topic Re: Cell phone carriers in Community Chat

Cell phone carriers

bonnielu — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:04:23 GMT

We have been customers of Sprint now T-Mobil for years. New Apple IPhones out. I found out today I could get a new one from Best Buy. I noticed they represent more than one carrier. Anyone have VERIZON? Need some advice about making the phone switch to another carrier and using Best Buy instead of a T-Mobil store or any store for that matter.

Re: Cell phone carriers

Meowingkitty — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:07:05 GMT

I have always had Verizon. Never an issue. Best Buy would be fine or go to the Apple store and see what they have. They offer all carriers.

Re: Cell phone carriers

bonnielu — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:14:49 GMT

No local Apple store. Best Buy only choice here. But thanks for your advice.

Re: Cell phone carriers

chickenbutt — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:16:59 GMT

After TMobile acquired Sprint and pretty much destroyed it, I ended up at Spectrum (it's Verizon) and could not be more pleased. Not only that but, including the price of my brand new phone with Spectrum, my monthly bill is $26 - less than half what I paid there which didn't include financing a phone.

My first choice, upon changing carriers was Verizon bu their price was just way too high and since Spectrum is powered by Verizon it worked out great.

I grew to abhor TMobile and, even though I tried to give them a chance, when they wrote me to tell me my 2yr old phone would become a brick at the end of last year I took the opportunity to leave.

Their customer service was worse than their service. One call I had to make the guy told me that I was a liar when I called to find out why my Hulu (free with them at the time) no longer worked. He said that I changed my plan so that negated the free Hulu. Uh, I didn't and tried to tell him that but he just got more and more rude. I'm not rude untill it's fully time to be rude, so I didn't cause him to be a jerk. He was a jerk before I got there.

Moral of story: I haven't looked back and Spectrum has been great. The only concern with moving was that I could keep my cell ph# that I've had since 1994 and, whew, that was no problem. I didn't expect it to be but I worried about TMobile doing something to get in the way of that because they seemed so vindictive. Reminded me of when I left ATT for landline/cable/internet a number of years ago. They spam-bombed me while I was getting my email addresses changed out. It was insane!

Re: Cell phone carriers

pdlinda — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:40:44 GMT

@chickenbutt I've been with T-Mobile for over 20 yrs. For awhile (before the sprint deal) they really made an effort to upgrade their CS, even asssigning each customer a "team" that was U.S. based to answer any questions or concerns.

That all changed after te sprint deal.

I had an issue with retaining the special rate I'm given as a Govt retiree. They bombarded me with a lot of "mumbo-jumbo" documentation I would need to continue getting my monthly rate ($33 including taxes and whatever else they charge).

I told them, in no uncertain terms that they were being unreasonable and hung up.

Miraculously, my rate stayed the same for the last 2 yrs and it better continue or I will immediately change carriers.

The CS crew they have now are apparently geared toward customers who are interested in a different standard of service and talk a "lingo" I'm not familiar with so I never call them.

Re: Cell phone carriers

HisElk1 — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:47:52 GMT

@bonnielu , be sure to check our the site at Pure Talk. After being customers with Verizon for a very long time, my DH found it.

They are veteran owned and very helpful. We do own both of our Android smartphones and our monthly bill is about $40 plus tax. They use AT&T towers.

I'd check them out before making a decision on which carrier.

Re: Cell phone carriers

mspatmac — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 19:56:29 GMT

@bonnielu

I have had Verizon for years and years with no problems at all. I have bought my last three phones at Best Buy. They set my new phone up and transfer everything from my old one. Won't go anywhere else.

I have a great BB.

Re: Cell phone carriers

Toot1920 — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 20:01:23 GMT

@bonnielu , check with people in your area on what carrier they have and how they like it. Service can vary in different parts of the country. We have Verizon for quite a few years but it seems in our area, service isn't that great. Same with my son in Florida. Don't know if it's because lack of towers or what. As for going to Best Buy, they work fine for all carriers. That shouldn't be an issue. Check for any deals on phones, also.

Re: Cell phone carriers

patbz — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 20:03:15 GMT

We've been with Verizon for 25 years but no longer buy phones from them. We buy "unlocked NIB Verizon Samsung phones" from Amazon. They are great and I take them to Verizon Store to get them set up. I tip $20 to Tech per phone.

Re: Cell phone carriers

millieshops — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 21:21:34 GMT

Whatever changes you make, be sure to check with people who live near you since there can bel neighborhood differences that aren't readily apparent from the company maps!

Re: Cell phone carriers

vermint — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 22:52:39 GMT

For any kind of decent cell service where we live, Verizon is our only choice. Not only are we rural, but heavily wooded. Also, our particular piece of property is in sort of a "black hole"...i.e. it's lower than the properties on either side. It's kind of weird! We did recently buy a "cell signal booster" that has helped a lot--it actually enabled us to finally drop our landline, thereby helping with the expense of Verizon.

We also recently got satellite internet. Tried Hughsnet, but despite their commercials implying that it works everywhere, the tech could not get a signal for us. Went to Viasat, recommended by the Hughsnet tech, and voila! Home internet service at last! Several months now, and we're pleased with Viasat. Haven't needed customer service yet, though, so can't speak to that.

Re: Cell phone carriers

gardenman — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 02:22:55 GMT

Verizon has a service called Visible that you might want to look at. It's $30-$45 A month for unlimited.

Re: Cell phone carriers

isaboo — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 02:42:00 GMT

@HisElk1 wrote:
@bonnielu , be sure to check our the site at Pure Talk. After being customers with Verizon for a very long time, my DH found it.

They are veteran owned and very helpful. We do own both of our Android smartphones and our monthly bill is about $40 plus tax. They use AT&T towers.

I'd check them out before making a decision on which carrier.

I have been curious about PureTalk. Does it work like the Trac phones do where you purchase your minutes? We are with AT&T and I would like to find something with better pricing.

Re: Cell phone carriers

HisElk1 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 04:32:32 GMT

@isaboo , no, it's not like trac phone. They have several plans you can choose from. Some are limited with texts, but my plan is not. DH doesn't text as much as I do, so he doesn't need the unlimited plan.

It's worth checking out their site and if you have any questions, we have found them to be very helpful.

Good luck!

Re: Cell phone carriers

Suzeecat — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 12:46:32 GMT

For me it all comes down to the reception I get in my area. Although highly populated, I found some carriers just didn't work when I was inside my home. In my area (Southeast MI), Verizon has the best coverage, hands down. It costs more, but since I live alone and do not have a land line, I need reliable phone service.

Re: Cell phone carriers

Jaspertimes — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 13:18:57 GMT

@gardenman wrote:
Verizon has a service called Visible that you might want to look at. It's $30-$45 A month for unlimited.

I have the 30 dollar plan with Visible. It's unlimited talk, text and data, taxes included so just a flat 30 dollar bill. The 45 dollar plan is great for international travel and you can even upgrade if you are going out of country and downgrade the next month. The coverage is awesome and I've never had a problem. Highly recommend. Can bring your own phone or buy a new one.

Re: Cell phone carriers

Shelbelle — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 13:28:22 GMT

We get great rates and service from Consumer Cellular with I Phone

Re: Cell phone carriers

CAcableGirl2 — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 13:34:47 GMT

@bonnielu I had Verizon for years, and never had a problem. Now I have Spectrum for my cell phone, and since they use Verizon, I have no problems with them either, and are only paying $60 for 2 phones with unlimited. One is $45, but 2 are $60, so when my Mom needed a new phone, we added her to my service. My ex and son switched over to them too, and the bill from Verizon went down by nearly half.