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ETF Question?

IBradMac

IBradMac

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jun 27, 2008
1,799
2
Ohio
Okay, so here's the deal. I have an iPhone 3G that I purchased July '08. Me and my father are on the same plan. He recently purchased a new phone and signed a 2 yr. contract.

Now, lets say I want to cancel my plan in July, and switch to another carrier, will I still get charged the etf if I cancel? Consider my father just signed the 2 yr. contract about 6 months ago. Will that effect rather they charge the etf? Are the contracts separate, even though we are on the same plan?

Thanks
 
IBradMac said:
Okay, so here's the deal. I have an iPhone 3G that I purchased last July. Me and my father are on the same plan. He recently purchased a new phone and signed a 2 yr. contract.

Now, lets say I want to cancel my plan in July, and switch to another carrier, will I still get charged the etf if I cancel? Consider my father just signed the 2 yr. contract about 6 months ago. Will that effect rather they charge the etf? Are the contracts separate, even though we are on the same plan?

Thanks
Click to expand...

ETF is independent per line. So your ETF =/= your dad's ETF.
 
Thank you very much jav6454.

@dukebound85- If I decide to cancel I will probably wait until July to avoid the etf.

Thanks for the quick replies! :apple:
 
IBradMac said:
Thank you very much jav6454.

@dukebound85- If I decide to cancel I will probably wait until July to avoid the etf.

Thanks for the quick replies! :apple:
Click to expand...

you have to wait 2 years to not have the etf apply, not one

however, do note that your etf decreases by 5 bucks a month since the beginnning of your contraact

no worries with the replies:)
 
dukebound85 said:
you have to wait 2 years to not have the etf apply, not one

however, do note that your etf decreases by 5 bucks a month since the beginnning of your contraact

no worries with the replies:)
Click to expand...

Cool I didn't know that. Interesting.

Yeah, I wasn't thinking, I actually bought the 3G in July '08. I edited it. :eek:
 
jav6454 said:
Then yeah, by next July that ETF will be gone. BTW, new iPhone will probably be out by then... *hint, hint*
Click to expand...

Yeah, my plan is to wait and see what Apple releases next. Sometimes the phone is more important than the coverage. :p + I'm giving at&t a chance to improve coverage in my area, specifically around my house.

I took a friend who has Verizon with me around for a day and I went to all the places I normally go. He had service in a lot of the dead spots I usually experience. Of course, there were spots where I could not believe he didn't have service. But Verizon did beat out at&t on the service, in my areas.

All in all, I think Verizon would be a better carrier for me.
 
Instead of starting a new thread I'll ask it here.

Kind of a dumb question but if I want to switch what exactly do I need to do?

I wouldn't cancel first would I?

Do I go to a VZW store and tell them I plan on killing my at&t contract? Then cancel, then go back to VZ?
 
IBradMac said:
Instead of starting a new thread I'll ask it here.

Kind of a dumb question but if I want to switch what exactly do I need to do?

I wouldn't cancel first would I?

Do I go to a VZW store and tell them I plan on killing my at&t contract? Then cancel, then go back to VZ?
Click to expand...

Bring your AT&T account number, your phone number and a photo ID, then go to a VZW store, tell them you want to "port your number to them", which usually means VZW will acquire your number as they will be your new carrier, then they'll terminate your AT&T service (expect to receive a final monthly service bill with applicable taxes and fees from AT&T). No need to notify that AT&T that you're terminating your service with them, VZW will do it for you ;)

Of course like any other carrier in the US, they will run a credit check before porting your number. Then the whole contract starts over again with your new carrier, assuming you're signing for 2yrs with them.
 
It may not matter to you, but you should know this before going into it. Since you're an iPhone user now, you'll likely jump into one of Verizon's "advanced devices" so that your phone experience with them isn't shotty. If you do get one of their advanced devices, then your ETF will start at $350 and decrease $10 monthly. So, if you make that jump to Verizon, make sure you plan on fulfilling the entire contract and not being distracted by the "5G iPhone" or whatever will come out during your contract with Verizon.

I'm not trying to talk you out of Verizon, as it's a great network with great customer service. It's just that the folks inside the store are likely to either not tell you or smooth over that little detail with you when you sign your 2 year contract. Best of luck with your decision and I hope it all works out for you.

BTW, I think the Motorola Droid is pretty sick. Just my two cents.
 
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