more on Locked In a Cell: How Cell Phone Early Terminati on Fees Hurt Consumers

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Aleecia M. McDonald" <aleecia () aleecia com>
Date: October 14, 2005 12:45:45 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Locked In a Cell: How Cell Phone Early  
Terminati on Fees Hurt Consumers


Hi Professor Farber,

This may be of general interest for IP.
Transcribed from the October 17th issue of Newsweek, p 74, by Linda  
Stern:

"All those new cell-phone deal look great, but ... too bad you're  
saddled with your old plan for another 23 months. If it weren't for  
those ridiculously high early-termination fees---they average $170--- 
almost half of all cell-phone users would switch, a consumer group  
said recently. But the big cell-phone companies forgot to close one  
loophole. They'll let you transfer your plan to someone else without  
penalty or cost. A new Web-based company, celltradeusa.com, presents  
a forum for those trades. You can list your plan free, to gauge  
interest, but you'll have to pay $20 to connect with potential  
buyers. Then it's up to you to cut the best deal, contact your  
carrier and sign over the plan. With some 2,000 users logging on to  
Celltrade, somebody's gotta want what you have."

    Aleecia


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