Confirmed: T-Mobile To Increase Regulatory Programs Fee – Your Chance To Break Free?
A few weeks back I posted an article in regards to Verizon increasing their regulatory charges and how, with the helpful advice from TheConsumerist, it could have been seen as a breach of contract, letting you out of your contract early without paying an ETF. Well, it looks like T-Mobile may be pulling “a Verizon” because starting this August, T-Mobile will begin adding an extra $.20 cents more for their “regulatory programs fee.” This is more than the paltry $.03 cent increase Verizon customers saw on their mandatory regulatory charge a few weeks back but even then, many were able to break out of their contract without having to pay a pesky ETF. We now have the official details as sent out via e-mail from T-Mobile:
Dear T-Mobile Customer:As you know, T-Mobile, like many other wireless carriers, charges its customers a regulatory cost recovery fee. T-Mobile’s Regulatory Programs Fee (RPF) is not a tax but is a fee we collect and retain to help us recover the costs associated with funding and complying with a variety of government mandates, programs, and obligations, such as enhanced 911 programs, number portability, and governmental requirements concerning the construction and operation of our network. These programs and the costs of compliance vary over time, as do the costs that T-Mobile includes in the RPF. Starting with bills after August 15, 2011, the RPF is increasing from $1.41 to $1.61 per line per bill cycle. Additional information about the RPF can be found in the Terms and Conditions for your account. T-Mobile’s Terms and Conditions are available at www.T-Mobile.com.
There it is, in case you needed some harder proof. I’m not saying this fee increase will send anyone to the poorhouse, but any change (no matter how small) to a contract you’ve signed is a breach of contract and deserves some attention. Just like in Verizon’s case, a little bit of persuading may be required on your part to convince T-Mobile that these charges are “materially adverse” but who knows, you may be able to get out of that T-Mo contract Scott free. That’s assuming you even want out of your T-Mobile contract in the first place.
Thanks, Chris!