How to Get out of a Cellular Service Contract Without Paying Fees

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Free yourself from your mobile plan with these easy escape routes
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These days, a cell phone is as close to being a human appendage as something can get without actually being attached to your body. And dissatisfaction—on one level or another—with cellular plan carriers is pretty much a universal lament. Terminating a cellphone contract before its end date can be a daunting task, especially if your contract has an early termination fee (ETF). However, depending on your situation, contract, and ability to negotiate, there are ways to get out of a phone contract without paying fees. This guide will teach you how to get out of your contract with Verizon, AT&T, and other mobile phone carriers.

Canceling a Cellular Service Plan

If your contract is new, you may be able to cancel if you're still within the grace period. If not, find a competing carrier that will pay your remaining balance, such as T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T, or check your contract to find loopholes that make it easy to cancel.

Method 1
Method 1 of 9:

Use the Grace Period

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  1. If you’ve just signed up for a plan and have instant buyer’s remorse, don’t wait to take action. You probably have a grace period within which you can cancel the agreement. For example, if you want to get out of your Verizon contract, you can do so without penalty within the first 30 days of service. [1]
    • Determine if there’s a particular method that you have to use to take advantage of the grace period cancellation provision. See if merely speaking with a customer service representative is enough or if you have to submit a request in writing.
    • If you haven’t bought your phone outright from the carrier, they will want it back. You may be assessed a restocking fee.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 9:

Switch to a Competing Carrier

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  1. Once you’ve figured out what your ETF is, research other major carriers, like T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T, to see if they are offering deals to pay off your contract with your previous provider. [2] Keep in mind that if you're financing your phone, your new carrier will likely not cover that remaining balance.
    • Some smaller local carriers may offer to help you get out of your phone contract, but this is not as common as with larger cellular carriers.
Method 3
Method 3 of 9:

Pay a Reduced Early Termination Fee

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  1. One of the reasons people don’t leave a carrier they’re unhappy with is the dreaded ETF. However, carriers prorate their ETFs based on the amount owed on the time remaining in your contract. Depending on how long you've been in your contract, the ETF could be pretty small. Call your carrier to determine the amount you’d be liable for if you terminate your agreement. [3] You can also look here for an ETF calculator.
    • You may need to notify your carrier of this decision in writing, though some carriers allow you to do so over the phone.
    • If you call, a customer service representative may try to convince you to stay with the company. Maybe they’ll offer you an incentive to stay, like a phone upgrade, even if you’re not due for one. If an incentive doesn’t do it for you, find out how the ETF will be paid, cancel, and bid the carrier farewell.
    • If you own your phone outright, consider selling it to cover the cost of the ETF. You’re probably planning on moving to a new carrier and taking advantage of one of their phone offers. Companies like Gazelle.com can make the selling process easy.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 9:

Check For Contract Violations

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  1. If you don’t have a copy of your cellphone plan agreement, contact your carrier for a copy. Here’s where you could find a possible escape route. You must note any changes as soon as they occur.
    • If the contract makes no reference to future modifications, and the carrier modified your agreement terms during the contract period, you could claim a breach of the agreement. However, be aware that many contracts have a provision that says the carrier can change the agreement at any time.
    • Even if the contract contains a term addressing future modifications, you may be able to break the contract if the change is “materially adverse” to you, such as a rate or fee increase. [4]
Method 5
Method 5 of 9:

Prove You Received Poor Service

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  1. Complaints such as continuous dropped calls and chronic poor reception are legitimate reasons for getting out of your contract without paying an ETF. If poor service is your main complaint, keep a log of everything that goes wrong. Collect your data over a week or two, and have it available when you speak with the customer service representative. [5]
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Method 6
Method 6 of 9:

Negotiate with a Manager

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  1. Managers have more authority when deciding on terminating the contract, and some may be compassionate enough to do so even when your contract technically doesn't offer such concessions. Some excuses a manager may consider a suitable reason to let you out of your contract:
    • Death. If the actual contract holder has died, you can contact the carrier to cancel the contract. You will need to provide some sort of proof that the person has died, so faking your death won't work. [6]
    • A change in financial situation. While it's rare to get a break on your contract for this reason, some companies may be more lenient than others, or they may offer to reduce your remaining payments or early termination fees.
    • Divorce. If you are divorcing the person with whom you share a contract, a manager can usually help you terminate the contract.
    • Legal issues. Some legal issues may help you get out of your phone contract, especially if you have a police report or proof of incarceration.
Method 7
Method 7 of 9:

