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Verizon - Cancel contract -- pay for phone?

Quick question for anyone who has looked into this before ...
I know when you get an upgrade and new phone you are increasing your contract by 2 years, and that contract is what essentially gives you a discounted price on the phone... so... I'm wondering... If you were to cancel your contract (paying the $150 fee) would you also be responsible for the difference in retail price on the phone??? Or is the $150 cancellation fee the ONLY charge???
jw

Zenoran said:
Quick question for anyone who has looked into this before ...
I know when you get an upgrade and new phone you are increasing your contract by 2 years, and that contract is what essentially gives you a discounted price on the phone... so... I'm wondering... If you were to cancel your contract (paying the $150 fee) would you also be responsible for the difference in retail price on the phone??? Or is the $150 cancellation fee the ONLY charge???
jw
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I have been through this with Sprint and AT&T/Cingular and the cancellation fee with them is all you pay. I have never used Verizon and probably never will.

I'm just wondering my options for down the road... not too happy with Verizon.. service does work in my home city but if I try going outside or visit my hometown I can never get any signal.
will have to see who releases the newest badass pda device.. usually sprint wins the race for some reason... att & verizon still haven't even gotten the touch yet! I'm not too concerned with ATT cuz they're clearly sleeping with apple but verizon really needs to get off their asses and come up with something innovative to capture our geeky attention... IT'S NOT IN THE NETWORK.

AT&T by far have the best coverage for HSDPA in Ohio and around the USA except for the west coast for some reason. The best devices are not at the carrier's stores. Check out some options at www.onthegosolutions.com

phones on that website are NOT cheap!...

$150 cancellation fee ? You have nice contracts in the U.S. ! Here, to resign we must pay the fee for every month remaining in our mobile contract, which would amount to something like €500 ($800) for me...

m3uch4 said:
$150 cancellation fee ? You have nice contracts in the U.S. ! Here, to resign we must pay the fee for every month remaining in our mobile contract, which would amount to something like €500 ($800) for me...
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ouch! Well, that's why I was wondering if you have to pay for the phone or not too??? reason being.. I paid $100 for my Titan from Verizon with all the discounts and such.. I'm sure that would turn around and sell on ebay for 250+??? that's easily cost of my phone + cancellation fee... could easily jump ship to another carrier for a new model with little or no cost... that is, however, if they dont charge you for the phone in addition to contract cancellation.
buying phones retail seems silly though... i surely cant afford $600+ for a phone... eek!

Price?

Well I have read numerous sources saying it will be 199.99 with 2 Year Contract.. Now I am seeing receipts for 149.99 with contract or 299.99 without contract. I truly want this phone and the 50$ wont stop me, but hey it is 50$ more dollars for apps and accessories. Does anyone know if they price was changed or if I should bring in a picture of the receipts to get a 50$ off or will I just end up paying 200$?

AT&T and Samsung posted on their twitter that it is $199 with a contract, and $350 without a contract.
I'm hoping it is $350, cause that's how much money i got for it! haha.

Yah, but how are people getting it for 300 or 150?

I have no idea. I haven't seen any receipts and such.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/576/receiptn.jpg
and
http://imgur.com/EYdsN.jpg

Now I'm jealous. I hope it is $300 but i'll settle for $350!

haha yah I mean, paying an extra 50 really won't stop me. But hey, thats 50$'s I can use on accessories etc

I guarantee that it's 349.99 without a contract and 199.99 with a 2 year contract.
The people that are getting 50 or 100 dollars off the prices of the phone is because of the AT&T upgrade advantage.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/upgrade-advantage.jsp
If the primary line on your account is over $100 then that line will be upgrade eligible every year.

I believe they have three ways of paying.
1. upgrade elligable its $199 with a 2 year contract and USE your elligability.
2. Not elligable for an upgrade its $350. with a 2 year extension on your contract but not using your future upgrade.
3. No contract $499.
I just called and thats what two local stores told me.

I was just told 500 off contract from an AT&T store.

chakra said:
I believe they have three ways of paying.
1. upgrade elligable its $199 with a 2 year contract and USE your elligability.
2. Not elligable for an upgrade its $350. with a 2 year extension on your contract but not using your future upgrade.
3. No contract $499.
I just called and thats what two local stores told me.
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Woa, that'd be completely new for att. I've never seen any signs or ads anywhere for previous phones that describe option 2, always just 1 or 3 (renew your contract or just no contract pricing - no inbetween). If I'm wrong, I apologise, but I haven't heard of that before.

