Cell phone plan options?

[Sigarms]

Currently my wife and I have two smart phones, unlimited data, Verizon wireless.

I've been with Verizon and a cell phone since 1999.

For both our phones, was running about $200 a month for everything. Since I've had a cell phone, generally my work place covers at least $150 for work (I can really live off it for work).

Went to add ONE flip phone for the boys, and my initial bill was $296 which made me hit the roof (I was informed it the phone would be $5 a month because I opted not to pay it off in one shot, with $20 an additional line which by my math didn't come up to $296). Needless to say, wasn't expecting $296. I was informed it was a bunch of "one time stuff" with taxes. Yeah, ok.

My wife has mentioned she now thinks we're paying too much, and I'm tending to believe her (we are thinking about two phones instead of one since we have two teenage boys, and with school functions and after school activities, a phone is really becoming a must IMO).

So, I call Verizon, tell them I've been with them since 1999, have always paid my bill in a timely manner and I ask them what's the best rate I can get for 4 phones (2 being flip). I was informed "about" $280 month. I told them I thought that was two high, and they said that was the best they could do. I told them I liked their service, but if I come back to them two months from now because I can find something cheaper, I do not want them asking me what they have to do. The girl then says "well, what's the number we have to beat?". I'm like "I don't know, that's why I'm calling".

Yes, I get it businesses just don't lower pricing because a customer asks, but I figure they should have a good idea of what the market is like out there.

Should mention that I ended up just paying for the phone outright and just took it off my plan because I wasn't expecting to be around $245 a month for just 3 lines.

So, if I may ask

1 - Who is your cell phone provider?
2 - Do you have good coverage? (for making calls)
3 - What kind of data/cell plan?
4 - How many phones and what type?
5 - What does you average bill run you?

Just trying to determine if Verizon has been treating me fairly over the years and if they really are competitive.

 

[mrmikey]

I'm in Canada so take that into account. I.E., take normal and double it.

1 - Who is your cell phone provider?

Virgin Mobile (Canada)

2 - Do you have good coverage? (for making calls)

Don't travel far from home, never had or heard of a problem, they use Bell/Aliant towers

3 - What kind of data/cell plan?

200 minutes, 1GB data

4 - How many phones and what type?

one, Smart, Acer owned outright

5 - What does you average bill run you?

$49.00 month, taxes, 911 fee included, never gone over..........Mike

 

[Jchonline]

Currently my wife and I have two smart phones, unlimited data, Verizon wireless.

I've been with Verizon and a cell phone since 1999.

For both our phones, was running about $200 a month for everything. Since I've had a cell phone, generally my work place covers at least $150 for work (I can really live off it for work).

Went to add ONE flip phone for the boys, and my initial bill was $296 which made me hit the roof (I was informed it the phone would be $5 a month because I opted not to pay it off in one shot, with $20 an additional line which by my math didn't come up to $296). Needless to say, wasn't expecting $296. I was informed it was a bunch of "one time stuff" with taxes. Yeah, ok.

My wife has mentioned she now thinks we're paying too much, and I'm tending to believe her (we are thinking about two phones instead of one since we have two teenage boys, and with school functions and after school activities, a phone is really becoming a must IMO).

So, I call Verizon, tell them I've been with them since 1999, have always paid my bill in a timely manner and I ask them what's the best rate I can get for 4 phones (2 being flip). I was informed "about" $280 month. I told them I thought that was two high, and they said that was the best they could do. I told them I liked their service, but if I come back to them two months from now because I can find something cheaper, I do not want them asking me what they have to do. The girl then says "well, what's the number we have to beat?". I'm like "I don't know, that's why I'm calling".

Yes, I get it businesses just don't lower pricing because a customer asks, but I figure they should have a good idea of what the market is like out there.

Should mention that I ended up just paying for the phone outright and just took it off my plan because I wasn't expecting to be around $245 a month for just 3 lines.

So, if I may ask

1 - Who is your cell phone provider?
2 - Do you have good coverage? (for making calls)
3 - What kind of data/cell plan?
4 - How many phones and what type?
5 - What does you average bill run you?

Just trying to determine if Verizon has been treating me fairly over the years and if they really are competitive.

Get quotes from area competitors with decent coverage in your area. Verizon knows who is truly a competitor. Make them match that.

I use T-Mobile. 4 smartphones, unlimited data, $167 after fees and taxes. Coverage in my area is as good as Verizon. Also on T-Mobile you can use phone data and talk at same time. You can稚 do that on Verizon.

So far I am a happy customer after 4 years. I have used all major carriers in the past.

 

[Rock knocker]

I would think you'd be at less than $120 with consumer cellular. Maybe even less if the flip phones weren't used for data

 

[Diggin It]

I use TracFone. Costs me about $10/month or so for more minutes, data and messages than I can ever use. It all rolls over too if unused, which mine does every month. I don't stream anything though or game and my web use is very limited. It also uses Wireless LAN (WiFi) when I'm at home or someplace that offers it free like many stores do.

I get 4G/LTE speeds nearly always. It uses an AT&T SIM card I think.

Basic Flip phones on their system can run under $10/mo using auto-reload.

 

[Rock knocker]

The one issue I have heard about TracFone (and maybe it wasn't them but a similar company) was issues with the portability of the number. Federal law requires that your phone number remain portable and you can take it with you if you change carriers. It was a full battle to change my GF's phone from Trac to another carrier. Not that they prevented it, just that they were incompetent or so slow it almost didn't happen. I switched carriers recently with AT&T, and it was effortless.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I use Tracfone Wireless. Bought an I-Phone 6 off my brother when he upgraded to the 10, and I pay $20 a month for 300 minutes, 1,000 texts and 1 GB data. I don't talk on the phone much, so I have thousands of minutes now. I text, but not 1,000 a month, and I do have to watch my data, and use wireless instead of cellular whenever possible. If I need more text and data, I can buy them separately, but rarely have to do that. Its not for everyone, but my wife and I get all the talk, text and data we need at $20 a month each. We also ported out numbers from AT&T with one phone call to Tracfone.

 

[Diggin It]

The one issue I have heard about TracFone (and maybe it wasn't them but a similar company) was issues with the portability of the number. Federal law requires that your phone number remain portable and you can take it with you if you change carriers. It was a full battle to change my GF's phone from Trac to another carrier. Not that they prevented it, just that they were incompetent or so slow it almost didn't happen.

I've never considered moving to another carrier (so far), but I've moved my number from phone to phone a few times with no problem. Took a day or two once, but worked out fine.

 

[TheMan419]

You need to know who has good service at home and where you frequent.

Then find a VMNO who used that service. For example Cricket uses the att towers. My wifes Bill is $35/mo all in w taxes. I think 5 gb data. Do you really need unlimited data?

Verizon will have a vmno and they will have cheaper rates than Verizon will.

 

[TnAndy]

Wife and I each bought a Tracphone, smart phone type, from Home Shopping Network...phone and 1500min talk, 1500 texts, and 1.5GB data for a year (which does us easy) for $88. Funny thing is another 1500/1500/1.5/year card from Tracphone is $125......you're better off tossing the phone at the end of the year and getting a new one if they still have the deal (which they have for a couple years).

Uses Verizon network.