Getting out of a contract because of poor reception

[CJENA]

I recently moved to a new house and the reception in my new area is very awful. You can literally walk 5 feet and bounce in and out of coverage.

I have three lines on my account. Line 1 expires 4/29/08, Line 2 expires 6/8/08, and Line 3 expires 6/9/08. I really want to switch to AT&T and get better reception.

Do you think Retentions will let me out of my contract without ETF if I explain my situation?

Has anyone done this before, and do you have any advice?

[jumonjii]

No.

[CJENA]

No to which question?

[bjn]

No, you won't be able to get out of your contract ETF-free because of poor reception.

[iggyclyde]

It's gonna be a tough argument, but I'd give it a shot...

[some18mybrain]

There's really no need arguing it. Sprint will not let you out of your contract without ETF for that reason.

[techiegirl]

I've gotten out before for poor reception. I changed jobs and there was little or no reception at my new job. I was let out of both my lines with no penalty.

[Gamer90]

I think you have have to be out of their known coverage area. They won't just take your word for it.

[ballroomdru]

What happens when you set your phones to roam only?

[knytphal]

There is no way that they are going to let you out of your contract ETF-free due to poor coverage. I would say that if you want to get out of your contract, set your phone to roam only - but even then they are more than likely still going to charge you ETF when they cut you.

[leicabug]

Poor reception due to a move or change of job is a valid reason to get out of contract without ETF. In addtion, all three contracts are within a few months of expiring anyway. Why not let consumers get a little break?

[mburger]

Sprint NEEDS to roll out Airave!! I have been dodged with poor home reception since I began with them in 1998. Now that unlimited options are coming out and the possibility of being able to "cut the landline", good home reception becomes a critical issue. I am free of contractual obligations with Sprint and need to decide wheather to wait for Airave or go to ATT which has 5 bars in my home. I can't seem to get an answer as to when Airave will be rolling out.

[Dan]

I hate to say it, but I doubt sprint is gonna cut anyone loose ETF free now. They just ended an ETF free cancellation period that was available to all sprint customers.

Sprint didn't choose where you moved to, you did. Though it sucks that your reception is poor or non-existent at your new residence, it is not sprints problem.

I would ensure you have a roaming included plan and set your phone to "roaming only" while at home. That should work OK for the last 4 months left on your contract, then you can port out. You get service at home (I hope with roaming) and you don't waste money on ETF's

[Xanius]

Sprint NEEDS to roll out Airave!! I have been dodged with poor home reception since I began with them in 1998. Now that unlimited options are coming out and the possibility of being able to "cut the landline", good home reception becomes a critical issue. I am free of contractual obligations with Sprint and need to decide wheather to wait for Airave or go to ATT which has 5 bars in my home. I can't seem to get an answer as to when Airave will be rolling out.

They haven't said yet. I only know of 3 areas with Airave, denver and nashville are two..I can't remember the third right now though.
It'll be pretty cool once they do roll it out though.

[addicted]

I recently moved to a new house and the reception in my new area is very awful. You can literally walk 5 feet and bounce in and out of coverage.

I have three lines on my account. Line 1 expires 4/29/08, Line 2 expires 6/8/08, and Line 3 expires 6/9/08. I really want to switch to AT&T and get better reception.

Do you think Retentions will let me out of my contract without ETF if I explain my situation?

Has anyone done this before, and do you have any advice?

well you can surely get out of the sprint without paying etf if the reception is awful, firstly change your billing address to the new address, coz when u write an email to ecare, they will check out the address for the same, and tht will be easy for them to find out if the coverage is still too awful , they do have a tool to verify if the work is going on to tht area for the tower, or frequently receiving the complaints from the customer regarding the same!

the option that needs to be done from urside twice...


call the Customer Solutions Number from a landline phone. When you call at the number provided above in this email, you may be required to provide the following information:

1. Problem reported (description of problem and any error messages);
2. Date and time of the last occurrence;
3. Where the problem occurred (street address with cross street and direction traveled);
4. Whether you were inside or outside of a building or a car;
5. Numbers called (to or from);
6. The type of phone you own; and
7. The signal and battery strength at the time the problem occurred.

