Use this page to share any tips, suggestions, or stories you may have in which you were able to get out of your contract with T-Mobile. We do not condone you using illegal methods of breaking your contract with T-Mobile. But we do like it! 🙂
Help us all. If you have had any success in doing the impossible, help the millions who haven’t been so lucky. Share your knowledge!
We know a couple of ways we have been told that people have had some success. We have shared those methods below. Hopefully you can try and even more so, post some of your success stories. Nothing would make us happier than to read that you have successfully implemented a method learned about on this informative page. Good luck and please share any success!
We’ve heard some pretty ridiculous contract cancellation stories and we thought we’d share a few for entertainment purposes. The following tips are not guaranteed to get you out of your contract, nor are they guaranteed to be legal.
-Set your phone to “roam only.” Instead of utilizing its own network, the phone will search for the networks of other carriers. Most plans give users free roaming these days, but carriers must still pay for the roaming minutes. The reasoning goes that it costs the carrier more to pay for the roaming than the customer is worth, so the carrier will drop the customer. Some phones, however, can be forced to roam easier than others, depending on the model. Sprint users seem to have the easiest time making this happen, but there is not a large enough sample available to know for sure.
-The Consumerist has a story about Sprint dropping customers for calling customer service too much. Apparently, most of the calls were to correct billing errors, not to complain. Maybe this would work for T-Mobile (not likely, I have called endless times myself).
-Tell T-Mobile that you have moved to an area code outside of their coverage area. They might require some type of proof, but a little ingenuity goes a long way here in saving money on the ETF (early termination fees).
-Start sleeping with a supervisor in the Customer Loyalty department of T-Mobile.
Note: This is old. But may be a thing to keep in mind for future rate raises.
Effective June 1st, T-Mobile’s text message rates will increase from $0.10 to $0.15 per message. Consumer advocacy groups like UCAN maintain that such changes constitute a materially adverse affect to a wireless customer’s contract, thereby allowing the customer to terminate his/her contract without penalty as provided by standard contract law and the cell phone company’s terms and conditions (except Cingular). T-Mobile has acknowledged this publicly. As reported by http://www.consumerist.org, T-Mobile spokesman Peter Dobrow told RCR Wireless News that, ” Customers may terminate their contract without incurring an ETF soon after receiving their notification of the pricing change.”
T-Mobile’s materially adverse clause in its terms and conditions says that, unless notified otherwise, customers have 14 days to cancel their contract without penalty due to a materially adverse contract change. But be careful. Cell phone companies don’t enforce material adverse clauses uniformly, and a lot depends on the customer service rep you talk to. T-Mobile’s clause also states that you accept the changes by using your service. While this should not apply to the 14 day window, you may end up with a nasty sales rep bent on keeping you as a customer. If you know for sure you want to get out of your contract, call T-Mobile on June 1st from a landline phone and don’t use your cell phone untill your contract is cancelled.
I HAVE BEEN A T-MOBILE CUSTOMER FOR OVER 8 MISERABLE YEARS. EVERY MONTH IT IS ALWAYS OUTRAGE WHEN I OPEN MY BILL TO HIGHER AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR THINGS I HAVE NOT ORDERED, NUMBERS I DO NOT RECOGNIZE IN STATES I’VE NEVER BEEN TOO, CALLS TO PEOPLE I HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH OR BUSINESS TO ADDRESS.
WE HAVE ALONG THE WAY UPGRADED OUR PHONES BECAUSE THE PIECES OF JUNK ARE BASICALLY DISPOSABLE TRAPS TO STEAL HARD EARNED AND HARD TO COME BY $$$$$ FROM UNSUSPECTING AMERICANS YOU THREATENED TO PLACE A FINE ON IF THEY DIDN’T REMAIN YOUR CUSTOMER.
WE THOUGHT THIS NEW ASTONISHING CREATIONS OF THE CELLULAR PHONE WAS THE GOVERNMENT MOVING OUR NATION INTO THE FUTURE FOR OUR BENEFIT, WHEN IN REALITY WE WERE SIGNING OVER OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT AND NEED, ALLOWING CORPORATE AMERICA TO ROB US FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF LINING THEIR ALREADY FAT POCKETS.
