Trying to get out of a phone contract...

mikester · 04-20-2011, 05:10 PM

So normally when you start up a phone contract with a carrier you have a 30 day grace period or something like that. If the service is bad you can get out of it in that window.

Well, I previously had GOOD coverage with AT&T and now I don't. I've been on the phone with them for hours at a time over the last 6 weeks to try to get it resolved.

Coverage in my neighborhood and the surrounding areas has over the last few months really gotten pretty bad.

So; spent some time with them today and they were pretty unmoved on the ETF's but after an hour I told them we needed to stop the call and resume tomorrow - I was out of time and needed to make dinner for the family.

We'll see how it goes...I tell them I pay my bill on time in full every month. I'm meeting my contractual obligations - they aren't meeting theirs (as I see it).

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

You're SOL. Buy a used microcell on Craigslist and that will greatly improve coverage in your house. Then drop them like a bad habit the day your contract is up. Gawd, I hate AT&T with such a passion. Can't wait to leave them. Soup cans and string would work better in my new house.

stomachmonkey · 04-20-2011, 05:15 PM

Not meeting their contractual agreement has been my most succesful argument with providers.

It's a tough one for them argue.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Take your phone to an ATT business office and ask if they can do a software update on it. At times a vendor will expand their coverage, but possibly in a different frequency. Don't be suprised if your phone works great at the office as most business centers will have a repeater somewhere in the building. Also, keep a log of dropped calls, areas with no or poor reception, etc. You might get them to agree to changing out the phone for a different model. The approach that I would take would be to ask the salesperson "which of your phones has the best reception?". Then when they say model xyz suggest doing a replacement for your under performing phone. You might have to kick in a little extra cash, but not much. Also, if you get no satisfaction from the salesperson, ask to speak with their manager. If he stonewalls you, ask to speak to his boss, etc. At some point you will make it to the area or regional manager. A concerned (not threatening) conversation with the manager in an area where other shoppers can hear you should work wonders on his attitude. I guess as a last resort, you could make a large sign to go on your car and park in front of or near the ATT store. You might say something like, "Before you buy an ATT phone, please talk to me". Again, not threatening, but full of inuendos. Hope some of this might help!

mikester · 04-20-2011, 07:19 PM

So far they have offered me some discounts on my service. They have almost offered me a micro-cell but since my problems are not just at home they know that won't 'fix' it.

They have said they will not waive the ETF so I said will, I'm happy to keep calling and complaining and asking you to send engineers out to check things out. That's your money wasted along with mine.

With a Micro-cell I might be able to wait it out. There is the reality of the situation though as well. We both have iPhones which resell very well. If I can't get anywhere with them I may call it quits with them anyhow since I could probably make up the difference and then some.

I wish Verizon's iPhone could do voice and data at the same time... Doesn't matter for my wife but it does for me. She still wants and iPhone and I'm on the fence. I know the Andriod phones are great but I extremely like my iPhone. Furthermore I don't believe it is the phone. We both havce signal problems and both have different phones. She has a 3GS and I have a 4; She has MY old phone which when I had it was almost flawless. When I first got my 4 it was pretty good at home - something has happened since that time and the service in our area has gone to crap.

stomachmonkey · 07:41 PM

Your argument does not need to go beyond, "I agreed to pay you X in exchange for Y. I am paying you X and you are not providing Y. That is a breach of contract on your part so you are not entitled to an ETF."

Just keep repeating that and don't back off it.

Good luck

speedracing944 · speedracing944's Garage

We ended our contract due to no reception. If you look at Verizon's coverage map, you will see almost all of southern WI is covered, except a tiny, wee spot of non coverage in the central WI-Il border area.

That's us.

They sent a technician to our driveway to measure reception. There is a clause in WI that if if you have no coverage in your home, you do not have to pay the termination fee. We got let out of the contract easily.

Another way is to not pay and dispute any and all charges to your credit.

mikester · 04-21-2011, 05:54 PM

Well, no surprise but they did not call me back today during the scheduled time. Unfortunately I'm dealing with a bit of a sick kid tonight so I can't go after them until tomorrow probably.

I will though. Today was another bad day with the phone so I'm pretty committed to my exit strategy.