6 ways to escape your cell phone contract

So you’ve decided you will take all necessary measures to make sure an iPhone is in your hands on Friday, right? I recently provided a method for joining AT&T and receiving almost $200 off your iPhone purchase here, but what do you do if you’re locked into your carrier?

Below I’m going to list all the ways you can “stick it to the man” and slip through the
vice-like grip of a cell phone contract, and I will list them in order of the most theoretically successful to the absolute last resort.

1. If you are within your early termination period (most service providers allow 7-30 days to “try out” the service and return your phone at no cost to you), take that baby back and thank the gods you were within the slim grace period. IF you fall in this category, you are the lucky few who won’t need a stroke of luck along with a lot of attitude.

2. Alert your service provider you have changed residences to an area outside of normal coverage – this could either mean an area where you receive zero coverage, or are in a “roaming” area…either way most service providers will allow you grace if you are no longer able to be in range of their towers.

3. Negotiate to give your contract to someone else; if you aren’t in love with your personal cell phone number, you can either personally or via websites like celltradeusa.com exchange contracts with individuals who aren’t looking to jump on the iPhone bus.

4. Exploit a loophole in your contract – many cell phone providers will increase the rate of text messages, change your nighttime or weekend hours or other things, and you have the right to cancel your contract without repercussion by claiming a breach of contract on the part of your service provider.

5. Put in a military request for relocation; though generally station durations usually last 2-3 years anyway, if you are relocated you are given a get-out-of-contract free card…at least a little respect lingers for those in military service.

6. My last resort in any situation when dealing with cell phone carriers is what I like to call utilizing your “pimp skills.” When I say this, I mean calling up the carrier and demanding (with real or faked authority) that you be released for your contract for any of the above reasons. Generally you will be denied by the pawns and minions that initially receive your call, but if you force your way to the top, eventually you can achieve victory…just make sure your pimp hand is way strong.

These methods really do work, but they require a certain degree of “pimp skill” to execute. If you call up your service provider and hem and haw, and say “pretty please,” you will get nowhere. Call your provider with an understanding that you are in control, and tell yourself they WILL cancel your contract…if all else fails, and you are turned down, hang up and try again. You WILL achieve victory!

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