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FCC Probes Google and T-Mobile For Double-Whammy Fees

Posted by samzenpus on from the maximizing-the-dip-to-chip-ratio dept.

Julie188 writes "On Monday, the FCC asked Google, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon to explain how they tell their customers about early wireless contract termination fees. Notice that Google is the only handset retailer in the bunch. That's because if someone buys a Nexus One phone from Google with a two-year T-Mobile contract, and the user wants out of that contract, the user is expected to pay two early termination fees. One fee would be charged by Google and a second charged by T-Mobile."

3 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Silence has generally been the best policy by jjoelc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Actually, I think the law requires that the carriers include these early termination fees in print no larger than 3 scan lines to remain on screen for no more than 3 frames during any commercial to be aired between the hours of 3:27a-3:28a... As an alternative, it may be included in the microprint of the signature line of any contract signed by the customer.

    For communications companies, they are awfully good at not telling you anything they don't want you to pay attention to.

  2. T-Mobile? by EzInKy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When I went to my nearest T-Mobile store to sign up for service for my N900 they seemed to have no qualms over activating my device despite the fact that it allowed me the freedom to install whatever software I felt like it on it.

    Now, from the very frequent stories I see posted here related to the iPhone and Android, I have been gathering that the same does not hold true for those devices.

    In fact it appears in many cases that owners of those devices are subject not only to the whims of carriers, but the device manufacturers themselves.

    So really, what is the problem here? You buy it, you do want you want with it. You lease it, you do want they want with it. Seems to me that somebody wants to muddy the waters between ownership and rental.

    --
    Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
  3. Re:Fuck Google by Rennt · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sorry, but I've got no sympathy for people who sign up for a subsidized service and don't read the conditions.

    The time to complain about a contract is BEFORE you sign it, not after you decide you want to back out of it.