How to get out of att-fee free!!

[Lindsayej1983]

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[jav6454]

The government doesn't FORCE any cellphone company to charge this. They VOLUNTARILY pass this charge onto their consumers. Try educating yourself before you post something you know nothing about.

Well, what are you complaining then? You know the charge will change month to month, and you already know that it is a charge that is passed to you.

Knowing that, your trick doesn't work as this charge is spelled out for you. Now it would work if something like minute or data plans change price or amount of goods.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

Well, what are you complaining then? You know the charge will change month to month, and you already know that it is a charge that is passed to you.

Knowing that, your trick doesn't work as this charge is spelled out for you. Now it would work if something like minute or data plans change price or amount of goods.

It's not a "trick." And I ONLY know about this charge increase because of doing my own research. They don't advertise it for god's sake. If you can't understand this, not my problem.

 

[jav6454]

It's not a "trick." And I ONLY know about this charge increase because of doing my own research. They don't advertise it for god's sake. If you can't understand this, not my problem.

This is a trick, thats how this thread is advertised. Also, this charge is not advertised by no carrier, yet everyone charges it.

Don't you think someone would have thought of using this charge to get out of contract free with other carriers and hence making a boatload of money by selling the phones they get from having carriers subsidize said devices?

Really?

 

[onepoint]

CHANGES TO TERMS AND RATES
We may change any terms, conditions, rates, fees, expenses, or charges regarding your service at any time. We will provide you with notice of such changes (other than changes to governmental fees, proportional charges for governmental mandates, roaming rates or administrative charges) either in your monthly bill or separately. You understand and agree that State and Federal Universal Service Fees and other governmentally imposed fees, whether or not assessed directly upon you, may be increased based upon the government’s or our calculations. IF WE INCREASE THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE, BEYOND THE LIMITS SET FORTH IN YOUR RATE PLAN BROCHURE, OR IF WE MATERIALLY DECREASE THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IN WHICH YOUR AIRTIME RATE APPLIES (OTHER THAN A TEMPORARY DECREASE FOR REPAIRS OR MAINTENANCE), WE WILL DISCLOSE THE CHANGE AT LEAST ONE BILLING CYCLE IN ADVANCE (EITHER THROUGH A NOTICE WITH YOUR BILL, A TEXT MESSAGE TO YOUR DEVICE, OR OTHERWISE), AND YOU MAY TERMINATE THIS AGREEMENT WITHOUT PAYING AN EARLY TERMINATION FEE OR RETURNING OR PAYING FOR ANY PROMOTIONAL ITEMS, PROVIDED YOUR NOTICE OF TERMINATION IS DELIVERED TO US WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST BILL REFLECTING THE CHANGE. If you lose your eligibility for a particular rate plan, we may change your rate plan to one for which you qualify.

Given the above-referenced language of my contract, I'm not sure how you're justifying your suggestion?

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[HPLouis]

Given the above-referenced language of my contract, I'm not sure how you're justifying your suggestion?

Well, after reading this, I can see it won't work.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[jav6454]

People abuse this sometimes sure but not often. And just because it isn't advertised doesn't make it a scam or a trick. If people actually took the time to do their homework, read the paperwork they sign, they would know about it. It's not that difficult to understand. And yes, I personally know people who have done this to score a brand new phone and then cancel as soon as they can and sell that phone for a nice profit. I wouldn't do it, not worth my time but yes, that has and will continue to happen. Everyone will always find a way to make a quick buck. It doesn't mean that this isn't a legitimate thread.

By reading the above excerpt about the charge, it seems doing this is going against the ToA and hence AT&T can actually make you pay that ETF. It is specifically spelled out you can't use the Universal Cost Recovery charge as a way of getting out.

So yes, it is illicit to incite otherwise.

The Fed Universal Charge is considered an "administrative fee" which they state right there that they don't have to disclose an increase in. However if your voice or data were to increase, they would have to notify you in writing. You will never receive any notification about the FUC going up because it is not included in that.

And with this your entire thread is made worthless, time to report for the Wasteland

 

[NYDiplomat]

Well, good luck with it Lindsayej1983 and inform us if it worked or not.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[Lindsayej1983]

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[jav6454]

Universal Cost Recovery charge? I am talking about the Federal Universal Charge. Where does it "spell out" you can't use this when it states specifically you can? Sigh....

And you still can't use that as an excuse.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[jav6454]

Hope someone finds this information useless. Good luck!

I did, since the first time you posted it. Useless since it barely has any thing worthwhile. However if you would have posted, the minutes charge increased by x amount, then it'd be useful.

 

[Aatos.1]

this doesnt work anymore

Correct, Apple has seen to it.

