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How is it possible to be charged an ETF for 14 months of very bad service?

S

sliver108

Newbie
We would really like to know how they can get away with this. In January of 2013 our service went to complete crap. It wasn
 
hi,

i understand you need to vent, but you signed a contract and you must abide by their rules. if you dont, they can send your bill into collections, sue you and/or get you in front of an arbitrator (that they appoint mind you.. :) ) to oversee the case. so you either have to pay up or go through the collections process.

you state their service was sub par, so you have 14 days to evaluate this, and if you dont like the service, you cancel. you chose not to cancel so that tells them you are OK with the service they provide.

this happens to a lot of companies around the world, so don't think you are the only person.

As Judge Judy says, you can't eat the steak and then decide not to pay for it. You agreed to the contract, you used the service, you understood (its in the terms that you signed) the ETF, so you have no recourse other than to pay.
 
marctronixx said:
hi,

i understand you need to vent, but you signed a contract and you must abide by their rules. if you dont, they can send your bill into collections, sue you and/or get you in front of an arbitrator (that they appoint mind you.. :) ) to oversee the case. so you either have to pay up or go through the collections process.

you state their service was sub par, so you have 14 days to evaluate this, and if you dont like the service, you cancel. you chose not to cancel so that tells them you are OK with the service they provide.

this happens to a lot of companies around the world, so don't think you are the only person.

As Judge Judy says, you can't eat the steak and then decide not to pay for it. You agreed to the contract, you used the service, you understood (its in the terms that you signed) the ETF, so you have no recourse other than to pay.
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First of all thank you for responding.

Honestly I feel like my head is between a boot and the concrete with Sprint wearing the boot and grinding away. I wish my situation was that cut and dry because I really wouldn't be fighting it.

We were subscribers for 2 years when we decided to upgrade based on the LTE service launching "in a month or 2" and needed LTE capable phones. We upgraded only because what the phone reps and corporate store reps told us in Nov 2012. The 14 day thing really doesn't apply here because it was a month to two months later when they started messing with the towers to implement the LTE service. They basically changed the coverage area after we were in a new contract because they completely screwed up the transition. We felt very duped to say the least. The sad part is it never got any better.

I/we didn't alter anything on our side. We signed a contract and by principal were going to uphold our end of it. There is a cross over point were their practices become extremely anti-consumer and they crossed the line with us. We should have received credits (a fair amount) based on our service or allowed to leave free of charge based on the issues. We both know that the typical recoup cost time period for a phone is 6-10 months and then it is profit for the carrier. It is essentially fraud in my opinion since we were sold a service that fell apart and then Sprint hides behind contract technicalities and bad customer service.

I just wanted to add to something I talked about briefly. It isn't like these guys are out money as I mentioned. I could completely understand if they flipped the bill for our phones and we canceled right away because that would be fraud on our part. When I think about we paid them for 16 months since the new phones were purchased. It is like they are making us responsible for their projections to stock holders. Sprint made around $2,900 off of us and that is taking off $40 a month for taxes etc. that they don't see as revenue. The phones cost was around $1000 for 2 S3's so they banked $1,900. I fail to see how we are on the hook for $357 in ETF charges taking all things into account.
 
You might want to check on the ETF, many ETFs are prorated, so if you have been with them for 16 months you might only have pay a portion of that $375.

However, if you are that unhappy with the service, pay it and move on and get a service you will be happy with.


FB
 
try suing them in small claims court.
you might be able to convince a judge to rule in your favor, grant you enough money to payoff the etf. Essentially, a compromise on both sides.
 
Flyboy28802 said:
You might want to check on the ETF, many ETFs are prorated, so if you have been with them for 16 months you might only have pay a portion of that $375.
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OP says they bought 2 phones and have $357 total in ETF charges, or $153.50 per phone. For 16 months that looks like the correct prorated amount.

I've heard you can sometimes get out of your contract by proving you don't have cell reception at your home, but don't know the requirements for this.
 
Call the customer Retentions department. They may let you off if service is indeed terrible in your area
 
I just went through the same issue with Sprint, I still had a year with Sprint to go, but I could not deal with the drop calls, slow internet, etc... so I decided to switch to a new Carrier, I then paid my ETF, which was $240 plus taxes, but it was worth switching, I could of waited another year, but in savings with my new carrier along with the far better service it was worth every penny. What I did was prior to cancelling my line, Sprint gave me a $25 credit, I know not much but it was something, and then I sold my Sprint device and that paid for the ETF. So unless you get a sympathetic agent, and get lucky, there is not much more you can do.

I know I did try everything and I also had all calls noted in the system with Sprint and it didn't make a difference, and I agreed with them, I did sign a contract, so I was bound to that contract, and I had many chances not to renew my 2 year contract and I choose to stay with them at the time. So I switched and paid the price and it was all worth it, at least for now, and the good thing is that on my new Carrier I don't have a contract, and bought my new phone outright, so I can switch to any GSM carrier if something does happen. ;)

FTR I think the prorated fee is $20 per month left on the contract, plus taxes.
 
Flyboy28802 said:
You might want to check on the ETF, many ETFs are prorated, so if you have been with them for 16 months you might only have pay a portion of that $375.

However, if you are that unhappy with the service, pay it and move on and get a service you will be happy with.


FB
Click to expand...

It is a prorated ETF for 2 lines.

I don't understand why so many people are so eager to give away their hard earned money because of a loophole in consumer protection lol.
 
its not that people are eager to pay these fees, its that these companies have made it virtually impossible to slip away without paying.

Remember, these companies are in business to make a profit for their shareholders--to protect their investments. any benefits we get from these huge companies are a by product of this.

this is why its super important one tests out a carrier's network before the grace period is up because there are heavy penalties down the road if you decide to leave early. dont let those shiny promotions or free devices cover up the small print.. ;)
 
You good with that I think that say you wont sue nor take the case to court or arbitration.that means what ever they say you did is set and done and also say you take the blame for that . T-Mobile had me but I have a close friend that's a lawyer and he said a few and things was clear .
 
they can do whats in the confines of your contract. i recommend you look over the contract you agreed to when you signed up for the service. about your only recourse is to take it to arbitration.
 
Not to be funny but they get everyone with this . they ask you to fill out the contract and bam you another sucker for a phone company that has total control of you. This is why many companies are dropping the contract thing . T-Mobile was the one that had the bang for the laugh. Cause they tell you so much junk. But the people got them cause the buying a phone online dropped the signed contract . but who is your carrier .

BRAINZ2013 said:
Not to be funny but they get everyone with this . they ask you to fill out the contract and bam you another sucker for a phone company that has total control of you. This is why many companies are dropping the contract thing . T-Mobile was the one that had the bang for the laugh. Cause they tell you so much junk. But the people got them cause the buying a phone online dropped the signed contract . but who is your carrier .
Click to expand...

I ask that cause some companies are buying your old contracts to get your business .
 
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