Cell phone plan options?

[Diggin It]

If I may, I'd like to ask if anyone has experience with a US 'based' person needing cell in Canada. My daughter is going to start at Mt. Allison in New Brunswick in January. Don't know how often she'll call new friends she makes there versus calling home to Vermont. Our TracFones do not work in Canada.

Thanks

Wondered if maybe it was a border city where a phone could still hit a US tower. No chance. You'll need a provider in Canuckistan. Or a college in the US. We have those you know.

 

[Sigarms]

Thanks for all the replies. Given me much to think about.

I think there are better deals out there but I have stuck with Verizon for one reason only. It's the only provider that we can use in some rural areas we travel in to visit family. AT&T is not too far behind but there is a stretch of about 40 miles that AT&T has absolutely no service and Verizon is about 99% reliable.

This is why they will probably have the last shot of keeping my business. I've been with too many people in remote areas with different providers, and I can't really think of a time where someone else had reception and I didn't, yet there have been numerous times when people look at me and ask "you have reception here?".

Probably won't make any changes until after Christmas.

As for plans, I really do live off my phone for work. My cell phone is kind of like my office line. It's used a BUNCH.

 

[MossRoad]

....



This is why they will probably have the last shot of keeping my business. I've been with too many people in remote areas with different providers, and I can't really think of a time where someone else had reception and I didn't, yet there have been numerous times when people look at me and ask "you have reception here?".
.....

BINGO! You need your phone for your work. Best service is Verizon. I always laugh at the commercials that say "We are 99% as good as Verizon." Yeah, well, it's the 1% that gets the work done! :laughing:

Try finding the best pricing that they offer or negotiating a better deal with them if possible is about all you can do. I can afford Verizon, but I don't want to afford Verizon. T-Mobile has been "good enough" for us, but if I had to rely on it for my paying job, I'd have to ditch them and go with Verizon.

 

[bruceha2000]

Wondered if maybe it was a border city where a phone could still hit a US tower. No chance. You'll need a provider in Canuckistan. Or a college in the US. We have those you know.

It is against the terms of agreement to use a TracFone in Canada even if you could get signal. And even if it weren't, Sackville, NB is as far from the US border as you can get before you are in Nova Scotia

Yes we know there are colleges and universities in the states. I went to one, DW went to one, DD2 went to one. Actually everyone I am related to went to one at some point in the last 70+ years. But Mt. Allison has what DD1 wants and at USD $25K/year including room and board and medical it is a no brainer. Can buy a lot of cell service for the difference between that and in state at the University of Vermont (for example). Mine was substantially cheaper but then I graduated 40 years ago from a California State school.

And Mt. A. has been the highest ranked undergrad liberal arts school in Canada 20 out of 28 years. Presumably it and the other 3 "Maple League" schools are the Canadian equivalent of the US "Ivy League" schools.

 

[Atchuuu]

T-Mobile has EXCELLENT customer service. I mean really, really great customer service. I'm completely satisfied with their service. Their coverage outside of urban area sucks! :laughing: That's just the truth. In urban areas, I've never been disappointed. You see that cornfield coming and you better finish that text quick! :laughing:

:

If T- Mobile has excellent service now it will be well below average if they merge with Sprint. That is how bad Sprint Customer service is. Competitive rates, terrible customer service. I'm going back to Verizon even though it will cost me more. Some things are not worth the aggravation.

 

[MossRoad]

If T- Mobile has excellent service now it will be well below average if they merge with Sprint. That is how bad Sprint Customer service is. Competitive rates, terrible customer service. I'm going back to Verizon even though it will cost me more. Some things are not worth the aggravation.

Hopefully the T-Mobile culture for customer service will prevail.

 

[k0ua]

I think I mentioned we were down your way back at the end of September. Great service in Branson. And I was surprised that we had service in every little town between there and Bentonville, AR. etc.... but just a mile or two outside of every little town we'd lose service again until the next burg. Also, minimal service in many of the little river towns along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

I've looked at pricing, and I'd like to switch to Verizon, but it would cost me another $100 per month/$1200 per year. I haven't had $1200 worth of aggravation yet, so I'm sticking with T-Mobile for now. :laughing:

There is continuous service without drops all the way from Branson to Bentonville on Verizon. I made that run many many times in past years and usually had to talk on the phone most of the way.

 

[Bird]

If T- Mobile has excellent service now it will be well below average if they merge with Sprint. That is how bad Sprint Customer service is. Competitive rates, terrible customer service. I'm going back to Verizon even though it will cost me more. Some things are not worth the aggravation.

We are on our daughter's family plan and she insists that we just pay her $10 a month, claiming that's all it costs her. We were on T-Mobile for a few years, but then she switched to Sprint because she said they offered a better price. We've never had any reason to complain about either company. I've had some LS phones have to be replaced, but the service has been no problem

 

[Atchuuu]

We are on our daughter's family plan and she insists that we just pay her $10 a month, claiming that's all it costs her. We were on T-Mobile for a few years, but then she switched to Sprint because she said they offered a better price. We've never had any reason to complain about either company. I've had some LS phones have to be replaced, but the service has been no problem

Good to hear. Thankfully you have never had to call Sprint about a billing dispute or service issue. You will be on the phone no less than 45 minutes. One big run around. The only reason a company this large can be so incompetent is by design.

I don't believe that Sprint gives the CS reps the authority or information necessary to correct a problem. IMO they figure that most people will simply accept billing errors, insurance placed on phones that was denied, poor service, etc.

 

[Dftodd]

I use straight talk wireless from walmart. Net 10, and a few other carriers are similar. Unlimited talk text and data for $50 per month. And use either the AT&T or Verizon network.

You can unlock your current phone if your not in contract and use it

Wife and I just buy a used or remanned phone through eBay when we want an upgrade or need a new phone.

We had similar issues with Verizon and AT&T with bills over $200 per month with creative charges and such. Much easier to swallow with one flat fee per month and no hidden fees.