Cell phone service opinions?

[yrmencyn]

Hey folks--

I need to get a new phone to replace my totally ghetto bar phone, and I feel a little screwed pretty much every time AT&T deducts money from my account, since I don't generally even come close to using the 450 minutes they charge me for a month.

Those of you who use other major, national carriers, (i.e. T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon), how do you feel about your service: value?  coverage?  Those are the big ones, really, especially coverage.  Is yours spotty?  Amazingly good?  Somewhere in between.

And of course if someone wants to shill for AT&T, you're welcome to do that too.

Comments

[comixologist.livejournal.com]

I'm on Verizon, and my coverage is good, but I uase about a bajillion minutes/month, so I have no idea if they have a plan that's a good size/price for your usage. D: I just know that I almost always have a signal, though my phone occasionally delivers voicemail to me days late -- that has only happened a few times, though.

[gothicsquish.livejournal.com]

Verizon's coverage for me is good. But the price is about the same and i often times feel ripped off simply because i barely ever talk on the phone.... I don't know that there is anything to do about that aside from going pre-pay.

[whisperwheel.livejournal.com]

Verizon's coverage is generally great (excepting my apartment for some reason). There are several tiers of plans to look through, but I'm with ya on never using my allotted minutes.

[cheerybeggar.livejournal.com]

I have vague recollections of Cingular (back in the day) generally being the cheapest option, and AT&T may or may not have continued in that vein. I also like having rollover minutes for those occasional months where I end up on the phone a lot.

But like someone else said, if you're really not using many minutes, probably the only way to save substantially at this point would be to buy a prepaid/rechargeable phone.

[flohchica.livejournal.com]

OK, so I know I don't live in Columbus anymore, but I used to...and I know a good deal about the different providers overall. Generally speaking, Verizon is pretty much on top as far as coverage and quality, wherever you are in the country. My network was always fantastic in Cbus. I would NEVER use Sprint...I've never heard of their customers having good experiences. The two that vie for the #2 spot (behind Verizon) are actually T-mobile and Alltel. They're both close enough in quality to Verizon that, for the price reduction, it would likely be worth it to you.

Let me know if you have any other questions about that! For some reason, I have ridiculously more knowledge about this subject than I should... Hope it helps! =)

[flohchica.livejournal.com]

Er, scratch that about Alltel... Just checked, and they're apparently just as expensive as Verizon, if not more. But T-mobile's still cheaper than Verizon, and with good service!

[lucki-dog.livejournal.com]

Verizon = good. Customer service is a little lacking, but every carier sucks there. Go to one of the corp stores and insist on the smallest plan, I'm pretty sure they have ones that arn't on the poster.

[talyr.livejournal.com]

I'm on verizon as well--as an added bonus, it seems like many of your friends are, which means no cost to call any of us if you have a verizon phone!

I used to be on sprint, and i found their coverage was terrible. I've been on verizon for many years and i've found that coverage is generally good, and has been getting better each year in remote areas--like in west virginia or the rural areas i trek through on long trips, which i know is important to you. Coverage was existent but roaming in iowa.

I've generally found service to be pretty good when i go to the store up on Henderson. And they have promotions that get you nifty phones for free--my camera flip phone came free with my package.

[leiamary.livejournal.com]

I have AT&T and have the smallest plan. I pay $30 a month a dont come close to using it all thanks to others in my network plus the nights and weekends minutes. And I am a talker, so by no means is this just because I dont use the phone.

That said, if you do leave, DO NOT GO TO SPRINT!!! They are evil and rank as having the worst customer service of ANY industry. I know no one that had a good experience with them.

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

Which plan do you have? I have the 450 plan, and tried to downgrade it, but was told that they no longer have any smaller plans. Basically I'm wondering if you've been grandfathered in, or if some sales rep was a complete tool.

[leiamary.livejournal.com]

I was a bit wrong, so sorry for that. Its $39 a month for the 450 minutes, plus $5 for texting. After taxes and such takes it to $50. I've had this plan for a few years, so if your is more its possible that I grandfathered in.

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

No, that's what I've got, too.

[sibilance7.livejournal.com]

I had Verizon for two years and hated them because they were constantly adding bogus charges to my bill and I'd have to call and get them straightened out. They always fixed them pretty quickly, but it seemed like adding bogus charges was just Verizon's scam to make extra money. Otherwise, Verizon was good as far as coverage.

I have T-Mobile now and I love them. I get great coverage around C-bus and I haven't had any problems with my bill at all. In fact, my first bill was for less than I expected it to be. T-Mobile works for me because the people I call the most have landlines or are on other networks, so I have the fave five feature on my plan and I never have overages.

I've haven't heard anything good about Sprint in a LONG time. I had them years and years ago and they were okay, but recently all I hear is that their customer service is abominable.

[queenmargot.livejournal.com]

I have Sprint now, and overall I'm generally pleased with it. I go through patches where my service is spotty, but it tends to right itself after a week or two (maybe it's just tower maintenance). I like my plan because evening minutes start at 7:00 instead of 9:00, which helps when I want to call my parents. Before, I'd have to wait till 10 their time if I didn't want to use my minutes.

I pay ~$50/month for 450 anytime minutes/free nights and weekends/500 texts (but no picture texts). That's about the same I was paying for Verizon for the same plan, but the 7:00 nights thing is what sold me. I seem to remember as I was researching carriers that that was the cheapest plan I could find that didn't give you only 100-200 minutes a month.