Signing up for cellular telephone service

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I finally gave into this "cellular telephone" fad. Man, what an ordeal It took me all evening, and by the end, the people in India knew me by name.

I found out that T-Mobile has a deal, 100 minutes plus 5 gigs data for $30 per month. Not all that great if you ask me, but the best I could find. Mostly sold through Wal-Mart, but their web site clearly says also directly from T-Mobile. Every single rep denied direct sales from T-Mobile were possible until i quoted the language from the web site verbatim.

I bought my phone (Nexus 5) off-the-shelf---no subsidy. You can't go to the T-mobile store for it, mail order only. The helpful agent tells me to call 611 to set it up. Big mistake. You can only sign up for the service by computer. After I go most of the way through, the telephone prompt is clearly not going to show my plan, so I say "agent agent agent" over and over again, then hang up and call customer service, who at first denies the plan exists then tells me its web sign up only. Go back to the site. I've already entered my various serial numbers, so it won't accept them anymore. After a half dozen calls all night long, I get signed up. Lots of numbers to be entered. Some require a pound sign at the end. Others don't. No music when you are on hold, so sometimes you are cut off, sometimes you are on hold. Do you make an error keying in something on that completely unfamiliar phone? Maybe you can back up, usually you have to hang up and start over. and on and on and on.
 
you will figure out the phone eventully. i was with verizon,now metro pcs and both have a store that i can walk into and ask questions,have them set it up etc.

if your happy with the service thats great! i wish i had known that metro pcs dont work once out of town
 
Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
I finally gave into this "cellular telephone" fad. Man, what an ordeal It took me all evening, and by the end, the people in India knew me by name.

I found out that T-Mobile has a deal, 100 minutes plus 5 gigs data for $30 per month. Not all that great if you ask me, but the best I could find. Mostly sold through Wal-Mart, but their web site clearly says also directly from T-Mobile. Every single rep denied direct sales from T-Mobile were possible until i quoted the language from the web site verbatim.

I bought my phone (Nexus 5) off-the-shelf---no subsidy. You can't go to the T-mobile store for it, mail order only. The helpful agent tells me to call 611 to set it up. Big mistake. You can only sign up for the service by computer. After I go most of the way through, the telephone prompt is clearly not going to show my plan, so I say "agent agent agent" over and over again, then hang up and call customer service, who at first denies the plan exists then tells me its web sign up only. Go back to the site. I've already entered my various serial numbers, so it won't accept them anymore. After a half dozen calls all night long, I get signed up. Lots of numbers to be entered. Some require a pound sign at the end. Others don't. No music when you are on hold, so sometimes you are cut off, sometimes you are on hold. Do you make an error keying in something on that completely unfamiliar phone? Maybe you can back up, usually you have to hang up and start over. and on and on and on.


That's exactly the sort of garbage that puts me off Cell phones, or for that matter any more electronics that I already have.

Heck, I have windows XP, and will hang on to it till it's dying breath. I really don't have the time to bugger around to try and make something new work the way the old thing did.

What the world needs is Plug and Play electronics.
 
The Nexus 5 is a pretty advanced phone for a first timer. Should have bought the $19.99 flip phone first to get acquainted. You can find a MUCH better plan than that for similar money, FYI.
 
That tmobil plan is awesome...and hidden for a reason.

Gonna start harassing thrm to put a tower in the front pasture soon.

As of right now, att is the only one with service out here.
 
Originally Posted By: SuzukiGoat
That tmobil plan is awesome...and hidden for a reason.

Gonna start harassing thrm to put a tower in the front pasture soon.

As of right now, att is the only one with service out here.


If all you have around you is AT&T then look at Consumer Cellular. They resell cell service from AT&T. Excellent customer service. I am $30/month for my Nexus 5. They will send you a text msg that you click on to set the phone up.
 
any sprint towers? or verizon?

Ting has full service from sprint towers, and voice/text from verizon towers.

Ting is 6$ for device, then you pay by what you use in tiers.

www.ting.com

2 smartphones 1gb data, 500m voice and 1000text costs about 48$

https://ting.com/rates
just use click on the usage tiers and select number of phones at bottom.

the surcharges are very light.. for my average 45$ bill its about 3$


Ting is extremely friendly, you get a real person on the phone in 2-3 rings, no phone tree.. and they actually help you.


PS. if anyone wants to sign up I can PM you a referral number and you get 25$ off your first bill(and I do too)
 
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Well, I shouldn't complain. T-Mobile at least believes in truth-in-advertising. They did eventually get me signed up and I'm OK.

Heard a real horror story about AT&T this morning. AT&T allows you to buy in advance data roaming for Canada fairly cheaply-- around 25 cents per meg. If you forget and just use your phone in Canada its $15 per meg. Just a complete and total exploitation of the customer by one of our most venerable corporations. I'm developing brand loyalty with T-Mobile real fast now.
 
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