Canadian Cell Phone Contracts

[Tankgurl38 0]

Did anyone have any trouble cancelling their cell phone contracts when they moved down to the US?

I am right in the middle of my three year contract, a year and a half to go. Did they let you cancel it without any hassle, or did you have to pay them out?

[JillA 2]

I don't think they care if you move to the US, a contract is a contract and they'll probably make you pay. I was with Telus and had to pay the penalty which sucked.

[OBX 51]

I am also still with Telus ( I'm the CDN) and this is what they do:

If you choose to terminate your service before the end of the term, you will be required to pay (as liquidated damages and not as a penalty) a cancellation charge for each terminated phone number in addition to all other amounts then due to TELUS Mobility. The cancellation charge will be the greater of:

$20 multiplied by the number of months remaining in the term, or

$100

If you subscribe to a data service with an email feature and cancel that service within the first 12 months of a 36 month service agreement, an additional cancellation charge of $100 will apply. The cancellation charge must be paid whether the service is terminated by TELUS Mobility or you.

Not great and can be quite pricey. I believe other carriers may be even more expensive to cancel. If you are not on a contract you may only have to pay one month's fee as they often bill ahead one month. So once you cancel you just pay to the end of the next billing period.

[thetreble 19]

Sucks even if you live and cancel here! I had to pay 450 dollars to cancel my contract with sprint a few months ago when i went back to verizon for my husband and i.

[Tankgurl38 0]

I am with Rogers, I think their minimum buy out is $200. Just something else to add to the list of expenses to move....crazy!

[Sprailenes 47]

They make you paaaay. I had to pay rogers 210.00 when I moved down here. Those arses.

[Hollis 0]

Wow !! that's crazy

I'm with rogers and thank god my 3 year contract ends on Feb 2009. Hopefully that is right around my interview time with the consulate.

Is is possible to pay month to month after contract expired just in case I end up staying in Canada a bit longer ? (which of course I dont want to ) But you never know with uscis - I haven't got approved yet.

Good Luck to all !!

[Tankgurl38 0]

I believe with Rogers or Telus if you do not sign up on another fixed term contract you just automatically continue to pay month to month on the plan you are already on. You are lucky.

[mary'n'ev 0]

You can try and find someone to take over your contract (i.e. friends, family, facebook, craiglist).

Sucks even if you live and cancel here! I had to pay 450 dollars to cancel my contract with sprint a few months ago when i went back to verizon for my husband and i.

That sucks!!

$450!!!!

[CDAgirlMI 51]

I think canadians get jacked when it comes to cell phones. (From what I've seen) the plans are cheaper in the US.

Stupid thing:

I am with Fido & live near the US border. When I open my flip the screen says "Rogers" (Rogers owns Fido). When I go to the US it changes to AT&T. I understand that. BUT..... sometimes when I'm in Canada(sometimes literally when I'm in my living room) it changes to AT&T. I asked Fido about this "will I be charged as if I'm in the US when I make a call in Canada when the phone says AT&T?" they said "yes"...but I have to call customer service & tell them I was in Canada...yadda, yadda.... If that ever happens, I'm sure I'll have a LOT of fun trying to explain it to them!!!

[OBX 51]

Wow !! that's crazy

I'm with rogers and thank god my 3 year contract ends on Feb 2009. Hopefully that is right around my interview time with the consulate.

Is is possible to pay month to month after contract expired just in case I end up staying in Canada a bit longer ? (which of course I dont want to ) But you never know with uscis - I haven't got approved yet.

Good Luck to all !!

I know with Telus you can definitely go month to month after your contract expires.

[Sprailenes 47]

Canada does get ripped when it comes to cell phones.

[carslo 0]

My daughter was PAID to take over the contract and cell phone when a young couple moved to the USA. We found the phone on craigslist and they paid her 100.00 to take it over. We all meet a the Bell koisk at the downtown mall and they were able to exchange the phone, change the contract over to my daughter. One advantage for the couple was they didn't have to pay out the excessively high cancellation fee, and also since the the number remained the same as the couple that moved. My daughter was able to tell people that called that the couple had moved to the USA.

For myself as soon as I knew there was a possiblity that I would be moving to the USA, (1.5 years ago) when my phone died I just bought my phone and chose the plan I wanted. That way I have no contract to cancel when I go. I just own the phone outright.

Janet

[jhunjhun 7]

Did anyone have any trouble cancelling their cell phone contracts when they moved down to the US?

I am right in the middle of my three year contract, a year and a half to go. Did they let you cancel it without any hassle, or did you have to pay them out?

I paid $220 to cancel my contract with Rogers when I moved here.

[thetreble 19]

They really get ya, doesn't matter where you are in north america or which provider you use. I couldn't believe they'd charge me $200/phone line when I canceled. My husband and I both need phones but we're on the same contract so figured it would count as ONE. I guess I shouldn't make any assumptions on these things. haha