Avoid AT&T Early Termination Fee With Backflip?

[Hydromea]

Hi everyone, I have had my backflip for almost 2 years and have been pretty disappointed with it. It now has overheating issues, locks up frequently, and is overall a crappy phone, even with CM7. I could easilty restore it to original, non-rooted settings if I had to send it back, so I was wondering... Have any of you canceled your contracts early, and if so, what did you say to AT&T, as in your reason for ending it and everything. And also, is there any wat to avoid the ETF? Like any specific complaints or anything? Thanks.

[bconover93]

depends. how many more months do you have? ...I got 7 to go. :/

[Double0EK]

It doesn't hurt to ask if you can do an early upgrade.

Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using Tapatalk

[Frogacuda]

Hi everyone, I have had my backflip for almost 2 years and have been pretty disappointed with it. It now has overheating issues, locks up frequently, and is overall a crappy phone, even with CM7. I could easilty restore it to original, non-rooted settings if I had to send it back, so I was wondering... Have any of you canceled your contracts early, and if so, what did you say to AT&T, as in your reason for ending it and everything. And also, is there any wat to avoid the ETF? Like any specific complaints or anything? Thanks.

I was in the same boat. Unlike other carriers, where the ETF is the same amount even if you're one day away, AT&T's is pro-rated, meaning it goes down $30 a month after the first year.

This actually gives you a lot of leverage after about a year and a half. I made it 17 months into my contract. I asked for an early fully subsidized upgrade. They told me no. THEN I pointed out that my early termination fee was only like $150 and much cheaper than their early upgrade fee...

Once I said the word "cancel" all of a sudden they go into "customer retention" mode and were very accommodating. Sent me a brand new Galaxy S II Skyrocket for $150, free overnight shipping and waived activation. Absolutely love it. Squeaky wheel.

So that's my advice: Find out how low your early termination fee is (if you're really almost 2 years in, it'll be very low) and point that out to them. They'll give you whatever you want if you stay.

Good luck!

depends. how many more months do you have? ...I got 7 to go. :/

That's exactly how many I had to go. Your cancellation fee is way low by now, use that leverage. Tell them your backflip broke, too, that will help. And don't skimp this time, get something nice!

[Monotremata]

Man I tried that a couple months ago too! My contract ends in March and for some reason, for the first time in 10 years with them, I cant get a discounted phone until a month AFTER my contract runs out (at the end of April it says). How or why I have no clue! I called them up and got some bs about 'its probably because of all the late payments' which is like I said BS. This past two years I havent been any worse with my payments then I ever have in 10 years but this is the first time Im going to have to sit through my entire contract. I got my Backflip three months early but now they dont want me to get rid of it.. When I asked the rep how much it was to flat out cancel my contract, she didnt seem to care and just told me how much and was like 'Ok thanks'. Ive only got two more months to go, but its irritating the hell out of me. I liked my Backflip but after two years, man it is seriously time for something UP TO DATE.. I tried telling them my BF has gone to crap on me too and got the same 'oh well im sorry' type of response..

Im wondering if it has something to do with the fact that I havent changed my service plan and am still on the old unlimited data plan which I refuse to get rid of. Maybe theyre trying to force me to change it or something I dont know. I found out I can finally get a REAL Android phone from Verizon with no credit deposit now, but Ive had this same number for 10 years now, and dont want to risk going to a 2GB a month data plan.. Cant easily move my number over either as my mom was actually the one that opened this account for me and Ive just been paying for it this entire time since like 2000..

[Frogacuda]

Man I tried that a couple months ago too! My contract ends in March and for some reason, for the first time in 10 years with them, I cant get a discounted phone until a month AFTER my contract runs out (at the end of April it says). How or why I have no clue! I called them up and got some bs about 'its probably because of all the late payments' which is like I said BS. This past two years I havent been any worse with my payments then I ever have in 10 years but this is the first time Im going to have to sit through my entire contract. I got my Backflip three months early but now they dont want me to get rid of it.. When I asked the rep how much it was to flat out cancel my contract, she didnt seem to care and just told me how much and was like 'Ok thanks'. Ive only got two more months to go, but its irritating the hell out of me. I liked my Backflip but after two years, man it is seriously time for something UP TO DATE.. I tried telling them my BF has gone to crap on me too and got the same 'oh well im sorry' type of response..

