Sprint Starts Pro-Rating ETFs On November 2Under new pro-rated system you'll never pay less than $50 ( old news - 11:26AM Thursday Oct 30 2008) tags: legal · prices · business · wireless · consumersSprint has been slacking at getting their new early termination fee (ETF) system in place after announcing it a year ago. Critics say it was because Sprint, already on shaky ground, is afraid of losing any more customers -- but Sprint's CEO recently claimed it was a billing integration issue. Whatever the case, Michael Stanclift at Neowin has scooped the news that Sprint's new ETF system goes into effect November 2. It appears that Sprint's new ETF plan will drop $10 per month off of your ETF, after the first 5 months of service. Some of the new plan's fine print: The last 5 months the ETF fill will stay at $50 until the last month of the contract in which the ETF will be waived. The document also instructs Sprint operators to round down the time left on the contract to the next lowest number of months. So if a customer has 7 months and 12 days left on their contract, they will be rounded down to 7 months (with a $70 ETF). Again, this fee reduction program only applies to new contracts that were started on or after November 2, 2008. If you attempt to cancel a contract started before this date, you will be charged the full $200 fee. The ETF changes were originally prompted when Sprint was sued by the Minnesota Attorney General for violating State consumer protection laws and misleading consumers by extending user contracts if a user made even slight plan changes. Sprint is also facing a class action lawsuit for their ETFs (Verizon settled a similar suit earlier this year for $21 million). In response, Sprint claimed they'd pro-rate their ETFs almost exactly one year ago, so the carrier's running a little late.
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 cahiatt
Premium
join:2001-03-21
Smyrna, GA | Sweet (Novemer 3rd)
Sprint Customer Service: How can I help you?
Me: Cancel this line please. Thank you. | |
|  | DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV | Re: Sweet Sprint Customer Service: Ok, that will still be $200 since your contract was started before November 2nd.
lol | |
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ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Bridgeport, WV
clubs: | Re: Sweet I was going to look for the wording that stated for new customers only.  | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD | Weird How was the original ETF language in the contract misleading? If Sprint's is like other carriers then it is crystal clear.
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"At the moment of conception." | |
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Weird said by pnh102  :How was the original ETF language in the contract misleading? If Sprint's is like other carriers then it is crystal clear. Because people want their cake and to eat it too.
People are not stupid, and its very clear by reading these forums. However, people have chosen to play ignorant so they can bilk the provider from money. (And people wonder why rates are up the uptake?)
People come here all the time talking about the ETF and how to get their service for less, at the promo rates, and NOT have to get into the contract. So, when a chance comes by to say that the ETF fee is unclear, they sue.
I will say, too, that what the providers did WAS in-fact borderline criminal when they extended contracts with out telling customers their agreements were being extended, to which I agree they NEED to pay back their ill-gotten gains.
But, if any suit is based solely on the fact that ETF's exist, why bother.. simply vote socialism into office and most of these lawsuits will go away. | |
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BIGMIKE
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA
| said by pnh102 :How was the original ETF language in the contract misleading? If Sprint's is like other carriers then it is crystal clear. Under California lawSprint Termination Fees are Illegal, Sprint Ordered to Pay Millions in Early Termination Fee Flap »blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/0···red.html | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
| WHAT THE F**** "Again, this fee reduction program only applies to new contracts that were started on or after November 2, 2008. If you attempt to cancel a contract started before this date, you will be charged the full $200 fee"
This is bullshit....how about those of that have been with Sprint for 8+ years! SCREW YOU SPRINT! | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
 ·Comcast
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by Cheese :how about those of that have been with Sprint for 8+ years! SCREW YOU SPRINT! In all that time such people would not have been able to cancel, even once?
That's silly. If someone doesn't like a contract which has an ETF, then don't agree to one. I don't see how much more simple it can be than that.
