SAer's latest opinions of local cell phone providers (Spring: transfer, buying)

[42JetSet]

I've been very pleased with AT&T thus far... more than anything, reception is great and data transmission quick (with 3G). We had Sprint for a number of years as we got a corporate discount and it was rather miserable. When we had to decide on a new carrier this summer, AT&T won.

[ashbeeigh]

I've had AT&T in San Antonio & in Dallas and have been satisfied. My only gripe is them taking my sim card when I switched from a Dallas number to a San Antonio number. That was probably my fault for not realizing it happened though.

I have the insurance like catriona has and haven't had to use it (although I contemplate it every few weeks because I have an ancient phone). I never have any dropped calls and have rarely had to use customer service. I do remember one time trying to make payment arrangements in between switching jobs an that took about thirty minutes to do, but they were very nice after I got one the line with them. They have always removed unwanted charges when I bring them up as well (some random ring tone a day charge and roadside assistance the salesperson tacked on when I activated).

[dmmjsm]

We have 4 phones with ATT and have been very happy with them and their service. Teens text all the time, send pics, call, and have basically dropped kicked the phones and they keep working!

[svg210]

Originally Posted by rd2007

I'm counting down the days until my sprint contract is over. I've had them since the PCS (CDMA) phone was invented and they have slowly become one of my most hated companies in the world. I'm hoping they go out of business before my contract is up and I can see how they're losing so many customers Sprint still losing customers but at a slower rate: CommsUpdate : TeleGeography Research. only reason it isn't still a million per month is they're running out of customers to leave them

Agreed, RD I havent paid for my Srpint service for the past 4 months! I keep getting free months service because I call to cancel every three weeks. I seriously dont want to have them anymore, but who could refuse free service?

[hadleyzoo]

If Sprint were the last cell provider on earth, I would live without a cell phone. I won't go with Sprint ever for the simple fact I was a victim of identity theft, crook opened up a Sprint account in my name, when I discovered it Sprint was a bunch of jerks about it and was going to put me on the line for the bill (nearly $1000 for a 2-month old cell phone). Then I told them about lawyers and we are military and their lack of assistance wasn't going to look good when I took the story to the media. And to top it off they refused to give me copies of the cell phone bills citing "privacy act laws"--but if I paid the bill I could get all the copies I wanted. Bunch of carp! And what about my privacy too?

We've been Verizon customers and have been satisfied with the service...except the insurance is a joke as with all the others from what I hear. I have had 1 phone replaced 4 times this year due to the crappy refurbished ones they keep sending me.

[hoddys2]

I've heard good things about Virgin Mobile, plus their prepaid plans are cheap.

[SAFD_Wife]

We have been Sprint customers since 2001, and we have hated it since about, oh 2001 The reason we have continued to stay is because of their horrible cell phones. Sounds weird right? Their phones are horrible so we stay? Well, the problem is that every time we got new cell phones, they broke before the two year agreement. I was not going to pay for a new phone when one stopped working for no apparent reason. We all know that when they company helps you get a new phone you have to extend the service, so we would just do it to get through that time. Anyhow, we would probably stay with Sprint if it weren't for their horrid customer service. I could tell you story, after story, after story of my experiences with the customer service. All of their calls our outsourced and it drives me crazy!!

The person sometime before me that mentioned threatening to cancel your service was right on! It works for me every single time! I have gotten free phones, credits, upgrades, etc. The sad thing is that all of that doesn't make-up for their customer service. Beware when they give you the free stuff that they will tell you if they give it to you then you have to extend your contract. Tell them never mind, I just wanted to cancel then, and they will eventually agree. I am telling you, I have gotten so much just for being adamant that I want to cancel. Tell the first person you talk to you want to cancel, they will transfer you so you tell the next person the same thing. They might even transfer you again, but just be adamant. In December I got a Palm Centro for $99 and my husband got any non-PDA phone he wanted for free, and without extending our contract!!! Thankfully it is up in November, and we are switching to ATT.

[sapphire]

Pocket is abysmal. I would not recommend them even if they were paying me.

For a cheap, local calling plan, I would recommend Cricket. I'm still kicking myself for dropping them and going to Pocket. I did it because Cricket was trying to charge me $10 a line to change something, and I thought that was pretty bogus, but if I could allow myself to grovel and go crawling back to them, I would. I never had a problem one with them, and it was a $35 unlimited everything plan. Granted, I couldn't travel out of TX with it for that rate, but I'm pretty much not on the road anymore anyway.

Did I tell you Pocket was abysmal? Dropped calls, no signal, terrible customer service. I'm miserable.

[Blue Dog]

I have AT&T for a while, good service. No complaints,except I wish they had a better phone selection.
I think it is very limited. Always looking at Verizon and Sprint phones. I'm staying with AT&T though,

[wCat]

OMG.....I am in shock. 1/2 of my day has been spent on the dang phone trying to get this problem resolved. I cannot believe what has been said to me today.

I didn't want to reveal the name of my carrier because I wanted unbiased comments. I appreciate all the feed back and most everyone with the exception of two seem to be unhappy with SPRINT! UGH! Add me to the LONG GROWING LIST! I ran through the gamut of Sprints finest.

Here's what I learned. Before any conversation starts, get the name of the employee and their employee ID#. Supposedly the calls are recorded, but from the level some of the employees digressed today, I seriously doubt that....or no one gives a darn to even listen to them. Calls get dropped or they send you to their supervisor only to get a voice mail where they will call you back (and never do)...this has happened three times this week.

After finally getting an employee to wave the "one time" discount offer on a replacement phone and telling me she would override the limitation, we got disconnected. I made copious notes, got her name (unfortunately not her ID before we were cut off.) Later another employee told me that conversation NEVER happened and there was NO SUCH DEPARTMENT??? I asked him how I could have gotten all the information, phone numbers, pricing and details and he very smugly accused me of getting it off the internet! I asked him if he was accusing me of lying and he said "I'm just saying all that information is accessible on the internet." I was furious. I asked him how he was helping me find a solution and he said he would wave the "termination" fee. I didn't have a clue to what that meant so I said "would you explain that in English"? GET THIS....he implied I making derogatory remarks about his "accent". OMG....first I'm a liar, then a racist. I told him I was wanting it explained in "laymen's terms"...not cellphone SPEAK! Holy moly.....I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. I asked for his ID# (and they have to give it to you) and the guy gave me a fake number. I know this because the ID number starts with the first letter of their first name and this number didn't match. It doesn't matter ....he's on record.....and you will bet that Sprint is losing our business. I won't be able to pay my bill without getting sick at my stomach.

The last employee managed to make a full circle to where we started four days ago. They suggested we take his phone back for a replacement (already told them they didn't have any and he does not want a defective product.)...or PAY $50 to have it refurbished since he is PAYING $7.50 in insurance. The stupid phone only cost him $50 after the rebate! Figure that out!

Here's a bit of info......we all know that stocks are hurting....but At&t and Verizon closed today at $25 and $27 per share.......Sprint closed at $3.33. What does that tell you?

Sprint is on it's last leg.