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Sprint Gets Shady With New Contract Changes That “Don’t Materially Alter the Contract”

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SprintDamn. Just when it looked like Sprint was going to actually have a chance to make some headway with consumers comes word that the bean counters really don’t get it. We’ve already heard that in anticipation of getting the iPhone that Sprint upped its Early Termination Fee to $350. Not a great idea because while it might keep a few bucks in the kitty, it sure sours users on the service. Now it appears that Sprint has raised its “administrative fee” from $.99 to $1.50.

Sure that’s just a small change, but as we all know that when Sprint made a contract change customers were allowed to cancel a contract by saying that the company had materially altered the original contract. Well, it seems at some point (and this is in dispute) Sprint added some language to the deal that said that they could charge an administrative fee up to $1.99. That apparently is what Spring is hanging its hat on when it says that the $.51 increase doesn’t materially alter the contract.

When some users noticed the price change they did what many do and tried to get out of the deal. Sprint at first told users they could, and then backtracked, adding to the confusion and sour taste in many mouths.

Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where the consumer could say to a company “you know what, I’m going to reduce what I pay you monthly based on what I think you’re worth.” Yeah, I know. I’m dreaming.

 

13 Comments

13 Comments

  1. Guest

    09/29/2011 at 5:32 am

    Sorry, but you know these changes are being driven Sprint obtaining the new iPhone. But fortunately for me, Sprint is a non-player as they do not offer their “4G” service in most of Southern California. But then again, the iPhone won’t be 4G/LTE capable and therefore not on my shopping list.

  2. Anonymous

    09/29/2011 at 6:13 am

    Just looked at other plans the other day and Sprint is soooo much cheaper that it would be stupid for my family to make a switch, even with all their nickel and dime BS lately. 

    • your losers

      09/29/2011 at 10:14 pm

      I have 5 phones on my plan, when i switched from att to sprint I saved $175. thats a huge amount. BUT the service is shite, i mean the actual coverage is pretty horrible. however saving $175 a month allowed me to afford and extra ounce of pot for me and my wife!!!!!!!!!

    • Rey Ray

      09/29/2011 at 10:38 pm

      There are many that are cheaper.  Some are prepaid, some are not.

      There are pros and cons to each service.

  3. Inkbyte

    09/29/2011 at 6:50 am

    It’s not the fees, but the poor service that has me wanting to bail; after 10 years. Too many dropped calls is not worth the savings.

  4. Mike Smith

    09/29/2011 at 7:17 am

    DAN HEESE BONUS IS COMING UP. SO THEY NEED TO NICKEL AND DIME US SO HE CAN GET HIS MILLIONS IN BONUSES.

  5. Rick Maiman

    09/29/2011 at 7:18 am

    Sprint is pushing many long time subscribers like myself, who don’t really care a bee’s butt about the iPhone to consider the heretofore option of s___tcanning them completely. Their so called triumphant acquisition of the hallowed iPhone is too little, too late. Android and even the new Win/Mango developments make Apple’s top tier smartphone a moot victory at best. They have plunged headlong on a Napoleonic scorched earth policy to head off what they perceive are changes to ameliorate the deluge of new subscribers galloping forward to get the iPhone. I would love to compare churn numbers for the close of the third quarter as compared to new subscribers signing up for the sake of the new announcement.

    CEO Hesse’s shoes could hardly be big enough to encompass all the potshots these ongoing changes have made. My recent calls to customer support have been received with outright arrogance that they are only meeting parity with competing carriers in regards to all these changes. Sprint has become nothing more than a white bread imitation at best. Doing intensive research into the realm of prepared carriers reveals that 4G, LTE, very capable phone choices and quality of service on par with Sprint, makes them less, and less of a viable asset. They have become woefully too big for the britches full of holes they sought to close. In point of fact the Emperor no longer has his clothes.

  6. Guest

    09/29/2011 at 8:50 am

    Are you kidding us? Yes, you are dreaming. You’re apparently dreaming of a fairy tale world where it’s unreasonable for business to seek modest revenue increases to offset rising expenses, while still providing excellent value.

    By sounding an alarm over something so trivial, you, and others like you, confuse the marketplace and make it increasingly difficult for companies like Sprint to offer values like unlimited data.

    Please, Mr. Crocker, give me an address where I can mail your $0.51 each month.

    • Shellee555

      09/29/2011 at 11:14 am

      It is not the $.51, it is the fact that they have changed it 4 times in the past year and that I paid $100 a month more to have Sprint than I would to have Metro PCS, Virgin Mobile, T Mobile or Boost mobile….. I canned Sprint based on this change and I am now with Metro PCS, I am saving $100 a month as of this month because Sprint DID let me out of my contract based on this change

    • Rey Ray

      09/29/2011 at 10:37 pm

      How about you send 0.51 to each of us that don’t agree that a company can decide to charge us more and have no say in the matter. So .51 to 20 million people every month.

      Or maybe, let’s just charge you more for your rent, or change the interest rate to your mortgage to what it was in the 1980’s.  Let’s just make it 10%.

      How much is too much.  Who is to decide, you? sprint?  When the credit card companies change the rate on people, the people have the right to say no, close it, I’ll pay what I owe on the terms I agreed too.  Not the inflated fees you want now.

  7. Michael Wilson

    09/29/2011 at 9:54 am

    In a world where people change wireless carriers more frequently than their underwear, I’m an anomaly… I’ve been with Sprint for 13 years. I’ve always been very loyal to them and they’ve in turn been loyal to me. I sing their praises to everyone. As a small-business owner with many Mac’s, I’ve been waiting for Sprint to get the iPhone. I understand what they’re doing by changing policies and raising fees. But also, as a small business person, I’m very concerned that the precise reasons I’ve been so loyal are being removed in favor of short-term revenue gains. That’s a long-term business mistake.

  8. Blindmikenj

    09/29/2011 at 1:25 pm

    Its not just the fee’s that are changing.  Sprint recently made material changes to the arbitration clause in the T&C basically stripping the consumer of his/her rights that guaranty impartiality in the arbitration process.
    Prior to the change if you and Sprint could not agree on an Arbitrator and the rules governing arbitration the courts, a judge an impartial member of the judiciary, would decide.  Under the new changes if you and Sprint cannot agree they have dictated the type of arbitration.  Sprint’s has repeatedly denied that this is a material change even when confronted with case law and precedent.  Good luck to anyone who disagree’s with Sprint and wants resolution.

  9. Rey Ray

    09/29/2011 at 10:29 pm

    They lost me when they no longer offered their “Fair and Flexible” plans.

    Premier status perks taken away from customers that dealt with their horrible years of customer service, even after ten years.

    Lying and Cheating their customers when their terms of service don’t use the wording they changed last month, but claim it has been their for 3 years.

    Dan Hesse want’s to make sprint as corrupt and crooked as ATT is now and under his watch.

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