Sometimes in life, relationships fall apart. Rarely, however, you are charged money for the privilege of walking away. Unfortunately, nobody told Dish Network! If you want to cancel your contract early, you’ll be subject to a charge of $20 for each month remaining, up to $480. Follow our guide, though, and you have a good chance of avoiding these fees entirely.
Why Does This Affect So Many People?
The majority of the time, you’ll be very aware if your contract is about to end. Generally, Dish Network (and most other service providers) will call you in advance, offering upgrades or lower prices in exchange for renewing your contract.
If you want to cancel at any other time, these fees apply. For too many people, the desire to stop getting calls all day is enough to get them to agree to a long-term contract. This causes problems when you have to move unexpectedly or lose your job. So are there extenuating circumstances?
When Do These Fees Apply?
Let’s keep things as simple as possible. Literally, any time you want to end your contract early, you’re subject to fees. Moving house and Dish Network can’t provide your services? Fees. Dish Network raised their prices and you can’t afford it? Fees. They even apply if you haven’t received the services you pay for!
Early termination fees are a way for your service provider to recoup some of the losses they’ll have if you leave earlier than expected. However, there are a few things you can try to have a shot at getting out of early cancellation fees altogether, and we’ll cover these below.
Call and Explain Your Situation
We know how frustrating it can be to receive a huge bill you weren’t expecting. Luckily, you’re far from the first person to be in this situation. If you call and ask for the fee to be waived, the worst that can happen is they refuse. If this happens, remember to keep your cool – it’s the company’s policy and isn’t the fault of the person you’re talking to.
If you’re canceling because you can’t afford Dish’s services anymore, be sure to mention this. You might be able to work out a payment plan. You’d still be liable for the full fee, but you may be able to pay it back over a longer period of time. Let’s say you want to avoid paying a cent, is there a way to do this?
Switch to a Rival Provider
Some service providers will cover your cancellation fees if you switch to them. It’s worth calling rival companies up before officially cancelling your Dish contract to see if this is an option. This works especially well if you’re leaving due to poor service or high prices since you can choose a provider with a better track record.
Don’t Sue Dish Network – Seriously
You’ve probably heard about cases where people have sued Dish Network over early termination fees and won. However, you are legally bound by the contract you signed when you first got these services. If that’s true, though, how has it worked in the past?
People who’ve won usually do so because Dish Network representatives didn’t show up to court. Legally speaking, they’re well within their rights to charge you. It’s just a bad idea all-around: even if you win, your legal fees may outweigh the value of the cancellation fees.
Conclusion
Avoiding Dish Network’s early termination fee isn’t easy but it is possible. If you only owe a small amount, it’s probably easier to just pay, but the above tips can help you out of a hefty bill if the circumstances are right.
Now that you’ve read our guide about how can you avoid the Dish network early termination fee, take time to read about how to cancel AT&T U-verse. Read it right here!
