What happens after cell phone contracts expire?

I’m with AT&T and my contract expired last month. I owe them some money but don’t want them to take upon yourself that I want to renew if I pay. I will pay, of course, but if I keep talking on my phone, does the contract renew itself?

Answer by prettyprettypea
The contract does not renew itself. Your service will continue as it has been, same plot and features, only you are not bound to a contract so you can leave whenever you want.

Typically they offer you new deals or a new plot to get you to resign a contract. If you plot to stay with them for two more being it doesn’t hurt to take advantage of these deals.

Answer by en camera
The contract does not continue. It is a month to month thing. They just haven’t caught up with you. Just pay the monthly payment, and you will be fine. Usually a new contract is vital if you want a new phone from them.

Answer by XxAIMERxX
No you don’t have to pay anything to renew your contract because you wouldn’t want to, you are no longer obligated to use the AT&T network so you have just been unrestricted from phone jail but that gives the fantastic opportunity to go back to jail for another 2 being by upgrading your phone. If you log into your online account you should see upgrade my phone. Then you should see a list of phones. Phones that would usually cost like $ 300 dollars or so, would be really cheap for you to get you back into the contract. So if I were you i would upgrade my phone unless you don’t like AT&T then you can change your carrier to T-Mobile or Verizon or something its all your choice.

Answer by hillchild79
I used to work for another cell phone company. Our policy was simple…a contract could only be renewed with a price plot change to a “promotional” plot, activation of a phone you got a promotional price on, or physically going into a store and signing one. We had many customers that were out of contract, content with their equipment, and pleased with their plot sometimes for being. I would recommend reviewing your orginal paperwork if you still have a copy or contacting AT&T directly to inquire. They would legally not be allowed to renew you without disclosing at some point that your action requires a contract extension.

Answer by Pilot Paul
If you do anything to alter the service, they will lock you in for another 2 being.

Why ever go with a company requiring a contract when there are much better alternatives out there?

This house gives you the same low rates as if you passed a credit check (submitting to one can jeopardize you credit score), and signed a long contract.

That is what the huge boys make you do, but now there is a new guy in town that is much better- we use them and are very pleased- no more Sprint or Att for me:

http://www.dotcommwireless.com

Give your answer to this question below!

My cell phone agreement expires on 12-31-2006 and I chose to switch carriers earlier this week. Well, I signed up for a new agreement with that carrier and once my new phone was activated it automatically cancelled my agreement with my previous provider, 2 days before the end of the contract. I was plotting on calling notifying the cell phone company of my pronouncement not to renew on 1-1-2006 but it appears that it has already happened.

My question is will I be charged for ahead of schedule termination fees even though I technically finished ahead of schedule? I don’t want to have to go through a dispute over something like this but some termination fees run well over $ 150. Any thoughts?

Answer by ddominic
I had the same conundrum with Cingular. My contract finished 12-17-06 but my billing cycle starts on the 24th of each month. You cannot terminate before your contract date or else they will charge you a ahead of schedule termination fee of $ 150 or $ 175. I was also in the process of moving my phone digit to another carrier like T-Mobile.

So in order to terminate service and port your digit you have to wait after your contract date and tell your new carrier to port the digit. Make sure that you do it before your billing cycle date or else you will be charge for another month of service.

So in my situation, my contract finished 12-17-06 and my billing cycle starts again on the 24th of the month. I paid my remaining balance with Cingular (don’t tell them you are canceling) and then went with T-Mobile and ported my phone digit with their services on 12-22-06.

What do you reckon? Answer below!
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