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Cell Phones

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Dec. ~ 2006 Feb.: Buyers Banter: Cell Phones users admin

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Archive through June 16, 2005Julieboo25 06-16-05  9:09 am
Archive through August 26, 2005Landi25 08-26-05  12:06 pm
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Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
also, Wargod, the T-mobile has only a one year contract...

Reader234
Member

08-13-2000

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Reader234 a private message Print Post    
I do love Cingular, but I think their sales people are on commission! Be careful of prepaid phones, as you would be of course War, but some people have theirs tied to a credit card, and if you lose the phone, you better report it, or the person who finds it has access to your credit card number to add more time!!

and I'm thinking we need to start a list of all us tvch'ers on cingular!! I've lost Tater's number... oh, and does anyone know about the mobile to mobile if one phone isnt on nationwide minutes are they charged?

must go to website

Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 1:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sillycalimomma a private message Print Post    
I don't know if this has already been mentioned (didn't see it in my quick glimpse of the thread)
but this is a helpful site

PHONE SCOOP

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 1:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh heck, no way at all will I tie my cc to a cell phone, LOL. I like to see where my money is going...heres my cash, give me my phone card!

Thanks for all the opinions guys! We'll be going out today for some more looking around.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 1:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Yep, My TMobile was only a one year contract.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Friday, August 26, 2005 - 10:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
We went out to several places today and finally chose Virgin Mobile's prepaid phone plan. It's the same basic prepaid plan as Boost, but unlike them we actually have a store that cells the phones and accessories and real live people we can talk to. The biggest seller for me, for $10 we got a two year warranty that covers everything on the phone. It's got some neat features my old phone didn't have, like the camera and download ringtones (I really love that and can't wait to download Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here, lol!)

Thank you all for all the links and comments! I was able to do a lot of research into phones and plans and walked in knowing exactly what I wanted.

Lkunkel
Member

10-29-2003

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 4:15 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lkunkel a private message Print Post    
If you have a phone that has "Sprint" on it, are you stuck using Sprint? A friend gave us her old phone, charger, and extra battery, and while I like the phone (camera and everything), I really don't want to go with Sprint.

Right now, we're using a Trakphone, but we would like a regular phone, especially while we are on the road in December. (Trakphone is extra expensive out of your area, but we just didn't use the phone that much. Mostly me calling DH when I am out to check in and tell him that I am okay and haven't fallen, etc.)

I suppose I should also find out who my mom's plan is with.
myicon

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Friday, September 30, 2005 - 6:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
I received this message from my son via a forwarded e-email a couple of days ago. I called the 888 phone number listed below and this registry appears to be genuine to me. I registered my cell phone number with them (without having to speak to anyone directly):

JUST A REMINDER... 23 days from today, cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sale calls. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS... These telemarketers will eat up your free minutes and end up costing you money in the long run.

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888/382-1222. It is the National DO NOT CALL list. It will only take a minute of your time. It blocks your number for five (5) years.

PASS THIS ON TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS; Or you can register on line at: www.donotcall.gov

Dave Corsi
Mobile Communication Systems
office: (610) 627-1294
davecorsi@getcingular.com


Seamonkey
Moderator

09-07-2000

Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 12:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Seamonkey a private message Print Post    
That Go phone says one simple rate of .25 a minute.. don't know about now but several times when I saw Go Phone ads, and checked, the plans were not available in my area.

When I finally broke down and got a cell before Nashville, I ended up with a Net10 prepaid.. 10 cents a minute nationwide, no roaming. I bought way too many minutes for two months and then plan to buy the minimum to keep the number going and the minutes roll over. I got a flip phone , pretty basic but more features than I need anyway.

Maris
Member

03-28-2002

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 4:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Maris a private message Print Post    
I cant stand cingular and cant wait to cancel my contract when it is up. My son's phone broke, and next month I am entitled to sign up for a new two year agreement. I called them up and they told me no problem go to the cingular store. I went into the cingular store and the girl would only sell me a $300 phone and I told her what Cingular told me and she said nope, I have to wait a month to get a new phone. So I said ok, give me a cheap twenty dollar phone for him till I have to sign up and she tells me that because I was AT&T wireless I cant migrate and I cant get a cheap phone. So I said wait a minute, I have to pay for service for a phone I cant use and you cant sell me a phone unless I spend $300? She says yep. So I am on the family plan, it will cost me $150 to cancel his service or I pay the ten bucks a monthy for his phone for the next five months. I went down the street and signed him up for TMobile and I am waiting till my contract runs out in April to switch my phone. I also like the fact that T mobile is only a 1 year contract.