I called a store from one of the recepits that people have posted, and they told me that there was no way some of the pricing, nor sales have happened. I was told $500 dollars from a store that was $300.
I was also told $199 from a store that sold one for $149 and that I was reading the receipt wrong and instead of the "samsung i897" like the receipt says, it was really a 3gs 32 gb phone. Basically, I was told that I am an idiot and it wasn't really that price.
what the hell is going on?

Now I'm just more mad than anxious.

tysj said:
Now I'm just more mad than anxious.
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I agree. This whole pricing war is becoming insane, not to mention differen't prices for different people is not right.

AllTheWay said:
I guarantee that it's 349.99 without a contract and 199.99 with a 2 year contract.
The people that are getting 50 or 100 dollars off the prices of the phone is because of the AT&T upgrade advantage.
http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/why/upgrade-advantage.jsp
If the primary line on your account is over $100 then that line will be upgrade eligible every year.
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That makes a lot more sense. So I think that actually clears up everything. Stores don't sell them at different prices, you may just be eligible for an additional discount. But I will still call several places when it is out to try to pick it up for 150$

So since my phone line is $150 a month, but i just upgraded last month, I am able to get this phone for $350 or $500?

wait... I want to get this phone but no data plan... as an att customer already which pricing would fit me

madjsp said:
So since my phone line is $150 a month, but i just upgraded last month, I am able to get this phone for $350 or $500?
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Honestly, I don't think think you are eligible for any of the 50 or 100$ off. Now I still haven't quite found out why some stores are charging 350 or 500 so I would simply suggest calling around.

Danni3 said:
wait... I want to get this phone but no data plan... as an att customer already which pricing would fit me
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Well I don't think you can purchase the phone without a data plan. Maybe off contract, but if you want the 2 year agreement price, you HAVE to get a data plan. As for the 50 and 100$ off, you NEED a 2 year agreement and that means you NEED a data plan.

Panduh said:
Honestly, I don't think think you are eligible for any of the 50 or 100$ off. Now I still haven't quite found out why some stores are charging 350 or 500 so I would simply suggest calling around.
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every retail store I've called is selling for 500 dollars, or they do not have any pricing information yet.

Want to get a phone for development, but have a question.

Hi Guys,
I've been trying to get a phone for development for around 250ish but havn't been successful. Well, it seems my chance might be comming up since T-Mobile is having a Free Smart Phone sale this weekend.
My plan is to go buy the phone, use it for 16 days and cancel my contract. If everything's done fair, it should cost $200 + 16 days of service + any taxes/activation fees.
So I have a few questions.
1) Has anyone done this before? Where there any suprises?
2) Is WP7 functional with Wifi? (i.e. marketplace, games, internet, etc).
3) Think I'll still be able to get updates or what not?
4) Anything else I should be looking for?
Thanks!

A bill from t-mobile for full price of the phone.

I don't get it, you want to develop for 16 days?

vetvito said:
A bill from t-mobile for full price of the phone.
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From experience?
orangekid said:
I don't get it, you want to develop for 16 days?
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Umm, no, T-Mobile requires you return hardware when you cancel your contract within 15 days. But they don't charge a fee.

If you keep the phone, that whole special goes out the window. Read the contract. They will charge you full price.

cohowap said:
Umm, no, T-Mobile requires you return hardware when you cancel your contract within 15 days. But they don't charge a fee.
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don't they charge an ETF when you sign a contract and cancel it after 16 days?

orangekid said:
don't they charge an ETF when you sign a contract and cancel it after 16 days?
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No, they don't charge an etf if you cancel and return everything before the 15th day.

cohowap said:
No, they don't charge an etf if you cancel and return everything before the 15th day.
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ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.

orangekid said:
ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.
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looks like the op is trying to get the phone for just the subsidized price... then kill contract, and not owe tmo money. good luck, not going to happen. they'll bill for the difference.

orangekid said:
ok now im confused...
you want to get a phone on a discount with a contract, then return it for a refund? I don't get what you're trying to do here.
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No... I'm trying to get a WP7 phone to develop with. But I don't have the 600 bucks to buy if "off contract".
So, if I enter a contract, get the phone discounted for FREE this weekend, then "Terminate" the contract a month later, I have to pay the $200 ETF + the month bill + taxes which would be significantly less than the 600 bucks off contract.
Once I terminate the contract, I have no obligation on returning the device, I was asking to see what the outcome would be. T-Mobile online rep blantly said, I'd be responsible for the ETF + Monthly Fee + Taxes, but god knows if they are right, I wanted to see if anyone else tried this.

