Cool Ways To End Your Current Contract

thedwp · 06-27-2007, 09:47 AM

For those of you who are stuck in a non-AT&T contract, check out these tps on how to get out..provided by wired.com:

Pawn it off
Don’t want your contract anymore? Find someone who does. Websites like Celltradeusa.com specialize in connecting thousands of people together for the express purpose of transferring the financial responsibilities of cell contracts from one person to another. As long as the recipient meets the minimum qualifications (credit check, etc.) you can transfer the plan over without getting hit with the early termination fee.
Odds of success: 2-to-1
Get out while you still can
If you just signed up for service, you typically have 14 days to drop it -- 30 days with some carriers. A simple call to customer service cancels your plan. All you may have to do is pay a prorated amount for the service you’ve already used.
Odds of success: 3-to-1
Move to the boonies
It's pretty simple to register a change of address with most carriers. Change your address to an area your cell carrier doesn't have service, then call and complain about not getting reception. Contractually, if a service provider can’t offer access in a given area, the contract is null and void.
Odds of success: 5-to-2
Military service
If you’re already in the armed forces, deployment overseas usually means you’re free and clear to end your contract early -- without any financial obligation.
Odds of success: 6-to-1
Read the fine print
The wee print in your bill’s Terms of Service? Read it closely. Providers frequently make small changes to your plan -- an increase in the number of text messages here, a few more night and weekend minutes there. It doesn’t matter if these alterations benefit you -- they automatically void the contract and give you as much as 30 days to get out.
Odds of success: 8-to-3
Demand to see the paperwork
Did you sign a contract in the store? Ask the carrier to come up with a hard copy of this legally binding document. If the provider can’t come up with a physical copy, then you’re free to go. Paper gets lost, you might have forgotten to sign and sales reps are often too busy or lazy to file the paperwork.
Odds of success: 10-to-1
Abuse the system
Cell-phone service providers usually have roaming agreements with other carriers where they don’t offer reception. Roaming areas can often be close, sometimes the next county over. Chances are you have a friend with a house in one of these roaming areas. Check a service map to find out. Then take your phone over on Friday night and as soon your Unlimited Nights and Weekends start, call POPCORN, and leave the phone on. Roaming is usually free to the customer but costs the carrier dough. They’ll practically beg you to leave when you call to cancel the contract.
Odds of success: 20-to-1
Fake your own death
Have a friend or colleague work up a good set of tears and call in on your behalf claiming that you’ve shuffled from this mortal coil. Report something feasible yet horrible, e.g., "He … he was just ripped to shreds by that farm machinery." The contract will be terminated because you are. Note: This is wholly unethical and probably illegal.
Odds of success: 50-to-1

soloudinhere · 06-27-2007, 10:11 AM

well, at least for the death one, they most often require you to fax in a death certificate.

And demanding to see the paperwork doesn't work as well now that you can sign a contract online or over the phone with no paper trail (thank you, 21 CFR part 11).

Moving tends to work, especially if you get a good rep, but some will just flat deny you until you can provide a utility bill in your name at the new address.

TrippalHealicks · 06-27-2007, 10:18 AM

Now, THIS is a not only INTERESTING post, but a helpful one, too!
Thank you!

wjp09 · 06-27-2007, 10:44 AM

*sniff* "He was waiting in line for the iphone all week and to pass time he started having handstand contests, at that moment his colon bust do to lack of bathrooms all his strool went into his lungs drowning him"

rbaron · 06-27-2007, 11:02 AM

I currently have Verizon wireless service. My contract is up in October. I want to buy an iPhone and have the same number.

When do I cancel the Verizon contract? The day the contract ends? A week before it ends? A day after the contract ends?

I have never cancelled a contract before. I know there are penalties for early cancellation so I am looking for an answer as to when should the Verizon account get cancelled?

Thanks

wjp09 · 06-27-2007, 04:31 PM

If you want the iphone in june then you port your number over while activating iphone. Is that what you are asking?

301finest · 06-27-2007, 04:52 PM

I was thinking the same thing. I currently on tmobile and want to get out the contract but keep my same number. If dont cancel by friday, will i be able to still keep my number?

soloudinhere · 06-27-2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by rbaron

I currently have Verizon wireless service. My contract is up in October. I want to buy an iPhone and have the same number.

When do I cancel the Verizon contract? The day the contract ends? A week before it ends? A day after the contract ends?

I have never cancelled a contract before. I know there are penalties for early cancellation so I am looking for an answer as to when should the Verizon account get cancelled?

Thanks

If you are buying an iPhone when your contract is up in october, purchase the phone the day after your contract expires, and port the number from verizon. This will terminate your service, but you won't incur a termination fee IF you wait for your current phone to be out of contract before porting the number.

rbaron · 06-28-2007, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by soloudinhere

If you are buying an iPhone when your contract is up in october, purchase the phone the day after your contract expires, and port the number from verizon. This will terminate your service, but you won't incur a termination fee IF you wait for your current phone to be out of contract before porting the number.

Yes, that is what I wanted to know. Do you cancel the day your contract is up, or the day after or when do you need to do it without getting smacked with an early termination expense.

I guess it is logical to cancel the day the contract expires and port the number to the iPhone the same day. I did not know that when you port the number your current contract with another carrier (Verizon) get's cancelled.

So that's what I need to do. My Verizon is up in October so maybe, just maybe the initial bugs will be fixed from the first generation of iPhones.

Thanks list......