IN MY OPINION BERNIE MAIDOFF HAS TAUGHT YOU HIS EVIL CRAFT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO DO AS HE DID , STEAL FROM US TO FEED YOUR GREEDY EGOS. AND DO HARM TO INNOCENT AMERICANS.
WHEN YOU PURCHASE SOMETHING, SAY AT WAL-MART, ACTUALLY ANYWHERE REALLY, THE CUSTOMER HAS THE RIGHT TO RETURN THE PRODUCT IF THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE ADVERTISED HAS BEEN MISLEADING UNSATISFACTORY OR JUST FLAT OUT DOES NOT MEET THE PAYING CUSTOMERS NEEDS. THIS IS THE USA AND WE HAVE RIGHTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT PERTAINS TO OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE MONEY WE NEED TO CARE FOR OUR FAMILIES.
A CELL PHONE SHOULD NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CAUSE A FAMILY TO LIVE IN FEAR THEY AT ANY TIME A CORPORATE ENTITY COULD TAKE FOOD OUT OF THERE CHILD’S MOUTH OR FORCE THEM TO PUT OFF TRUE NECESSITIES FOR CHOOSING A MORE AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE SERVICE THAT FITS THEIR BUDGET AND CALLING NEEDS, WHO THE HELL IS T-MOBILE TO FORCE THEIR WILL ON ANYONE?
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A UTILITY COMPANY I HAVE TERMINATED MY SERVICES WITH THAT HAS HELD ME AS THEIR PRISONER BECAUSE I PREFERRED NOT TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM NO MATTER MY REASON EXCEPT THE CELL PHONE GIANTS WHO NEVER INTENDED TO DO RIGHT BY ME TO BEGIN WITH !!!!!!!!!! INSTEAD THEIR ONLY INTENTION WAS TO FOOL TRUSTING PEOPLE WHICH ENABLED THEM TO DECEITFULLY GAIN ENORMOUS PROFITS
SHAMEFULLY EVIL COMPANY IS WHAT T-MOBILE MEANS TO ME
You are Rita about the roaming getting you out of a contract. 7 years with t mobile and I am a month away from not being. I feel like a life long drunk that sobered up. T mobile did just change there roaming data tho. But before I would till I was on att network then I would download movies for 6 hours straight while working. T mobile let me out of my contract without having to pay the etf and i got to keep both phones cause they ended the contract not me. Which works out great. 30 a month for unlimited text and web. Only a 100 minutes but i use groove ip instead.
Wondering when i can say enough. I am on my 4th phone. 3rd reconditioned replacement from tmobile. ho do i contact and how do i cancel the contract. since owe on phone i no longer have do i owe on this? Thanks.
Unfortunately, it takes a fight. T-Mobile does roll over easy. That why we have this site. For people to vent at the frustration of the fight AND for others to share success stories that may help others do the same. Anyone with ideas? My guess is to use that approach. “Been thru 4 phones already, and it is impacting your usage and lifestyle”.
I had this crap service, well should i say non-service for 2 days, they didn’t tell me at the time of buying their phones and service that there was no service in my area, none, nada, nothing. Now they are holding my refund hostage, they want to wait 30 days to refund it, after the grace period, so they can keep it would be my guess. We don’t have much, but they want it, greedy, greedy, bad customer service, shame on them
Hi, I’m a disgruntled customer. Did you know that Tmobile extends your contract when you upgrade or change your rate plan in anyway without telling you they are doing so? Check to see when your initial services started with tmobile and then dispute these claims because they have no right to do such things without properly notifying you. I disputed this matter over the phone with customer service and asked when and where I signed a contract stating I would be willing to extend my contract. I stated to them that I changed my rate plan via internet using the Tmobile website and was not asked to sign a contract. I am so outraged by all the recent changes they’ve made.
My phone is broken and I have insurance but in order to have my galaxy s2 fixed and replaced they are charging me $150 on top of the monthly insurance fee. If I choose to cancel my service, the early termination fee is $200 plus another month of service I can’t even use due to a totally non-functional device. I just paid my bill a few days ago by the way. Needless to say, all of these options obviously screw me out of money. My other option is to “upgrade” my phone. Oh, wait tmobile offers jump now. It’s a scam. Instead of getting a free upgrade, you pay full price out of pocket for the phone or you can finance it for 24 months which is essentially just forcing you into a two year contract because if you choose to leave before you the 24 months, you have to pay the remaining price of the phone regardless. They think all their customers are blind, idiot suckers who can’t read. I am so damn disgusted. I did not switch from the deplorable actions of AT&T to get swindled by a company with crappier 4g service.
