http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/ Engadget Comments for AT&T settles ETF case for $18m http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
I wish I could up rank an article. I loved the last part! ]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
I wish carriers would do away with subsidies and ETFs altogether. Too much to ask I guess...]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Got this from AT&T

Important Notice from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey about a class action settlement regarding early termination fees which could affect your rights. A proposed class action settlement has been reached that could affect your rights if you: (a) subscribed to wireless telephone service from AT&T Mobility LLC or its predecessors and paid or were charged a flat rate early termination fee ("ETF") from January 1, 1998 through November 4, 2009 or (b) your contract included a flat-rate ETF provision at any time after January 1, 1998. Please click here (removed link) for an important notice regarding this settlement.
]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
More articles about e-readers and netbooks, please!]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/You should put sarcasm tags in your post. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 5:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
AT&T just needs to pump out more propaganda through YouTube with our friend Seth. That way, they can control the damage and continue to screw over their customers.]]>Jan 26th 2010 6:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Yeah. Lawyers win. Everyone else loses.USA NUMBER ONE!]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Important Notice from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey about a class action settlement regarding early termination fees which could affect your rights. A proposed class action settlement has been reached that could affect your rights if you: (a) subscribed to wireless telephone service from AT&T Mobility LLC or its predecessors and paid or were charged a flat rate early termination fee ("ETF") from January 1, 1998 through November 4, 2009 or (b) your contract included a flat-rate ETF provision at any time after January 1, 1998. Please click here for an important notice regarding this settlement.

The link itself: http://www.mobilitywelcome.com/files/7584_ATTinsrt_R.pdf

Apparently, it covers everyone in the US and you did not have to pay the ETF, but if it was in your contract you are covered. Of course, the lawyers get 33% of the $16M and the rest of us divide the pittance remaining.]]>Jan 26th 2010 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 5:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/>and people who are beyond their 2 year contract and don't want a new phone (ie all of our parents)]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 6:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Done. T-Mobile does this with their Even More Plus plans. Cheaper no contract plans because there's no handset subsidy. Seems like they get it.]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Exactly... How is it that Engadget doesn't know this?? That's the whole point of the "Even More Plus" plans at T-Mobile... welcome to November 2009.]]>Jan 27th 2010 1:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
They definitely covered that before.]]>Jan 27th 2010 1:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 5:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 5:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
It's not? Damn, and I was here studying for some rocket science.]]>Jan 26th 2010 5:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
For some reason, "studying for some rocket science" is one of the funniest things I read all day. Am I going crazy?]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
The contract has nothing to do with it.
Why do I pay the same monthly rate if I pay $500 for a phone as someone who paid $99 for a subsidized phone?

Forget rocket science, you should learn some basic math. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Yes you are going crazy if you listen to me :(]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
T-Mobile gives a plan subsidy if a phone subsidy isn't taken.]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 8:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
One, T-mob's been doing that for less than 6 months. Before that they were the same as everyone else. And they still don't reduce the price of the contract after your subsidized phone is paid off.

Two, I'm switching to T-mob as soon as the HD2 is available. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 9:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Of course they don't change the price of your plan after you're out of your contract... That's when you switch yourself to the "Even More Plus" plan and lower your monthly bill yourself. Once you're out of contract, then you can get the cheaper "unsubsidized phone" plan.]]>Jan 27th 2010 1:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
I get to choose either a 200 minute prepaid long distance phone card OR
an acknowledgement of the new "prorated" ETF (which I already belong to) with
any future benifits AT&T deems fit to give me.

Bravo AT&T, bravo!]]>Jan 26th 2010 6:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
so what we learned today is a 200 minute prepaid long distance phone card is actually worth about $0.01.]]>Jan 26th 2010 6:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
good work guys.]]>Jan 26th 2010 7:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
I should stop reading the comments here. I'm just getting more pissed at our legal system. :/]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Uh, yea. Now it is $175 - $5 for each month on contract. So at the end of 23 months you still owe $80? and the day before 24mo still technically $75?

I have nothing against ETFs if I am signing a contract. I get something out of it and they should be able to expect me to fullfill my commitment. The reality is that you kind of signed a lease for $60/mo for 24 months. Feel lucky they just don't ask you pay out the lease, i.e. $60 x number of months left. That's what happens if you lease an apartment.]]>Jan 26th 2010 8:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Actually, when you lease an apartment and break the lease, you generally cannot be required to pay out more than 2 months rent in many (maybe all?) U.S. states. That can still be a pretty severe penalty, but if you had to move away in week 2 of a 12 month lease, worst case should be 2 months and 2 weeks; a far cry from 11.5 months pro-rated. If a residential landlord tries to hold you to the entire lease, consult a lawyer. ]]>Jan 26th 2010 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 10:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
For example, AT&T has a monopoly on iPhone. If you want and iPhone you must use AT&T and agree to their price schedule (and price of the hardware because you cannot get it elsewhere) and terms. The user has zero choice if they want an iPhone.

I am more concerned about the apparent anti-trust violations that are taking place, than I am ETF. If the FCC or the Commerce Commission would prohibit exclusivity agreements between hardware manufactures and service providers the whole ETF issue would be less of an issue, because you could comparative shop and go with the best deal.]]>Jan 26th 2010 10:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/Jan 26th 2010 11:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
That's actually a fantastic story... usually those stories end up going the other way.]]>Jan 27th 2010 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/26/atandt-settles-new-jersey-etf-case-for-18m/
Couldnt have said this better myself!!!!! :D]]>Jan 27th 2010 2:39AM