cohowap said:
No... I'm trying to get a WP7 phone to develop with. But I don't have the 600 bucks to buy if "off contract".
So, if I enter a contract, get the phone discounted for FREE this weekend, then "Terminate" the contract a month later, I have to pay the $200 ETF + the month bill + taxes which would be significantly less than the 600 bucks off contract.
Once I terminate the contract, I have no obligation on returning the device, I was asking to see what the outcome would be. T-Mobile online rep blantly said, I'd be responsible for the ETF + Monthly Fee + Taxes, but god knows if they are right, I wanted to see if anyone else tried this.
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I see, let's take a look though.
$200 ETF
$80 monthly fee (cheapest monthly price you can get on WP7 with tmobile)
$35 activation fee
$35 (approx.) taxes and fees
$350 total for the phone.
not sure where you live but here you could get it for something like this:
http://houston.craigslist.org/mob/2205022524.html
or
http://houston.craigslist.org/mob/2202253067.html
of course there are people asking fro $400 but I can guarantee they will not get near that money for this phone.
If you really want to try what you're talking about then go for it, it seems like it would work, but:
1) they may have a stipulation where you cannot cancel your contract for X months due to the "free" phone or you owe the difference, I'd check the fine print on that one.
2) seems like too much work and drama.
retail for an HD7 on tmobile is $500,

This is why Verizon & att (real carriers in the usa) have $350+ ETFs.
watch for mail in rebate that will void if your contract is expired before xx days
orangekid pointed out the actual higher cost though. You might want to check ATT price for a Focus off-contract i've heard can be had for $399 but ymmv. better phone and more coverage if you ever needed to use it as a phone later.
The phone will be fully functional (on wifi) but sim locked to the carrier.

gcianc said:
This is why Verizon & att (real carriers in the usa) have $350+ ETFs.
watch for mail in rebate that will void if your contract is expired before xx days
orangekid pointed out the actual higher cost though. You might want to check ATT price for a Focus off-contract i've heard can be had for $399 but ymmv. better phone and more coverage if you ever needed to use it as a phone later.
The phone will be fully functional (on wifi) but sim locked to the carrier.
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I don't know what you mean by "real carrier" @ att, since in my city they drop more calls than tmobile ever does even though they probably have more subscribers. ATT's monthly rates (as verizon's) are insanely high too, and they have tiered data, whereas tmobile does not.
off contract they usually give you the sim unlock code, but on contract they generally don't from my experience.

Ugh 2 pages and no answer. The answer to your question is this.
1. You don't need an actual phone to develop apps. The development tool package comes with a simulator.
2. You cannot install apps you are developing on the phone without having it being flagged for development. This process costs 99$ a year and requires you send some identification data to the company that verifies your identity.
So buying a phone for 16 days is pointless. Even if you had the phone you couldn't put any apps on it without paying Microsoft 99$. Personally I would use the simulator to learn how to develop an app, develop one and then buy the phone when you're ready to release. The advantage here is obviously newer better phones in the future compared to right now.
hope that helps

very good points, I figured since OP is trying to scratch, claw, gamble, and steal his way to get the phone, he was just going to use Chevron on it instead of dropping $99 on the fee.

[Q] Early Termination Fee at&t

What would be the Early Termination Fee for a Skyrocket if canceled in the first 30 days. Per at&t policy i read it would be 0. I plan on buying a White Skyrocket and cancel the contract on the first week of purchase. But most importantly to Keep the Phone.
Will at&t allow me to keep the phone? I would like to keep the phone,unlock it and finally use it in my main country. I was thinking of buying a Galaxy Nexus but it is still expensive and the Skyrocket strategy plan B would be a cheaper solution if possible.
Feel free to comment. Thanks

less then 30 days you pay a restocking fee at most unless you damaged the phone, then not sure.
you have to return the phone or pay for it outright.
handheld google device

No, AT&T or any other US carrier for that matter will not let you keep the phone if you plan to cancel within 30 days. You will have to bring the phone back to the store to cancel if still within the 30 day period. They will issue a refund for the phone first, then will they cancel the contract.

