Got trapped by a long cell phone contract that you now want to escape? You’re not alone. “Phone companies lure you into long contracts by offering big discounts on cell phones, and then they make it as difficult as possible for you to switch carriers without paying an expensive early termination fee,” says consumer advocate Ben Popken, co-managing editor of consumerist.com. Luckily, there’s one easy loophole that can help you escape: If there’s been an increase in any rates or fees in the last 60 days, in most cases, you have the right to cancel without penalty if the bulked-up bill is more than you want to pay, he says. “Even if there hasn’t been a recent increase, you won’t have to wait long for one since wireless carriers frequently raise their prices.” To cancel: Have your bill and a copy of your service contract handy (usually available from your carrier’s website). Then, call your wireless company’s cancellation department and explain that the bill increase has a “materially adverse effect” on you—legal jargon that means they’ve made it too expensive.
Another easy option: Get someone else to take over your cell phone contract. Simply log onto celltradeusa.com ($19.99 membership fee) or cellswapper.com ($18.95 membership fee), which pair up cell phone contract holders with those looking for short-term and no-money-down contracts. Once you make a match—usually within a few days or weeks—the other person assumes the rest of the payments for your contract.
[photo: JOPHIELSmiles]
