Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) introduced a bill to congress today that would restrict the amount cell phone carriers could charge for early termination fees when consumers choose to terminate their cell phone contracts early. Klobuchar’s bill would mandate that termination fees be pro-rated from the date of the contract start through the end of the contract.
“Changing your wireless provider shouldn’t break the bank,” Klobuchar said. “Forcing consumers to pay outrageous fees bearing little to no relation to the cost of their handset devices is anti-consumer and anti-competitive.”
Personally, I really like this senator. She has been on the front lines of consumer protection and her legislative efforts have been ramped up since the financial crisis that started in October 2008, pushing for a full and complete accounting of the unpopular TARP bill (troubled asset relief program). She’s a “populist” and that’s what I like about her. However, there’s a decent argument to be made for consumer choice and the intervention of government in the private sector. In the comments section of the article link below is an impassioned reader comment that presents a reasonable argument.
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