Proper Date to Transfer Off Sprint?

My contract ends in a short time, and I have been contemplating the
transfer of my Sprint PCS number to a new carrier (and a new phone, of
course). But I am not sure how to do this without triggering the
"early termination" fee that Sprint charges. Do I have to purchase a
new phone and do the number transfer on the exact ending date of my
contract? I am worried that doing it one day before the actual end
date could be taken as "early" termination. But, if I wait a few days
later just to be safe, I thought I might lose access to my Sprint
phone number for portability purposes.

Thanks for any input,

MJF

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"Mark J. Finegold" wrote:
>
> My contract ends in a short time, and I have been contemplating the
> transfer of my Sprint PCS number to a new carrier (and a new phone, of
> course). But I am not sure how to do this without triggering the
> "early termination" fee that Sprint charges. Do I have to purchase a
> new phone and do the number transfer on the exact ending date of my
> contract? I am worried that doing it one day before the actual end
> date could be taken as "early" termination. But, if I wait a few days
> later just to be safe, I thought I might lose access to my Sprint
> phone number for portability purposes.

After your contract expires, nothing changes.

Notan

wait until the day your contract is up according to your billing date, maybe
a day or two aftterwards. All that happens after your contract is up is that
you are on a month to month, you just want to switch early so as to avoid a
full months bill.

Capt.

"Mark J. Finegold" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My contract ends in a short time, and I have been contemplating the
> transfer of my Sprint PCS number to a new carrier (and a new phone, of
> course). But I am not sure how to do this without triggering the
> "early termination" fee that Sprint charges. Do I have to purchase a
> new phone and do the number transfer on the exact ending date of my
> contract? I am worried that doing it one day before the actual end
> date could be taken as "early" termination. But, if I wait a few days
> later just to be safe, I thought I might lose access to my Sprint
> phone number for portability purposes.
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> MJF

This sounds like a good plan, except that I'm not sure switching early
will enable me to avoid a full month's bill. That will work only if
Sprint pro-rates the final "post contract" month. But they might
charge me for the entire month even if I only stay on an extra couple
of days. That's no huge tragedy, I suppose, compared with the monster
fees they charge for "early" termination.

"Capn" <[email protected]> wrote:

>wait until the day your contract is up according to your billing date, maybe
>a day or two aftterwards. All that happens after your contract is up is that
>you are on a month to month, you just want to switch early so as to avoid a
>full months bill.
>
>Capt.
>

"Mark J. Finegold" wrote:
>
> This sounds like a good plan, except that I'm not sure switching early
> will enable me to avoid a full month's bill. That will work only if
> Sprint pro-rates the final "post contract" month. But they might
> charge me for the entire month even if I only stay on an extra couple
> of days. That's no huge tragedy, I suppose, compared with the monster
> fees they charge for "early" termination.
>
> <snip>

Why, by the way are you changing carriers?

If it's because of your plan, now's the time to negotiate with
Sprint's "retention department." They'll usually offer you all
kinds of benefits, including more minutes, in order to keep you
as a customer.

If you're changing because of poor coverage, there's really
nothing to do but change.

Good Luck!

Notan

Why change to another cell phone service when you are already with the best?

-mij

"Mark J. Finegold" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My contract ends in a short time, and I have been contemplating the
> transfer of my Sprint PCS number to a new carrier (and a new phone, of
> course). But I am not sure how to do this without triggering the
> "early termination" fee that Sprint charges. Do I have to purchase a
> new phone and do the number transfer on the exact ending date of my
> contract? I am worried that doing it one day before the actual end
> date could be taken as "early" termination. But, if I wait a few days
> later just to be safe, I thought I might lose access to my Sprint
> phone number for portability purposes.
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> MJF

I guess that would depend on how large a plan you are on.


Mark J. Finegold wrote:
> This sounds like a good plan, except that I'm not sure switching early
> will enable me to avoid a full month's bill. That will work only if
> Sprint pro-rates the final "post contract" month. But they might
> charge me for the entire month even if I only stay on an extra couple
> of days. That's no huge tragedy, I suppose, compared with the monster
> fees they charge for "early" termination.
>
> "Capn" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>wait until the day your contract is up according to your billing date, maybe
>>a day or two aftterwards. All that happens after your contract is up is that
>>you are on a month to month, you just want to switch early so as to avoid a
>>full months bill.
>>
>>Capt.
>>
>
>

Mark J. Finegold wrote:
> My contract ends in a short time, and I have been contemplating the
> transfer of my Sprint PCS number to a new carrier (and a new phone, of
> course). But I am not sure how to do this without triggering the
> "early termination" fee that Sprint charges. Do I have to purchase a
> new phone and do the number transfer on the exact ending date of my
> contract? I am worried that doing it one day before the actual end
> date could be taken as "early" termination. But, if I wait a few days
> later just to be safe, I thought I might lose access to my Sprint
> phone number for portability purposes.
>
> Thanks for any input,
>
> MJF

Why would you lose access to your number???? When your contract ends,
that number is still yours, and the terms of your contract carry over
until you terminate it.

I'd be conservative about it, and initiate any transfer only AFTER your
contract has expired.

Mark J. Finegold wrote:
> This sounds like a good plan, except that I'm not sure switching early
> will enable me to avoid a full month's bill. That will work only if
> Sprint pro-rates the final "post contract" month.

They don't. I ported out and got hit for the full month.

That said though, it IS possible with any carrier to sign up *without*
porting, trying the service out, and once you're confident that you want
to stay, you can then port your number out of SPrint and into your
account with the new carrier. The number the new carrier gave you will
then go away and the Sprint number will replace it. This is how I did
it, and had no issues.

There will of course be some bill overlap, but it was worth it for me.
It ensures that you're not stuck with a new carrier's service, and
having a hell of a time "un-porting" your number if it turns out that
their service is even worse.

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Mij Adyaw wrote:
> Why change to another cell phone service when you are already with the best?

Mij, no cell company is the best for everyone. If that were true, there
wouldn't still be four national carriers right now, and a half-dozen or
so regionals, and who knows how many local mom&pops.


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