Use Social Media

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  1. If you have a legitimate complaint against the carrier and you’ve had no success dealing with customer service, you can always take your gripe online. The more Facebook or Twitter/X followers you have, the better. And don’t hesitate to encourage your readers to re-post what you’ve written.
  2. Mention the carrier in the hashtag to your posts. You want to make sure that the carrier is specifically referenced so that other dissatisfied customers can find your posts more easily.
  3. If your complaint relates primarily to poor phone service, you can file an online complaint with the BBB, or even register a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Once you’ve done that, try contacting your carrier again to let them know your actions. You may find them more receptive. [7]
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Method 8
Method 8 of 9:

Move Outside the Service Area

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  1. If you're moving out of the country or just to a rural area with no coverage, you can get out of your phone contract by providing customer service with proof that the move is out of your control. Some situations that might work in your favor:
    • Military reassignment. If you're a service member being relocated to a place where your phone plan isn't supported, and you'll be at the new location for 90 days or more, your carrier cannot legally charge you an early termination fee. Contact your carrier to find out their cancelation process for service members. [8]
    • Employment transfers. If your job is transferring you to a new location where your mobile provider doesn't have service, you may be able to get out of your plan by providing a letter from your company.
Method 9
Method 9 of 9:

Sell or Transfer Your Plan

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  1. Some carriers may allow you to transfer your plan and contract to another person. Let your carrier know that you’d like to transfer your plan to someone else, and find out what’s needed to put that into effect. You may be told that this can be done with what’s known as an Assumption of Liability. This is a transaction that legally transfers your existing contract to another person. [9]
  2. The odds are that you either know someone or have access to someone looking to change their cellphone plan. Ask around to your friends and family. You could also post a query on your social media sites. Make sure you’re dealing with someone reliable and financially stable if you expect the carrier to approve the change. [10]
    • Your carrier will most likely instruct the person taking over your plan to read and agree to abide by the carrier’s Terms and Conditions of Agreement.
    • Your carrier may also have an Assumption of Liability form, which you and the person taking over the contract will probably need to sign.
    • In some cases, the person you transfer the plan to will need to pass a credit check. [11]
  3. If you’re not having any success finding someone to buy your plan, you might want to look into swapping plans, in which case you literally switch your plan with someone else’s. You’re a bit more limited in this scenario because you’ll need to find an individual who currently has a plan you’re interested in—and vice versa.
  4. If you don’t know anyone to sell your plan to or swap with, or you’d just as soon not be bothered looking around, some services will do it for you.
    • If you search, you’ll find some companies willing to assist you. However, you'll likely have to pay a fee for the service.
    • Do your homework on the company you’re thinking of using. Ask around to see if anyone you know has used it before. You can also do a BBB search to see if it is listed there and its rating.
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      Tips

      • Don’t fabricate complaints to try to get out of your contract. A legitimate complaint is one thing—attempting to defraud the carrier is something else.
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      • If a carrier makes a “materially adverse” change to your agreement, you usually have 30 days to take action. Carefully review each new bill you receive to see if a change has been made.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/
      2. ↑ https://www.t-mobile.com/switch/pay-off-carrier-etf-phone-deal
      3. ↑ https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-298416A1.pdf
      4. ↑ https://fortune.com/2011/03/23/can-i-get-out-of-my-t-mobile-contract/
      5. ↑ http://www.wired.com/2014/07/carrier-contract-freedom/
      6. ↑ https://www.t-mobile.com/support/account/cancel-service
      7. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/archive/how-to-get-out-of-your-mobile-phone-contract-302987
      8. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/military-cellphones
      9. ↑ http://cashmoneylife.com/transfer-your-cell-phone-contract-avoid-paying-fees/
      1. ↑ http://www.wired.com/2014/07/carrier-contract-freedom/
      2. ↑ https://www.t-mobile.com/support/account/transfer-account-or-line-ownership

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