Why do cell phone companies constantly lie?

[WelshBloke]

Why do they lie?

Because they're bastards... complete and utter ones.

 

[blinblue]

Can you give me an example of a prepaid plan where you get a good phone, data plan, great reception, etc.? I'm genuinely curious.

FYI, was on Sprint and now on Verizon. Night and day difference in reception quality (at least in my area). Basically VZW seems to be pretty much perfect here.

Yeah, that is the main downside to Virgin Mobile. Sprint's Network is OK for many areas, but it does pale in comparison to Verizon. Thankfully for me Virgin Mobile's coverage is fine for my area. Virgin Mobile only allows their own phones, but they have recently been releasing some pretty decent phones. The LG Optimus V is quiet decent. I bought it for $50 this black friday (and has recently been at $65 at best buy). It is no iPhone 4, but it does everything I want.

Now to answer your question, Page Plus is (to my knowledge) the best MVNO on Verizon's network. Sadly they don't offer any really high data plans, the best they have is a $30/month plan that includes 100MB of data (as well as 3000 texts and 1200 minutes). They also charge $0.10 per MB over the 100MB

I'm not very familiar with Verizon's postpaid plans, so I might be missing some deals or discounts. But going through their site, 900 minutes, 1000 texts and 4GB of data will run me $99/month add on taxes and fees for another +$5 (+$10? I really don't know).


So the question is, how much is the data worth to you? At 10 cents a MB overage on Page Plus, you could get an additional 750MB of data before hitting the same costs as the Verizon plan (and note that Page Plus offers more minutes and messages). Page plus lets you use any verizon phone (except the iPhone 4), so the phone selection is almost identical to what Verizon itself offers.


Personally I'm willing to sacrifice some coverage for unlimited data on Virgin Mobile (though honestly most months I probably don't use much more than a few hundred MB anyway, sadly Virgin Mobile doesn't show you how much you've used. I do like having unlimited data around at times though).

Tmobile also offers a well priced "unlimited' data plan ($30/month) that you can use 4G phones with. So if Tmobile's coverage is good for you then that's another great plan.

Straight Talk also offers an "unlimited" data, but I believe it is under Sprint's coverage there, so the same boat as Virgin Mobile.


Anyway, I guess my point is, while some really nice high data plan from Verizon is nicer than prepaid plans, if you are willing to sacrifice somewhat in one area or another (coverage or data amount) you can save a LOT of cash. But if it is all a necessity, then you are probably stuck for the time being.

Keep an eye on Page Plus though, they keep making their plans better (while either keeping prices the same or even lowering then. Feels good man). I wouldn't be surprised if they start offering higher data plans


edit: Oh, and in regards to the OP's question. I'm sure all these prepaid providers aren't much better at customer service, but at least you aren't bending over on the price 🙂

 

[paperfist]

hmm this site says Straight Talk is on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks:

'TracFone Wireless is the largest MVNO in the United States and sells both GSM and CDMA phones that utilize three major networks: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. Through the Straight Talk service plan, TracFone sells phones that work on one of the three mentioned networks"

http://techtips.salon.com/cell-phone-providers-use-verizons-network-20505.html

I guess the shitty thing with ST is your limited to their phones.

 

[shortylickens]

And why does tmobile allow this? Because they used to suck so bad they don't have a choice. Hell, I ported all lines my job had off tmobile as their customer service department is now a joke.

I've had the same problem with Verizon POTS service. Ended up cancelling it after 6 months as they promised and promised to fix the billing but never did. I and the accounting department had to spend so much time on the phone with them after receiving each bill in order to get the credit for being charged double what the sales person told us the rate would be, that we told them to hit the road.

I think the basic business model for telco's is

1. "New" company that provides great service for latest tech at premium pricing.
2. Industry shifts and caught with pants down, profits start to shrink.
3. Cut back on staff and infrastructure and provide worse service to save money.
4. Lie to customers once profits starts falling to make more money.
5. Start offering cheapest rates to keep from bleeding more customers.
6. Get bought by whatever group of failed telcos is now AT&T.
7. Rinse and repeat.

