Cell phone carrier

Valleyranchgirl · 01-21-2009, 10:53 PM

Hello everyone,

I am thinking about changing to another cell phone carrier but would like to hear your experiences.

Who is your current carrier?
My current carrier/provider is T-Mobile. I have been with them since Jan 04.
T-Mobile has good customer service. The plans are decent because of myfavs but the phones could be much better like in the UK.

Who is the worst carrier?
To me it is Sprint. The most drop call ever plus Horrid customer service. They kept jacking up my bill with extra items I never asked for it. One year was all I needed of Sprint. Turn the damn phone off before I got another one. I heard AT&T is not far from Sprint and AT&T is expensive.

Which carrier is the best one to sign up to?
I am not sure there is one company as they all have positives and negatives.
Alltel had the best plans because of mycircle but the merger with Verizon will probably mean the end of my circle.

Schneed10 · 01-21-2009, 11:40 PM

I'm with Verizon and I have no complaints at all.

I guess the reliability of the network will depend upon where you live. Where I am here in Philly the experience is good.

mooby · 01-22-2009, 12:06 AM

I'm with Verizon as well and I don't have much to complain about either. I've had a couple problems here and there but it wasn't anything I couldn't live with and their service is fine here in NOVA. I actually get decent signal inside my house and only on rare occasions do I experience a dropped call.

GMScud · 01-22-2009, 12:34 AM

I too have Verizon. I switched from Sprint about 18 months ago. Sprint sucks something terrible. As far as I'm concerned, customer service blows anywhere you go these days, so that wasn't even an issue.

Verizon works best for me because all of my friends/family have it, so I can get a very basic plan as far as minutes go, because in-network calling is totally free.

Daseal · 01-22-2009, 02:47 AM

I really like Cingular. Haven't had any issues in years.

Ruhskins · 01-22-2009, 03:06 AM

I'm the paradox here...I've been with Sprint for 10 years and haven't had any big issues. I agree with customer service, bad CS can happen with all carriers.

htownskinfan · 01-22-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daseal

I really like Cingular. Haven't had any issues in years.

Cingular? in texas it switched to AT&T at least a yr ago
I have AT&T for everything,home phone,internet,home camera system,cell phones,and just switched from directtv to AT&T uverse which I'm very happy with

BDBohnzie · 01-22-2009, 10:35 AM

I've been with Verizon since 2000 (Bell Atlantic Mobile back then) and have never had any major problems whatsoever. Found out a few years ago that one of my friends from high school is a salesman, so he takes care of me on that side, and I've never really had to use their Customer Service but once or twice, and both times was fine. I've had nothing but LGs and Motorolas and they've been fine. I have about a year left before I can get a new phone, and will probably upgrade to a Windows Mobile phone...

The best thing you can do is try out all the carriers (they all have 2-4 week trials) and see which one is best for you. If you are in a metropolitan area, all the carriers should be fine. But if you do a lot of traveling to rural/suburban areas, I'd venture to say the 2 best are Verizon and AT&T/Cingular.

ArtMonkDrillz · 01-22-2009, 10:52 AM

I had AT&T (then they became Cingular, and then they switched back to AT&T) for years and I was never a big fan. I stayed with them for so long because I never used my phone all that much and they seemed to have lower prices than most of the other companies. My signal never seemed to be all that great with them.
Then I moved to Baltimore and my signal was consistantly terrible so I finally made the switch. Even though I lived in the city I couldn't get a signal in my house, so I'd have to go outside whenever I wanted to make a call.

Now I have Verizon and I've been pretty happy with it. I have a pretty reliable signal, and the one time I've had to call customer service I didn't have to wait forever and they were helpful. I wish my bill was a bit lower since I don't use the phone a whole lot, but I guess it sort of is what it is.

MTK · 01-22-2009, 11:06 AM

I have AT&T and I have no complaints. As someone has already said it really depends on your area. As far as customer service that's pretty hit or miss with any company.

Schneed10 · 01-22-2009, 11:47 AM

As soon as they invented those automated voice recognition systems at the customer service call centers, customer service everywhere went from terrible to apocalyptically terrible.

And that's pretty damn terrible.

CRedskinsRule · 01-22-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schneed10

As soon as they invented those automated voice recognition systems at the customer service call centers, customer service everywhere went from terrible to apocalyptically terrible.

