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> This makes it sound like unlocking a phone while you are still on contract would not be excepted. You don't really own the phone until the contract that got
by onedognight 14y ago
> This makes it sound like unlocking a phone while you are still on contract would not be excepted.
You don't really own the phone until the contract that got you the phone is terminated. They agree to buy your phone for you if you agree to n-months of service.
- betterunix 14y ago"You don't really own the phone until the contract that got you the phone is terminated." ...then why do you wind up paying sales tax on it?
- jmj42 14y agoThe same reason you pay sales tax on a car you finance. Just because you are paying for the phone over 2 years does not mean that you get to defer sales tax.
- betterunix 14y ago(1) You can sell a car you financed to someone else, even if they buy their gas from a different gas station. (2) You are not taking out a loan on the phone. You are paying a discounted price for it in exchange for signing a contract for service. You bought the phone when you paid the sales tax.
- onedognight 14y ago> (1) You can sell a car you financed to someone else, even if they buy their gas from a different gas station. Yes, but you must pay off your loan (the early termination fee) first and then you own the car and can sell it (i.e. as Obama suggested, after your contract ends).
- betterunix 14y agoOK, but you are ignoring the second point: the cell phone company is not issuing a loan to you, they are selling the phone to you at a discount. It is a loss leader strategy, not a financing program.
- larvaetron 14y agoThis misinformation is not true and appears to be widespread. You purchase a phone at a reduced price and agree to sign a 12/24 mos. contract with a carrier. If you stop paying your bill, the carrier can sue for non-payment and ETF, but that does not have anything to do with the device. The phone is yours. There is no lien on the device.