Sprint launches Pro-Rated ETF fees (Phone Arena News)

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Sprint launches Pro-Rated ETF fees

Sprint launches Pro-Rated ETF fees

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Published on: 31 October, 2008 by PhoneArena Team

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After seeing two of the larger wireless carriers provide pro-rated early termination fees to its customers, Sprint has finally launched probably the best ETF policy. The only catch is that it applies to all new service agreements starting on or beginning November 2, 2008. Unfortunately, current Sprint customers will be left out of it and will continue with Sprints current agreement. Sprint has one of the highest ETF rates out of all the U.S. carriers but will be pro-rating the $200 ETF by $10 increments per month beginning in month six of a wireless customers contract. During the 15th month of the contract, Sprint will reduce the ETF to $100 which makes it the lowest.

In addition to the new ETF policy, Sprint also revamped their existing return policy for new handset activations. Any new customers not satisfied with their new phone, service, or network coverage will not be charged an early termination fee or activation charge as long as they return their undamaged phone and deactivate their service within 30 days.

After being crowned with having the best customer service ratings last week, it seems as though Sprint is doing whatever they can to increase their customer base. The addition of the new ETF and return policy shows the new direction Sprint is heading in their race to win more customers.

source: Sprint

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lol @ 31 October, 2008 11:21:16 AM

definitely a good move by sprint...and although i root for the vzw..im glad to see there customters who have been hanging in there finally get some type of reward for their patience...good move sprint..we'll see how it pans out in the long run..

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 11:23:57 AM

Agreed!!

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 12:36:15 PM

how does a ETF policy for new subscribers help current customers?

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 12:50:08 PM

uhhhh it doesnt?

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 02:27:21 PM

it applies to current customers who upgrade

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Rick @ 01 November, 2008 02:27:30 AM

It helps only those who are new on or after Nov 2

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anonymous @ 01 November, 2008 11:55:55 AM

Not true. It also helps those who renew after the 2nd. Any agrrement signed from then on will have the pro-rated ETF.

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Big Moe @ 31 October, 2008 01:01:38 PM

I applaud your efforts Sprint! I hope that the variable ETF program does not affect your current customers considering it's only available to new contracts. I, myself, am a loyal customer to VZW but I can see from a outsider's point of view, how much this change may lure new customers in and keep current customers longer. I just hope it's not too late for Sprint and that the hole has been dug too deep to climb out of. Good luck! GO VZW!!

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 01:07:36 PM

So AT&T and Verizon did this a year ago. Good job at keeping up with the pack, Sprint. You're only one year behind!

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 01:34:48 PM

not even!

when verizon did it, they did it for EVERYONE not just new customers. sprints trying to look good while still screwin their regulars.

and that "best cust service" claim was only on claim times, not on actual customer conversations. Its easy to have good claim times when you hang up on customers and DROP THEM when they complain too much.

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 03:34:33 PM

ha ya...sprint is terrible...left them like 3 years ago and have been with vzw since....best move i ever made

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 04:24:32 PM

Haha. I can only imagine a typical customer service call

Sprint CSR: Hello and thank you for calling Sprint, how may I help you?
Customer: Well, I keep getting overbilled each month for a data package I dropped over a year ago. I call each month and they credit it, and tell me it's removed. But it still keeps coming.
Sprint CSR: Alright. I see your account and I have issued a credit. Thanks for choosing Sprint, have a nice day.
Customer: Wait, wait, did you remove it?
Sprint CSR: GOD DAMN BITCHY CUSTOMERS WERE NOT HERE TO HELP AT YOUR EVERY BECK AND WHIM.
Customer: Oh, thanks. I'm swtiching from Sprint now.
Sprint CSR: YOU DO THAT YOU ANNOYING PRICK. LESS BULLSHIT FOR US TO DEAL WITH

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 10:52:57 PM

Actually any contract after february 2006 was on the variable early termination fee. Verizon did the same move that Sprint has done!!

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vzw fanboy @ 01 November, 2008 01:00:13 PM

haha lol

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anonymous @ 02 November, 2008 12:36:50 PM

WTF

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other @ 31 October, 2008 03:44:38 PM

Sorry VERIZON did NOT do IT for EVERYONE one, get your facts straight...

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killingthemonkey @ 31 October, 2008 03:50:19 PM

Correct. VZW only did it for contracts starting after 11/16/2006.

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anonymous @ 31 October, 2008 05:33:27 PM

so verizon wireless did this 2 years ago, spring is just now doing it and considering most people who cancel do it early on in the their contract.... I fail to see how everyone is saying "way to go sprint" it's like congratulating someone after they finish a marathon 2 years after the starter... you just don't do it.

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sit2k @ 01 November, 2008 06:37:49 AM

just get the phone on ebay new for the same price or less than the 2 year contract deal and if you dont like the service you dont have to worry about the etf... not so hard people

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Someone Important @ 01 November, 2008 12:45:18 PM

I agree

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anonymous @ 01 November, 2008 04:48:38 PM

yeah but if your happy just go to a small store and haggle with them... the dealer stores.. i always get it for cheaper than it says on my account and free accessories...

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anonymous @ 03 November, 2008 04:08:25 AM

its a good move by a company thats in dire need of not only maintaining customers, but getting new ones... when sprint did the everything plan, and everyone else followed... i bet you said, way to go vzw!... im not for one company or the other... its just the way the market works...the market has a way of causing companies to do certain things... it takes a while to do sometimes... example... so now that sprint launched 4g, everyone else is behind... and they will be by more than 2 years... so when everyone else launches 4g, will you use the same statement, you high school freshman who is stuck playing rhapsody on a cell phone that your parents pay for?

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anonymous @ 03 November, 2008 04:26:22 AM

way to go! Love that comment . Thanks

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anonymous @ 01 November, 2008 04:13:32 PM

in my experience if someone wants to cancel they will, and in this area, theres a lot of tweakers and hobos with no intelligence that will just cancel sprint and never pay the ETF even if its billed to them 6 times then sent to collections, so it might help Sprint keep customers in some areas.....but in the land of having popular meth heads that dont care about their credit...it doesnt make a difference.

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anonymous @ 03 November, 2008 10:27:39 AM

Revamped the return policy?! It has been the same great 30 day return policy for more than 2 years now!

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anonymous @ 04 December, 2008 10:07:46 PM

I WORK FOR SPRINT AND IT IS NOT WHAT IS IT SEEN LIKE THEY OVER CHARGES THERE CUSTOMER AND IF YOU DO NOT CHECK YOUR BILL IT WILL CONTINUE THEY ALSO LIE TO THE CUSTOMERS AND WILL TELL THEM THAT THEY WILLDO OR ADD ANY FEATURES / DISCOUNT TO THE ACCOUNT TO KEEP THE CUSTOMERS BUT NOT TELLING THE CUSTOMER THAT IT ONLY LAST FOR A MONTHS OR SO I WERE TIRED OF HEARING CALL BACK TO COMPLAIN AND OVER ALL IT IS NOT A GOOD PHONE COMPANY TO TAKE OUT A PHONE. THERE IS SO MUCH BUT I CAN ONLY TELL SOME.

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