And that's pretty *** terrible.

you can get through nearly all the automated systems by either pressing 0, OR saying Representative. Most don't tell you that you can say that, but I think every one I have tried it on works.
also this link is a database that tells you how to bypass most major 800 menus
gethuman database from Paul English

As for carriers, my personal belief is that Verizon is the best, based on the people I know who have it. I have TMobile, and think the coverage is not very good compared to Verizon and ATT. Sprint just seems off in its own land IMHO.

firstdown · 01-22-2009, 01:31 PM

I have Sprint and actually just updated my phones and looked at switching but for two reason I stayed with Sprint. First I have had them for years and just have a basic service as I do not use a ton of minutes each month. Well, this past summer my office phones got hit by lighting and we were forced to use our cell phone for about a week as our system was replaced. I had my phone and my wife's phone at the office and we went way over our monthly ussage and I got a very high bill. I called customer service and they reviewed my history and erased the additional charges. 2nd I do alot of boating and fishing in the summer and it seems I get coverage out on the water when others cannot get any coverage on their phones and I like to have additional comunication if something ever goes wrong. So for those two reason I stayed with Sprint.

onlydarksets · 01-22-2009, 05:35 PM

I had Verizon and switched to Cingular, then switched back to Verizon, and now I'm back on AT&T (Cingular). Coverage is pretty comparable here in DC, but Verizon's 3G service is hands-down better.

DynamiteRave · 01-22-2009, 10:27 PM

Me and my best friend split a Verizon account and we each pay about $72 a month more or less.

Customer Service is pretty damn decent and I can get service almost anywhere.

I continue to hear horror stories about Sprint and T-Mobile.

If you don't go with Verizon, I'd say your next best choice is Cingular/AT&T, especially due to their rollover minutes.

01-21-2009, 10:53 PM	#1
Valleyranchgirl Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 40 Posts: 147	Cell phone carriers Hello everyone, I am thinking about changing to another cell phone carrier but would like to hear your experiences. Who is your current carrier? My current carrier/provider is T-Mobile. I have been with them since Jan 04. T-Mobile has good customer service. The plans are decent because of myfavs but the phones could be much better like in the UK. Who is the worst carrier? To me it is Sprint. The most drop call ever plus Horrid customer service. They kept jacking up my bill with extra items I never asked for it. One year was all I needed of Sprint. Turn the damn phone off before I got another one. I heard AT&T is not far from Sprint and AT&T is expensive. Which carrier is the best one to sign up to? I am not sure there is one company as they all have positives and negatives. Alltel had the best plans because of mycircle but the merger with Verizon will probably mean the end of my circle.

01-21-2009, 11:40 PM	#2
Schneed10 A Dude Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newtown Square, PA Age: 45 Posts: 12,421	Re: Cell phone carrier I'm with Verizon and I have no complaints at all. I guess the reliability of the network will depend upon where you live. Where I am here in Philly the experience is good. __________________ God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

01-22-2009, 12:06 AM	#3
mooby Hug Anne Spyder Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 20,464	Re: Cell phone carrier I'm with Verizon as well and I don't have much to complain about either. I've had a couple problems here and there but it wasn't anything I couldn't live with and their service is fine here in NOVA. I actually get decent signal inside my house and only on rare occasions do I experience a dropped call.

01-22-2009, 12:34 AM	#4
GMScud Swearinger Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 12,626	Re: Cell phone carrier I too have Verizon. I switched from Sprint about 18 months ago. Sprint sucks something terrible. As far as I'm concerned, customer service blows anywhere you go these days, so that wasn't even an issue. Verizon works best for me because all of my friends/family have it, so I can get a very basic plan as far as minutes go, because in-network calling is totally free. __________________ Tardy

01-22-2009, 02:47 AM	#5
Daseal Puppy Kicker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arlington, Virginia Age: 41 Posts: 8,341	Re: Cell phone carrier I really like Cingular. Haven't had any issues in years. __________________ Best. Player. Available.