Legalboxer
Member

11-17-2003

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 5:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Legalboxer a private message Print Post    
i just went to cingular today and they were completely different with me - since i was ATT and my contract had run out i would be able to migrate over for even cheaper than what the phones were selling for - what ever person you dealt with sure didnt pay attention to customer service training :-)

Abbynormal
Member

08-04-2001

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 5:13 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Abbynormal a private message Print Post    
What Cingular won't tell you is that you DO NOT have to sign a new contract when your old contract is up. I have had them for about 5 years and the ONLY reason to sign is to get a new phone for cheap. I'd rather spend a little money if I need a new phone than be chained to anyone with a contract. I don't know how other companies work though. Also, I have had my plan changed several times since my contract ran out, with the same rates they offer with a contract.

Kaili
Member

08-31-2000

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 - 9:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kaili a private message Print Post    
If you do cancel, check your billing date. i cancelled mine (about a year off contract) and I did it one day into a new billing period. They cancelled the account but I had to pay the full month just for that one day. I hate them too. I have verizon now. No problems, but I haven't had a need for anything yet.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 9:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Yes, and most phones with regular use only last about a year, so you have to get a new phone each time your contract is up and sign up for a new contract. It's highway robbery if you ask me. I have Verizon, I have had Verizon since it was Airtouch, and I am switching to Nextel this month for the unlimited Walkie Talkie. Dh is the only one I usually call on my cell, and this way we have the same type of plan we did with Verizon, but with better mobile to mobile instead of shared minutes.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I will say that T-Mobile ROCKS!!! They have great customer service and free minutes if you talk to another T-mobile user. Also they have tons of plans and like I already said, the customer service is OUTSTANDING!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I had been a T-Mobile customer since 2002. They are fantastic. I just recently got two $250 camera phones that are so tiny for FREE cause I did a one year contract. (basically if you agree to a one year contract every year you get a free upgrade of phones.) We do the family plan and have 2000 minutes for 3 lines, free anytimes minutes, free mobile to mobile and free long distance for $90 a month.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:08 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
We have a family plan for 39.99 a month for free nights and weekends, 2 phones, free phone to phone and 500 anytime minutes...

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:12 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Dang I should've gotten Tmobile. I have nextel and if I want to upgrade my phone I have to do a new contract. But I don't want a new one I just want a better phone. And since they merged with Sprint now they have better phones. Bah they all suck lol.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I'll tell you what happened with me and Verizon.

A year ago, my cell phone fell out of my purse, hit the tile, and you can guess, shattered as though I dropped it from the top of the Space Needle.
The day after, I recieved a flyer in the mail for a free upgrade. Yippee, I needed that.

I do, however have phone insurance, which I paid $10/month for. Don't get phone insurance, it's a scam-o-rama.
I called the company, told them what happened and they said no problem take it in, and get another phone, etc. etc.

So I take it in to the store, and the B**** that works there preceeds to tell me that they sent me the upgrade form by mistake, and not only was I not eligable for an upgrade, I would have to pay $300 for a new phone and that the extensive damage to my phone disqualified me for a new phone discount for turning it in.

I told her I had phone insurance and she said, that the deductable was $100 and I had to purchase the same typ of phone, and the cost of the phone at the Insurance price of $100 instead of $300. So I either pay $200 or $300 for a new phone. I kept asking why I couldn't have the $30 phone that was so popular. So I asked what all this money was going to each month if it was only saving me $100 bucks on the phone, somewhere I was getting scammed out of some money. I WAS LIVID at this woman, who was so friggin snotty to me I could have slapped the braces right out of her mouth. She was feeling quite content with herself and that she was going to be making commission on either 2 or 3 hundred bucks when I asked when the contract was up on my DH's phone that is under the same contract. It had been up for 6 months, and I could upgrade his phone to my number, and he'd keep the same phone with his number, and guess what, I could get any phone I wanted. So I got the cheapest phone in the place, which believe it or not works way way better. She was quite perturbed that she didn't get the big commission she wanted, and had to give me a phone. I had to sign up for another year, but that year is up this month. Yay. Death to Verizon.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I am telling you--try T-mobile. They are so nice and (so far) very fair!!! And if you talk a lot to your dh, it is free between phones.

Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
Mocha my roommate also has Nextel, he wanted to update to a new phone and they tried the same stuff with him, tried to get him to sign a new 2 year contract. Eventually they let him buy a new phone, but not at the sale price without re-upping.

He's now in the process of trying to switch his business service over to Sprint. He has been going back and forth with them for over a week now, they keep giving him some kind of a run around. I heard him earlier today swearing up a storm at one of their call center people.

