New 2-yr Contract - How Did This Happen?

[Squirrellymom]

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We have 3-phones sharing 2000 min plan. We have been under a 2-year contract for 18 months. We moved to another state last month & called Sprint to request local phone #'s and to give them our new mailing address. No problems encountered - new local phone numbers were coded into the phones & we were delighted with our customer service.

The Bomb! I receive a mail verification of my "New Plan with Sprint" - (sent to the OLD address by the way) and it shows a brand new 2-year contract with Sprint. :(

I have called and talked with 3 different reps and I can't get anyone to take me off this new contract! I was NEVER told that changing our phone numbers after our move to another state would constitute a new 2-year contract. I would NEVER have changed the numbers - we would have toughed it out for 6 more months with the long distance number had I been told.

Yesterday I called and asked them to put me BACK on the old contract and restore our original numbers - they can't do that as it will wipe out the most recent contract and start another 2-year contract from that date.

I'm confused as to what a "contract" is. I certainly thought both parties involved would have to agree, maybe even sign that they agreed and understood the contract terms. This is totally one-sided and I can't seem to find out how to correct this.

Also, I asked one of the reps "Why the contract was re-established for a 2-year period" and she said that because I originally entered into a 2-year contract with Sprint that anytime any changes were made it would re-start the 2-year contract period.

I just don't understand how this can be legal. I don't want to hire a lawyer or sue over this - but - in order for me to leave Sprint (if I decided to change providers) at the end of my "original" 2-year contract, I will have to pay $150 termination fee for 3-phones.

Is this common practice? To put someone on a 2-year CONTRACT and not tell them and not let them out of the contract without stealing $$$$. Has anyone else experienced this?????? :confused:

[callcentreguy]

undefined
We have 3-phones sharing 2000 min plan. We have been under a 2-year contract for 18 months. We moved to another state last month & called Sprint to request local phone #'s and to give them our new mailing address. No problems encountered - new local phone numbers were coded into the phones & we were delighted with our customer service.

The Bomb! I receive a mail verification of my "New Plan with Sprint" - (sent to the OLD address by the way) and it shows a brand new 2-year contract with Sprint. :(

I have called and talked with 3 different reps and I can't get anyone to take me off this new contract! I was NEVER told that changing our phone numbers after our move to another state would constitute a new 2-year contract. I would NEVER have changed the numbers - we would have toughed it out for 6 more months with the long distance number had I been told.

Yesterday I called and asked them to put me BACK on the old contract and restore our original numbers - they can't do that as it will wipe out the most recent contract and start another 2-year contract from that date.

I'm confused as to what a "contract" is. I certainly thought both parties involved would have to agree, maybe even sign that they agreed and understood the contract terms. This is totally one-sided and I can't seem to find out how to correct this.

Also, I asked one of the reps "Why the contract was re-established for a 2-year period" and she said that because I originally entered into a 2-year contract with Sprint that anytime any changes were made it would re-start the 2-year contract period.

I just don't understand how this can be legal. I don't want to hire a lawyer or sue over this - but - in order for me to leave Sprint (if I decided to change providers) at the end of my "original" 2-year contract, I will have to pay $150 termination fee for 3-phones.

Is this common practice? To put someone on a 2-year CONTRACT and not tell them and not let them out of the contract without stealing $$$$. Has anyone else experienced this?????? :confused:

Sorry to hear about this problem. It has happened before. Everytime a CSA is done it cancels everything and starts it anew. you should have been informed of this. Another option you have to see what can be done is to go to sprintpcs.com and contact the Sprint office. They'll write you back in 48 hours with a reply.

[flipn0tic]

It's a common practice for Sprint to give you crap that you didn't ask for.

Bummer dude.

[odin]

i brought my other number to replace my old number before and that happened to me as well before. they gave me a new year contract without any reason. i called back and they just took it off without trouble.
don't know why your reps can't do that?! maybe the reason why CS is new from IBM's outsourcing causes all these craps.

[gottago]

^^^ and to offer stuf that you never get;)

Okay, that wasn't very nice but sometimes true. Try calling back explaing your situation calmly while making your request again. My guess is that the rep will not have the authority to do anything but apologize, so speak to their supervisor while and go thru the explanation again, calmly. I thin the mose they can do is to put a not on your account not to charge you the ETF if you were to leave. Oh did I mention to be calm;) Also, you might want to get the caller id for everone you speak with this time.

Good luck!!!