 

[malevolant]

Maybe T-mobile hasn't closed this loophole, but according to the wording posted above from AT&Ts terms, this will not work (for AT&T) and you will have to pay the ETF regardless.

 

[macsrcool1234]

Wow, OP. I don't doubt that this works, although im sure it will take a lot of fighting.

But you sound like somebody who cancels their contract every chance they get. You must have terrible credit and history with cell phones companies.


Good luck signing back up with them, im sure they will catch on.

 

[onepoint]

The Fed Universal Charge is considered an "administrative fee" which they state right there that they don't have to disclose an increase in. However if your voice or data were to increase, they would have to notify you in writing. You will never receive any notification about the FUC going up because it is not included in that. And again, it is NOT a government-imposed charge. They charge each user an "administrative fee" to offset this cost. If you don't want to/don't believe this will work, that is fine. But I know it's legit as I have done it plenty of times before. I started this thread to help people. Your decision to act upon it is your own.

I understand your argument but it appears that the contract language specifically exempts the Federal Universal Service Charge from the reporting requirement:

We may change any terms, conditions, rates, fees, expenses, or charges regarding your service at any time. We will provide you with notice of such changes (other than changes to governmental fees, proportional charges for governmental mandates, roaming rates or administrative charges) either in your monthly bill or separately. You understand and agree that State and Federal Universal Service Fees and other governmentally imposed fees, whether or not assessed directly upon you, may be increased based upon the government’s or our calculations

 

[onepoint]

The Fed Universal Charge is considered an "administrative fee" which they state right there that they don't have to disclose an increase in.

Understood and agreed.

However if your voice or data were to increase, they would have to notify you in writing. You will never receive any notification about the FUC going up because it is not included in that.

Understood and agreed.

Why, then are you stating in your first post that an increase in the Federal Universal Service Charge would trigger your right to terminate the contract based upon lack of disclosure?

Go through your most recent statements (or all of them if you wish to), look under fees for something called "Fed Universal Charge." If this fee increases EVER (even if just by a penny) you walk away FEE FREE! In ATT's Terms & Conditions, it states that ANY increase in ATT fees allows you to break out of your contract w/o penalty.

This is incorrect. The contract states that a contract termination is appropriate where AT&T "INCREASE(S) THE PRICE OF ANY OF THE SERVICES TO WHICH YOU SUBSCRIBE" and fails to notify you.

 

[peteisanidiot]

People abuse this sometimes

Like you?

You made the decision to sign the contract and are trying to weasel out of it due to no fault of whatever provider you have this week. How about some personal accountability?

I'd be surprised if this actually works as religiously as you claim. Instead I'd bet that a couple customer service reps tired of your argument and appeased you to move on. Based on this thread I'd probably do the same.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[jav6454]

Although I do not have to explain myself to any of you, I feel it necessary to clarify some things. I have done this MULTIPLE times and it has worked every time. I haven't canceled MY OWN contracts multiple times. I have canceled them ON BEHALF of my friends/family who were unhappy with their service for whatever reason. I just became an authorized speaker on their accounts and did the talking for them since I know what to say etc. I have never used this to score any free phones, it isn't a trick, it isn't a scam and if the wireless providers didn't increase this fee, no one would be able to do this. But they change it and often. The government charges them a fee every month. THAT is something that the wireless providers cannot change/avoid. HOWEVER, they then pass on an additional charge (FUC) to help offset this cost. The fee from the government to them is MANDATORY, their fee (FUC) to us is NOT. I am/have been with Verizon for a very long time and have no plans on changing/cancelling with them. I was just trying to be nice and help people get away from ATT since they have the worst reputation in the business. If you want to label my thread as a scam or illegitimate, that is your right, but it doesn't change the fact that this is legitimate and absolutely possible as I know firsthand.

I could say the same thing except change AT&T with Verizon and I'd agree. No other carrier has shadier business practices more than Verizon.

 

[Lindsayej1983]

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[MartyF81]

Behaving like this just makes it worse for everyone else.

You enter into this 2 year contract to mitigate the cost of the Handset. The money you save on the handset is "Recovered" by the Cell Provider over the course of you staying with them for 2 years.

So by "breaking" out of your contract over by finding loopholes, might be great for you. But you are basically stealing a couple hundred dollars from the provider. Where do you think that expense goes?

To THE REST of their customers. Everyone says "oh it just comes out of big corporate pockets". But those big corporate pockets are filled by how much they charge their customers. They don't just print money.... it comes from somewhere...

That $400 discount you got on the phone and now aren't paying.... they just add that into the amount they charge everyone else who plays by the rules and adhere's to the document they put their name and signature on.

So THANK YOU so much for making my cost higher so you can break your contract.

Next time just pay full price for the handset, then you can leave whenever you want.

You have found a "legal" way to steal. Congratulations.... but still a thief.