Finding a new Cellular plan

**Preston** · 07-26-2009, 04:12 PM

Hello.

For the past 7 years I have had cellular service through Alltel. I have a national plan with no roaming and 1000 minutes and have piggybacked my wife on the same plan totalling us around $70 a month. We do not have a land line where we live and our cell service is our primary way of communication. However, we do not talk on the phones very often and do not use too many minutes in the process.

Both of our phones are about four years old and to give an idea of how old my phone doesn't even have a camera in it. It is a phone, not much more.

Both of our phones are starting to cut out and battery life is very poor -- even though we have tried buying new batteries we feel it is just the phones are about shot.

To top it all off, Alltel was purchased by Verizon last year and I'm already starting to see a change in service -- for the worse. Often times I will not receive a call but a few minutes later I get a voicemail. I am having more trouble getting a signal as well.

Also, I have read that Verizon charges more for their services.

We used to live in Cleveland OH but now moved to Cincinnati. We still have our Cleveland numbers so family can call us without using long distance... However, I am considering switching to a local plan.

I am considering another cell company but I want others feedback before I start really pressing the issue. I am leaning against Verizon due to cost, and I will NOT do business with AT&T (I had a big six month dispute with SBC that I will not forgive them for.) So I can choose between Cricket, T-Mobile, Sprint, and I'm sure there are others I can't think of now.. I just want honest opinions from frugal consumers like myself.

Thanks.

**craftypam** · 07-26-2009, 04:30 PM

I would definately check with people where you live about their service. My ds has t-mobile and cannot talk in my house without losing the call. Don't get me wrong, we have sprint and sometimes lose signal but not as often as my ds does. We have had sprint for a very long time. They offered the family plan with 2nd phone for free. I recently read somewhere that sprint gives the 2nd phone for a couple of dollars, not sure how true that is. I belong to a credit union and they have given me an additional 15% off. My bill is $50 a month for 450 anytime minutes 2550 night and weekends and nights start at 8:00pm. I also just read about 2 websites; not sure if its good for your area billshrink.com or fixmycellbill.com

When I said my bill is $50 a month that is including taxes

**savvy_sniper** · 07-26-2009, 04:40 PM

Hubby and I have a family plan with T-Mobile and before that when they were Voice Stream and before than when they were Primeco. We are very happy with their service. We can call each other and anyone else we know that has T-Mobile and it doesn't go against our monthly minutes. You might consider something like that if the majority of your friends/family use one particular company. MIL, FIL, stepdaughter, and niece all have T-Mobile.

I would ask around of people that live in your area and see what cell phone service they have and what they think of it. I have read of people having one company, moving to another town, and the service/reception wasn't good in the new town.

**JerryG** · 07-26-2009, 07:13 PM

Cricket here. $42 / month w/ unlimited minutes and 300 minutes long distance per month. It does not work when I go out of town.

DS has T-mobile. His is about $75 / month (I think) but he has extensive minutes (talks all the time and has never gone over) but he also has everything imaginable on it (internet, email, camera, recorder, music, etc.) His phone works EVERYWHERE! If I have to go out of town, I want to use HIS phone.

I don't know what the options are for another phone on the same plan.

**JoJoBean8** · 07-26-2009, 08:16 PM

My husband and I have Sprint and it is a very good company but they are very expensive. For the two of us we spend about $100 a month. We get 700 minutes to share but we rarely ever use more then 100 but can't lower the amount of minutes. They gave us a deal on text messages we each get 500 texts for $1 a piece but for the amount we use the phone $100 is horrible. I had Verizon before I got married and it was pricey and my phone was always dying and I never got my calls. Switched to Sprint because that's what DH had and now we are thinking about going to T-Mobile when our contract is up in a few months. You might want to look into consumer cellular if it is available in your area the prices are very reasonable. We thought about it but we would like to have a data plan it will help with DH's second job he's a DJ and can download songs and what not while at work.

**McD** · 07-26-2009, 08:25 PM

Is US Cellular available in your area?

I have been with them since I was 18 and have always had good experience. They seem to be becoming more in tune with what customers need and want from their cell phone company.

Incoming calls, texts, pictures are all free, free back-up protection, free battery swap, etc. etc.