A new study says that smartphone users are overpaying for their service by several hundred dollars each and every year. The study, put together by Billmonitor, notes that people are overspending primarily because they’re on contracts that wildly overshoot their needs. People have a habit of signing up for contracts with far more voice minutes than they use, and it’s primarily for this reason that… → Read More
When was the last time you read your AT&T contract? If you answered “never,” then may I suggest you take two minutes to look this over. That’s right, unbeknownst to you, you just lost the ability to enter into a class action lawsuit against the mobile phone carrier. High five! → Read More
Sprint is diligently patting itself on the back today, having forever changed the way we think about canceling cellphone contracts. Starting on November 2, for every month you stay faithful to your Sprint contract after the sixth month, the company knocks $10 off the early termination fee. The fee, which is $200 at the outset, is allowed to drop to as low as $50. This new policy does not apply to… → Read More
Just a day late of the rumored date, Verizon has announced month-to-month, contract free service plans. If you’re willing to pay full price for a phone or can bring your own handset to the table, you’re free to bail out at the end of each monthly billing period without paying any sort of early termination fee. All of Verizon’s voice and data plans are available sans-contract… → Read More
Verizon may be coming to accept what much of their market has already realized: if a customer brings their own phone or is willing to pay full price for a non-subsidized phone, there is no reason they should be forced into a contract. According to BGR, Verizon might begin offering contract-free service options on September 21st. There are a few catches, but nothing too nasty: While you won’t… → Read More
That’s Germany, all right. Like in France, it looks like Apple will have to sell the recently released iPhone in Germany without an accompanying contract and, separately, unlocked. Over in Deutschland, Vodaphone just won the first round in a long line of rulings against T-Mobile, which, for now, is the exclusive carrier of the iPhone there. Vodaphone, which no doubt wants a slice of that… → Read More
Anyone using Verizon should take note that Verizon will be updating its plans and ToS agreement today, meaning you have something like 30 days to opt out of your contract should you want an iPhone bad enough. These new plans are better for the customer though (depending on how you look at it), with Mobile Web becoming free, data connections no longer using minutes, and all the voice plans are… → Read More
Universal Music has confirmed that they will not renew their current contract with Apple and will only supply music “at will.” This means that Apple will not have the entire Universal catalog but only selected albums, at Universal’s discretion. Although this sounds potentially “bad,” it’s actually not. It’s a way to fire a shot across Apple’s bow… → Read More
We’re not sure if you noticed or not, but recently it seems every carrier is raising SMS prices. Now T-Mobile has joined its rivals by increasing rates for SMS, yet decreasing MMS prices. And when a provider changes it’s service, you know what that means kids… That’s right! It means you can cut and run with T-Mobile without forking over a $200 cancellation fee. Boy Genius… → Read More
Consumerist is running an interview with a former Verizon rep who is spilling the beans on that company’s customer retention policies and confusing everyone in the process. Essentially, he’s describing the metrics Verizon uses to reward their sales force and punish the foolish customer. His best advice? Don’t get the 2-year contract and, if you play your cards right, every phone… → Read More
There are few things that piss me off more than anti-consumer contracts, especially of the cell phone variety. But getting out of that contractual noose has been the Holy Grail of techies for years, with most people being forced to either run out the clock or gulp down a ridiculous fee. Well, relief is here, at least for Cingular customers. Consumerist‘s got a must-read step-by-step… → Read More
comes CellSwapper, a service that lets you transfer cell contracts to desiring parties. The service is particularly useful since essentially every phone now comes with an oppressive two year contract. The service takes advantage of the termination clauses that allow users to end their service if they can find someone willing to take on the remainder of the contract. It also lets the transferee… → Read More
It may come as a shock to some people that tech companies are corporations–charged first and foremost with making money. Still, it sometimes seems like it wouldn’t hurt Big Tech to treat us just a little bit better. Here are some of the ways companies try to screw you… and how a savvy customer can avoid them. → Read More
Consumerist is running a story about an Alabama woman who is getting shafted by Cingular. The story goes that the woman owned three phones on AT&T, which was, of course, bought out by Cingular. Her phones are frequently used during long commutes. Due to this traversing, the phones are on the towers of other providers for more than 50% of the time. Cingular decided that this was not… → Read More
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