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"At the moment of conception." | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by pnh102 :said by Cheese :how about those of that have been with Sprint for 8+ years! SCREW YOU SPRINT! In all that time such people would not have been able to cancel, even once? That's silly. If someone doesn't like a contract which has an ETF, then don't agree to one. I don't see how much more simple it can be than that. And why cancel when I am getting a 20 percent discount? My point is, I want to cancel now, I didn't need to or want to previously so your point is moot. My point is, for someone who has BEEN with the company as long as I have, I have to pay the full ETF? I find that to be bullshit, how about penalize the NEW people and not the CURRENT and LONG TIME customers. | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by Cheese :My point is, I want to cancel now, I didn't need to or want to previously so your point is moot. My point is, for someone who has BEEN with the company as long as I have, I have to pay the full ETF? So pay the full ETF if you want to cancel now. That's what you agreed to do when you signed up with the service on contract. What is the big deal?
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"At the moment of conception." | |
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Cheese
Premium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
clubs:
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by pnh102 :said by Cheese :My point is, I want to cancel now, I didn't need to or want to previously so your point is moot. My point is, for someone who has BEEN with the company as long as I have, I have to pay the full ETF? So pay the full ETF if you want to cancel now. That's what you agreed to do when you signed up with the service on contract. What is the big deal? Point...Missed  | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by Cheese :Point...Missed Well what can I say?
Just about every cell phone contract I've signed was crystal clear about the ETF, as well as what actions I do that can extend the contract term. Am I the only person who has never had a problem changing his plan or his phone or canceling service without getting into messes with contracts that I did not like?
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"At the moment of conception." | |
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD
·Comcast
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by ptrowski :The point is it should cover the entire customer base, not just new customers. Well, it doesn't.
I still see no point in any sort of ETF "reform" because anyone can go and get cell phone service with no contract as it stands now. People who voluntarily agreed to a contract should have no problems abiding by the terms of those contracts.
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"At the moment of conception." | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV
| said by ptrowski :The point is it should cover the entire customer base, not just new customers. Why would they? None of the other national carriers did so when they implemented their prorated ETF schemes either. | |
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S_engineer
join:2007-05-16
Chicago, IL
·Comcast
| Re: WHAT THE F**** Well I have to say that as much as I dislike Sprint, and the tactics Used (and abused) by them and the rest of the carriers...I have to agree with pnh102 about the contractual agreements that people had signed.
This is like people that never thought their Adjustable Rate Mortgage would go up. Now we're bailing Billions in tax dollars for people that not only don't like the terms of their mortgages, but they probably should have never been given mortgages in the first place!
When you sign the contract your obligated to the contract that you signed!
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"For duty and humanity!"
- Moe Larry and Curly (MEN IN BLACK, 1934)...These are the guys we have in Congress | |
| | | | | | | | | | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO | Re: WHAT THE F**** The only issue I have is with that contract being "dynamic" and changeable at anytime based on THEIR desires.
They should not have any more right in changing the terms of an agreement anymore than you do. | |
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Mchart
Super Joe
join:2004-01-21
Gurnee, IL
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by Skippy25 :The only issue I have is with that contract being "dynamic" and changeable at anytime based on THEIR desires. They should not have any more right in changing the terms of an agreement anymore than you do. This is an issue. However, when their is a change in the contract you can cancel your service without the ETF charge. Almost a year ago when Sprint changed their rate on text-messages - Every sprint customer had about a 60 day window to call in and cancel service without an ETF. | |
| | | | | | | | | | Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO | Re: WHAT THE F**** That's not the point.