Umm, actually every company has a month to month and its not for the reason you think.
Its because illegals dont have social security numbers.

 

[SilthDraeth]

I buy contract, because, Sprint offers the best coverage here. And, I have gotten the credits applied to my account. Running two Android phones with high data usage, only Sprint, and Virgin Mobile still offer unlimited data.

I also do not feel like trying to hack my phones isdn to make it work on Virgin Mobile.

And getting the Samsung Nexus s, for $$80, and a $50 rebate, when I know I am keeping that phone for two years anyways, makes more sense than trying to buy the top of the line Android phone that Virgin offers. And even if I payed the $250 ETF the phone was cheaper than buying the phone with no contract.

Anyways, /rant is over. Thanks for all the replies. 🙂

 

[Gibson486]

That is what you get when you have people working off commission. They lie just to get the money. And yeah, cell phone are the worst because lots of times they misrepresent rebates on purpose to sell you what they need to sell you. There was this Tmobile store is Boston years ago. They guy told us that he could get use a rebate on the phone. Turns out, the rebate could not be used on the phone and he knew it because when we went back he said, "well, you should have read the fine print". Lesson learned. A few months later, the place closed down. No surprise there.

 

[Macamus Prime]

Next thing you know, these companies will start making up how 'taxing' data tranfer is on their network. And how you should pay more for it.

 

[Gibson486]

And why does tmobile allow this? Because they used to suck so bad they don't have a choice. Hell, I ported all lines my job had off tmobile as their customer service department is now a joke.

I've had the same problem with Verizon POTS service. Ended up cancelling it after 6 months as they promised and promised to fix the billing but never did. I and the accounting department had to spend so much time on the phone with them after receiving each bill in order to get the credit for being charged double what the sales person told us the rate would be, that we told them to hit the road.

I think the basic business model for telco's is

1. "New" company that provides great service for latest tech at premium pricing.
2. Industry shifts and caught with pants down, profits start to shrink.
3. Cut back on staff and infrastructure and provide worse service to save money.
4. Lie to customers once profits starts falling to make more money.
5. Start offering cheapest rates to keep from bleeding more customers.
6. Get bought by whatever group of failed telcos is now AT&T.
7. Rinse and repeat.

hey, I like Tmobile. In fact, a few years ago, they gave me free round trip airline tickets on Jet Blue because my family has been customers since they were Voicestream. I have never had a single issue aside from the one time we went to a store and some guy lied to us about a rebate.

 

[Vic Vega]

Can you give me an example of a prepaid plan where you get a good phone, data plan, great reception, etc.? I'm genuinely curious.

FYI, was on Sprint and now on Verizon. Night and day difference in reception quality (at least in my area). Basically VZW seems to be pretty much perfect here.

Is this a serious question? It's not 2001 anymore. Google pre-paid or flat rate cell phone.

There are tons of good phones. I've used two flat rate carriers, one used ATT network, the other uses Sprint. They work great.

Who the hell complains about reception anyway? It's 2011. I haven't had a phone reception issue in 5 years at least.

 

[Vic Vega]

Umm, actually every company has a month to month and its not for the reason you think.
Its because illegals dont have social security numbers.

All phone service is month to month, if you have a contract or not. The difference is, do you want to pay a flat rate for the service at the start of the month or a variable rate at the end of the month? You always know what the flat rate will be and it will be the same every month and there is no room for creative billing (ie - fucking you) by the service provider. Variable rate service, usually contracted, is wide open for mega fucking of the customer and it happens all the time. Most people have a different phone bill every month!

 

[drebo]

My wife has a MetroPCS phone. We recently got her an Android phone. Phone was $79 and the service is $50/mo unlimited talk, text, and web. She couldn't be happier.