Starting March, Verizon subscribers will now have to pay 15 cents per text message. That makes it three with Cingular and Sprint hiking their text message rates earlier. That leaves T-Mobile as the only national carrier offering ten cents per text message.
Though generally sad news for consumers, this price change from Verizon is an opportunity for some disgruntled subscribers to get out of their Verizon contract.
Any “material change” in the contract that you signed with a carrier allows the customer to terminate its contract with his carrier without paying the early termination fee. In fact, according to Engadget, several Verizon customers have reported getting out of their Verizon contract just based on their recent texting hike. But don’t rejoice yet, because if you read the comments at Engadget, you’ll realize that it might not be as easy as going to your nearest Verizon store and informing them about your early contract termination.
Here’s one of the comments:
I did a bit of research and it’s pretty clear that you can NOT cancel your account without paying an ETF because of this. The contract makes that fairly clear. The pull quote:
“YOU CAN END THE AFFECTED SERVICE, WITHOUT ANY EARLY TERMINATION FEE”
What Verizon Wireless is offering to do is cancel text messaging. Without a fee! What fun.
I compiled the legalese about price changing from all the national carriers. We’re at their mercy.
Also go here for the SMS price hike club.
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