Cell phones are a necessity for many American families and cell phone contracts are often expensive and difficult to cancel. If you look around the internet, you will read countless stories about consumers getting the short-end of the stick from telecom companies. Whether you moved to a new home, city or state with no service, lost your job and can’t afford the monthly premiums, or simply hate the coverage you are getting, chances are, you don’t want to pay the early termination fees to get out of your phone contract and are looking for a cheaper alternative.

Get Out of Your Cell Phone ContractBecause these early termination fees can be a huge hassle and cell phone companies renew your contract for every little plan change or phone upgrade, some people opt for no contract mobile services, also known as “Pay As You Go” or prepaid plans. Some of the largest “No Contract” carriers include T-Mobile (who offers contract and no-contract), Boost Mobile, Cricket, Virgin Mobile, MetroPCS, and TracFone.

When you sign a two year contract with your wireless carrier, you probably know there's a termination fee if you want to get out early. You may think that fee could be waived if you could demonstrate a real need to end your contract, but this sad story suggests otherwise. In fact, it's easier to break an apartment lease than it is to get out of a cell phone contract. So if you need to get out of your contract but your pleas fall on deaf ears, how do you get out without emptying your wallet? Here's how.

1. Find a Wireless Carrier Willing to Buy Out Your Contract
2. Trade Your Contract with Someone Else In Your Boat
3. Hack the System
4. Navigate the Customer Service Maze

Before you do anything drastic, you should always see if you can get your wireless provider to come around to your cause. They won't want to lose you as a customer, but most companies will make some kind of exemption if you talk to the right person and have a good reason. If you're moving because of work or a compelling personal reason (death in the family, etc.) to a location they don't cover, are a soldier who's being deployed, or you've lost your job and are unable to continue paying your contract, they'll usually let you out or work with you on a compromise. Photo by Brad P.

When you sign a two year contract with your wireless carrier, you probably know there's a termination fee if you want to get out early. You may think that fee could be waived if you could demonstrate a real need to end your contract, but this sad story suggests otherwise. In fact, it's easier to break an apartment lease than it is to get out of a cell phone contract. So if you need to get out of your contract but your pleas fall on deaf ears, how do you get out without emptying your wallet? Here's how.