Paying for zombie t-mobile phone lines

Dear Caramba Today Fixer: I'd two phone lines with T-Mobile on separate contracts – one for me personally and something in my mother. This past year in Feb, I known as these to cancel my line since my contract was up.

The following month, I observed these were still billing me for lines. I known as again and it was told it's a mistake which they'd cancel it.

Later, I received my bill and again, I saw that my line had still not been canceled. I known as T-Mobile again to inform them, and this time around they stated they'd no record of my eliminating the road or that anybody had ever talked to me. I requested a supervisor and it was hung on. I known as back -- at this time I had been upset. They explained they'd be reducing my phone lines for non-payment.

I inform them which i was more than pleased to cover my mother's line -- and I used to be having to pay for this -- but I wouldn't purchase a telephone line which i had canceled two several weeks earlier.

The trainer told us basically desired to cancel, I would need to pay an earlier termination fee as well as the past-due balance. It is annually later, and they're still requesting these funds.

- Abril Anchondo, Fresno, Calif.

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Dear Abril: We are imagining plenty of supportive looks and knowing nods from mobile phone clients of stripes, because the dreaded early termination fee is definitely presents itself consumer complaint lists.

Actually, T-Mobile has become marketing to individuals disdain for early termination penalties in the new campaign that purports to pay costs you incur from another company if you purchase a telephone and change to T-Mobile. Company Boss John Legere calls it a "get free from jail free card" for customers.

However in this situation, you should not owe anything whatsoever since a) you'd canceled your phone over time and b) when you initially known as to complain, they acknowledged there is a mistake and guaranteed to consider proper care of your cancellation (despite the fact that they did not follow-through).

We required your condition towards the forces-that-attend T-Mobile plus they could untangle it rather rapidly. They apologized for that error and waived the entire amount, which in fact had grown to $614. Additionally they guaranteed to inform the 3 credit confirming agencies, so your credit report will not be adversely affected.

Following the credit fix experiences – and it might take 3 months, they stated – you need to order a duplicate of the free credit history at world wide web.annualcreditreport.com , the state site setup under federal authority to permit customers one free report every 12 several weeks from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Listed here are a couple of strategies for staying away from early termination costs, which could hit $350, with respect to the kind of tool and the company:

Know precisely whenever your contract finishes. If you have added minutes or upgraded to a different phone or calling plan, you may be unknowingly signing on for any new contract period.

Investigate the company's service nearer your home prior to signing an agreement. Request for any free trial and when you have dropped calls or any other problems, flee prior to the contract becomes permanent.

Keep in mind that despite so-known as "family plans," the organization may consider everyone's phone to be another contract. If you cancel everybody early, you might get hit with several costs.