Early termination penalty fee

[Roadrunner]

Can this be true?

I am on month #21 of a 24-month contract, and want to port away from MTN.

Upon enquiry what I would still owe MTN to do this, I was informed that it would be the subscription fee for the remaining three months (which I agree with), plus R1700 for the early termination fee. :wtf:

Are they nuts? R500 would be a reasonable early termination penalty fee, but not R1700. That is almost 1/3 of the cost that I paid for the full 24 months.

 

[Freaksta]

Can this be true?

I am on month #21 of a 24-month contract, and want to port away from MTN.

Upon enquiry what I would still owe MTN to do this, I was informed that it would be the subscription fee for the remaining three months (which I agree with), plus R1700 for the early termination fee. :wtf:

Are they nuts? R500 would be a reasonable early termination penalty fee, but not R1700. That is almost 1/3 of the cost that I paid for the full 24 months.

This has never made sense to me, if they charge you ANY termination fee, even R1 tell them TGFO and just let your contract run for the 3 months...? Just pay the subs? Termination fee should be NOTHING... If you"re willing to pay the R500 you expected then I'm not sure lol

 

[Centronix]

That's ridiculous but we can't expect anything less from MTN. I'd hang on for 3 more months. It's not worth the trouble

 

[LCBXX]

That fee probably includes the 'handset claw-back' fee as well. Basically the outstanding finance amount for the "free" phone you got when signing up/renewing.

 

[noxibox]

If the contract is pre-CPA there's not much you can do. Let it run the last three months, then move on.

That's ridiculous but we can't expect anything less from MTN. I'd hang on for 3 more months. It's not worth the trouble

Well Vodacom was worse.

Not unique to South Africa either. When we wanted to cancel a Vodafone contract in the UK they wanted to charge us more than the total cost of the contract.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Yeah, best to sit the contract out.

What you can do, in the meantime, is to get a prepaid CellC SIM, and start using that, putting the MTN SIM into permanent hibernation.

That way you will still be able to make use of CellC's cheaper services without incurring any crazy penalties for the remainder of your contract.

 

[ginggs]

I am on month #21 of a 24-month contract, and want to port away from MTN.

Have you ever upgraded early?

 

[akescpt]

Have you ever upgraded early?

he would be eligible for an upgrade with mtn but he wants to take his business away. i thought the CPA sorted this out but apparently not...

 

[lucifir]

I am in exactly the same situation .... wanted to port to cellc, but that R1700 put a stop to it ... now have to wait another 3 months.
I have no problem paying for the 3 months, but the R1700 is just daylight robbery.
The problem I have with just getting a cellc prepaid sim, is that I want to still use my number.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I am in exactly the same situation .... wanted to port to cellc, but that R1700 put a stop to it ... now have to wait another 3 months.
I have no problem paying for the 3 months, but the R1700 is just daylight robbery.
The problem I have with just getting a cellc prepaid sim, is that I want to still use my number.

Then do use the CellC sim (to try out the waters etc) - and when your contract is up, port your number. You can then decide whether to keep the prepaid cellc sim or not.

Of course it's going to be a schlepp getting ppl to use your new number, but what the hey, you're not changing your cellphone number every so often.

Plus - you can then use the prepaid SIM as a "spam trap" when you have to fill in a form and they request your cell number.

 

[torgo]

Then do use the CellC sim (to try out the waters etc) - and when your contract is up, port your number. You can then decide whether to keep the prepaid cellc sim or not.

Of course it's going to be a schlepp getting ppl to use your new number, but what the hey, you're not changing your cellphone number every so often.

Plus - you can then use the prepaid SIM as a "spam trap" when you have to fill in a form and they request your cell number.

Rather put your mtn sim into an old phone just to receive voice calls (one tiny nokia!)
Get a prepaid cellc as suggested to get the best of the new offers.
Port after 3 months. Remember to give MTN your 30 days notice at the start of your last month that you will be cancelling the contract and porting to cellc. They must then covert your no to prepaid.