Anyone have experience with renewing cellphone contracts?

[MaDHaVoK]

Ok... I have Verizon and I guess my 1 year contract is expiring soon.... This lady calls me up saying that I should renew mu contract.... I told her I wanted to shop around and to hold off because I don't have any experience with this....

3 questions....

Do I need a contract to keep using my phone? I have DSL when my contract expired that just meant I wasn't obligated to them but I keep my DSL anymore, but I didn't need a new contract to stay with them...

Is there anyway to negotiate a better price for my plan?

If thats not possible what about getting a better plan for the same amount of money?

Finally Not that I have any problems with my phone (LG VX10)... but what if I wanted a new phone sometime soon.. (Not likely though)

 

[Nocturnal]

Nope, you do not need a contract to use your phone. Once your contract is done you're on a month to month basis meaning you can cancel at anytime.

 

[MaDHaVoK]

Oh yeah I appreciate the help too!

 

[Spoooon]

When I was with sprint, I negotiated a new plan for more minutes and a lower price.

I just told them I was considering a switch and the guy asked me if there was anything they could do to keep me as a customer.

 

[psydancerqt]

what plan do you have now? i think you get major discount if you get a new phone with your plan as opposed to waiting till later.

 

[MaDHaVoK]

300 anytime minutes plus unlimited nights and weekends... plus a second phone to share the minutes... So its the $35 + 20 for the extra phone... Comes to like 72 bucks after all my taxes for whatever reason..

 

[Thegonagle]

Do not renew unless there is a compelling reason to. Compelling reasons are usually awesome promotional plans, or getting a new phone for a the subsidized price.

Never renew a contract to switch to a different number of anytime minutes within the same plan family (for example, America's Choice, or Local), and never renew if there's nothing in it for you.

All cell phone companies are anxious to lock people in who're currently month-to-month because they don't have any idea what will happen on November 24, 2003, the date that you will be allowed by law (in the 100 largest metro markets in the US) to "port" your existing wireless number to a new service provider.

 

[Jombo]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
When I was with sprint, I negotiated a new plan for more minutes and a lower price. I just told them I was considering a switch and the guy asked me if there was anything they could do to keep me as a customer.

after 2 years of being w/ sprint, when i called w/ a billing issue and asked if they'd try to resolve the issue or lose me as a customer, the supervisor of the call center told me that they would rather lose me. needless to say, i'm never gonna be a sprint customer.

anyway, you can use your phone w/out a problem w/out a contract, unless you need to change your plan. you might have to sign up to qualify for the deal.. but that may vary by the company/ rep..

 

[sillymofo]

I wouldn't advise renewing phone contracts. It's always better to get a new contract since most/all phone companies treat their new customers better, and give them better deals. If you have to go with the same company, get some one else you trust to sign up with a new contract for you. Shop around for a phone that you like and the best coverage in your area (assuming you're talking about Cell phone). If it's a land line phone, I don't think you have to sign up for any specific length, and most phone companies now offer month to month contracts.

 

[MaDHaVoK]

So there is no way i can get the to knock a few bucks off my bill if I sign another contract?

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: MaDHaVoK
So there is no way i can get the to knock a few bucks off my bill if I sign another contract?

No but you might be able to if you tell them that your contract is up and you're considering changing providers. Either a few bucks off, but more likely they'll offer some extras at the same rate you're paying now, like an extra 100 minutes a month or free night/weekend minutes or something.

 

[royaldank]

Wait a month. Everyone (if you are in a top 100 market) will be having deals to get you as a customer. You should be able to find a really good deal then.

 

[alkemyst]

I renew as I go whenever a better minute deal pops up. I was paying for 400 mins at one point but had 900 anytime I could use.

This month I called and complained about my minutes used ($291 bill ) and the offered to just give me a $50 credit on my next bill.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: MaDHaVoK
So there is no way i can get the to knock a few bucks off my bill if I sign another contract?

Not with Verizon. They generally don't make special deals. Just go month to month. If they call you again, tell them you're not interested.

BTW, you can get $100 off the 2 year price of a new phone if you haven't upgraded for 22 months, by signing a new 2 year contract at that time. If your phone will last another year, that's a good reason not to upgrade your handset.

If you already have the unlimited N+W minutes, a number of "bonus" anytime minutes, and 1000 M2M minutes, then AFAIK, they have nothing else to offer you at this time.

 

[Zombie]

VERIZON will never ever negotiate on individual plans. You might get lucky if you own a IBM size company and negotiate a business plan.

The best you might get from them might be 30-40 bucks towards a new phone and tht's it.

Don't sign a 2 year contract for a new phone. Don't be cheap if you need a new phone pay for it and get it. Two years is too long to be stuck with absolete phones verizon offers.

 

[KokomoGST]

Verizon does give credit to you (account credit) based on a particular formula... but that requires talking to VZW customer service directly but it generally doesn't amount to a whole lot.

Other than that, all VZW dealers (RS included) can upgrade your phone... shop around the different VZW dealers for phone prices.

Thegonagle is right... never renew your contract without at least getting something.

 

[dquan97]

In negotiating for a new 1yr contract with Cingular, I was able to win a $20 discount for each of the two phones for 1yr. 600mins, unlimited offpeak/LD. 300 free messages/month. $40/month total

 

[Theslowone]

I would check into other contracts offered by verizon wireless, but if you are happy with what you have i wouldn't be worried about signing into a 1 year agreement. I live in SC and have 500 anytime minutes with unlimited nights and weekends and another phone on my plan and i pay about the same amount per month that you do. I know taxes and plans vary from state to state but i would at least try for a cheaper plan.

And I have unlimited calling between the two phones on my plan.

 

[Theslowone]

sorry double post

 

[iotone]

if you're gonna do a month to month thing, and you wanna get a different plan without going on another contract, make sure you state that you "want to change your price plan"... make sure you don't say that you want to renew, cuz they can record those calls sometimes and call you on renewing a contract...