Avoid phone activation charges? Ting?

[ngtech0]

So I'm currently a sprint customer and was gonna buy a phone off contract from Ting. If I try out Ting for a month and decide I want to go back to Sprint, will Sprint charge me an activation fee?

 

[Golfdriver97]

So I'm currently a sprint customer and was gonna buy a phone off contract from Ting. If I try out Ting for a month and decide I want to go back to Sprint, will Sprint charge me an activation fee?

Probably. I would try to find a cheap phone that can be used on Ting and use that separately.

 

[cgardnervt]

So I'm currently a sprint customer and was gonna buy a phone off contract from Ting. If I try out Ting for a month and decide I want to go back to Sprint, will Sprint charge me an activation fee?

Yes but if you call them just tell them you don't wanna pay it. I do it all the time for my mom's phone plan when she gets an upgrade. (YES I use att but my mom is partly disabled to I handle a lot of her bills. In case you read my signature!) Granted she has been a customer sense 2002. It's worth asking about!

 

[ngtech0]

Thanks everyone for the responses! So you only get free activation of a phone if it has been activated on Sprint previously?

 

[raichur0xx0rz]

If you leave Sprint, that means that you will be porting your number to Ting, or cancelling the account all together. I believe there is a grace period in case you come back to Sprint, though, where they won't charge a re-activation fee.

Basically, if you need the line to be re-connected, or if you open a new line, then you will be charged the activation fee. You may be able to call in after the fact and try to sweet talk your way into getting reimbursed, but that's not guaranteed.

If you just want to test Ting, the "safest" route would be to suspend the Sprint line for a month, get a cheap phone for Ting, and see how it is. There really won't be too much of a difference on Ting in terms of coverage, except that you won't be able to roam.