it's the principle of it.
| |
| PDA Man 2006-02-09, 5:48 pm |
| Most of us have more important things to do with our time then play this
baby game.You dont like it, TERMINATE AND LEAVE. Just that simple. They
donty have time to play around with some clown looking to take advantage of
a loophole who they know will leave the second they can save $2 a month or
get a free subsidized handset from another carrier, which is completely why
you r doing this. Your value as a customer is nil, so get rid of your whiny
butt now and they go on with business.
There position is perfectly clear to me.
"Steevo@my-deja.com" <steevo@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:d1lmu19c0o0dbe9
i8r1038ks0m47ung2bu@
4ax.com...
> On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 13:55:57 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
> They said that to me, though not in so many words. I rejected it.
>
> I wrote them back and said I would remain a paying month to month
> customer. Just the same as if the contract had tolled.
>
> Remember, the customer acquisition cost for cellular companies is
> about $400. It's much better for them to keep you month to month than
> to have to replace you. Unless they plan on standing on a principle.
> Counterproductive.
>
> It makes no difference for them, month to month or under contract,
> they still get the same amount of money. That is the goal of business
> after all, get the most money you can.
>
> EVERYONE should just exercise their option, then they would be playing
> chicken with us ALL.
| |
| Evan Platt 2006-02-10, 2:48 am |
| On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 13:55:57 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
>Yeah they're now telling me in order to terminate the contract, I have
>to give up my service. So it's either keep the service with the contract
>or I'm not allowed to be a customer. What kind of garbage is this?
That's normally how it works.
--
To reply, remove TheObvious from my e-mail address.
| |
|
| Steevo, there is no option to continue on a month-to-month basis, at
least not for me. Yes they give the option to terminate the contract
that they went ahead and tweaked to their liking by upping the charges,
but they don't want me on a month-to-month basis. Only when they have me
by the balls locked into a contract are they interested in my money.
Sounds pretty foolish, in fact I'm sure if the higher-ups knew about it,
they wouldn't be happy. Basically someone XXXXed up by upping the
messaging charges and not allowing those with contracts already to keep
the terms of the old contract. Now they're allowing customers to walk
away without trying to hold on to them, even if it means doing so on a
month-to-month basis.
As for the clowns on here ripping me, it's the principle of them
changing the terms of my contract, which I was locked into until Fall of
2007. I'm not one of these guys getting a new phone every six months. I
upgraded my phone two times in the five-plus years I've been a customer.
Plus if I was one of those people, they'd be able to lock me right back
in again. I understand that's the price you pay for upgrading. That's
not the issue.
Honestly I did plan on leaving T-Mobile because their service didn't
work at my new place of business, but I had actually planned on staying
with them until the fall since it wouldn't have been an issue for me
over the summer. That's now money they won't see though. I already inked
on with Cingular this morning.
Steevo@my-deja.com wrote:
> On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 13:55:57 -0500, Eddie <eg2@jf.com> wrote:
>
>
> They said that to me, though not in so many words. I rejected it.
>
> I wrote them back and said I would remain a paying month to month
> customer. Just the same as if the contract had tolled.
>
> Remember, the customer acquisition cost for cellular companies is
> about $400. It's much better for them to keep you month to month than
> to have to replace you. Unless they plan on standing on a principle.
> Counterproductive.
>
> It makes no difference for them, month to month or under contract,
> they still get the same amount of money. That is the goal of business
> after all, get the most money you can.
>
> EVERYONE should just exercise their option, then they would be playing
> chicken with us ALL.
| |
| BruceR 2006-02-10, 5:48 pm |
| It sounds like a winner for you, Cingular and TMO!
From:Eddie
eg2@jf.com
[color=darkred]
> Steevo, there is no option to continue on a month-to-month basis, at
> least not for me. Yes they give the option to terminate the contract
> that they went ahead and tweaked to their liking by upping the
> charges, but they don't want me on a month-to-month basis. Only when
> they have me by the balls locked into a contract are they interested
> in my money. Sounds pretty foolish, in fact I'm sure if the
> higher-ups knew about it, they wouldn't be happy. Basically someone
> XXXXed up by upping the messaging charges and not allowing those with
> contracts already to keep the terms of the old contract. Now they're
> allowing customers to walk away without trying to hold on to them,
> even if it means doing so on a month-to-month basis.
>
> As for the clowns on here ripping me, it's the principle of them
> changing the terms of my contract, which I was locked into until Fall
> of 2007. I'm not one of these guys getting a new phone every six
> months. I upgraded my phone two times in the five-plus years I've
> been a customer. Plus if I was one of those people, they'd be able to
> lock me right back in again. I understand that's the price you pay
> for upgrading. That's not the issue.
>
> Honestly I did plan on leaving T-Mobile because their service didn't
> work at my new place of business, but I had actually planned on
> staying with them until the fall since it wouldn't have been an issue
> for me over the summer. That's now money they won't see though. I
> already inked on with Cingular this morning.
>
> Steevo@my-deja.com wrote:
| |
| Steevo@my-deja.com 2006-02-13, 5:48 pm |
| On Mon, 13 Feb 2006 02:29:48 GMT, "E Jones" <earl_jonesx@usax.net>
wrote:
>I agree that sometimes you need to stand on principle. How, though, will
>you cancel your contract/service and simultaneously port your number to a
>new carrier (assuming you want to keep it)?
>
>Just curious.
You would port your number, and then send your old carrier a certified
letter canceling. With return receipt.
| |
|
| > You would port your number, and then send your old carrier a certified
> letter canceling. With return receipt.
When you port your number, you should not cancel the account in advance -
the moment a number becomes ported to a new carrier the old carrier's
account automatically closes for that line, effectively cancelling the
contract. The way I understand it it is done completely automatically
without any human interaction. Therefore I won't be surprised if the
computer will automatically charge Early Termination Fee to your account
as soon as this happens, and then it will be up to you to fight it off.
If the reps previously made a note on the account that they allow you to
cancel with no penalty - it may be easier. But watch your back!
LEM.
(remove all digits from e-mail)
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