| When you can't get out of a cell phone contract, | | | | off your hands. |
| cell phones can be an expensive luxury to have. | | | | You pay a small fee to do this, but you avoid a |
| It's common for one phone with hardly any bells | | | | huge termination fee and the person who takes |
| or whistles to cost in excess of $75 per month. | | | | the offer avoids the start up costs of a cell |
| By the time you add Internet access, text | | | | phone contract. |
| messaging and other apps (games, screensavers), | | | | 6. Fake a Death or Say the Owner of the Phone |
| a monthly bill in excess of $100 is not out of the | | | | Died |
| question. | | | | Cell contracts are void if the owner of the |
| What's even more outrageous than the bills | | | | contract dies. If you happen to go the risky route |
| themselves are the hoops that you have to jump | | | | of faking a death, be prepared that some cell |
| through if you ever wish to cancel your contract. | | | | phone companies will ask for proof. This means |
| Most of the time, you cannot get out of a cell | | | | providing a death certificate. |
| phone contract without paying an early | | | | This might not work, but it's an option, if you |
| cancellation fee. These fees can be as high as | | | | think you can pull it off. |
| $300 to $400, which is outrageous. You have a | | | | 7. Just Pay Your Bill |
| choice of being exorbitant fees, or being stuck | | | | This will depend on what your goals are and |
| with a product that you're unhappy with or that is | | | | ultimately how much you're paying already. But to |
| inferior to another product on the market. | | | | put this into perspective, say you only have 6 |
| Getting Out of a Cellphone Contract | | | | months left at $90 a month. That's $540. Most |
| If your telecommunications deal doesn't work for | | | | termination fees aren't more than $400. Figure |
| you, you can't simply double up on your cellular | | | | out when it's cost effective to terminate your |
| bills. So knowing how to get out of a cell phone | | | | cellphone contract, so you can terminate your |
| contract becomes important. | | | | contract and in theory save money. |
| The following 10 tips have been known to help | | | | On the other hand, if you only have 2 months left |
| others get out from underneath their cell phone | | | | at $90 and the termination fee is $400, you |
| contracts with little to no repercussion. | | | | would obviously be spending more to get out. It |
| 10 Tips to Getting Out of a Cell Phone Contract | | | | would be better to wait in this situation. |
| 1. Roam when You Talk | | | | Also, note that some companies pro-rate their |
| Many cell phone companies do not charge their | | | | termination fees. This is something that you'll want |
| customers roaming fees. However, when you | | | | to look into and factor into your decisions. |
| roam it costs the carrier more money thus | | | | 8. Move |
| cutting into their profits. So, set your phone's | | | | An online friend of mine suggested this works, |
| preference to roam and use it whenever you talk | | | | though I've never tried moving to get out of a |
| on the phone. | | | | cell phone contract myself. This is an extreme |
| Better yet, use your phone while roaming during | | | | measure to take to get out from underneath |
| your free nights and weekend minutes to avoid | | | | your cell phone contract. I suppose if there is a |
| using up any of your minutes. Since you'll be | | | | will, there is a way. |
| costing the phone carrier money, it's possible | | | | The idea behind this is to move outside the |
| they'll let you go with little to no fight. | | | | coverage area so you cannot get service. Be |
| 2. Check for Changes to Your Contract | | | | prepared to fight long and hard on this one. You're |
| Any changes that were made to your contract | | | | not guaranteed to have coverage in many |
| that weren't okayed by you are grounds for a | | | | contracts and you'll have to prove that you |
| voided contract. For this to work, however, the | | | | moved. |
| changes have to be a higher price or fee for | | | | 9. Demand to See Paperwork |
| services. Some companies look to see if these | | | | If your cell phone carrier cannot produce your |
| changes are substantial. Also, you need to actually | | | | contract, than you're free to go, in many cases. If |
| be using the services in question. | | | | they do, you hope that maybe you didn't sign it |
| If this applies to you, you have anywhere from | | | | and no one noticed it when the deal was finalized. |
| 14 to 60 days to attempt to terminate your | | | | 10. Join the Military |
| contract. | | | | This is an extreme action, if you're not planning on |
| 3. Use the Free Trial Period | | | | an Army career otherwise, but if you are joining |
| If you are given a free trial period, be sure to use | | | | the Armed Services, that's a good excuse to get |
| it. Knowing that the phone doesn't live up to your | | | | out of your cell phone contract. |
| needs or wants is much easier to handle before | | | | This measure is guaranteed to work, though you |
| you're locked in for 2 years. It's better to test | | | | might find a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan is |
| the product before you sign on the dotted line, if | | | | more of an inconvenience than a bad cell phone |
| you can. | | | | contract. Join the army, tell your carrier that you |
| 4. Complain | | | | don't want your phone anymore and they'll have |
| If you have problems with your phone, coverage | | | | to honor that. Even cell phone corporations want |
| or even the carrier, complain and complain often. | | | | to support the troops. |
| The important thing to keep in mind is, every | | | | Breaking a Cell Phone Contract |
| time you call in to complain, you want to | | | | While these tips are not guaranteed to work, |
| document everything. Be sure to document the | | | | they are worth a shot, if you're unhappy with |
| date and time you called, who you spoke to and | | | | your current cell phone company. Be aware |
| what was discussed. | | | | though that cell phone companies will do |
| Depending on your ultimate goals, you might be | | | | everything in their power to avoid losing you as a |
| able to work out something else like a cheaper | | | | customer. Even worse, they don't want to lose |
| phone bill, if terminating your contract is out of | | | | you as a customer to another company. |
| the question. | | | | If you're having a difficult time terminating your |
| 5. Pawn the Service Off | | | | contract, the best thing to do here is to leverage |
| Try to find someone to take over the service | | | | the fear of losing you to another company and |
| for you. Cell phone companies allow contracts to | | | | try to get some free services or money shaved |
| be transferred. If you cannot find someone, there | | | | off your bill. While there is no guarantee you'll get |
| are several online services such as or Celltradeusa | | | | a discount, it is better than nothing in the event |
| where you can list your phone and contract. | | | | you can't figure out how to get out of your cell |
| Maybe someone would like to take the contract | | | | phone contract. |