I will find a way and will be vindicated. I will also make sure that everyone I know is aware of your illegal actions and practices. Your customer service reps should be ashamed of themselves for being employed by a crooked company and knowingly lying to who knows how many people each day they show up to work. I hope someone is praying for your souls. The universe is not kind to cheats and liars. History has proven that.
the insurance you pay a month is the SAME as ur insurance for your car or health insurance. if something happens to your vehicle, do u have to pay a deductible? YES if you go tothe Dr same thing. IF you dont have insurance on a handset you would have to pay full coverage. your not entitled to a free phone if no insurance or if not on warranty. JUMP is where u DONT have to pay off that handset before a upgrade. in 6 mnths of having the handset you can upgrade to a brand new one without paying off the 1st one, its like a Lease with a car. T mobile doesnt have contracts anymore your right however that doesnt cancel a contract your already on. you have to honor a contract, thats the law. t mobile contract or any other contract, if you left your cable contract before the 2 year commitment? same thing. the handsets are expensive and the cost is regulated by the maker not t mobile. you purchase a handset to use you must pay it off if u dont well that would be like stealing it right? hope this helps!
My story is somewhat similar. I feel like u was pushed to purchase extra t-mobile accessories and those so called $10/mo. Tablets. My bill went from $120 to $300. After talking to a number of reps, the price is now $245. I wanted to return the tablets but it was past the 14 day cancellation time.
After making a couple of payments, I have come to the realization that I can’t afford this. I had been workout a job for 2 years. I began working in January and started paying off bills and cleaning up my credit. Now I will have to just give up and mess my credit up again. I asked for help and didn’t get it. I told them that I am a divorced mom of 2 kids and on my own and just can’t afford this. I was just told that they can’t do anything else. I think that the rep played me.
I’m very upset. I will just let it all go and get some cheap service. I hate it, but I don’t know what else to do. I need to feed my kids.
Your experience is almost identical to mine.
Just laid on my desk, one minute the Galaxy S2 the next minute it died. All the clever (and very boring) advice on how to cold boot re-boot re-build factory reset etc, was redundant because the phone never even showed an LED when charging.
I am disabled and have MS my nearest T-Mobile shop is 35 miles away. I dare not drive without a phone in case I fall or need help with my car. So …..and this is interesting, T-Mobile employs a system which discriminates against the disabled.
If I was able to return my handset to a shop I was told by a “velly solly fellet” in the Philippines; the shop we “lend” me a hand set whilst mine was being repaired. BUT “I” had to hand the handset over, which I couldn’t do as I was trapped indoors.
SO the great black plastic bag farce ensues….
my phone died 6th September….
first bag dispatched according to “velly solly fellet number 2” on 6th in the afternoon.
On the 11th I inquired where the bag was and a “new one was sent by “velly solly fellet number 3”
On the 13th September two sets of black bags arrived together. I returned the handset that day via my local post-office.
On the 17th September the 3rd party repair group (not T-Mobile) received the phone.
On the 18th they declared the phone broken.
5 days later on the 23rd they declared the repair cancelled.
On the 23rd September “velly solly fellet” number 4 declares phone will be returned to me (broken) but they can’t replace the handset even though it was still under warranty, it would arrive by the 25th September.
IT HASN’T ARRIVED BACK.
I am still paying a monthly contract, I have no phone and therefore no way of using the system T-Mobile is charging me for, because the phone T-Mobile supplied is BROKEN.
In over 40 years of buying things I have NEVER come across such a anti-customer company. Mobile phone companies are truly unique at being unpleasant to customers who have never done anything but pay their bills on time.
Orange T-Mobile and now EE seem to have become just EE.
They recently had a survey to see what the EE shop should be called.
My answer (which I doubt will win) is EXTRA EXCREMENT.
