Hi Robbie...if your billing cycle ends on the 20th, don't wait until the 21st. Call T-Mobile before the 20th and just tell them that you're ready to go to a different carrier. If your contract is up, there's nothing they can do. If you want to keep your same number (which you might want to do) the best thing is to end your dealings with them in a good way. Then just call Verizon and tell them you want to use your current number and just start from there. Don't stress about it...it's an easy fix. If your contract is NOT up, they have the right to charge you the ETF. Most places let you know right up front that it will happen. It's up to you whether you want to pay it to end your contract or not. Either way, call T-Mobile and Verizon and go from there. Good luck!

I currently have a single-line plan with T-Mobile and my contract ends this month. I am going to switch to Verizon Wireless (also a single-line plan) because almost everyone I know: girlfriend, family, friends, co-workers etc has VZW. I want to port out without getting hit with an ETF, but I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary, because my phone is shot and I desperately need a new one.

My billing cycle closes on the 20th of each month, so my questions are as follows:

1. If my billing cycle closes on the 20th does that mean that I am free to port away from T-Mo on Saturday, March 20th or do I have to wait until Sunday the 21st?
2. If I goof up and port to VZW as little as one day too early do I get hit with an ETF from T-Mo?
3. If I try to play it safe on the ETF and wait until say, Tuesday the 23rd to port out will I wind up paying for an entire extra month of service with T-Mobile even though I was only two or three days into the new month’s billing cycle?
4. Is my best option just to wait until I get close to the end of the next monthly billing cycle, say April 12th , or so and just put up with my crappy old phone for one more month?

It would be especially useful to hear from any current or former T-Mo employees available to answer this question; however anyone’s input is much appreciated.

Thank you,

Robbie