01-22-2009, 03:06 AM	#6
Ruhskins Living Legend Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 22,337	Re: Cell phone carrier I'm the paradox here...I've been with Sprint for 10 years and haven't had any big issues. I agree with customer service, bad CS can happen with all carriers. __________________ R.I.P. #21

01-22-2009, 10:35 AM	#8
BDBohnzie Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Frederick, MD Age: 45 Posts: 4,628	Re: Cell phone carrier I've been with Verizon since 2000 (Bell Atlantic Mobile back then) and have never had any major problems whatsoever. Found out a few years ago that one of my friends from high school is a salesman, so he takes care of me on that side, and I've never really had to use their Customer Service but once or twice, and both times was fine. I've had nothing but LGs and Motorolas and they've been fine. I have about a year left before I can get a new phone, and will probably upgrade to a Windows Mobile phone... The best thing you can do is try out all the carriers (they all have 2-4 week trials) and see which one is best for you. If you are in a metropolitan area, all the carriers should be fine. But if you do a lot of traveling to rural/suburban areas, I'd venture to say the 2 best are Verizon and AT&T/Cingular. __________________ Bad Things man, I mean bad things... “WE TOOK HIM IN THE SIXTH ROUND SO WE'RE NOT SMART EITHER.” - Shanny on what the Skins saw in Alfred Morris

01-22-2009, 10:52 AM	#9
ArtMonkDrillz Franchise Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Age: 42 Posts: 8,029	Re: Cell phone carrier I had AT&T (then they became Cingular, and then they switched back to AT&T) for years and I was never a big fan. I stayed with them for so long because I never used my phone all that much and they seemed to have lower prices than most of the other companies. My signal never seemed to be all that great with them. Then I moved to Baltimore and my signal was consistantly terrible so I finally made the switch. Even though I lived in the city I couldn't get a signal in my house, so I'd have to go outside whenever I wanted to make a call. Now I have Verizon and I've been pretty happy with it. I have a pretty reliable signal, and the one time I've had to call customer service I didn't have to wait forever and they were helpful. I wish my bill was a bit lower since I don't use the phone a whole lot, but I guess it sort of is what it is. __________________ "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." The Dude

01-22-2009, 11:06 AM	#10
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,496	Re: Cell phone carrier I have AT&T and I have no complaints. As someone has already said it really depends on your area. As far as customer service that's pretty hit or miss with any company. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

01-22-2009, 11:47 AM	#11
Schneed10 A Dude Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newtown Square, PA Age: 45 Posts: 12,421	Re: Cell phone carrier As soon as they invented those automated voice recognition systems at the customer service call centers, customer service everywhere went from terrible to apocalyptically terrible. And that's pretty damn terrible. __________________ God made certain people to play football. He was one of them.

01-22-2009, 01:31 PM	#13
firstdown Living Legend Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: chesapeake, va Age: 60 Posts: 15,817	Re: Cell phone carrier I have Sprint and actually just updated my phones and looked at switching but for two reason I stayed with Sprint. First I have had them for years and just have a basic service as I do not use a ton of minutes each month. Well, this past summer my office phones got hit by lighting and we were forced to use our cell phone for about a week as our system was replaced. I had my phone and my wife's phone at the office and we went way over our monthly ussage and I got a very high bill. I called customer service and they reviewed my history and erased the additional charges. 2nd I do alot of boating and fishing in the summer and it seems I get coverage out on the water when others cannot get any coverage on their phones and I like to have additional comunication if something ever goes wrong. So for those two reason I stayed with Sprint.

01-22-2009, 05:35 PM	#14
onlydarksets Playmaker Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: all up in your business Posts: 2,693	Re: Cell phone carrier I had Verizon and switched to Cingular, then switched back to Verizon, and now I'm back on AT&T (Cingular). Coverage is pretty comparable here in DC, but Verizon's 3G service is hands-down better. __________________ Stop reading my signature.

01-22-2009, 10:27 PM	#15
DynamiteRave Living Legend Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington DC Age: 38 Posts: 16,867	Re: Cell phone carrier Me and my best friend split a Verizon account and we each pay about $72 a month more or less. Customer Service is pretty damn decent and I can get service almost anywhere. I continue to hear horror stories about Sprint and T-Mobile. If you don't go with Verizon, I'd say your next best choice is Cingular/AT&T, especially due to their rollover minutes. __________________ Establishment, establishment, you always know what's best. I've been a part of this message board for 17 years. Damn I'm old.

Cell phone carrier

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