I’ve been with T-Mobile for about 10 years. I stayed with them because I loved the free upgrade every two years. Now that they switched to Jump where I’m basically forced to pay full price for a new phone in a 24 month span, can I cancel my contract without paying the cancellation fees? My thoughts are, that Jump program isn’t what I originally signed up for 10 years ago. So why should I pay for wanting out of the new contact??
It is definitely worth a shot. I would highly suggest contact the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org). Even the FCC, as well as the attorney general’s office. You can also email the president, john.legere@T-Mobile.com. The worst thing you could do is nothing at all. Good luck! Tell’em tmobilesbad.com sent ya! 🙂
I just got T-Mobile to cancel my plan. I had them in a major city for over 4 years, no real problems. Then, we tried to troubleshoot my lack of service after I moved over 500 miles for work. We tried new phones (one for free, one out of my pocket) and nothing worked. Finally, I requested they send someone to check the towers. Apparently, there was a well known problem and I was only getting 2G but paying for 4G. I got out of my cancellation fee and 18 months left on my contract. I just sent them my utility bill.
Hope this helps.
I’ve got myself suck in a sticky situation I don’t know what to do. I have a baby on the way no home no anything and for what I cant afford to pay my bill. I just recently got my 5c and own like over 500 dollars on it. I cant afford to pay my bill monthly I want to break my contract with T-Mobile and switch to a new company with unlimited everything with a 50 per monthly cost for 1 phone and 60 for 2. I need help breaking my contract I don’t have the money to break it nor do I have to pay the early termination fee.
Hi Ashley, without t-mobile actually doing something wrong to use against them as leverage for breaking contract without ETF’s, my only suggestion would be to think of something that is no ones fault. In my opinion, you might try something like telling them you moved to an area that doesn’t have t-mobile service. Look at a map of their coverage area and see where they have no coverage. Then tell them you moved there and your phone doesn’t work. Only thing with that is, their tech guys might be able to check your records and see if you were getting service anywhere in that area, and if you were ever without. So, you might actually need to go there and try using your phone. Tell them that you went to see your new place and had no cell phone service all day while out there. Other suggestions, make friends with a military recruiter and have them write a letter saying you are joining, they drop the contract instantly. Not really sure what else you can do. I guess if it comes down to it, you could simply switch and just not pay them for a long time. They are going to report you to credit bureau but eventually will offer you a settlement for significantly less. Good luck with that. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
I bought my phone in oct 2013 paid full price with payment plan. The guy told me that with jump insurance I can bring my phone back in 6 months and what ever is owed on it will be forgiven and I just start paying for my new phone and nothing else. Today I called customer service and was told that now they only pay a trade in value and I have to pay at least 50 percent off. It seems in February they change the terms. So I have been paying $10 extra a month for a service that has changed and no one told me. I can no longer get the service that was advertised to me by the salesmen the day I bought my phone. Now I’m stuck paying for this phone when my original plan for buying thos over priced phone was that I could switch in six months. My question is this legal? Are they still bound by the terms of the agreement from the time I bought the phone?
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you if it is legal or not. They do a bunch of things that seem VERY borderline. And I wouldn’t doubt if they broke the law here and there with their practices. I would contact an attorney if you feel they have. I would definitely suggest filing a complaint with the BBB. Very good starting point. Good luck!
My boyfriend has a contract with tmobile and he recently got a 4g phone. Where we live, he can’t even get 3g out here. His phone has to run off of edge 2g. Granted it works faster than my sprint phone, but he is paying for unlimited everything and is very unhappy that his phone can’t preform like it should and he wants to get out of this contract. More and more problems keep happening and we have had enough. How can he get out of this?
Bad coverage in an area they don’t service is a legit reason for them to let you out of your contract. Call T-Mobile tech support and have them run signal tests. Good luck! Cuz at the end of the day… you are still dealing with T-Mobile.
I signed a contract right before they went contract less. I got a crap phone, suffered through that at a high price, getting 2 g.speed where I visit most of the time,.got zero.connection at one resort on vacation, and between the hours of 5-pm and 10 pm, my.speed drops, time out.on gateways, or have to wait while sending an emai or jump on the.net. With all these issues, they wont let me out. I have 3 months left….