Cancel Sprint Contract without paying the Early Termination Fee

Of course I don’t want to cancel my Sprint SERO plan since it’s only $30 a month for 500 minutes, unlimited internet, unlimited text messaging, and many more features. But since they are changing the terms of the contract, I can use it for leverage to get a better deal.

From the Sprint’s website:

Administrative Charge – Effective January 1, 2008

The Administrative Charge will be $0.75 per line per month and is assessed by Sprint to help defray various costs imposed on Sprint by other telecommunications carriers, including, but not limited to, charges imposed by local telephone companies for delivery of calls from our customers to their landline customers and for certain network facilities and services we need to purchase from them. The Administrative Charge is not a tax and is not an amount we are required to collect from you by law. The Administrative Charge, and the components used to calculate this charge, is subject to change from time to time.

Regulatory Charge – Effective January 1, 2008

The Regulatory Charge will be $0.20 per line per month and is assessed by Sprint to help defray costs of various federal, state, and local regulatory programs. The Regulatory Charge is not a tax and is not an amount we are required to collect from you by law. The Regulatory Charge, and the components used to calculate this charge, is subject to change from time to time.

Here’s what to do:

1. Dial *2, ask for customer service representative.
2. Tell CSR you want to cancel your contract.
3. You will be transferred to Retention.
4. You want to use your own words with the script below.

• You: I understand that effective January 1st, 2008, Sprint will discontinue FPCR, E911 and Federal WLNP surcharges, and introduce new Administrative and Regulatory charges. As it is, this constitutes an adverse material change in my current contract. I would like to cancel my Sprint Contract without paying the Early Termination Fee.
• CSR: Let me do some research…I see that “blah blah blah blah blah” and “blah blah blah blah.” I’m unable to cancel your contract without paying the ETF fee. “blah blah blah”
• You: I believe that it’s Sprint policy that I can cancel my contract whenever the terms are change without my consent and not pay the ETF fee. I see the terms change on Sprint website with the administrative charge and regulatory charge starting January 1st 2008. I didn’t agree to these new charges.
• CSR: “blah blah blah” and more “blah blah blah”
• You: Well, can you offer me something to defray the cost?
• CSR: Let me check up for you to see what we can do.
• You: Sure..
• CSR: I can offer you…”blah blah blah”
• You: Can you also add…”……”

The last part depends what you want. It’s almost anything you want since they desperately want to keep you and know that you have every right to cancel your contract. I already have most of the freebies such as free text, free 6pm, etc. For me, I was able to get $10 credit for the remainder of my contract each month, hence making my bill $20 a month. This is like $200 in saving. Again, be polite and but firm at the same time. Do not let them know that you are afraid to cancel your contract. Tell them you want to work with them. I am sure they will offer you anything you want. Maybe free 6pm and weekends, 300 bonus minutes every month, ask for 25% discount if your bill is big, free text, free vision…etc etc. Of course you don’t want to push it too much. Maybe 2 or 3 of the above combination. Ask to speak to the supervisor if the regular CSR can’t help you out.

Now, the above “hustle” might be a little dirty in your mind. I feel it’s my absolute right as a customer to get the best rate. Imagine you are going to buy a car. Do you pay the sticker price? If you do, then you are an idiot. This is no difference. I have the right to cancel my contract since they are increasing the fees that I didn’t agree to. I want to cancel, but they want to keep me. In the end, they want my business rather than no business at all.