Sprint details proposed $14 million ETF class action settlement
By Donald Melanson 
posted Aug 11th 2009 3:04PM
posted Aug 11th 2009 3:04PM
It's a far cry from the $1.2 billion number that was bandied about at one point, but it looks like Sprint could still be taking a fairly sizable hit over those pesky early termination fees, at least if a proposed class action settlement plays out as it seems likely too. As Sprint itself announced today, the company's reached a $14 million settlement in the case, which will be placed in a common fund to be distributed accordingly to all the parties involved, which is where you come in (assuming you're a current of former Sprint, Nextel, or Sprint Nextel customer, that is). The short of it is that you can either sign on to the class action suit or opt out of it by hitting up the site linked below, and then you'll have to wait for the final approval hearing now scheduled for October 21st, which should actually settle the settlement once and for all. Details on the exact payout amounts to customers are buried in the documents on the settlement website, but it looks like the majority of customers will be receiving between $25 and $90 depending on their contract, plus some free bonus minutes.Read - Sprint ETF Settlement website
Read - Sprint statement
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
According to the survey, options are:
I choose a $35.00 check.
- OR -
I choose 30 any time minutes (that do not roll over) for 1 year.
That website doesn't look too appealing. Are we sure this is the legit site? Kind of reminds me of the whole ATM by the security office story.
Is this case going to change ETF's at other carriers aswell?
Since this had to do with Sprint's flat-rate ETF (for the entire life of the contract) vs. the pro-rated ETFs you get with VZW/AT&T (price drops as you get further into the contract), there won't be a change on other carriers.
A half-eaten roll of necco wafers and a rub down.
So you can sign on or opt out...what happens if you're indifferent and don't do either?
Do you still get some of that free stimulus style money since you didn't opt out?
is that site for real???
this is stupid just becuase cheap people dont want to pay the etf they got to do this migh as well make sprint pre-paid company but if it does get to the point where there is no etf expect all the phone prices to go up
I agree partially. if you decide you want to jump to another carrier after yours gave you a fancy phone for -$200 then yeah screw you but there are other reasons to leave and fight the ETF.
I moved out of the state I purchased an AT&T phone plan in only to find my new area had 0 bars of service within a 2 mile radius. (and then only 1-2 bars for another mile or so). After 3 months of hassle (and tech support suggesting I stand in the street to make and receive calls, no I'm not joking) I got them to reduce my ETF by 75% and I still felt ripped off because I paid 3 months of payments for a phone I couldn't use.
I found out when I got the email today.
I didn't have to pay an ETF... because I kept my mobile broadband card going till I could kill my contract without one.
I did the same...why do people sign into contracts then complain bitterly about it when they do not feel like they want to be in it anymore? Seriously this is a glimpse into our wonderful generation of people that sign up for crap with out thinking of the outcome or think they can just sue and all will be good.
@ljm
Don't you know, everyone is entitled to everything. Look at all the iphone users that through a hissey fit when the iphone 3GS came out because they were too dumb to understand what a two-year contract meant.
not like you have much of a choice, if you want a good phone and good (well, better than non-contracted) service, you'll almost always be signing a contract.
Class Counsel will request the Court award them up to 33% of the benefit conferred in attorneys’ fees, expenses
So is this for every customer regardless if you had anything to do with ETF's?
Seems the most common stipulation is that you signed w/ sprint between Jan 1. 1999- december 1 2008.
Sprint owes me $150. I don't care about the money now. I just know that I'll never be signing up for another one of their plans. I was a Sprint customer for 9 years.
This is so confusing. I've been a sprint customer for a long. I would mind some extra cheese. What the heck do i do? Do i opt in? Do i opt out? What do i get? Nothing is easy!
I would think if the initial lawsuit was for more than a billion dollars and the settlement was for a cool 14 mil - how about using .001% of that and create a website that doesn looks like it was designed by the prince from Nigeria whose money is stuck in some bank and needs my help.
i stayed with sprint because i didnt wanna pay the et i hate etf. I like sprint, and my instinct is pretty cool.. But lately ive been listening to it as a media player and out of no where decided to corrupt my files so they are unrecoveryable, Totally unacceptable. They ARE sending me a brand new one after his happend on 3 seperate occsions and After i mentioned the lemon law in the state i live.
Squeaky wheel gets the grease i guess.
ps. If it wasnt for engadget i wouldnt have heard about this at all, and i would not be taking part in the case.
Thanks engadget.
Sometimes it's not that simple as "just wanting out of the contract"
I transferred to a school in 2001, and the small town it was in did not have Sprint coverage - but Sprint would not waive my ETF so I was forced to pay it. I had been with them for 1 year and had to pay the full fee.
So the guys that did the lawsuit got a bunch of money, the customers get $35 and Sprint is free of any "wrongdoing" and gets to keep charging ETFs. Customers lose.
It sounds like people who weren't charged an ETF won't get anything at all under this settlement, even if the existence of an ETF caused them to not terminate their contract, unless they "show sufficient proof that they attempted to terminate under penalty of perjury or Sprint Nextel’s records corroborate this fact, but remained a customer for the sole reason of avoiding an ETF". i.e., if you didn't call and try to cancel, you don't get anything.
I don't believe so Steve. There is room for interpretation in that particular clause for customers who wanted to cancel their services but did not decide to do so because they would have incurred the $200.00 ETF. You are not committing perjury if you actually wanted to cancel but did not because of the ETF. You would also be eligible for $35.00 or 30 bonus minutes per month for one calendar year.
I have Helio, which is now owned by Sprint. Can I apply for this and get my check?