What Do You Think Of The Pros and Cons Regarding Cell Phone Carriers?
By KrauseHome
@KrauseHome (36445)
United States
November 13, 2009 10:56pm CST
Have you ever noticed that there are definately more than one carrier out there to choose from when you decide to have a Cell Phone, and especially if you want one of the more up to date do everything phones, the price on them can vary quit a lot as well. For me, it sometimes make me feel confused and wonder which is the Best deal going for sure.
I know right now there is many deals to choose from on Phones, plans, etc. If you are wanting it all, Cell, text and internet there is many different plans as well. How do you choose? Which one do you choose, and are they all what they are caught up to be as well?
I am curious to see what everyone has here, and do you have any of the unlimited plans as well? With my plan almost up, and wanting to get me a better phone soon I am trying to decide which will benefit me and my husband the most for the buck as well. So any ideas are appreciated.
~~TINA~~
2 people like this
8 responses
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
14 Nov 09
Hi Krause. They each have their pros and cons, but I'll never again choose one that makes you sign a two year contract. Each time you want to add or take away for your plan or change it in any way...you begin the two years all over again, or have to pay a hefty price to end it early.
I now have boost mobile, pay as I go, and that is far far better.
Karen1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
22 Nov 09
Yes, this is the downfall of most of the Cell Phone companies out there for sure. It does get quite annoying that they can do this, and makes me wonder why there is not much more competition with Boost for sure. I have a lot of my coworkers who have Boost, but I do not like their phones, so not sure what I will decide in the next couple of months. T-Mobiles unlimited everything with no contract is like $79 per person. I guess I just need to research everything out more for sure.
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I think contracts will eventually become passe...many of the good carriers no longer require them, and I am all for that :)
Good luck in your search!
Karen1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
That is what I would Love to see happen, and even with Internet providers, but a lot more still needs to be done. But for now I am still under contract with T-mobile but trying to see what is out there for when my Contract expires in just a couple months.
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I'm always listening to friends discuss their likes & dislikes of their cell plan. Then I file it away until time for me to re-up my plan. I was with Verizon for 10 years. I stayed with them simply because they had GREAT customer service & a large service area with minimum roaming. Well, Verizon bought out several other carriers & their customer service went to hell. When it was time for me to renew my plan, the phone I wanted was covered under my free in 2 plus it had a rebate of $50.00. I went online & asked how my free in 2 & the rebate worked together. I was told I'd get a free phone PLUS $50 back. I felt that was fair as I'd spend the $50 on accessories for the new phone. I go to the local store to get my new phone & am told I have to pay the $50 for the new phone & then wait 6-8 weeks to get the $50 back. I argued that I should get the phone for free & still get the rebate. The salesgirl was down right nasty about it so I walked out. A good friend had told me about their phone & plan. With his company I would get unlimited talk time PLUS unlimited text & internet for the same thing I had been paying Verizon for unlimited talk ONLY. He LOVED his phone so I drove a quarter mile down the road to Sprint & got a BETTER phone with unlimited everything (including roaming)!!! I don't care for Sprint's customer service that much as they outsource, but I seldom have to use their customer service. I've just learned to call BEFORE 3:00 pm if I do need help. I'm extremely happy with Sprint & their unlimited plan. If you don't talk as much as I do, they have a cheaper plan with limited minutes PLUS free texting & Internet which includes free roaming. ALL calls to another cell phone is FREE & doesn't count against your minutes. So, you & your hubby each have a cell, then you can talk ALL day & it costs you nothing. Put the 2nd phone on the family plan & it costs you about $10 more than having 1 phone.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I have been hearing a lot about Sprint lately, and may just go check out their phones and plans, etc. and see what they have to offer as well. I know I am leary though about another Contract of any sort, so not sure what I will decide to do for sure, but if this is working Good for you, I will consider at least looking into it before deciding what to do in a couple of months when my Contract with T-mobile is up as well.
1 person likes this
@LadyMarissa (12148)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I signed a 2 year contract last Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving I can get $150 off a new phone with a 2 year contract. The one thing I like is the year left on my current contract is forgiven & will only have another 2 year contract. With Verizon, I would have had a 3 year contract. I was with Verizon for 10 years & I was charged $98 when I left for Sprint.
Their Customer Service goes to a foreign call center. I have learned that, if I call before 3:00 pm, I can get a local call center. Also, if I get the foreign call center, I can request an English speaking tech & get it. I've only had to speak with their customer service people once in the last year.
