How to Get Out of Your Current Cell Phone Plan

Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:41AM EST

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Sick of your cell phone carrier's crappy service? Or maybe you've just received a brand-spanking-new smart phone as a gift, but it's from a rival cell phone carrier. Fortunately, getting out of a contract is easier than it used to be. If you signed a two-year contract recently, you might be in luck since carriers such as Cingular and Sprint offer 30-day trial periods in case you have second thoughts, and Verizon offers a pro-rated cancellation fee that increases the longer you have your phone.

But most of us are still screwed, which is where sites such as CellTradeUSA and Resellular.com come in handy. These sites let you put your cell phone and plan up "for sale" to any interested buyers. Charges are typically $15 to $20 to pass a contract on to someone else. Of course, you must have takers for it to work.

It also works the other way around, should you be looking for an inexpensive or temporary phone. All major carriers and time frames are offered (usually within the two-year contract window), and you can search by carrier, phone model, time frame, and the like.

So don't fret: Signing a two-year contract isn't what it used to be.

Related links:

Another Option: Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

Which Sexy Smart Phone Is for You?

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  • 66 Posted by wurdemanlandscaping on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Verizon wireless is simply the worst cell carier available. I tried to expand my account to encompas a wireless broadband line and it has been the WORST experience I have ever had doing business with anyone. My bills are riddled with inaccuracy, there are always miscellaneous inaccurate charges, to get these charges reversed i have to call repeatedly and ask. If I hadn't reviewed my astronomically high bill I would just have paid it and verizon would have scored an extra $127.00. Is this a business practice, charge people for whatever you want and maybe they'll pay it. This is either dishonesty or inability to maintain accurate account info and neither are acceptable from a cell carier. Unless your'e a millionaire who doesn't mind being taken advantage of I suggest finding a carier that won't bill you for any random price, misc fees, a few random equipment charges, early termination fees for nonexistant lines, and when you do let me know. Im not too picky or difficult to please but this level of service is intollerable at the rates I pay. VERIZON IS GARBAGE!!!!!!!

  • 67 Posted by ward_o_g on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Verizon has to be the worst cell phone company you can get yourself into. I decided to be "in" about a year ago since all my friends were "in" and have been emailing them angry letters ever since. As far as I know they still charge $175 if you cancel even the day before the 2 year period is up. They don't let you send ringtones to your phone from other websites except vcast which charges $3.00 for a 30 second music clip. That's 10 cents a second! Also their software on the V3 razr is HORRIBLE! It takes 5 whole seconds after pushing a button for it to perform that action. They ask that their phones be taken to a rarely-there service technician every couple months for updating the software. I think its just a way of getting you into their stores so you can stand in line and look at phones you can't purchase without signing a new contract while you wait for said rarely-there technician. I have many more rants about verizon but this post has just reminded me that I have to go shoot my phone now and send them the remains. (on the up side, I do get a signal. I guess that's really all ya need, right?)

  • 68 Posted by tuscadar0 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    I GUESS I'M ONE OF THE LUCKY FEW THAT LOVE THEIR CARRIER. I'VE BEEN WITH VERIZON FOR AWHILE AND HAVE TO SAY IN MY EXPERIENCE IT'S THE BEST SERVICE COVERAGE I'VE HAD. THE TERM EARLY TERM PRORATION MEANS THAT IT IS CHEAPER TO CANCELL YOUR CONTRACT NOT MORE EXPENSIVE. FOR EVERY MONTH YOUR IN A 2 YR THEY TAKE 5 DOLLARS OFF THE 175 EARLY TERM FEE. SOUNDS FAIR TO ME IT'S NOT IT'S A SURPRISE THAT IT IS A 2 YR CONTRACT SINCE YOU HAVE TO SIGN. HELLO?

  • 69 Posted by soldat6365 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    My plan ran out two years ago and I never renewed it. I just pay the same amount every month and it's never increased. I guess I 'm month to month now

  • 70 Posted by jmar328 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    verizon has a 175.00 per phone cancellation. that is correct, lets say your at the end of your first year.And have 1 year left. Add the amount you would spend in 12 months. if you really are looking to save money 175.00 is cheaper then lets say 79.99 Times 12 months plus tax.(over $1000.00) Think about it.It's cheaper to spend the 175.00 and move on to a cheaper contract with somone else.Work for me.I moved from Verizon to T-Mobile. In my area the sevice is the same. I get more min's then I know what to do with. and I save almost $45.00 dollars a month.($540.00 a year.)

  • 71 Posted by tlshearer on Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:28PM EST Report Abuse

    What verizon company do you talk to. When I no longer needed the phone my daughter had on my family plan for 8 months and I tried to cancel it they told me that I not only had to keep the phone but also the huge minute plan or I would be stuck with it all for another 2 years because any change meant a new two year contract.

  • 72 Posted by bentonc02 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    dont go with sprint's 2-year contract, it is hell.

  • 73 Posted by mlcgruhlke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Where did Yahoo get this guy? He is wrong about nearly every article he writes...his previous occupation must have been as a weatherman. Neither Verizon, T-Mobile nor Sprint offer this so-called pro-rated deal to opt out of your contract and they are by far the most popular cell services in the US. You pay ALL the fees when you want to cancel before the term of your contract, whether it's one year or two years. You could "sell" your contract to another, however, this person must be eligible and approved by your carrier or you are still liable for the contract and pay any fees owing by the other party should they decide not to pay. My recommendation is to stick with your plan, and at the end of the term, decide whether or not you want to continue with a new carrier or just drop cell service altogether. Don't listen to this guy at all! Read other consumer reviews before you make a decision.

