Beat early termination fees on your cell phone contract
We shared some ways to cut your cell phone bill in an earlier Consumer Web Site of the Week, and reprised some of those ideas on The Sun's Riding Out the Recession page.
Here's another option for folks who are stuck in a contract and don't want to pay an early termination fee of up to $250: give your plan to someone else who agrees to take over the monthly commitment.
It's easier than you might imagine. Each cell service provider has a method of transferring responsibility for a monthly contract to a new user. And several Web sites, including Cellswapper, cellularswap.com and CellTrade USA can facilitate your foisting a plan --- and commitment --- onto other people.
You might even be able to keep your number by porting it over to a new service before switching the contract!
Why would anyone be interested in being on the receiving end of such a deal?
Some cell phone users would like a shorter commitment than the usual 24-month contract. And many people offer incentives, including their old phone, accessories, or even cash, to make their plans move more quickly.
Cellswapper does charge a $15 "success fee" of sellers who post their plan details and are able to cut a deal. Both cellularswap.com and Celltrade levy membership fees, although posting a profile is free. But if you compare that to the cost of an early termination fee ... it's worth it.
(photo: Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)
Categories: Cellular/Landline/Voice over Internet, Cheap/Frugal, Consumer Web Site of the Week, Technology