I signed the agreement paying X and X should be in effect until the term of my contract expires. Not when they decide they want to raise it. | |
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vbarta20
@comcast.net
| Same here, we are with Nextel-Sprint for 8 years and 10 (TEN) lines, so it will cost $2,000.00 to pay the ETF in full. That was a bystander who did not generate tens of thousands of $$$ for the crooks during a decade is hard to understand our frustration. | |
| | | | Dodge
Premium
join:2002-11-27
clubs:
| said by Cheese :said by pnh102 :said by Cheese :how about those of that have been with Sprint for 8+ years! SCREW YOU SPRINT! In all that time such people would not have been able to cancel, even once? That's silly. If someone doesn't like a contract which has an ETF, then don't agree to one. I don't see how much more simple it can be than that. And why cancel when I am getting a 20 percent discount? My point is, I want to cancel now, I didn't need to or want to previously so your point is moot. My point is, for someone who has BEEN with the company as long as I have, I have to pay the full ETF? I find that to be bullshit, how about penalize the NEW people and not the CURRENT and LONG TIME customers. You are leaving, why would it matter how long you've been with the company as far as ETF is concerned? They might make you an offer that would change your mind to leave since you've been with them for such a long time, but if you insist on leaving your standing with them becomes irrelevant. | |
| | | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| The ETF is not about the length of time WITH the COMPANY, it's time in PLAN. So with that question, what have you done that put you into another contract? Did you accept a new phone at a reduced rate? Did you accept a plan that was deeply discounted? Something put you back into a contract.
Not to beat you up, because I KNOW You're an intelligent guy so don't take it that way, but its not about loyalty in time with the company.. You can be with a company for many years, say 10, and be in 8 or 10 contracts in that time. Each contract has its own term.
Where you start to see time based loyalty is when you're in a service that doesn't have a contract for a long time. My parents live in Charter territory, for example, and have been with them for about 20 years. (Never missed a payment either) The last two years, they were called up and offered the HBO/Starz package for no additional charge for a year being a loyal customers. (Sure, they most likely are trying to retain the customer, however, it was a smart move on Charter in face of competition. A 20 year customer with a perfect payment record IS someone you keep)
The cell phone business is not about loyalty. It's about give and take.. they give a so-called deep discount (cough cough - another conversation for another time) and in trade, you take a 2 year term with ETF in that. Your loyalty was paid forward at signing.. when it comes time to want to leave early, we often forget the gift with purchase that has to be paid back. | |
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jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Reston, VA | It might be possible to have a discount given by a competitor that is equivalent to your Sprint ETF. You might be surprised at what these companies are willing to do for a sale. | |
| | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: WHAT THE F**** said by jmn1207 :It might be possible to have a discount given by a competitor that is equivalent to your Sprint ETF. You might be surprised at what these companies are willing to do for a sale. You're right.. they will.. but at the same time, there seems to be a pattern her that people would go to the winning provider, take the deep discount and STILL go back to the losing provider and want the ETF canceled efectively double dipping. | |
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BillRoland
Premium
join:2001-01-21
Ocala, FL
clubs:
·Cox HSI
| Well, at least we know who was right The critics were right. Sprint is clearly dragging their feet on implementing a pro-rated ETF, and the proof is in the new ETF system they've come up with. I've got a much simpler ETF pro-ration system: Take the ETF of $200, divide it into the number of months the contract was for, multiply that by the number of months left on the contract, and boom, there's your ETF. Sooo a 24 month contract, a $200 ETF, that's $8.33 a month, and if you have 3 months left, that should be an ETF of $25. How hard is this?
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"Don't steal. The government hates competition." | |
| | EasyDoesIt
join:2005-04-12
| Re: Well, at least we know who was right said by BillRoland :The critics were right. Sprint is clearly dragging their feet on implementing a pro-rated ETF, and the proof is in the new ETF system they've come up with. I've got a much simpler ETF pro-ration system: Take the ETF of $200, divide it into the number of months the contract was for, multiply that by the number of months left on the contract, and boom, there's your ETF. Sooo a 24 month contract, a $200 ETF, that's $8.33 a month, and if you have 3 months left, that should be an ETF of $25. How hard is this? You see, the problem with your rationale is simple. The true purpose of an ETF is not what they claim it to be but rather the true purpose is to grab as much money as possible, even if it is through questionable means. Your solution clears the smoke and cleans the mirrors. If we resort to open and honest business practices where would we be? | |
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Anonymous 321755
@sbcglobal.net | Re: Well, at least we know who was right P.S Verizon has the SAME rules as Sprint ONLY NEW NEW customers have the new ETF fees | |
| | DarnellP
join:2004-10-12
Las Vegas, NV
| said by BillRoland : Sprint is clearly dragging their feet on implementing a pro-rated ETF, and the proof is in the new ETF system they've come up with. While far from perfect, I think their ETF system is better than this one: »www.intomobile.com/2008/06/24/t-···ess.html | |
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| said by BillRoland :I've got a much simpler ETF pro-ration system: Take the ETF of $200, divide it into the number of months the contract was for, multiply that by the number of months left on the contract, and boom, there's your ETF. I'd love to give you props for this idea, however, this is how Cellular One, at&t Wireless, L.A. Cellular, PacTel Wireless, et all, used to do it back in the 90's when the ETF fee was first introduced. It was $120 ETF for 12 months. Each month it went down $10 a month until the last month.
