Consumer Blog
Sprint Nextel sued for extending customer contracts
The Attorney General of Minnesota is going after Sprint Nextel for extending contracts without customers realizing it.
AG Nixon has warned about making changes to your calling plan in the middle of your contract - such as more minutes, a fancier phone, etc. Most cell phone contracts allow for an extension when you make this kind of upgrade. And the phone company often doesn't tell you. Instead, months later when you think your contract is up, they say, "remember that upgrade you made several months ago? That added a year to your contract."
The Minnesota A.G. says Sprint Nextel has deceived customers by doing this, and wants it stopped. Most wireless complaints received here and across the country have to do with long-term contracts. The Minnesota announcement is the second piece of news about government action on this issue recently. We blogged a couple of weeks back about federal legislation that would limit contract termination fees. FYI, there are ways out of your long-term contract without paying the big fees - check out this blog post.
Technorati Tags: Termination fees, Wireless phone, cell phones, wireless contracts, moagoconsumer, consumer protection
Posted by on October 1, 2007 3:01 pm :: Comments (1) :: Permalink
1 Response to "Sprint Nextel sued for extending customer contracts"
says:
November 14, 2007 6:01 am
In July of this year (2007) I upgraded my Sprint Nextel phone. I went to Georgia last week and the temps got into the 40’s at night. I left my sprint Nextel phone in my truck with the windows closed. Following that, the phone works, however, the display, although lighting up, will not display anything. No background, contacts, nothing. I took the phone to the Sprint store in University Mall where it was purchased. They said they could see that it was not water damage, and referred me to the Sprint store on Dale Mabry where there was a techinician who could look at the phone. I went to that store, and the first person I spoke with said that the technician would try to repair the phone, and if it could not be repaired, that I could purchase an identical phone for $55.00. She said come back in an hour. I returned and spoke to another person who claims that the phone had water damage, and therefore, I would have to purchase a used phone for approximately $200.00 and that the $55.00 replacement did not apply. I explained that there was not water damage, that the cold weather was responsible. I was basically told that I was a liar. I could pay $200.00 for a used phone or pay $150.00 to end my contract. I was told that since I upgraded in July that I could not pay to upgrade my phone as they only allow one upgrade per year. This is an absolute outrageous rip off and a racket. The phone did not have water damage. Maybe it has damage from the dampness caused by the cold weather, but not water damage. The phones should work in the cold. I plan to turn this over to the Attorney General’s Office for investigation into this racket. Sprint Nextel does not care about their customers, particularly the North Dale Mabry office in Tampa.