Im wondering if it has something to do with the fact that I havent changed my service plan and am still on the old unlimited data plan which I refuse to get rid of. Maybe theyre trying to force me to change it or something I dont know. I found out I can finally get a REAL Android phone from Verizon with no credit deposit now, but Ive had this same number for 10 years now, and dont want to risk going to a 2GB a month data plan.. Cant easily move my number over either as my mom was actually the one that opened this account for me and Ive just been paying for it this entire time since like 2000..

The reps on the phone 100% have the discretionary power to give you a subsidized upgrade early, but they don't have any reason to do it, unless you ask to cancel. When people ask to cancel they're obliged to convince them not to, and their performance is evaluated on how effectively they do that. The caller is actually accountable for how many cancellations they can convert, so playing that card for all it's worth is your best bet.

And don't forget, you can always try again later. I had reps tell me no a couple times before I got one who hooked me up.

[Hydromea]

Hi guys, thanks for your replies. My contract ends in early April, not too long, so I've decided to just wait it out and use the money I would spend on early activation and use it to buy a better phone. I could convice them to waive it but I feel it's unnecessary. Thanks anyway.

[Frogacuda]

If there's one thing we can all learn from the Backflip, it's "buy a better phone."

Not that my 'flip didn't serve me well, and I'm certainly grateful for M3 and the great support it got here, if not from moto, but I recognize in hindsight it would have been so worth it to have shelled out a few extra bucks for a Captivate or whatever. I'm going top shelf from now on. It's only once every 2 years, after all.

AT&T's high end stuff is cheap right now anyway. Vibrant for $99, Galaxy S II for $150... What more could you want? Equivalent stuff on other carriers is like $250-$300.

[Monotremata]

Actually Frogacuda I think I got the right rep yesterday when I called to make a late payment arrangement but unfortunately Im broke until tomorrow and couldnt do anything hahaha! I got a really cool dude that made my arrangement and I decided to ask him about my contract. Apparently ATT now pushes your upgrade date back a month everytime you dont pay your bill and service is disconnected. Even though Ive always paid it THE SAME DAY it gets disconnected (I usually remember its due when I notice the phone is off haha), he told me that because of this it got pushed back. BUT he also asked me 'Would you like to upgrade today?' but I had to tell him no since obviously I didnt have the money to pay my bill, I didnt have the money for a new phone. I probably couldve gotten my Galaxy S2 yesterday! I got his name though so maybe when my tax return shows up in a week or so Ill call and ask for him specifically and see if I can get back to him..

[Frogacuda]

That sounds like a plan right there. Good luck (and good choice on the S2, I love mine).

[Monotremata]

I was looking at my account last night to see about adding a line for my fiance and noticed they had a refurbed S2 for only $9.99!!!!! I almost jumped on it right away (was gonna just swap SIMs and let her use the Backflip until March and then let her get an iPhone) but I wasnt sure if adding a line would mess up my data plan or anything since I noticed once you add a line it converts to a family plan. Ill have to go ask the mobile guys at work about all of that before I do it..

Although I did notice if I go into the change plan or manage features options, I still have like 3 or 4 unlimited data plans I can choose from.. I thought they all went away except for those of us that havent changed it yet? Can people still get unlimited plans from ATT??

[bconover93]

If there's one thing we can all learn from the Backflip, it's "buy a better phone."

Not that my 'flip didn't serve me well, and I'm certainly grateful for M3 and the great support it got here, if not from moto, but I recognize in hindsight it would have been so worth it to have shelled out a few extra bucks for a Captivate or whatever. I'm going top shelf from now on. It's only once every 2 years, after all.

AT&T's high end stuff is cheap right now anyway. Vibrant for $99, Galaxy S II for $150... What more could you want? Equivalent stuff on other carriers is like $250-$300.

Vibrant?? Only $99 phone they sell is the Atrix 2. And you can get a refurb SGS2 for only $10.

[Frogacuda]

The Vibrant was $99 when I got it a few weeks ago, anyway.

Although, oddly enough, the Skyrocket was $150 and now that's $200, so I think I might have showed up at a good time.

[bconover93]

That's T-Mobile though...You sure you don't mean the Captivate?

[Frogacuda]

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant the HTC Vivid. Too many phone names to keep them all straight.