prorated
Latest
Verizon looking to bump early termination fee to $350 on 'advanced' devices
You know what's worse than showing your Bitter Beer Face to the world after you passed on Apple's iPhone and let AT&T enjoy the spoils? Raising your early termination fee to stratospheric heights. Just over a year ago, we honestly though this whole ETF thing was headed in the right direction, as most of the major carriers (VZW included) sought to prorate contracts in order to lessen the charge as one's contract drew closer to an end. Now, however, Big Red is evidently gearing up to pull a 180, with the slide above showing a $350 ETF for "advanced" devices (read: probably anything deemed a smartphone). The newly hiked rate will go into effect on November 15th, and while that $350 will decrease by $10 per month over the life of the agreement, this pretty much guarantees that you won't be adding a line, disconnecting and then flipping that phone on eBay.
Sprint could implement prorated ETFs by year's end
While the other big boys in the US have already enacted prorated early termination fees, Sprint has still been holding out on its promise to follow suit. In fact, we've been waiting nearly a full year for its talk to be walked, and according to a recent interview with CEO Dan Hesse, the change could be made as early as December. Unfortunately, that's hardly concrete, as he also noted that the implementation was reliant on its billing software being updated, and anyone in the corporate world could tell you that something such as this could slip back for eternity with ease. We hate to make you rethink your decision to ink that new Sprint contract on the very same day the Touch Pro is released, but maybe a little patience would pay off in the long run. Or not -- hard to say.[Via phonescoop]
AT&T's prorated ETF is live for new / renewing customers
We really, really hope you didn't ink a contract with AT&T over the weekend. If so, casually close your browser and attempt to avoid this post forever. Right on cue, AT&T has implemented its consumer-friendly prorated early termination fee, which enables new and renewing subscribers to have their $175 ETF drop by $5 each month they stick with the carrier and pay their bill. Yeah, the burn rate isn't exactly the greatest -- after all, you'll still owe $60 if you cancel with a month remaining -- but it's certainly a move in the right direction. [Via phonemag]
AT&T's prorated ETF gets detailed
Nearly half a year after AT&T followed the crowd and announced that it too would be transitioning to a prorated ETF, the details have finally emerged. Starting on May 25th (read: don't ink a new AT&T contract on May 24th), new and renewing subscribers who enter into one- or two-year service agreements will "no longer be required to pay a single, flat early termination fee." Rather, the $175 charge will be lowered each month that one stays in contract by $5, which doesn't exactly zero out after 12 / 24 months, but we reckon it's better than being forced to cough up the full $175 with two months left on your deal. Oh, and those eying a month-to-month / prepaid plan will still find what they're looking for -- sort of a win-win, yeah?
Yahtzee! Sprint announces prorated ETFs, all four US nationals now on board
So Sprint busted out this really lovey-dovey press release today basically going over all the ways it takes care of its customers -- how you can upgrade your phone at a discounted price if you've stuck with 'em for a while, how they monitor your plan to make sure you're on the best one for your usage, and so on -- but there were a couple gems in there that are new and notable. First off, Sprint has announced here that they're moving to prorated early termination fees, bringing it inline now with all three of the US' other national carriers. Like T-Mobile, it intends to flip the switch on that action in early 2008. Secondly, starting next Monday, customers won't need to re-up their contracts to switch plans (why this was ever a requirement with any carrier simply bewilders us). Finally, the carrier says it plans to announce some "reward programs" next year for subscribers that've stuck with Sprint through thick and thin. No details there, but if they're gonna do up some crazy awesome plans and upgrade discounts (even better ones than it already has, that is), we're all for it.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
T-Mobile says "me too," gives in to prorated ETFs -- next year
Yep, sure enough, the prorated ETF craze is sweeping the nation. T-Mobile is the latest national US carrier to announce that customers will see their early termination fees decline over the length of their contracts, an obvious effort to stem a groundswell of hate getting launched in carriers' directions lately regarding contracts, ETF policies, and other miscellany regarded as unfair in consumer advocacy circles. One little snag, though: T-Mobile's just announcing its intention to move to prorated ETFs here; they're still crossing their T's and dotting their I's on the new legalese, it seems, and it's expected to take effect in the first half of next year.
AT&T moves to prorated ETFs, too
Remember when a la carte messaging fees started to go up earlier this year and a couple carriers started to test the waters with unlimited texting plans, it ended up sweeping the whole freaking industry in a matter of a few months? Looks like the move to prorated early termination fees could be the next big move, with AT&T following Verizon away from hefty fines for canceling plans mid-contract. The company has announced that ETFs will be lower the further you are into your agreement period to offer subscribers "more flexibility," while folks simply wanting to change their plans -- not their carriers -- will no longer be required to agree to new terms. Any other carriers want to join the bandwagon?[Via Phone Scoop]