I don't get rollover minutes. But, I do get FREE minutes if I call another cell phone no matter who is the carrier. I don't need a special Friends & Family list as ANY mobile phone I call is FREE minutes. I'm satisfied enough I'm thinking of getting a new phone & reupping for another 2 years. Maybe I'm so happy because I've had minimal problems. I have their top plan which affords me luxuries I wouldn't get otherwise. For the same fee that I had 4,000 minutes with Verizon, I have unlimited minutes PLUS internet PLUS unlimited texting PLUS FREE roaming. I know EXACTLY what I'll be paying every month before I even receive my bill. The ONLY additional charge has been a couple of games I've downloaded to my phone. That way if I get stuck waiting somewhere, I have something to keep my brain occupied!!! I'm really enjoying my time with Sprint!!! I have 2 friends who feel the same. One for 2 years & the other for a year & a half. If you decide to check them out, ask ALL the questions that are important to you BEFORE signing a contract with them. If memory serves me correct, I had 30 days after signing the contract to change my mind & go back to my old carrier. One thing I really like about them is there are 2 Sprint stores in my sleepy little town!!!
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I have been using Smart Talk which is sold at Walmart. It is $30 a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts. There are other plan options that are available. $45 for unlimited minutes and texts, web availability, camera. I don't need all the bells and whistles. Heck I don't even use all the minutes that come with the $30 option. But, for those who use more than 300 minutes a month this is the way to go.
Big huggers to you.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
I have never heard of this option, and have actually been considering going and looking into this one the next time I am at WalMart and see what it really has to offer for sure. Wonder how good the reception is, and if I can keep my same number, etc. I guess this will be something to look at for sure. Thanks for sharing this option with us.
@Grandmaof2 (7578)
• Canada
14 Nov 09
Well I had been using my daughters old phone that she was no longer using and I went on a 30.00 bundle plan so after taxes you could expect my bill to be right around 40.00. Things went along good for a long time then suddenly I was getting bills for 130.00 plus, now keep in mind I only have one daughter and she is the only one I call and I have never done text messaging, would not know how even. Then in May my husband left me and I moved back to the city June 01 which is where my daughter lives therefore now I wasn't hardly ever using my cell phone. My bills kept going up and up. One day my husband asked me if I wanted his cell phone because he got a different one. At first I said no because I had to call and cancel my phone as soon as my contract ran out and told him why. he said no problem because his was a pay as you go and the one time activation fee of 50.00 was already paid and still had 19.00 on the card, so obviously I thanked him and took the phone. My last cell bill came and it was 141.00 after I shut it off. I paid that and three weeks later they billed me again, I sent proof of payment and never again will I go on contract. I purchase phone cards for 20.00 and I'm good for a long time, Good Luck.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
This is quite interesting. If your Bill was only supposed to be like $30, sounds like somewhere without you knowing it you were being charged maybe for something that was not yours. But I would be upset too if it was me, and actually I would have been asking more questions as something don't sounds right at all. But I have thought of the prepaid route, or no contract from now on, just going to make sure I can still keep my same number as well.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
15 Nov 09
It just depends on what your looking for and how you use your phone. Like on ours, we don't have all the fancy extra stuff, I do have a texting package on mine but thats it, we just use it to make and get phone calls. We had an old plan that was about 5 yrs old but we went over our minutes one too many times so we decided it was time to upgrade. We're now on a plan where we get 1000 anytime minutes, all incoming are free, we got free mobile to mobile which means we can talk as long as we want to anyone else thats with the same carrier as ours, even talking to each other, and we have free nights and weekends starting at 7pm, it sounded like a good deal to us. So now we have no excuse to ever go over our minutes, we use US Cellular.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Well, that is not one of the ones I think we have around here, and since I do not really want a Contract again I am not sure which way I will decide to go for sure. But it has been interesting to get some ideas here for sure.
@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
14 Nov 09
Hi tina,
Just to be true to myself I have stopped worrying about cell phones. I know the pros and cons and now am contended with a mediocre handset that gives me multimedia access and I do not like to Internet on cell phone actually. I have both a desktop and a laptop.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
23 Nov 09
Well actually, the only time I was really considering wanting a phone with Internet access would be when I am at work and bored so I could try to post here in myLot, but I have heard some say this is not possible so maybe I would be Best just with a regular phone with just texting for sure.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
6 Dec 09
Hi there for me I made the choice to give the whole cell phone thing a break. I was paying over 100$ a month for the almost unlimited plan and really I was not even using all the features I had at the time. My best suggestion to you would be to check out Boost mobile. I know they have a good prepaid option that is everything unlimited for 50$ a month. You will have to buy a phone outright but when my money gets in a better situation that is my plan where to head. Nothing againist the big companies but really their prices are way too high to me. Hope this helps you with your choice
@sherrypeck19822001 (228)
• United States
26 Nov 09
I use Metro PCS because I pay $50 for unlimited calls, texting, internet, and Instant Messaging and voice mail.
I also don't have to have a contract, and if I happen to not have the money to pay it for a month, they just put my number on hold for me and I get to keep my number until I can pay it as long as I pay it within 29 days.
