Written by A few years ago Sprint, who advertises itself as the mobile subscriber that has truly unlimited data. Here’s their commercial.
Sounds nice huh? Well tonight I decided to visit their website to order an iPhone 4 (the older one), to see how the plan worked out in cost. Very clearly on their website they advertise a Simply Everything plan for $99. That’s unlimited talk, message and data. Sounds great doesn’t it. Well it did to me. Then as I went through the configuration and added the iPhone I was met by this little note.
“Next, you’ll pick service add-ons for each device. If you picked a smartphone, our $10 Premium Data add-on charge will apply.”
“Ten what”? So after calling Sprint reps I was told that this is a mandatory charge for all smart phones. “So why is it a separate charge” Isn’t your unlimited data plan unlimited? “Yes it is” the rep said. He then read me this:
“Because the phone is a smart phone we expect you will be using a lot more data than you would with our other devices. These features will give you capabilities that have previously never been available on a wireless device and we think they provide a premium experience.”
“Excuse me?” So you’re charging me because the iPhone provides a “premium service”? I continued. “Sir that’s the policy, would you like to order?” I of course responded “No that’s OK, not in the mood to get screwed” I responded and hung up.
So I did a little digging and found out that Sprint started this premium charge last year in the anticipation of 4g phones. I might understand it if I were buying a 4g phone, neither the iPhone 4 or the new 4S are capable of that speed.
So again, why the charge? No other carrier charges what is the equivalent of a “baggage charge” for a cell phone, and Sprint goes out of it’s way to hide it. But none of their explanations makes any sense of the move other than they’re just finding a huge way to make a few bucks off unsuspecting suers.
Three class action lawsuits have been filed so far by Sprint customers over the charge.
I’m not the suing kind. But I think Sprint needs to explain why this additional charge is needed in a way that doesn’t sound like the idiot sales guy in that Carfax commercial. I’m a capitalist and believe any company should do whatever it can to make a buck, so long as they’re not ripping people off, and this is quite frankly a rip off.
But as a capitalist I don’t have to sue them, simply just take my business elsewhere, which is what I suggest others do as well.
