What are my options, if any?

[alibu]

I'll try to make this as succinct and clear as possible, I'm hoping someone will have some insight as to what my next step(s) should be...

I have been a very happy T-Mobile customer for maybe 6 or so years. I always used to have a simple phone, just to make phone calls, nothing else, and I've never had much of an issue. I was used to not getting service in areas where Verizon customers were, but it wasn't as big a deal.

At the beginning of 2009, I started a new job, and I work in an ambulance for 13 hours a day, traveling all over the state of Maine. I originally upgraded through a kiosk to a terrible Samsung that was basically the same as my Razr, but since I didn't return it within the 10 or 14 days, I was out of luck upgrading again and I understood that it was my problem. So I bought a used T-Mobile Dash on eBay and activated it with no problems. I wanted to be able to use email, browse the web, etc., and text since I wouldn't be home to use my computer. After a few weeks, that Dash stopped working - everything was fine on it, but people couldn't hear me talking. So I called T-Mobile and they were great, they gave me a great deal on another Dash. I have had nothing but problems with it. I spoke with them a few times and have had to do master resets on it, losing everything on my phone, like pictures, emails, etc. They said if I continued to have problems I should call back and they'd see what they could do.

For a couple of weeks, everything was fine. Then the phone started freezing up, dropping calls, making and immediately dropping calls, not loading my calendar with all my appointments, not finding my contacts on my SIM card, and just not getting as good service as I had been. Now I have been traveling more around Maine and there are a LOT of places where there is no service, or barely any service.

I contacted T-Mobile this morning, and if I want to change carriers, I will be charged $200, even though my phone isn't working properly and I keep losing calls, despite the coverage map saying I should have coverage and I just don't. She offered to exchange the phone for yet ANOTHER Dash, but I'm just done with the Dash and don't want to go through this again.

So problems in a nutshell:

1. Not getting service where I need to for work.
2. Getting spotty service everywhere else.
3. Calls dropping spontaneously, despite my partner at work talking away on his Sprint phone.
4. Phone having major buggy issues.


I researched how to get out of my contract, but I don't want to be a b!tch. I know I can lie and say I'm moving to some small town in Iowa, but I don't want to be a liar either, it's just not in my nature. Do I have any options here? I am under contract until 2011 and I cannot possibly deal with these issues until then. I do need a phone for work, but it doesn't help if it doesn't work where I'm going.

I appreciate any feedback or advice. Thanks in advance!

-Alle

[tmobileman]

Well as far as coverage goes it it wasn't there before no new phone will magically make it better for you so don't buy another phone unless it is without a contract to get you by. The moving to Iowa thing only works if you have utilities in your name at an address that is 2 bar or less so unless that is the case and it isn't the address on your account before you renewed your contract it won't work. The only other thing is to cancel and pay the ETF, unfortunately the contract doesn't guarantee you service and as much as tmobile would love the service to work for you, it just may not. No service works everywhere and sounds like your needs have changed in the six plus years you have been a good customer so it may be time to move on. If there is anybody that wants to take over your service you can do a Change of responsibility that will release you from the contract, but if not it's going to be cheaper to pay the ETF rather than riding out your contract for two years.