However, the life expectancy of a memory in this country/world, these days is about 4 years or less.
They really should get simple with this and go back to the way they started doing it... so I agree with you. | |
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RARPSL
join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY
| said by BillRoland :The critics were right. Sprint is clearly dragging their feet on implementing a pro-rated ETF, and the proof is in the new ETF system they've come up with. I've got a much simpler ETF pro-ration system: Take the ETF of $200, divide it into the number of months the contract was for, multiply that by the number of months left on the contract, and boom, there's your ETF. Sooo a 24 month contract, a $200 ETF, that's $8.33 a month, and if you have 3 months left, that should be an ETF of $25. How hard is this? For a Cell Phone the EFT is supposed to be to reimburse the company for subsidizing the cost of the handset. In that case, your computation is correct (IOW: As your contract runs, you are paying back the discount on the cost of the phone compared to buying it outright and going with a month-to-month plan with no contract [I am assuming that the monthly cost for the phone service is the same either way]).
Interestingly, when you talk about an EFT for a discounted Cable Account, the EFT should go up as the contract runs since you get a discount and the EFT should cause you to repay the discount. Thus if you get a $120 discount with a 1-year contract and want out after 9 months, the EFT should be $90 at that point to repay the $10/month you did not pay due to the contract.
Both of these computations ignore the subject of "The Cost of Money" and "Future Value" issues (which adds some complexity to the computations if addressed). | |
| unoriginal
join:2000-07-12
San Diego, CA
| Good reason to buy your next new phone off ebay There is very little that a cell company could offer me to extend or renew a contract with them once its expired. Most people I know that re-up usually do it to get a new phone. Why not buy from ebay or craigslist and avoid resigning for another two years, and until now, a hefty ETF to boot? | |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Uhmmmm. NO! its NOT prorated if the fee never goes under $50!
true proration would be HANDSET cost / 24 = V
and the ETF would be V * (months remaining)
and if you brought your OWN handset there shouldn't be ANY ETF regardless of how many months are left.
NICE TRY sprint but its STILL a way you're making money off unhappy subs! shame on you!
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When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
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Pichin
join:2001-07-01
Altamonte Springs, FL | Re: Uhmmmm. NO! if you buy your own hand set at full price there is NO ETF...
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What's the speed of dark?
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iPhonersoontobe
@MYHLC.ORG | I would be upset... that I had to wait for a new contract but since mine runs out on November 10th, I can wait that long.
But come that day, I am headed for the nearest Apple Store. | |
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clickwir
join:2001-06-21
Dickson City, PA
| I'm a sprint wireless customer... Honestly, I don't see what all the press is for. They might have a slightly less wireless coverage in my area when compared to Verizon and ATT. But they are consistently $10-20/month cheaper than the other guys for the same service.
Granted I am a low volume cell phone user, I have 2 lines of service with them and we never even come near our minute limit and it's only about $70/month. I consider it high for how little we use it, but it's the cheapest of all the big carriers.
It just seem to be "cool" to hate on Sprint. But I know several people who have them and really, we've had no complaints.
I don't use texting, because it's just an insane ripoff no matter what carrier you use. | |
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