Canceling a Sprint Wireless Contract

We all know what a challenge it can be to get out of a wireless contract. Especially if you want to avoid the ETF or early termination fee.  We have had several posts about different methods depending on your ethical line and current situation.  I will link out to some of these methods later.  Here is one method

Taking Sprint/Nextel to the Cleaners

If you are not interested in exploiting the “no service in my area” loop hole, then this is the tactic for you.  The wireless carrier industry is extremely competitive.  Other than the phones and coverage areas the only way companies can differentiate themselves is through customer service.  Several of the companies used to be known for absolutely horrible customer service.  Sprint being one of them.

Personally I have sprint and like them (I wish there was a Sprint iPhone.)  They work just fine for me.  But I have learned a few things about negotiating with Sprint/Nextel over the 10 years I have used them.  Several years ago Sprint wanted to clean up their bad customer service image.  They wanted to increase the “positive” responses given from their customer service reps.  I have heard (No proof, just my experience) that every Sprint customer has a “secret account.”  This account has a sum of money in it that customer service reps can draw from to make you happy.

Thats right, Sprint will buy your happiness!  I am perfectly fine with that.  In my experience the account is around $150-$200.  Again I have no proof of this, it is just the amounts that I have been able to get them to credit me over the years.  If I have ever gone over my minutes or had other overages that have exceeded my normal bill, they have taken them off.  I just call and politely ask for their help and they happily take care of it.

Once when I bought a phone early and didn’t qualify for the “rebate” I called and they gave it to me anyways.  When I called and explained to them that I didn’t understand why I couldn’t get the rebate the rep just offered it to me and explained why.  The key to negotiating with Sprint is to be polite.  If that doesn’t work then politely ask for someone who can help you.  They will move you up the line and eventually break into that secret account for you.

So if you are going to cancel your Sprint wireless contract and eat the ETF then be sure to take advantage of the secret account before you do.  Find something to complain about, you are switching for a reason aren’t you.  Then put a dollar amount $150-$200 on the table as the cost of what you are complaining about.  Take them money and then cancel.  The secret account and the early termination fee will be close to a wash.

We have talked about a few other ways to get out of a cell phone contract in other posts: Getting out of a Verizon Wireless Contract and Getting out of a Sprint Wireless Contract and I am sure we will have more to come, so stay tuned.