[Squirrellymom]

Thanks for these suggestions. I have talked w/Sprint reps three(3) times in the past couple of days trying to get something worked out. The first time I was very nice b'cause I didn't understand what the new contract meant & I just needed to inquire - 2nd time I was spitting nails - I was soooooooo angry because I felt I had been bambooseled and mislead and every other ugly thing you can think of. I just wanted them to reverse the contract thingie - but I got absolutely no where with the rep. Just duh.
Third time I called I was as nice as I could possibly ever be. I asked, begged, whatever the rep to please, please reverse the number change - put me back where I started and forget the whole thing about moving to another state, etc. She was super. She put me on hold and checked to see what she could do. She said she was so sorry, apologized numerous times because I wasn't told about the new contract, etc. but said she absolutely could NOT do anything about it. I was locked in for two more years. I cried. I think one reason I'm so upset with all of this is that my phone doesn't pick up in my house here. I had no problem at all in our previous house - I could talk, walk, do anything and have reception. Not here. I do pick up in the car and all over the area - but I want to be able to talk in my house!!!! Perhaps the cell tower gods will smile on me sometime during this new 2-year contract. :eyebrow:

[lgmayka]

Please don't accept this passively, especially since your phone doesn't work in your own house. Another poster in one of these forums was in a situation similar to yours. He called Sprint's corporate office and demanded evidence that he had agreed to a new contract, because he knew he hadn't. Eventually the corporate office admitted that no such evidence existed, and removed the bogus contract.

A last-ditch alternative--I don't know whether anyone has tried this--is to cancel at (what you know to be) the appropriate time. When Sprint attempts to charge the termination fee, dispute it as long as possible. Contract disputes with Sprint are supposed to be appealable to an arbitrator, so you could even try that. If all fails, wait to see whether Sprint actually attempts to ding your credit rating. If it does, file an official complaint with the credit agencies, who must then ask Sprint for evidence of the unpaid charge. With a lot of luck, Sprint will either not respond at all, or it will respond only with its own internal bookkeeping, which may--again, if you're lucky--be considered insufficient evidence by the credit agencies.

EDIT: It occurs to me that the credit agencies might reasonably say, "Why didn't you dispute the charges via the National Arbitration Forum?" An ordinary consumer can apparently file a claim with the NAF for only $25.

[Fubar101]

Term Agreements: If your Agreement requires you to keep a phone active/maintain a line service for a minimum Term, the Term begins on the phone activation date; for customers changing service plans, the Term begins when the new service plan is selected. You may terminate any line of service before its Term ends by calling *2, however you will be responsible for an EARLY TERMINATION FEE of $150 ("Fee") for each line of service terminated early. You do not have to pay the Fee if you terminate under our return policy or where the Ts and Cs allow you to do so without the Fee. Payment of the Fee does not satisfy other outstanding obligations owed to us, including maintaining Term Commitments on other lines of service, or service or equipment related charges.

[lgmayka]

Fubar101, your quote is interesting but totally irrelevant to the situation at hand. Read the original post again. The original poster did not change service plans and did not agree to a new "Agreement." By definition, the customer must agree to a new agreement.

This isn't rocket science.

[Tse Songs]

I was once told the same LIE!
For some reason, my phone could not get onto the web. It would lock up. Eariler it worked fine! So I took it into our local Sprint store. The had the phone for about 15 min, gave it back and said everything was now working. I tried it, and everything worked fine. When I went to my Sprint PCS to check my online bill, I noticed my contract was extended for 2 more years! I FREAKED!!! I like Sprint and would probably stay with them for 2 more years, but they did it without asking!!!!!
I called customer care 4 times and always got the samew response "I'm sorry but we can not take someone off a caontract once they are on it, there is NOTHING we can do." So I went to the Sprint store and told them my situation, they looked up my account and said that should not have happened. They called the direct activations managers line, sopke to the manager and said, "okay, you are all set, sorry for the problem." I went home and checked my account and everything was back to normal, and has been ever since!!!!
So don't believe them when they saiy there is NOTHING they can do!!!!!

[Fubar101]

CSA swaps require new service plans. If the customer changed to another CSA than Sprint had to change his service plan to one that was in the CSA the customer had switched to.

[Fubar101]

CSA swaps require new service plans. If the customer changed to another CSA than Sprint had to change his service plan to one that was in the CSA the customer had switched to.


