ATT is crazy

[reopeadres]

This is a cut from the internal att home page!

Early Termination Fees: what are they and why are we changing them June 1
May 21, 2010

We work hard every day to provide customers with a great wireless experience at competitive prices.

One of the ways we do this is to offer the industry's leading wireless handsets below their full retail price when the customer signs a two-year service agreement. In the event a customer wants to cancel service before the agreement expires, he or she agrees to pay a prorated ETF as an alternative way to complete the agreement.

On June 1, we will make changes that lower the ETF for many customers who agree to new term commitments and increase the ETF for other customers. Customers purchasing basic and quick-messaging phones will see ETFs go down in new and upgrade two-year service agreements. Whether a customer is new to us or is upgrading a handset, the ETF will drop to $150 from $175, and be reduced by $4 for each month they remain with us as a customer during the balance of the two-year agreement.

For customers who enter into new two-year service agreements in connection with the purchase of our more advanced, higher-end devices -- including netbooks and smartphones -- the ETF will increase to $325, and be reduced by $10 for each month of the two-year service agreement.

In both cases, at the end of the contract term, the ETF will no longer apply. Existing customers who are within their two-year service agreement will see no change to their current terms.

Our new ETF structure reflects the way customers buy our products and services. Those who buy less expensive devices and lower-priced service plans will pay a lower ETF if they terminate their contracts early. Consumers of more expensive devices and service plans will pay a higher ETF for terminating their higher-priced plans early. We've adjusted our ETFs so that we can continue offering customers the same great value on devices.

Here's more:

Q. Do we offer plans and services that do not include an ETF?

A. Absolutely. We understand that some consumers may want a plan without any long-term commitments. We offer options to accommodate these customers. For example, they can choose a "no commitment" service plan (which would require paying full price for the phone) or our GoPhone "pay-as-you-go" service. We recommend these options for customers who want maximum flexibility. While many of our customers choose these options, the vast majority of them opt for a contract.

Q. How are we communicating this change to customers?

A. We fully disclose the contract term commitment, its length and the associated ETF at the point of sale. We will continue communicating this important contract language with customers. We have posted an open letter to customers at att.com/gen/press-room?pid=17951.


This is the most retarted move att can make. But hey just in time for the iphone release next month!!

[Cer0]

So they are crazy for matching Verizon's ETFs for smartphones?

[CaptainChaos]

I think they should do this. Why should they eat the cost of a phone if you want an early termination?

[area51crypto]

The reason they are doing this is because if Verzion gets the Iphone AT&T will loose a tremendous amount of customers and I mean a lot of customers!

JMO

[chrisrotolo]

AT&T is greedy.

[Cer0]

How are they greedy. Then that says the same for verizon because they have the same ETF.


::: Damn those businesses for trying to be a business. :::

[helenk579]

This is a cut from the internal att home page!

Early Termination Fees: what are they and why are we changing them June 1
May 21, 2010

We work hard every day to provide customers with a great wireless experience at competitive prices.

One of the ways we do this is to offer the industry's leading wireless handsets below their full retail price when the customer signs a two-year service agreement. In the event a customer wants to cancel service before the agreement expires, he or she agrees to pay a prorated ETF as an alternative way to complete the agreement.

On June 1, we will make changes that lower the ETF for many customers who agree to new term commitments and increase the ETF for other customers. Customers purchasing basic and quick-messaging phones will see ETFs go down in new and upgrade two-year service agreements. Whether a customer is new to us or is upgrading a handset, the ETF will drop to $150 from $175, and be reduced by $4 for each month they remain with us as a customer during the balance of the two-year agreement.

For customers who enter into new two-year service agreements in connection with the purchase of our more advanced, higher-end devices -- including netbooks and smartphones -- the ETF will increase to $325, and be reduced by $10 for each month of the two-year service agreement.

In both cases, at the end of the contract term, the ETF will no longer apply. Existing customers who are within their two-year service agreement will see no change to their current terms.

Our new ETF structure reflects the way customers buy our products and services. Those who buy less expensive devices and lower-priced service plans will pay a lower ETF if they terminate their contracts early. Consumers of more expensive devices and service plans will pay a higher ETF for terminating their higher-priced plans early. We've adjusted our ETFs so that we can continue offering customers the same great value on devices.

Here's more:

Q. Do we offer plans and services that do not include an ETF?

A. Absolutely. We understand that some consumers may want a plan without any long-term commitments. We offer options to accommodate these customers. For example, they can choose a "no commitment" service plan (which would require paying full price for the phone) or our GoPhone "pay-as-you-go" service. We recommend these options for customers who want maximum flexibility. While many of our customers choose these options, the vast majority of them opt for a contract.

Q. How are we communicating this change to customers?

A. We fully disclose the contract term commitment, its length and the associated ETF at the point of sale. We will continue communicating this important contract language with customers. We have posted an open letter to customers at att.com/gen/press-room?pid=17951.


This is the most retarted move att can make. But hey just in time for the iphone release next month!!

Thank you so much for your post.