FCC Will Hold A Hearing To Talk About Cell Phone Contract Fees
by Erik Folgate
Filed under Consumer News
Tomorrow, the FCC and Congress will look into the high fees that cell phone companies charge consumers for canceling their contract early. We are all well aware of the exorbitant fees that cell phone carries charge for opting out of a contract early. Plan contracts have been a staple for cell phone companies since the dawn of the cell phone industry. It’s a way for cell phone companies to retain customers through leverage and incentives if a customer is loyal to the carrier.
This article from Fox News talks about how a government agency was given lesser fees for canceling their contract early, and the associated press got a hold of an internal email between two employees of Nextel saying that the government would never pay such high fees. Even the employees of these companies know that the fees are ridiculous!
I really hope that the FCC makes cell phone companies drop their fees altogether, because I think it reduces the amount of competition available in the cell phone industry, and it gives cell phone companies leverage to keep customers. Plus, I really want to switch to AT&T so I can either get the new G3 iPhone or the Blackberry Curve. I’m ready to start answering email with my phone. We will see what happens, but hopefully the fees will be reduced at the very least.
I want the G3 iPhone too! We’re on AT&T and we finished our 2 year contract. The service has been fine and most of my family is on AT&T. The fees are enough to keep me with them even if the service dropped by a little. I don’t want another contract.
yeah, It will be awesome with the broadband speed internet. I have such an old, clunky phone right now because I am just waiting to get something that is the latest technology, rather than just getting another cheapo phone.