If you have yet to pay your new bill I would recommend calling up and talking about how you were not educated that changing numbers would require a new service plan. Sprint does allow for a 60 day dispute period for billing issues. If customer care is unwilling to help I would suggest you ask for a supervisior. Explain to the supervisor that the rep did not educate you that the change in CSA's would require a new plan. Even if they can not wipe out your new contract they can put a note in the account stating when the orginal contract should have expired and if you terminate services after that date you should not incurr an etf.

[Squirrellymom]

Gee, Now I'm really sorry I changed my phone number for our new state. I never dreamed this would continue and how much time I'd have to spend on it. Cell phone billing and contracts really shouldn't be this complicated people!
I received my latest Sprint bill - they have billed me for my most recent month (always a month ahead since my 1st bill w/Sprint in June 2003) now, I'm being billed another month ahead b'cause I have "entered into a new 2-year contract" with them. Geez, people - I think that now makes me paid 2-months ahead - I've got to take the time (I don't have much of that) and work through every bill since June 2003. I have visited with a local Sprint store and tried to work through everything with a very nice person. I think he was as confused about all of this as I was - he tried to help - but I still have no idea what he put on my account. I will continue working on this and taking it a step at a time. Contract extensions are a pain - but double dipping into my pocket is a crime!!!!

[nate6923]

I too signed up with another contract in october. I wanted to add a second line for my g/f which I did. They ended up resetting my 2 year agreement so now im not free until oct 06. When i first signed up with them they told me i had to pay a month in advance. I did this. When i signed up for the second line I also had to pay AGAIN a month in advance. I argued for a couple of hours with a rep about this and she somehow explained it. She did an awful job because not a word from her mouth made sense. I still dont know why now that I had to pay another month in advance. I wish someone could really explain it to me...as of right now i just think its a good way for them to rip me off.

[alimaui]

Call/Write/Email the BBB...its obvious sprint screwed up here. The corporate office will your attend to your claim quickly and produce results for you in writing.

Ali

[kidemo]

oh my god, every company does that, same thing with verizon.. when i got my sprint phone i knew that if i moved and got a local number i would start my contract again, i read the terms and conditions.

[PoBoy]

Any update on getting past the 2 year contact agreement? Im in the same boat, but I havent changed CAS yet...I need a new area code sicen Ive moved. I hear that if you own a phone number in the area code you want, Sprint can move you to that number without forcing a CAS change. I recently got Vonage and can get another number for just $5/mo...I was thinking maybe I could get a new number through Vonange then have Sprint switch my phone to it. But I have a feeling that will require a new activation or something still requring a 2 year agreement.

Pisses me off that you can add a phone to your plan and pick any area code you want...but when you want to change area codes on an existing phone - your out of luck.

[leaving_ash]

Pisses me off that you can add a phone to your plan and pick any area code you want...but when you want to change area codes on an existing phone - your out of luck.

You are not out of luck. The same rules apply for a new phone and a phone moved to a new area code-you need to set up service and a contract in the new area code. Your contract is/was for service in a specified market. If you want to change markets (even if its across the street) then you would be changing the terms of the contract and thus need a new one.

If you ported a number from vonage onto an existing line you would still need an area code change and a new contract. The system will not allow a number from area code A to be used with services of area B regarless of how it gets to Sprint.

The only exception would be when one area code become two or more. There customers are forced into the change. This is also the only case where you could keep the same 7 didget number while changing area code.

[Bohemian Iconoclast]

You do have an option if you don't have service at home...

I don't know Tenessee law, but in California you have 30 days to get out of a cell contract without ETF....most states I believe give you 14 days.

Call back, say "Cancel Service" and get a new provider.

That will get their attention...

[whitehawk8c]

I saw that this thread was started in January but I would like to give my info of what happened to me for further reference for someone else. Back in June 2004, I went to Florida for vacation. I wanted a local number. I got a local number and they told me I would not need to sign a new contract. A couple of hours later, my account was hot flagged. At the time, I had a $125.00 account speending limit. I went to the local Sprint store and we spent most of the day there. The rep. there looked at my account and it should I owed $150.00 for the early term. fee. Then she exited out the system and went back in and it jumped to $200.00 and something. Then to $384. something. She got her supervisor involved and also called *2. We went through 11 reps. They all hung up on the store rep. Finally we got someone that would help. She saw what happened and it was because of my account spending limit. And I was told that would not effect a service area change. The *2 rep. credited my account $384. something and got it fixed. The orginal rep. that changed my service area even put me on a new contract. And the last *2 rep. was able to take off the new contract. I left the store with my phone on and a $384. credit which I did not have to pay my bill for about 4 months. I requested to have an account spendning limit because I thought I would go wild on the downloads. The rep at *2 re-ran my credit and I got a $600.00 limit with 10 lines. Anyway, I wanted to share my info on what happened to me.

