best options for getting out of iphone contract

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm on Verizon. Unlimited text with a data package. I'm 9 months into a two year contract. I don't feel this (roughly) $100 per month is a good value for my money.
Don't get me wrong- I love my iphone. I never thought I'd enjoy texting as much as I do with this particular phone.
(Texting on my Blackberry was HORRIBLE).
What are my best options for hanging it up?

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

i think there is a fee you can pay to get out. i dont think you can just up and stop it would hit your credit.

 

[FSU3NOLES28]

Verizon put a cancellation fee on both the data and the voice portion of new contracts starting about 2 years ago.

Basically the data plan you have is tied into a contract and the voice part is another. I don't believe the texting has anything to do with it.

Your phone or any contract phone for that matter has to have a voice plan attached to it. You chose the smart phone option which means it has to have data as well.

You could either

a.) find someone to take over your line for you and your won't have to pay a cancellation fee. They would be financially responsible for it and I'm not sure but you might have to lose your number.

B.) cut back to the cheapest data plan Verizon offers and just use your data very little or none at all... That would avoid the cancellation fee.

C. Tell them you want to cut data off, you'd have to get a non smart phone and activate it, but you'd be responsible for the cancellation fee for the data part of the line.

If I were you I'd do option 3, drop data, get a new phone and sell your iPhone on ebay. They always bring pretty good $. Then just put that $ towards a new phone (not a new one with a new contract through verizon but on ebay of something instead) and the cancellation fee. You enjoy texting, so get a phone that doesn't require data and keep your text plan.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

thank u

thank u

4 a very helpful reply!

 

[Foody]

You likely paid $100 for your iphone (unless you got one with more memory). Even then, either $200 or $300. But lets stick with $100 for now. You also signed a contract that says you will maintain your plan for 2 years and if not you agreed to pay a cancellation fee, basically a prorated amount based on the actual cost of your phone which was likely closer to $600. Therefore, being 9 months in, you would be expected to pay the remainder of the value of the phone. In this case, likely a bit over $400. A quick call to Verizon (800-922-0204) would clear it up pretty quickly.

 

[teamdulski]

Getting out of the contract without a huge penalty is going to be tough. I would see what your data usage is and drop down to a lower tier if possible.

 

[tent boy]

The Verizon people don't like to "get dropped". We tried it once and it wasn't pretty. Not one of my better days.

 

[Twinpanther]

I'm not on Verizon (Hate them, sorry Ray) but I believe their Early Termination Fee (ETF) is $350-$10 for each completed month. So for you that's $260. So, hand them an additional $260 is the Verizon way out.

 

[oldimpala]

Gary-

I can tell you; they design 'em pretty airtight. Last time I checked (no kidding on this one) you either need proof of a document that you're moving to a location without service (Like a deed), or a death certificate.

I'm betting you're not moving, and the second one may be a bit extreme to avoid an ETF.

They're actually prorated using some sort of decreasing scale; or at least they were when I checked several years ago.

Either way; good luck with Big Red. They're tough. I'd recommend terminating, buying a phone that better suits your needs, and selling yours on eBay to recoup probably 85% of the costs of the ETF.

And I say that with love, 'cause Verizon puts food on my table and clothes on my back...