Singapore Expats

hi all, i'm seeking help to avoid paying a hefty termination ($800) charge due to relocation, any idea how i go about it? cause it's really expensive....
or any idea who i can transfer it to? i've got roughly 15 months of contract left.......to which i don't mind giving some incentives (like a few hundred bucks) to people who are willing to take over.
please help. much appreciated.

you can ask for a fax number from your telco and tell them you're sending in an official letter from your company stating that you're being posted elsewhere.

waivers under such circumstances (especially if you're not a singaporean) may be granted.

tried to negotiate with the telco but failed.. they said the only way out was to pay the $800 else continue till the contract ends.. so since i'm moving off, i'd transferred it under a friend's name and yet continue paying for it (cause it's cheaper than paying the $800 termination fee).. thus trying to find people to take over since the line won't be utilised at all!

It can sometimes be negotiated with your company that because they want to move you they have to settle outstanding contract arrangements.

my 2 cents says, NO CAN DO.

When you picked up your phone, you should read why they are giving free instruments + subsidized / bundled packages.

The cost of the phone, say, is 800, and you get it FOC for a 2 year contract, the 800 is amortized over the 2 years .. and the whole concept is sort of underwritten by leasing companies .. or used to be ...

So, it is not the Telco playing hard, but the guys who leased to the Telco ..

So, likewise .. credit card - if you owe the card company 5,000 can you waive it off ??

My 2 cents say - Pay it up and go .. or as seem to be the norm nowadays - DISAPPEAR and don't give a hoot about it .. (sorry, I don't encourage the latter action .. )

Scoobydoos: if expect your employer to pay for your personal commitments. . I am a bit lost there ...

ssand wrote:it (cause it's cheaper than paying the $800 termination fee).. thus trying to find people to take over since the line won't be utilised at all!

The 800$ is for the Equipment cost .. and that is what covers the lock-in period says my 2 cents ..

i chose to leave to go back home. that's why.
thing is, i'm willing to pay, but not THAT MUCH.
Edited to conform to forum policy by moderator

ecureilx wrote: Scoobydoos: if expect your employer to pay for your personal commitments. . I am a bit lost there ...

It's different now that OP has come back and said it was his choice, not that it was a relocation so......

Yes, in terms of a relocation I could/would expect some compensation for costs incurred by me personally for the company's choice to relocate me. It does all depend on the contract on which the OP/an expat was brought into SG in the first place and hence I left my statement in the general term and not a specific, i.e. something to consider if it were to apply.

I know, for example, it would definitely be something I could bring up in my relocations chats IF it were based on the company's desire to move me again. The company can either take it over and give to another employee or absorb the cost into the relocation cost.

ssand wrote:i chose to leave to go back home. that's why.
thing is, i'm willing to pay, but not THAT MUCH.
Edited to conform to forum policy by moderator

Life sucks, but when you got the instrument, you agreed to abide by the terms, which allowed you a nearly free/or free instrument ..

My bet, Singtel WILL NOT WAIVE OFF NOTHING ..

That's the same reason sane people don't sign for contracts, and prefer to buy off paying cash ..

ssand wrote:i chose to leave to go back home. that's why.
thing is, i'm willing to pay, but not THAT MUCH.
Edited to conform to forum policy by moderator

Setup a giro from your local account and let it continue? Of course if it makes any financial sense.

x9200 wrote: Setup a giro from your local account and let it continue? Of course if it makes any financial sense.

Maybe not the best solution, as the OP seems to be planning to not pay up the amount as per the contract Or maybe I am wrong totally ..

ssand wrote:tried to negotiate with the telco but failed.. they said the only way out was to pay the $800 else continue till the contract ends..

i've known expats who have negotiated with the telco to waive the fee. it helps to be polite and patient. if you face rejection...

keep trying! you may also ask to speak to their supervisor, and work your way down to perhaps a smaller termination penalty.

i do not recommend transferring it to someone else. if all else fails, you can sell your phone to cover some of the penalty costs incurred.

good luck!

ecureilx wrote:

x9200 wrote: Setup a giro from your local account and let it continue? Of course if it makes any financial sense.

Maybe not the best solution, as the OP seems to be planning to not pay up the amount as per the contract Or maybe I am wrong totally ..

Depends what it is... even with his 15 months of contract some monthly subscriptions could be as low as S$30 so he will end up paying S$450 only.

x9200 wrote: Depends what it is... even with his 15 months of contract some monthly subscriptions could be as low as S$30 so he will end up paying S$450 only.

When you sign the contract, the contracts states the cost of the instrument .. say, 1,200 = 2 years = 50 $ a month is the cost of the instrument.

Plus the 2 year contract, say, at 50 $ package ..

Say, after 1 year, you want to terminate, the Telco will be willing to do away with the contract period, which is the 50 $ X 12 months remaining, but the equipment cost, of 50 $ (equipment cost divided over 24 months) is something the telcos WILL NEVER WAIVE OFF .. because, the equipment lease is underwritten by another third party ..

Anyway, nothing like trying .. or doing a disappearing act

Are you sure you understood my suggestion because for sure I don't understand what your response has to do with it
I do not advise him to terminate, I advise him to continue paying the subscription fees till the end of the contracts.