[harddaysnight]

ALWAYS wait to do CSA area code change for LAST day of billing cycle to avoid being double charged monthly fees and possible huge overage charges for minutes (proration). if you are double charged you have two billing cycles to dispute it. Call in and ask for adjustment for the extra charges and be very calm and polite when asking for credit and explain about csa swap. A csa change always results in new contract but if you were not told or not transferred to auto line IVR. You CAN dispute it and have them put note on account to ignore new contract and go by date on old contract of old ph#'s. Make sure it's red priority note and get them to read it back to you and write down rep's id# and date for future reference.

Also ENSURE that they put "early term reup" on all OLD lines BEFORE CANCELLING THEM and before doing CSA swap (ETF $-150.00)
ENSURE that "Activation fee credit CSA swap" (-$36.00) is placed on all new ph#'s with new area code.

[chiefthegr8]

I have the same problem with Sprint. The thing is, they don't have my my SSN. I never gave it to them. Do you think I can still port my number without paying the 150$ ETF?

[Ninja984]

I changed my number. They charged me an EFT and for some reason the bill for my monthly service is higher than normal. Changing my number made it a new 2 yr contract? and the EFT can be argued right because none of their reps told me I woulda got charged or an extended contract. I definitely would not have changed my number if I knew they were gonna cause me trouble.

[reemusk]

Fubar101, your quote is interesting but totally irrelevant to the situation at hand. Read the original post again. The original poster did not change service plans and did not agree to a new "Agreement." By definition, the customer must agree to a new agreement.

This isn't rocket science.


that's what he...said?

[Dan]

I changed my number. They charged me an EFT and for some reason the bill for my monthly service is higher than normal. Changing my number made it a new 2 yr contract? and the EFT can be argued right because none of their reps told me I woulda got charged or an extended contract. I definitely would not have changed my number if I knew they were gonna cause me trouble.


I changed my number locally when sprint only had numbers in a local toll city adn got numbers in a "free calling" city available. When I went into the store to do the number change, I was told it would require a new agreement, but when I complained that it was just to get a local in the same "area" they didnt renew my agreement.


If you were not told of the contract change, I would email eCare about it and say that you were never informed of this change and to please note the account that the correct contract fufillment date is the original date.

[dogma]

Write a letter to the CEO of Sprint. It will be passed off to some junior type person. However, this person will actually have the authority to do something. Be polite but firm. If the person is not helping you properly, then POLITELY ask, then demand to speak to his/her supervisor. Always take down names, dates and times. If they promise to call back, ask them when you can expect to hear back.

This usually leads to satisfactory results with all big companies. The key is to be honest, polite, and firm. Also, it helps to relate the problem on a person to person level. For example, ask the person how they would feel if they were automatically renewed on a 2 year contract without there understanding.

Lastly, and very important...try to listen more than you talk. You are not doing this to vent; your goal is satisfactory resolution of your problem.

[NASCAR14FAN]

Happened to me had to call the BBB to get my contract end date back.

[impeachnow]

Happened to me when I downgraded. NEVER told it would extend my contract. I gave my explanation of wasting minutes and thanked the rep for being so nice. Recently, I found out that my contract was extended.

You were bamboozled and so was I. I'm here getting information and checking out what I was told. I do plan to write letters to Sprint, then to the Federal Trade Commission, the State Attorney General, and the FCC. I may have to pay to get out of the one-side-extended contract, but if this is how Sprint treats its customers, good riddance and I will spread the word to anybody who wants to hear it. I will get $200 in satisfaction if Sprint does this. I have lousy reception where I moved to a YEAR AND A HALF after I signed the contract and like you, would have toughed it out IF I WAS TOLD BY THE REP THAT MY CONTRACT WOULD BE EXTENDED.

[ghettocowboy248]

i would try ecare. they might be more helpful on getting you back to your old date. or you might be able to try retentions and get something for staying, like new better phones. that may help with the signal problem.

