This is what I want to do. Can someone help?

[Moropo]

I have a line that has a $90 ETF. I want to pay this ETF so my line is no longer under contract, and then renew the contract on my line to get a new phone (with the contract discount) all while keeping my number. So in a sense I will be buying out my contract and then renewing it. Is this something you are not allowed to do? I have called Sprint and explained it to them but they don't understand. They tell me I have to cancel the line (paying the ETF) so it's removed from my family account and then open a new line (and hence lose my number).

 

Could someone clarify? Thanks.

[lynyrd65]

It would be easier to buy a used phone off-contract. Poach an SGS III for $250 or so.

[koiulpoi]

"I want to buy up my upgrade".

 

If care doesn't work, try corporate owned retail

[SpenceSouth]

Last I remember there was an option where you could buy out the remainder of your contract to upgrade, but I'm not sure if they still offer that or not.

 

Here is some more info on it: http://meangreen.hubpages.com/hub/The-Sprint-Early-Upgrade-Buyout-Program-How-to-quickly-upgrade-to-a-new-sprint-smart-phone-before-your-contract-is-up

[jason0583]

I just bought out contract in August, has to be done at a corporate store not over the phone, also has to be paid at time of transaction, not a billable transaction. Good luck

[jefbal99]

Go to a corp store, $50 to buy forward 3-4 months. Did it for my Mom's line back in August when the Photon LTE was released

[themuffinman]

I just bought out contract in August, has to be done at a corporate store not over the phone, also has to be paid at time of transaction, not a billable transaction. Good luck

 

LMAO, the funny thing is I did mines over the phone and actually had it billed to my account. Also, buying up your upgrade is not the same as buying out your contract via ETF.

[pyroscott]

If it is no longer possible to buy out the contract as people have posted in this thread, you could port your phone number to Google Voice and port it back to your new line of service. It costs $20, but it would keep your number. Or if you do it this way, you could leave the number ported to GV, get a new number from Sprint, and have GV forward all calls to your Sprint number. Then you would have that number permanently.

[jason0583]

LMAO, the funny thing is I did mines over the phone and actually had it billed to my account. Also, buying up your upgrade is not the same as buying out your contract via ETF.

 

 

That's funny cause Sprint store and over the phone Sprint were both saying the opposite.

[digiblur]

All mines just go to mines Sprint store. Usually easy with no wait. Walk right up with mines phone and say upgrade mines!

 

All your base are belong to mines

 

Sent from my C64 w/Epyx FastLoad cartridge

 

 

[iansltx]

I also bought up my upgrade eligibility over the phone and had it billed to my account. But this was prior to recent changes in that process, so my experience is just a historical artifact now.

[gangrene]

Last I remember there was an option where you could buy out the remainder of your contract to upgrade, but I'm not sure if they still offer that or not.

 

Here is some more info on it: http://meangreen.hub...-contract-is-up

 

They offered me that yesterday as a way to retain me, just act like you're upset and talk to retentions.

 

or whatever, instead of arguing with retentions just port your number to google voice and port it back later.

[delta772er]

They offered me that yesterday as a way to retain me, just act like you're upset and talk to retentions.

 

or whatever, instead of arguing with retentions just port your number to google voice and port it back later.

 

Or just pay for the $14.99 phone from Virgin Mobile, port to Virgin and port back to your new line at Sprint, total cost $105.

[jddeansus]

LMAO, the funny thing is I did mines over the phone and actually had it billed to my account. Also, buying up your upgrade is not the same as buying out your contract via ETF.

 

 

That's funny cause Sprint store and over the phone Sprint were both saying the opposite.

 

 

The normal early upgrade process would be to go into a corporate Store and do the transaction. However in cases where you are more than 50 miles away from a corporate store there is a process that is done over the phone and the buyout cost is billed to the account and lets you upgrade through any channel.