Charging contractors for Qualcomm

[CharlesD]

Anyone who got the latest Landline might have seen this little tidbit already, but I found it quite interesting. This is from the question and answer section. The reader asked if a carrier could force him to purchase the QC through them and this was the answer.

No, they cannot. They can require that you have a Qualcomm unit, but the truth-in-leasing regulations prohibit carriers from requiring you to purchase it from or through them. The same is true with any goods or services that you may need. You must be free to obtain them from the market of your choice.

Then the regulation itself is quoted.

Section 376.12 Products, equipment, or services from authorized carrier-The lease shall specify that the lessor is not required to purchase or rent any products, equipment, or services from the authorized carrier as a condition of entering into the lease arrangement. The lease shall specify the terms of any agreement in which the lessor is a party to an equipment purchase or rental contract which gives the authorized carrier the right to make deductions from the lessor's compensation for purchase or rental payments.

If I read this right, a carrier can't require you to purchase or rent a Qualcomm from them specifically, although they can require that you use one in your truck. I wonder how many people are aware of this. It seems that you could probably buy one outright and save a lot of money in the long run

 

[mjolnir131]

There are quite a few that do and they will tell you that when you do buy it yourself, that then your carrier switches over to something like a message fee that is about as high as your rental fee was.

 

[LDB]

You also have no automatic insurance/repairs when you own your own.

 

[greg334]

Wasn't it decided somewhere else that a rental is different from a lease?

What I read here is that I can bring my own qualcomm unit and they have to put it into service within their network (I assume that they will charge you for this) but if the equipment does not fit their needs, then I have to work with them to lease one that does.