[cjhutch]

Something similar happened to me also. I called in to inquire about buying a new phone outright and the lady on the phone just happened to mention my contract would expire on July 08. I knew that was wrong because when I checked my Sprint account online it said I was eligible for a one year upgrade discount on 01/01/07. So I had her look at my account closely and she called her supervisor and they couldn't figure out what happened. I made no changes since getting my phone last January so they changed my contract end date. After the phone call ended I was pretty pissed to learn that someone went in and changed my contract without my knowledge and nobody knew who made the change or why.

[Bohemian Iconoclast]

Wirelessly posted (Psy-Bin: Mozilla/4.0 (MobilePhone SCP-5300/1.0) NetFront/3.0 MMP/2.0)

Seems to me if you can find sprintusers.com, sprint.com should be easy...way ahead of other providers... Not only can yot verify your new plan, you can download your email & print bills a year back...take responsibility rather than trust a corporation...

[Dan]

Wirelessly posted (Psy-Bin: Mozilla/4.0 (MobilePhone SCP-5300/1.0) NetFront/3.0 MMP/2.0)

Seems to me if you can find sprintusers.com, sprint.com should be easy...way ahead of other providers... Not only can yot verify your new plan, you can download your email & print bills a year back...take responsibility rather than trust a corporation...


sprint.com no longer shows the "contract fufillment date" like it used to though. It used to be part of the plan details, and now they have removed it.

The only way to get written confirmation of your end dates is to email sprint and request the fufillment date on each line. I did so and was happy to see that my one line had its contract fufilled the same day it was added ;)

[CallDon]

undefined
We have 3-phones sharing 2000 min plan. We have been under a 2-year contract for 18 months. We moved to another state last month & called Sprint to request local phone #'s and to give them our new mailing address. No problems encountered - new local phone numbers were coded into the phones & we were delighted with our customer service.

The Bomb! I receive a mail verification of my "New Plan with Sprint" - (sent to the OLD address by the way) and it shows a brand new 2-year contract with Sprint. :(

I have called and talked with 3 different reps and I can't get anyone to take me off this new contract! I was NEVER told that changing our phone numbers after our move to another state would constitute a new 2-year contract. I would NEVER have changed the numbers - we would have toughed it out for 6 more months with the long distance number had I been told.

Yes...I know this post is 2-years old, but nothing has changed at Sprint. Until two months ago, I thought used-car salesmen were the most sleazy slugs to deal with. That was until I paid cash for a new phone and Sprint reset my "rebate" date when I activated it without telling me.

I received no rebate, no discount, nothing! I just activated a new phone. I talked to two Sprint reps, one on the phone and one in person before activating the new phone. NEITHER told me about the change in the rebate date. My contract date did not change like yours did. But now, I must wait two years to receive any kind of rebate or discount for a new phone.

I would say that Sprint is unique, but I also had several T-mobile reps give me contradicting messages and ATT reps simply lie to me, all within the past three months while researching a new phone. Cell-phone company reps make used-car salesmen look not so bad.

Seriously!
----

[Dan]

Yes...I know this post is 2-years old, but nothing has changed at Sprint. Until two months ago, I thought used-car salesmen were the most sleazy slugs to deal with. That was until I paid cash for a new phone and Sprint reset my "rebate" date when I activated it without telling me.

I received no rebate, no discount, nothing! I just activated a new phone. I talked to two Sprint reps, one on the phone and one in person before activating the new phone. NEITHER told me about the change in the rebate date. My contract date did not change like yours did. But now, I must wait two years to receive any kind of rebate or discount for a new phone.

I would say that Sprint is unique, but I also had several T-mobile reps give me contradicting messages and ATT reps simply lie to me, all within the past three months while researching a new phone. Cell-phone company reps make used-car salesmen look not so bad.

Seriously!
----

Don, You dont have to wait 2 years, you just must talk to the right department with sprint about getting another phone at a discount :)

Trust me, it's done all the time because of "ESN" swaps affecting rebate dates. Once you qualify for a "real" rebate, your under a new program that wont count buying a phone at full price against you as far as rebates go.

[Penny]

ok, correct me if I am wrong here. When you sign a new contract that is just like as if you were starting with Sprint for the first time. You should have a 30 day grace period as to where you can cancel that service with no ETF. If it is within the 30 days I would suggest calling them and explaining that and then tell them unless they change it back you will cancel all 3 lines even if you wouldn't they still don't want the chance of you leaving.

[Penny]

Oh Snap! I didn't realize how old this thread was....lol

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