Sprint Nextel hikes text fee again, ETF remains in effect

Sprint Nextel Corp. is upping its casual text messaging rate by five cents as of Oct. 1, from 15 cents per message to 20 cents per message. And the carrier said the change-which is permissible under its terms of service-will not allow customers to slip out of their contracts without paying an early termination fee.
The news is notable since Sprint Nextel increased its casual text messaging fee from 10 cents to 15 cents just 10 months ago. At the time, the carrier said the move would allow affected customers to get out of their service contracts without paying an ETF, as the changes affected service costs.
This time, however, it appears Sprint Nextel’s current terms of service do allow for changes to text messaging fees.
According to Sprint Nextel’s current contract terms, only a “material” change in rates would allow customers to abandon contracts without paying an ETF, and the carrier said the most recent change does not make the grade.
“This casual text messaging rate change does not qualify any of our customers for any kind of early termination fee waiver,” said Sprint Nextel spokeswoman Roni Singleton.
According to the carrier, casual text messaging fees starting next month will be 20 cents per message sent or received. Overage SMS charges for customers who have a texting package will also increase, from 10 cents to 20 cents per message.
Sprint Nextel was the first carrier last year to raise its casual text messaging fees from the longtime industry standard of 10 cents per message to 15 cents per message. Shortly after the move, the rest of the nation’s major carriers also raised their casual text messaging fees from 10 cents to 15 cents.
Sprint Nextel’s Singleton said that the company began notifying customers of the increase to 20 cents per message in their bills for this month.