Cell Service

[jgp12000]

I have been with Verizon for years but now our 2 lines are $135/month.

Both phones are paid for & I am leaning towards straight talk which several of our friends have. Verizon owns them & they use the same towers.

Google tells me I need to request a transfer PIN before I begin the process myself. My mother did the switch at walmart with the Straight talk rep & it was
Fast. I prefer to do it at home.

[foakes]

We have been with Verizon for 28 years, 2 lines.

Ours also was about $135 a month, with limited data.

We went into the Verizon main company store in Fresno last year.

Said we were Seniors, and were looking to cut our monthly bill.

Said if they couldn't help us, we would shop around and probably go with ATT.

They put us on a special plan for long-time customers, it is about $85 a month with unlimited data.

Plus, they gave us both new iPhone 16e's, and a new extender for home, since our old one was outdated.  All at no charge.

They are not ever going to offer things like this —- one needs to ask, and then let them know that you are willing to move to another service.

But it was simple, quick, and seamless.  We were in and out in less than an hour.

Best, Fred

[Midway Tommy]

My wife had been with Verizon for over twenty years. She tried to negotiate lower prices, etc. with them and threatened to switch a year or two ago when she retired. They said nope, no deals or price reduction, go ahead, so she did and has absolutely no regrets. She now has unlimited data for about a third the price.

[MarkT]

I didn't get good service at/near my house with Verizon so switched to T-Mobile and got great coverage for less... $58/month. Last year I changed to Mint for $15/month. Mint uses T-Mobile towers so same coverage for less than 1/3 the cost.

[jgp12000]

Yesterday I obtained a port transfer PIN & had intentions on changing to Straight talk this a.m. So I chatted with Verizon for the heck of it & told them my intention to leave after 18+ years. I got a great agent & 90 minutes later my bill for 2 lines was lowered to $83/month plus 2 new free phones. It was an arduous task, but done in my PJs. I began on my tablet-between phone texts & the laptop it's done. My wife got an iPhone 17 & being an android guy I got the galaxy S25.

We need some bracelets made up "What would Fred do"

[Gfish]

I have Consumer Cellular(advertised to the older generation). 2 lines, $52/month, so far... It will gradually go up. Same with all these provider companies; TV, Wi-Fi, etc. That's the plan; make it a PITA to change and a gradual price increase. So maybe it's the change gradient that matters. Also, the $52 incudes an extra $5 cause I won't sign-up for automatic withdraws from my account.

[foakes]

There is very little ever given to any of us in life —- unless we ask for it.

Doesn't matter if it is a marriage, a car, a piece of chicken, or a biscuit.

The key for me is always to do my homework, and to be informed as well as have a plan B —- if the answer is, no...

Not a big deal, been told NO all of my life —- I just don't get impolite, take it personally, or become mad.

I just move on to plan B, sometimes C.

And try to put yourself in the other persons shoes —- they have a job to do, along with their company policies and marching orders.

In this case, it is much smarter keeping a loyal long-time customer —- instead of continuing to spend hundreds of millions on advertising and the latest alluring gimmicks to try and lure in a new customer who will likely leave for a competitor as soon as their contract is up, or before.  (They already have you as a customer, and the ball is in their court if they want to keep you, or not).  Good business decision on their part.

Best, Fred