Jagger
Member

08-07-2002

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jagger a private message Print Post    
I personally just have a Virgin Mobile pay phones. I end up paying $15.00 every three months. I very rarely use a cell phone but I wanted one for emergencies, or if I go on vacation or out of town for the weekend. Now all I need to do is to remember to keep it charged.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 4:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
We've had US Cellular [when we lived in Iowa] and Sprint [here in Kentucky] and when we got our free upgrade we kept our old phones so it does not make sense why you had to buy the exact same phone.

I know some people here have dissed Sprint, but we have had no problem with them except for when we gave went to Eastern/SE Kentucky and it's all mountains there so not much of a signal. And we loved US Cellular but they don't cover Kentucky and we wanted a local number. Sprint goes the whole trip from Kentucky to SE central Iowa, which was important when my husband first got the phones as my mom was still alive and I made trips back and forth 2 - 3 times a month. All the traveling he's done for work it's been great. We hardly ever use any of our 500 anytime minutes, but we average over 1200 amonth cell phone to cell phone which is free. So we just now got my phone changed to an Ottumwa, IA number [which Sprint did for free, even the programing was free] so my dad and brother can call me free. Maybe we can use some of those anytime minutes now.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 5:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Oy Jagger.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 11:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I haven't read this whole thread so may be reasking.... I use a cell phone very very little, but don't want to be without. I got a prepaid with T-Mobile. (I've had Verizon before. Their customer service, especially in stores, S U C K S!) How is the actual phone service (not customer service) -- connections, quality of sound, whatever, etc.?

What about the phone itself -- a Nokia (not flip phone)? I had a Motorola (?) StarTac flip phone before.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 11:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Actual phone service from my T-mobile (and I am not far form you) is GREAT! No complaints at all. No static, no dropped called, etc... I think my actual phone is a motorola. It's in the car so I can check later if you want. It's a 660 or something.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 2:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Thanks much, Julie. Happy to hear that. I bought a full year of prepaid time with T-Mobile. As I use it so little, it's plenty of time for me for less than $10 per month (purchased in advance). I had such extremely poor customer service experiences with Verizon that I wanted nothing more to do with them.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 3:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Verizon stores in the Chicago area are funny. Some are corporate owned and other seem to be franchised. I go to one near Fox valley mall and the sales people are helpful and we've received great deals on 4 phones in the family plan. Before buying 3 years ago, I went to a different Verizon store to compare prices and deals. Their service and attitudes were terrible and they would not match the deal from thye other Verizon store. I forget which is which, but i think the good one is corporate owned.

Anyway, our service and coverage is great and the price (taking into account 2 teenagers) is also great. Many of my coworkers have either Verizon or T-Mobile and are happy with both. The only universally hated provider in the western suburbs seems to be Sprint. 4 years ago everyone at work had Sprint and we couldn't call each other when we were standing side by side and had full signal strength.

If I left Verizon (which we have no current plans to do), I would probably go with T-Mobile.


Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 4:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Thanks, Bob. Happy to hear that too. I had real problems in the Verizon on Butterfield Rd. in Downers Grove. And in the one or two others I've been in, long line to wait for service. No thanks. Went to T-Mobile store in Oak Brook Shopping Center. No waiting, so nice, so helpful. I like that.

Cndeariso
Member

06-28-2004

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 1:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cndeariso a private message Print Post    
i don't want advice on a service provider. i need advice on a cell phone itself. i could care less about all the internet surfing, picture taking, text messages or any of that. i want a good durable small flip phone with color display and the ability to download ringtones. that's it. all that other stuff would be wasted on me.

i have had a motorola V60 for just over 2 years now and the screen display keeps disappearing. otherwise, it has been a good phone. the fact that i was able to switch out the silver cover for a red one was a plus. but, i understand that most of the phones now are plastic and you can't get different colors. i may be wrong though.

i thought the motorola razor might be a good choice but know very little about it and no one i know has one.

any suggestions?

Cindori
Member

07-25-2003

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 2:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Cindori a private message Print Post    
Cndeariso, I have the Motorola Razr and I really like it. It's small and light, although a little wider than most phones. I've downloaded a few ring tones for it, and wallpapers, also. I understand they do have covers that you can switch out, but you need a teeny tiny screwdriver. The sound is great - my biggest issue with it is that the screen is really hard to see if you're in the sunlight, but I deal with it.

Halfunit
Moderator

09-02-2001

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 - 4:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Halfunit a private message Print Post    
Cndeariso, I have the Motorola V262 and the faceplates are interchangeable.

I didn't want anything fancy either, and am quite happy with my phone. :-)