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Unlocking Sprint Phone Question

la sal

Android Expert
Feb 19, 2011
858
94
Waukesha, WI
My wife was under a family plan on Sprint with me. After 17 months of dropped calls and dial-up data speeds, I terminated the contract for my Samsung Epic 4G (ported over to Verizon). She joined my account later so she still has 15 months left on her iPhone 4S. I had advised her to go to Verizon instead of joining me with Sprint but she didn't listen. Now she really wants to get out but doesn't want to pay $300 for an early termination fee. Sprint would not lot me get out of the ETF despite the dropped calls (even with an Airave in our home that didn't work for over a year).

I looked around on Ebay and the Sprint iPhone 4S's were not even selling to high enough to cover the ETF. If she terminated the contract and had Sprint unlock the phone, I assume she could easily cover the ETF plus have some extra money for her next phone on Verizon.

I assume Sprint would do this and not screw us over again.
 
Will Sprint unlock their iPhone4S if you pay the ETF?

Oh, I doubt it. In fact, I doubt that any provider would do that. However, I have no facts to back up my opinion. I'm just basing it on how ruthless the mobile providers have become as of late.

Theoretically, if it shares VZW's network bands - it can be done. It just would have to be flashed over to run on their system and network.
 
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Looks like she is stuck with it until the ETF goes down.

Does anyone know of a way to decrease the ETF for my former Epic?

My wife and I have had issues with lack of coverage in our home and city. It is supposed to be in a good coverage area. We roam often and have had dropped calls in our home.

Sprint sent us an Airave. It stopped us from sending texts and dropped calls on our Epics. For over a year, Sprint had no answer. It was unresolved as a manufacturer issue with our devices.

We were patient and stayed with Sprint hoping they would resolve the issue. No call was ever made about the issue. Eventually it started working again but we lose connection weekly and drop calls.

We head outside and get little reception unless we are on top of hill or near a Sprint store.

After over 17 months I had a enough and ported my number over to Verizon. They have service in our home and outside as well. My wife stayed with Sprint under our account. She called about decreasing the early termination fee and customer service said they would not decrease it at all despite the dropped calls (and dial-up data speeds).

Terrible customer service since we still have a line with Sprint. My wife was passed back and forth through several representatives that chewed up a lot of her time.
 
Upvote 0
Looks like she is stuck with it until the ETF goes down.

Does anyone know of a way to decrease the ETF for my former Epic?

My wife and I have had issues with lack of coverage in our home and city. It is supposed to be in a good coverage area. We roam often and have had dropped calls in our home.

Sprint sent us an Airave. It stopped us from sending texts and dropped calls on our Epics. For over a year, Sprint had no answer. It was unresolved as a manufacturer issue with our devices.

We were patient and stayed with Sprint hoping they would resolve the issue. No call was ever made about the issue. Eventually it started working again but we lose connection weekly and drop calls.

We head outside and get little reception unless we are on top of hill or near a Sprint store.

After over 17 months I had a enough and ported my number over to Verizon. They have service in our home and outside as well. My wife stayed with Sprint under our account. She called about decreasing the early termination fee and customer service said they would not decrease it at all despite the dropped calls (and dial-up data speeds).

Terrible customer service since we still have a line with Sprint. My wife was passed back and forth through several representatives that chewed up a lot of her time.

I'm uncertain if you can actually decrease your ETF by calling. I know the ETF fee drastically drops after the first year then continues to shrink about $10/mo until contract expiration.
 
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You can get the ETF down to zero. Just find a spot where the phone data roams and start downloading everything you can. Eventually they'll give you the boot and waive the fee altogether.

Our reception was so bad in our home that the Airave would put us on full bars roaming. I would do as you said but the Airave was so inconsistent that it would drop back to a crappy Sprint signal.

I ported the number so there is no way to do this now.
 
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Sounds about right ;)

So basically one is ****ed for two years if the reception in their area worsens and never improves?

No one needs to mention Network Vision as the reception and data speeds have been horrible since at least 2010 in Waukesha, WI. I was not going to wait over another two years to pay for Sprint to get around to Wisconsin. It was tiresome wasting money on their shabby network.
 
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So basically one is ****ed for two years if the reception in their area worsens and never improves?

No one needs to mention Network Vision as the reception and data speeds have been horrible since at least 2010 in Waukesha, WI. I was not going to wait over another two years to pay for Sprint to get around to Wisconsin. It was tiresome wasting money on their shabby network.

It seems that way. I would think that poor reception would be grounds for contract breach though. Judging by your experience, I would think that not to be the case.
 
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It seems that way. I would think that poor reception would be grounds for contract breach though. Judging by your experience, I would think that not to be the case.

I never really wanted to leave Sprint as their prices are the best and their data is unlimited. The service was so bad that I felt like they were stealing money.

Went to the Sprint forums to explain my situation but they ignored the thread.
 
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I never really wanted to leave Sprint as their prices are the best and their data is unlimited. The service was so bad that I felt like they were stealing money.

When to the Sprint forums to explain my situation but they ignored the thread.

The Sprint forums like most forums aren't the place to air grievances if you actually want them solved. Forums are place people go to bitch and moan when they want to be heard by often sympathetic voices. What you should do is make it a point to when you are watching TV or something also as lackluster call Sprint and keep complaining until they let you out of contract. Downloading over 300 MB of data while on the roam is another way but that's going to be hard if your speed is pathetic. Just keep us updated on your progress. Sorry to hear a fellow customer is having such a bad time, I wish everyone had the market I live in with wonderful speeds and great coverage.
 
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