If you're staying with them you won't pay an ETF. You only pay the ETF if you leave your contract early.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AT&T to Raise Early Termination Fee for iPhone and Other Smartphones to $325
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you're staying with them you won't pay an ETF. You only pay the ETF if you leave your contract early.
this is absolute BS. I was going to get 2 new iphones (adding a line) but now theyll be lucky if I get one. I have crap service at my house now anyway so im waiting for the verizon switch. no way im gonna lock myself in for 2 years at that etf. if I do get 1 new iphone ill just pay cost so I can sell it and move to vzw when they get the iphone.
No, that's an 'upgrade' not a 'termination.'
You will probably have 2 choices. You can get the new phone for price $x and extend your contract for 2 more years or you can get it for price $y and stay on the same contract.
Both x and y are based on when you signed up AND how much your bill is each month. Only AT&T can give you the answers, but for you, I'm guessing:
$x - Probably around $400
$y - Probably around $600
These are wild guesses, wait until the 4G comes out and then ask AT&T.
It's a contract. Agree to the terms or not. If they let people leave their contracts for too little, the contracts are would not be worth being made in the first place, or would mean everyone who fulfilled their contract would have to pay more, which is hardly fair on those people who hold up their end of the contract.
So Verizon does it then it's ok. But AT&t does it they are the worst company ever. It's called business not going to wreck my day. You don't like the contract don't sign it.
Scam? Nobody forces you to sign a service agreement when you get your phone. You're free to pay retail price for the phone and not be locked in to a carrier agreement. If you choose to get the subsidized phone, that comes with an obligation on your end -- namely to sign a service agreement and pay for 2 years of service.
The ETF *should* be expensive -- you're breaking a contract that you signed in good faith. There should be a penalty for that.
Why so upset
So presuming Apple sells the iPhone to AT&T for approx $599-$699 and AT&T is providing $300-400 to bring the price down so people can afford one and they get customers.
I really don't understand why people who sign contracts get upset at an ETF that reflect the cost.
So presuming Apple sells the iPhone to AT&T for approx $599-$699 and AT&T is providing $300-400 to bring the price down so people can afford one and they get customers.
I really don't understand why people who sign contracts get upset at an ETF that reflect the cost.
Yeah, if they were not worried about customers jumping ship they would not be raising the early termination fee.
I guarantee you my next phone will not be with AT&T, and if that means dropping the iPhone when the time comes for a new phone so be it.
Android is looking better and better.
I guarantee you my next phone will not be with AT&T, and if that means dropping the iPhone when the time comes for a new phone so be it.
Android is looking better and better.
Relax
People...it's called an early termination fee for a reason. You signed a contract for X years. If you want out, you have a pay a fee.
Yes it sucks that AT&T are raising that fee.....but Verizon did it 6 months ago!
I wonder how much the fee goes down per month on AT&T. I know on Verizon wasn't it only going down $10 per month.....which means that in your last month if you want to get out early, you'd still have to pay over $100 bucks!
-Kevin
People...it's called an early termination fee for a reason. You signed a contract for X years. If you want out, you have a pay a fee.
Yes it sucks that AT&T are raising that fee.....but Verizon did it 6 months ago!
I wonder how much the fee goes down per month on AT&T. I know on Verizon wasn't it only going down $10 per month.....which means that in your last month if you want to get out early, you'd still have to pay over $100 bucks!
-Kevin
I'm surprised you would consider dealing with Verizon after what they did to New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. Verizon dumped all their landline customers (voice and computer) to Fairpoint (a bankrupt company). Verizon wasn't losing money in these states but, I guess Verizon wasn't content with the money they were making. Right now, Verizon could offer me a free smartphone and calling plan and I would not accept it. People from New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine should be boycotting Verizon. Verizon screws their customers over more than the others combined.
Why is that? Verizon is already charging a high ETF.
Also, its not hurting customers. Its hurting potential ex-customers so who cares.
We need some regulation here. That's extortion. There's no way that's fair. I bet the maximum they are going out of pocket on day one for subsidizing the phones is $200. We need some regulation here. Next they'll make you come to a store in person to cancel your contract and take you in the back room surrounded by 3 pushy salesmen that alternately threaten you and beg you to stay on.
I may be wrong but doesn't a change in a contract give you a way to end the contract without a termination fee?
no its BS in general. but atleast if your locked in with vzw you'll actually have service most places. with att the service is unable to penetrate walls for christ sakes. I have to go out on my porch to send a text msg.
Oh good!
You can log into the AT&T website right now using your phone number and try to "upgrade" to the 3GS and it will tell you YOUR cost for doing that now.
That's neat, but they're liable to change everything the day the new phone comes out, so that's not really an answer.
But hey, it's an interesting little fact if you want to check it out.
Not trying to be a prick but...
In America, everything thing is black and white. When you buy something, there's always some sort of disclaimer written in small fonts on the bottom of the page you sign. I've learned from my past experiences to always READ what you are SIGNING.
This is no different than SPRINT, TMOBILE, VERIZON charging >$175 for early termination fees.
It's just simply business math. No company is going to rely on pure "faith" that you will sign with them and stay with them forever. So they ensure you "pay" the penalty for leaving them. Don't like the ETF rates? Don't sign up...but then again, you won't be able to get cell phone service without a contract (not talking about prepaid here, which does not apply).
So you see, everyone is just mad at AT&T for whatever reasons except for this clear one, they are doing good business. You people hate AT&T for the slow data rates, expensive taxes, expensive service features, etc...but this entire article just adds oil to the flame.
In America, everything thing is black and white. When you buy something, there's always some sort of disclaimer written in small fonts on the bottom of the page you sign. I've learned from my past experiences to always READ what you are SIGNING.
This is no different than SPRINT, TMOBILE, VERIZON charging >$175 for early termination fees.
It's just simply business math. No company is going to rely on pure "faith" that you will sign with them and stay with them forever. So they ensure you "pay" the penalty for leaving them. Don't like the ETF rates? Don't sign up...but then again, you won't be able to get cell phone service without a contract (not talking about prepaid here, which does not apply).
So you see, everyone is just mad at AT&T for whatever reasons except for this clear one, they are doing good business. You people hate AT&T for the slow data rates, expensive taxes, expensive service features, etc...but this entire article just adds oil to the flame.
They're not changing any contracts. This will only apply to new contracts that people sign up for in the future.