avoid cingular cancellation fees?

[iamme]

we currently have a family share setup w/ two phones. i want to keep one phone, but move the other one to a prepaid deal. i called but the guy said there'd be a cancelation fee ($150). out of curiosity, has anyone successfully argued/persuaded them to avoid the cancellation fee in this type of situation?

 

[iamme]

 

[intogamer]

You can either move to a roaming area and use your minutes there. It will cost cingular a lot.

Or you can take your chances and b1tch at serivce

 

[DaWhim]

1. find a place where you will be roaming into a non-cingular network
2. rack up tons of minutes to make cingular pay for the roaming charges.
3. you may have to do this for a few months

cingular will cancel you without cancellation fees.

 

[iamme]

so this roaming minutes thing is a known method?

don't i incur extra costs when roaming? aren't i risking a huge phone bill?

 

[Splork]

You will not be allowed to move a postpaid service to a prepaid service if you're under contract, regardless if you want or don't want to incur the ETF.

-SP

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: iamme
so this roaming minutes thing is a known method?

don't i incur extra costs when roaming? aren't i risking a huge phone bill?

No
you're not suppose to be billed for roaming fees...
especially with all the cingular plans that's been out lately.

 

[akshatp]

Anyone know a Cingular "roaming area" ?

i have a line on my account that hasnt been used in 4 months, and would like to cancel it. I would be willing to ship the phone and sim to someone and let them use it and rack up minutes free of charge, and then you can keep the phone for your troubles... after cingular cancels the line.

 

[iamme]

hmmm, found this: http://roaminghack.blogspot.com/

 

[alkemyst]

roaming hacks are getting harder to get...but in general when you roam it costs your carrier hard cash. They are banking on you rarely roam.

Once you charges become hard on them (> your monthly fee each and every month), they will first try to get you to pay...then if you succeed in balking at them...terminate your account then bill you the term fee.

If they termed you, you never have to pay that fee.

 

[iamme]

hmm.....what happens if you open a new account with another carrier and port your old number over. is your old account canceled and subject to a cancellation fee?

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: iamme
hmm.....what happens if you open a new account with another carrier and port your old number over. is your old account canceled and subject to a cancellation fee?

most would want proof of cancellation. Either way though you are facing the term fee on that action.