Whenever you will contact and provide the required details, a trouble record will be created.

This way, the trouble record will let the ecare know about the coverage issue facing by you, and finally you need to be little harsh with the customer care.. all done !!

sprint has a policy under which if the customer is still facing problem with the coverage, they can opt for the signing out of the contract without paying any ETF !

write back if u need any further help !:tu::tu:

[rebelx]

Well that's good to know.

You can always do the ebilling-address change if they really dont help you out but more often than not, you might be in a better posititon to set your phone to roam only.

[neoelectrex]

airrave is set to roll out in april:-)

[DaRtH CrAtHeN]

airrave is set to roll out in april:-)

Yeah I'll believe that when I see it. :irked:

[deanwoof]

they said airrave was going to come out december back during summer.

and as far as the reception issue goes, it sucks to hear that you don't get reception in your home. however, i dont think sprint would, or should, let you out ETF free.

did you not check your cellphones prior to purchasing this house? that was one of the first things i did when i moved a few months ago. made sure my EVDO worked and i had cell service.

[iggyclyde]

did you not check your cellphones prior to purchasing this house? that was one of the first things i did when i moved a few months ago. made sure my EVDO worked and i had cell service.

Not to sound sarcastic, but are you saying if the service in the house wasn't good, you wouldn't buy the house??

[klmsu19]

"Sprint didn't choose where you moved to, you did. Though it sucks that your reception is poor or non-existent at your new residence, it is not sprints problem."

but see thats the kinda company attitude that makes no sense to have. Destroy a relationship for life with a customer (who could come back at some point) over it- when theyre clearly going to leave either way, or let them go nicely. Yes i understand the contract but if they cannot provide you with service then that contract doesnt mean much. The whole theory of the contract is customers pays x monthly for x services. No services, why should there be monthly still? Theres no reason someone should pay for a monthly service that the company cannot provide (assuming that it is truely a known/proven zero service area) or the company to expect that.

Sprint already made the $150 they gave you off the phone back off of the customer- no doubts there. So what do they lose letting them go? the etf? so instead of calmly letting them go theyll end up in a huge battle with CS reps and supervisors over it when theyll eventually credit the etf anyways. Why waste paid employee time and all of that unpleasantness over that to get to the same resolution? What did sprint gain? lost money paying those employees to deal with the irate customer. Then the person hates sprint after fighting with them, never comes back and talks crap to all their friends and associates not to use Sprint. Now its word of mouth spreading sprint hate too= more customers lost and more profit lost

Also i totally dont agree with the someone didnt have to move point. Some people have no choice thats their career on the line. Some people have no other way to get work if they dont have their job. Its not so easy for everyone. I dont think thats an appropriate blanket assumption to use because not even has those choices to not move and simply find a similar or equal job.

And i agree with above normal people dont buy houses around cell phone coverage thats just crazyness. thats the last thing on the average home buyer's mind.

I guess all im saying is basically if they cant provide the service the customer shouldnt have to pay for it, hence voiding the contract aka no etf. I wonder what the legal ramifications of such a contract are, because remember the contract here is a 2 way street meaning and "agreement" and here is a swap of money for services. I wonder if sprint cant hold up its end and provide service if that voids the contract by law.... by that rationale it seems to make sense they voided their own contract.

[Dan]

Well, the suggestion that a company should let you out of an ETF based on your choices is silly also. You move down the road 5 miles into a cellular black hole and your carrier should be at fault?

Then again, I remember the days when a wireless carrier was for use when you were outside the house, a land line carrier for use inside the house.

I have relatives who have no cellular service available at their house due to some hills around them. They knew it when they chose to live in that house, and are happy with people calling them on a land line. Should their carrier grant them an ETF free termination at any time they choose just because their carrier does not provide service at their house?