  • 74 Posted by agnesbartlett on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Number 25 - Does each phone have a contract if you only get one new cellphone?

  • 75 Posted by daniel_pantaleo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    NO such thing as a "pro-rated" cancellation or early terminatin fee with VERIZON! I just got zapped for TWO early termination fees BECAUSE I had a contract with two cell phones......one phone for a former girlfriend....SHE had a higher "allowed minutes" quota than I and she used up ALL HER minutes and THEN UNBEKNOWN TO US HER phone started to "eat into' MY minutes and BOTH our "allowed" minutes were exhausted. ALL this WITHOUT ANY NOTICE TO EITHER OF US! I got a $750 BILL for ONE MONTH!! AND Verizon reported me to all the credit bureaus!! VERIZON NO WAY I wouldn't buy a THING FROM THEM! I NOW have a PREPAID phone and I am considering going to a NEXTEL phone which I understand allows for FREE INCOMING calls from ALL cell phone carriers. Dan in Colchester, CT

  • 76 Posted by dan211978 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah, Verizon just wants there money, they don't care about the customres at all. Why would the offer the pro-rate only to new customers, and not give it to long time customers who were loyal in the frst place. If anyone knows how to get out of the Early Termination Fee after 1 1/2 years with Verizon let me know, been with them for almost 7 years and they would not let me out of anything.

  • 77 Posted by jazzykat2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have a Cingular family plan. My phone broke and my son moved out. I ordered a new phone from Cingular, because my phone died and they extended my contract for two more years. All I wanted was a new phone! They did not inform me that my plan would be extended. I do not need a family plan anymore and they will not let me change it. I want to switch companies but cannot do that without paying a $150 cancellation fee.

  • 79 Posted by jennay41 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hey I know Verizon charges $175.00 per line early termination fee. I had to have my phones turned off and they are charging me that fee on all 4 of my phones and two of them I had had for more than 2 years but they are still charging me $175.00 per line in which totals out to be $700.00. They don't decrease nothing.

  • 80 Posted by daltns on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    We had Verizon with 6 phones on the plan. They made tons of mistakes on the billing, most notably charging me prime time minutes on weekend or late night calls. When I would call to complain with the bill in my hand they would agree that an error had been made and then said they would correct it and refund me the difference. This happened repeatedly and they never refunded my money. We finally got out suffering the losses. Scratch Verizon as haveing a good reputation.

  • 81 Posted by fparmani on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    My son mangaged to over shoot his text plan to the tune of $800.00. It would of been nice of Verizon to give me a heads up before he went too far over. So now I'm looking at a $900 cell phone bill, and suspended service untill I can pay it off. I know it's not their responsibility, but some over and above customer service, especially to parents would keep me with them.

  • 82 Posted by swift_eddie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sunofstar, Can they do this??? They already have!

  • 83 Posted by rose_wyoming on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    My name is Kim,My husband and I live in Wyoming.We got Verizon phones 4 years ago.The dealer we got them from in Salt Lake City told us we had service here,where we live in wyoming.we got a two year contract,had them for three years.We needed a car new car charger,Verizon told us we would have to upgrade,because that the phones we had were out of style,to old.We got another 2 year plan and2 phones.They were working well untill,about july of 06.The phone were gettin bad reception andbatteries were runnning down,we also started getting billed for calling other verrizon custamers.They told us to take them to the nearest dealer,she typed in * 228 send,which knocked out are service.We called verizon,they said we never had severice in this area.We told them that we have had it for 4 years until we updated the phones.They told us since they have chaned their plans and we updated our phones,that we will never get service again.It has been one battle after another with verizon,to get them to refund the money I paid because of their mistake and they did not tell,write orcall us.I got billed for the in calls,$ 354.00 and they owes us, $265.00 back.Do you think they will refund our money?I think that is a BIG NO.we got charged,$ 150.00 for early termanation,when we had to,because of their mess up. We have had so many problems with verizon.They are a bad Company.

  • 84 Posted by taz8163 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    All the talk about telling Verizon that no one told you that to change your plan would renew a contract wont work. They send you a letter after the change informing you of the contract extention and give you 30 days to revert back to your old plan and contract date. I have phones with Alltel and Verizon both and have found Verizon a lot easier to work with than Alltel. At least when you have a phone warrenty replaced through Verizon it is a refurbished phone and looks new, through Alltel they claim to send refurbished phones but are often more beat up than the phone you are replacing. I wish I could get out of my Alltel contract and go exclusive with Verizon but have hit a brick wall with Alltel. They are the ones who dont care about there customers. All services have there good and bad points. You have to figure out where your willing to give and take.

  • 85 Posted by majkrafcheck on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Not quite the same thing. But I keep getting mail from Working Assets Mobile and from a couple other companies who offer to pay my cancellation fees with my current carrier if I am willing to switch. (I'm actually happy with my coverage, but it always is in the back of my mind for when I move.)

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