Is there anyway i can keep the phone without paying the full off-contract price?
In 2007 i brought a couple of iPhones to my country. They were not activated in store and i could keep them. I dont remember much, but i did get to keep my iPhones and then unlocked them myself

Only way I know how is to look on craigslist and find someone selling theirs. That is what I did. I was able to get a skyrocket for $300. It is not as good as as paying $150, but I did not have to sign a contract.

mvtm said:
Is there anyway i can keep the phone without paying the full off-contract price?
In 2007 i brought a couple of iPhones to my country. They were not activated in store and i could keep them. I dont remember much, but i did get to keep my iPhones and then unlocked them myself
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So you want to cancel the 2 year contract you signed, keep the $600 phone that you only payed $150-$250 for as incentive for signing the contract, and pay no termination fee?
Good luck with that!

mvtm said:
What would be the Early Termination Fee for a Skyrocket if canceled in the first 30 days. Per at&t policy i read it would be 0. I plan on buying a White Skyrocket and cancel the contract on the first week of purchase. But most importantly to Keep the Phone.
Will at&t allow me to keep the phone? I would like to keep the phone,unlock it and finally use it in my main country. I was thinking of buying a Galaxy Nexus but it is still expensive and the Skyrocket strategy plan B would be a cheaper solution if possible.
Feel free to comment. Thanks
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per at&t policy u must give the phone back during the 30 days if u cancel or change mind trust me if this was not the case people would do this all the time and i would have about 10 new devices right now
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

AT&T will bill your account the $325 Early Termination Fee, and will only remove it once you return the device. If you don't return it. I imagine they'll continue to add late fees to the bill, or eventually send you to collections if it remains unpaid. You're better off trying to find a used one on CL or eBay. Otherwise save yourself the hassle and buy it outright.

Here in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell will buy out your current contract with competitors, maybe you can do the same with a carrier near you. It will require a contract signed with the next carrier, with termination fees probably including the cost to buy out original contract. CBell is GSM, it might work here dependent of frequencies. Thats the only way out as I see it and keeping the device.

"Sticking it to the man" threads are not looked too good upon here.

Swap Phone?

So, I want the One lol. I signed a contract with AT&T last year for my XL, does this mean I would get a early termination fee if I bought a One and stuck my sim in it?

KungPow90 said:
So, I want the One lol. I signed a contract with AT&T last year for my XL, does this mean I would get a early termination fee if I bought a One and stuck my sim in it?
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Buy one unlocked
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Why would you want the one when HTC will release another phone in 5-8 months?Let's be smart here, 2 year contract right? 10 dollars is subtracted a month from Etf so 1 year is 120$ so around 200$ for etf and probably another 200 for the phone.400$ total plus tax.

cyanogendroid said:
Buy one unlocked
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
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Why would I need an unlocked one? It wouldn't work if I got one on craigslist or eBay that wasn't unlocked, for AT&T?

you would only pay an early term fee if you bought it from at&t. if you buy it anywhere else you won't.
if you buy one from craigslist or ebay you'll be fine.

exad said:
you would only pay an early term fee if you bought it from at&t. if you buy it anywhere else you won't.
if you buy one from craigslist or ebay you'll be fine.
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Awh yeah. That's what I'm talking about. Now to find a cheap One...

I think paying etf and the phone price would be cheaper, you would be looking at maybe 440$( if the price above remains true, usually good smartphones start from 199$ and mabye more for the expanded memory on the phone)(32,64,etc)depending on the release price of the HTC one.And usually eBay is sketchy. You should look on amazon, alot more safe.no contract prices online are usually hiked up and you would be looking to pay 500$+

As someone who worked for AT&T wireless, mainly tech support, for three years, here is how the breakdown works. First, the contract does NOT mean you cannot use another phone. The whole point of a contract is to allow you to buy a phone a very low price. For example, the HTC One X+ is aorund $400-500 retail. But when you sign a two-year contract, you agree to stay with AT&T for two years, and in return you get a phone at a discounted price. That is ALL the contract is for. If you dropped the $400-500, then you will not sign a contract. The ETF start at $325, and decreases $10 every month. Yes, even in the 23rd month, you will still have to pay $60 to get out of contract.
Now to answer your other question, if you put your sim card into a new phone, it will not do anything wrong to your account. Just like if you put it into an iPhone, it does nothing, but allow you to use certain network features. Can't remember if the One has LTE, but if it does, then data should still work. If not, call AT&T and get re-provisioned for the regular smartphone data plan. Just wanted to clear it up for anyone who wanted to know.

WhatTheAndroid? said:
I think paying etf and the phone price would be cheaper, you would be looking at maybe 440$( if the price above remains true, usually good smartphones start from 199$ and mabye more for the expanded memory on the phone)(32,64,etc)depending on the release price of the HTC one.And usually eBay is sketchy. You should look on amazon, alot more safe.no contract prices online are usually hiked up and you would be looking to pay 500$+
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Don't forget activation fees. When all is said and done (ETF, activation fee, subsidized price) it might just make more sense for the OP to just stay on contract, and buy from AT&T at the full retail (unsubsidized price), which they will do. Or like you said, Amazon is a good place to check to, as they often have some very competitive pricing.