Quite simply, contracts should be honored by both parties.

Customers should be aware that their are limitations to wireless service and that their work or residence may not be covered by their chosen carrier. If they choose to move or get a new job and can no longer use their service, they should not expect a tower to be built for their use or to be released from a contract based on their decisions.

Wireless carriers also have a duty to maintain their towers. Poor maintenance that causes the decreased range or capacity of a tower should not be the customers fault. If a carrier serves your residence well and suddenly the service is unavailable, then the customer should be within their rights to terminate service.

If I have a contract for a service and I move to a place where the company can not service me, I should expect to have the contract enforced and either pay the early termination fee or pay out the remaining months on the contract. Perhaps the company will be nice and grant me a fee free termination to the contract, but it is not a requirement. The OP may get lucky with sprint (no harm in asking) but an ETF free termination should not be expected!

Edit: some costs of moving are tax deductible, and a cellular ETF may be a cost of moving that qualifies for tax deductible status. Their are rules that you have to have moved a minimum number of miles for the job though.

I agree that sometimes moving seems like it is mandatory, but unless you work for the federal government in the US armed forces, no one will arrest you for refusing to move for your job. If your job is that valuable, some companies even pay a portion of your moving expenses to help you relocate. If you can use your phones on sprint or on digital roaming, you do not need to switch carriers just because you moved.

The OP has 4 months remaining on the contract it seems, and I doubt sprint will do anything about excessive roaming for that time. If they do, they will grant an ETF free termination also!

[deanwoof]

Not to sound sarcastic, but are you saying if the service in the house wasn't good, you wouldn't buy the house??

i wouldnt, honest to truth. i have no intention of getting a landline nor intention of paying for internet at home when i have a free cell phone and $15 data card. but that's just me.

that's kind of saying, yeah i see a dead corpse buried in the backyard, but i absolutely love the house, location and landscaping. i'll buy it. :P

[deanwoof]

but see thats the kinda company attitude that makes no sense to have. Destroy a relationship for life with a customer (who could come back at some point) over it- when theyre clearly going to leave either way, or let them go nicely. Yes i understand the contract but if they cannot provide you with service then that contract doesnt mean much. The whole theory of the contract is customers pays x monthly for x services. No services, why should there be monthly still? Theres no reason someone should pay for a monthly service that the company cannot provide (assuming that it is truely a known/proven zero service area) or the company to expect that.

the average home buyer lives in their house for 7 years. i would hardly doubt that the OP would come back to sprint in the next 7 years. 7 years is a long time in the wireless business.

[AllTeedUp]

Just set your phone to roam only. I live in the Northeast and Verizon has great coverage almost everywhere and Sprint is very spotty. Sprint roams on Verizon's network. I think it's pretty difficult to base life decisions like moving on cell phone reception. Also other carrier's pro-rate ETF's and I think Sprint should too.

[mburger]

Just set your phone to roam only. I live in the Northeast and Verizon has great coverage almost everywhere and Sprint is very spotty. Sprint roams on Verizon's network. I think it's pretty difficult to base life decisions like moving on cell phone reception. Also other carrier's pro-rate ETF's and I think Sprint should too.

I live in Nassau County, New York and I have been with Sprint for years suffering with poor home reception. With my new Mogul phone (unlike my old Treo 650) I can put myself in roam only mode. Now I get 5 bars roaming on Verizon's network. I have the best of both worlds, Verizon's network with Sprint's prices. I usually have no issues with Sprint outside my house, so as soon as I leave my house I place myself in Automatic Mode. Hopefully with Airave my home reception problem will go away.

[bigjam369]

The only way you get out of your contract with no etf due to coverage is if your home address is in an area that has NO coverage. Poor coverage does not get you out of the contract. From your situation you are stuck. What they will do is check the coverage in your area which you can do on the sprint website. If it shows any level of coverage then you're screwed.

[AllTeedUp]

I'm waiting for Airave too! I live in Boston and have the same reception issues.

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