Cellphone Contracts

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RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
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Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Can someone tell me why cell phone carriers are still allowed to make you sign on a 2 year contract? I don't have to sign a contract for my cable, internet, Sirius, or phone bill. Once these companies have you locked in they no longer have to try hard to keep your business. If you are pissed off and want to leave, you can't because that means you will be spending a couple hundred dollars to get out of the damn contract. They could care less if their competition is running better promotions because these vermin know you won't pay the hefty fee to leave them for it.

Isn't it nice seeing all those promotions on TV or in the mail from your carrier that are not applicable to you? They all require a 2 year agreement, and since you are already signed on you get fucked out of the deals without even a reach around.

This is just one big fucking scam and nobody seems to care about it.
Click to expand...

You don't have too. Pay 500$ for your Blackberry than pay as you go.

I signed a 3 year contract, got my phone for free and a 100 anytime, 1000 evening with a awesome data plan that I use all the time for 70$ a month.
 
S

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,757
12
81
You don't have to. They certainly don't force you.

The contract is there if you want a subsidy on your phone. The latest and greatest phone doesn't go for $100 on the open market, but that's what they charge you if you stay for 2 years. Otherwise you can go buy the unlocked version at the retail price and go month to month.

Of course, in the US you basically limit yourself to T-Mobile or AT&T if you buy a GSM phone, or Verizon and Sprint if you choose CDMA. Still, you have the freedom to switch if you buy the phone at retail.
 
B

BigJ

Lifer
Nov 18, 2001
21,330
1
81
You don't have to sign a 2 year contract. You just don't get the deals on phones the companies give you at well below cost.
 
KLin

KLin

Lifer
Feb 29, 2000
30,186
550
126
You don't have to sign the 2 year contract. You can pay month to month. Just don't expect a nice discount on the cell phone.
 
Amused

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,087
18,583
146
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Can someone tell me why cell phone carriers are still allowed to make you sign on a 2 year contract? I don't have to sign a contract for my cable, internet, Sirius, or phone bill. Once these companies have you locked in they no longer have to try hard to keep your business. If you are pissed off and want to leave, you can't because that means you will be spending a couple hundred dollars to get out of the damn contract. They could care less if their competition is running better promotions because these vermin know you won't pay the hefty fee to leave them for it.

Isn't it nice seeing all those promotions on TV or in the mail from your carrier that are not applicable to you? They all require a 2 year agreement, and since you are already signed on you get fucked out of the deals without even a reach around.

This is just one big fucking scam and nobody seems to care about it.
Click to expand...

Because they practically gave you the phone.

They do this so more people don;t have the huge upfront cost of buying the phones outright. They get their money back over the 1 or 2 year contract time.

Sat TV has a 1 or 2 year contract too because they give you the equipment free, or very cheap.
 
Amused

Amused

Elite Member
Apr 14, 2001
57,087
18,583
146
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
When color me stupid. Has this always been the case?
Click to expand...

For the bulk of the time cell service has been available, yes.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
You don't have to sign a contract at all. You can get a pay as you go phone, or like said before pay the premium on the phone to have no contract. You can't complain of a scam when you willingly go through with it.

OP rant fails: 0/10
 
Capt Caveman

Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
34,543
651
126
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Can someone tell me why cell phone carriers are still allowed to make you sign on a 2 year contract? I don't have to sign a contract for my cable, internet, Sirius, or phone bill. Once these companies have you locked in they no longer have to try hard to keep your business. If you are pissed off and want to leave, you can't because that means you will be spending a couple hundred dollars to get out of the damn contract. They could care less if their competition is running better promotions because these vermin know you won't pay the hefty fee to leave them for it.

Isn't it nice seeing all those promotions on TV or in the mail from your carrier that are not applicable to you? They all require a 2 year agreement, and since you are already signed on you get fucked out of the deals without even a reach around.

This is just one big fucking scam and nobody seems to care about it.
Click to expand...

/thread fails
 
Newbian

Newbian

Lifer
Aug 24, 2008
24,779
882
126
I was wondering about how the case in California awhile ago where they declared these types of charges were illegal and what has happened because of this?

Does that case only have the California charges different or did they redo the whole thing?
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,390
8,547
126
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Well color me stupid. Has this always been the case?
Click to expand...

it was a year up until some whiny bitches wanted number portability.

'waaaa, i can't take my number with me and i'll actually have to tell people i got a new number'


what's really annoying is they try to get you into another 2 years for changing your plan. want to add a data package? yeah you need another 2 years. wtf. i'm giving them MORE money each month, they should be sending me a thank you note rather than trying to lock me up.
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
454
126
Good thing we have several people who quoted the entire OP... seems his immense shame made him take it down. :D
 
ebaycj

ebaycj

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2002
5,418
0
0
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: Zeppelin2282
Well color me stupid. Has this always been the case?
Click to expand...

it was a year up until some whiny bitches wanted number portability.

'waaaa, i can't take my number with me and i'll actually have to tell people i got a new number'


what's really annoying is they try to get you into another 2 years for changing your plan. want to add a data package? yeah you need another 2 years. wtf. i'm giving them MORE money each month, they should be sending me a thank you note rather than trying to lock me up.
Click to expand...

Sprint does not do this.

The only reason they make you sign a new agreement is if you are reducing your plan.
 
rh71

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
I remember when the Treo w/o contract was $650... sign a contract and it wasn't even half that. Contracts are ftw if you want a new phone.
 
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