How to cancel Suncom contract?

[TD]

I'm sure you have all heard it before: I am (reluctantly) a SunCom customer. I've been with them for over four years. I called them a couple of months ago to terminate my service only to be told that I had been 'automatically" renewed in December and there would be a $200 "early termination" fee. They also stated that they had no obligation to notify me of their intent to renew prior to doing so. I told them to change me to the lowest rate plan they had.. and learned that was about $29 monthly or about the same $200 for the remainder of the "contract".

I notified them in writing to cancel my service and recieved no reply. I plan to file a complaint with the North Carolina Consumer Affairs division. I'd like to know what else I might be able to do to get out of this "contract"? I'm wondering if I can file a suit in my state small claims court? Is there any point to filing a complaint with the FCC or whatever federal agency controls wireless service? Does anyone have any success stories in winning against Suncom? They have now suspended my service due to my refusal to pay; I wonder if they will continue to levy monthly charges, even when I have no service?

Thanks for your experience!

[parthery]

First...you need to keep paying your bill. Legally you are under contract with them and that gives them the right to wreck your credit if you stop paying. And a lousy credit rating will wind up costing you far more than the $200 you don't want to give them.

Do you still have your original service agreement from them? In the fine print on the back it specifies that the contract automatically renews and that if you don't give them notice within 30 days of your anniversary, you agree to sign up for another year. This policy has since gone away at SunCom, but you are bound by the contract until December.

Have you considered going into a SunCom store, talking to the manager and seeing if it can be worked out? If its a service problem, maybe they will replace your phone for free. If you are moving out of their coverage area, then you might get them to cancel the service. Its worth a try.

Whatever you do, don't just stop paying...you will hurt yourself far worse in the long run.