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Verizon ETF doubling to $350, other carriers not planning to increase penalty
News by Brian James Kirk on Monday November 09, 2009.
As Verizon Wireless is set to double its Early Termination Fee to $350 on November 15, other carriers are not planning to raise the price for customers to opt-out of their subscriber contracts, mocoNews reports.
Verizon says that it is raising its fee because the price of highly subsidized smartphones is rising significantly and it could potentially lose money from customers ending their contracts early, All Things Digital reports.
Sprint charges a $200 ETF that is prorated to $50 depending on the number of months remaining on a contract. Sprint said late last week that its policy will remain the same, PhoneScoop reports. T-Mobile told mocoNews that it doesn't have plans to raise its $200 ETF rate, either. AT&T didn't tell the publication whether it had plans to change its $175 rate.
About the author
Brian James Kirk
Brian is a former news editor on MobileBurn.com that freelances in Philadelphia. You can follow him on Twitter as @BrianJamesKirk.
david bachman @ 12:48:44PM EST on Monday November 9, 2009
Ever heard of Cellswapper.com? It may be the only way out,
Tony @ 1:48:39PM EST on Monday November 9, 2009
Verizon is crazy for raising the ETF to $350. There should be no ETF and if the service sucks, the customer should be able to leave w/o any penalty.
Tony @ 1:50:52PM EST on Monday November 9, 2009
I just activated my Motorola Droid and it's still $175 for ETF. I guess if u activate your phone on 11/15 or after then the ETF will be $350.
Mike @ 12:11:48AM EST on Tuesday November 10, 2009
If people can't pay their bill, how do these carriers expect them to pay a termination fee like that? That's ridiculous! More of a deterent from signing on with them than anything else!
Greg @ 2:31:42PM EST on Thursday November 12, 2009
ETFs should be illegal as they are anti-competitive tactics. I understand they have to protect the subsidies for expensive smartphones, so GET RID OF SUBSIDIES! Make people pay full pop for their phones and let them go where they want for mobile service. Wake up America. Europe has done this for years.
After being burned with a ETF from my wife's business account (the startup she worked for went belly up), I will NEVER do business with Verizon. Ever.