Can I get out of an iPhone contract

[aditghai]

I have been with AT&T since 2005. Now, I am done with college and will be moving back to India with about 6 months left of my iPhone contract.

Is there any way I can get out of the contract if I tell them that I am moving for good due to some family emergency. If they don't let me go without paying some kind of ETF, will it be the whole amount $175 or will it be pro-rated.

Also-if someone knows about getting out of a DirecTV contract-that would help too. -I know this is not a directV forum, but it would help if someone could let me know.

Thanks

 

[MWPULSE]

I highly doubt that AT&T are just gonna let you off the hook, i know that in the U.K you have to buy your way out. Maybe its different in the U.S. But if the reasons are genuine then it should make the split alot easier, did you buy the phone outright? or what? that would make such decisions on your part easier later on ;D

PTP

 

[aditghai]

No,
I did not buy it outright. I bought it subsidized for $199 when the iPhone 3G first came out. July 11th 2008-I think.

 

[dukebound85]

you have to pay the etf of 175 (goes down by 5 bucks a month).. however, this prorate only applies to a contract signed after a certain date (which i forget)

 

[aditghai]

Ok-so thats-24 month contract(Starting June 2008)
Estimated date of ending-December 2009.
Time covered-18 months X 5=$90

$175-$90=$85 right?

 

[mackmgg]

I don't know about AT&T, but almost every US carrier will let you get out of the contract if you are moving outside of the coverage zone.

 

[labman]

Just a thought

call AT&T and ask them I might call a couple times sometimes different people give different advice. unless they say no ETF for you then move, move fast!

 

[Lakerfan210]

Just call AT&T they might waive the ETF if you can prove you're moving outside the US. As for directv I would call too.

 

[firewood]

Find out what AT&T considers proof of moving out of the country. They may bill you an ETF, no matter what they say, but after you submit proof they might cancel it.

 

[thelatinist]

I am sure if you tell them that you are moving out of the country they will let you out of your contract sans ETF. I know I've done it with other carriers when moving out of the service area. Most did not require me to return my phone, either. You may be asked to provide some proof of your new residence (though I've never been asked to do so).

 

[goosnarrggh]

+1 to the theory that AT&T often waives the ETF when you provide proof of permanently moving out of their service area.

If that doesn't fly, though, and if you don't plan on ever coming back to the USA and therefore don't particularly care what happens to your USA credit rating, you may consider simply closing your US credit card without a leaving a forwarding address (you're not trying to be deliberately evil, so be sure to pay off all your existing, legitimate debt first), and then cancelling the AT&T account after you've already left the country (you were planning to leave anyway), placing you outside the area where AT&T's debt collection agencies would likely be bonded to operate.

 

[gretafour]

+1 to the theory that AT&T often waives the ETF when you provide proof of permanently moving out of their service area.

If that doesn't fly, though, and if you don't plan on ever coming back to the USA and therefore don't particularly care what happens to your USA credit rating, you may consider simply closing your US credit card without a leaving a forwarding address (you're not trying to be deliberately evil, so be sure to pay off all your existing, legitimate debt first), and then cancelling the AT&T account after you've already left the country (you were planning to leave anyway), placing you outside the area where AT&T's debt collection agencies would likely be bonded to operate.

That's probably not advisable from a credit score perspective.

I went abroad last year and Sprint offered a 6-month suspension for free, and when that ended I was able to cancel the plan.

I'm actually leaving again so I hope AT&T offers the same thing! Who can get a utility bill!

 

[Givmeabrek]

+1 to the theory that AT&T often waives the ETF when you provide proof of permanently moving out of their service area.

If that doesn't fly, though, and if you don't plan on ever coming back to the USA and therefore don't particularly care what happens to your USA credit rating, you may consider simply closing your US credit card without a leaving a forwarding address (you're not trying to be deliberately evil, so be sure to pay off all your existing, legitimate debt first), and then cancelling the AT&T account after you've already left the country (you were planning to leave anyway), placing you outside the area where AT&T's debt collection agencies would likely be bonded to operate.

Brilliant. For $85 you would foul up your credit !! Wow is that dumb...

 

[goosnarrggh]

Brilliant. For $85 you would foul up your credit !! Wow is that dumb...

Hey, I said right up front that was only an option if the OP didn't really care about the effect upon their credit score. If their credit score matters to them, then it would logically follow that I was actually advising against doing it.

Anyway, I stand by the first sentence in my response, that the OP should inquire first about waiving the ETF upon providing proof that the OP has moved outside AT&T's service area.

 

[OriginalFormula]

I don't know about AT&T, but almost every US carrier will let you get out of the contract if you are moving outside of the coverage zone.

This.

As long as you're able to provide proof of your new residence outside of their coverage zone (in this case, outside of the country), you should be fine.