Cell Phone Plans

[Quantum673]

Want to share some info that may save some guys some money. I have been in the cell phone industry for the last 25+ years. I am not an expert in all things cell phone but I think I can save some guys some money.

If you are a veteran let your carrier know. Most give a great discount to veterans.

For those that are not eligible for special discounts. Look at the carriers prepaid service. It is usually almost half the price of the post paid brands.

Verizon - Visible and Total are their prepaid brands.

ATT - Cricket

T-mobile - Metro

All of these use the same network as their big brother but charge half the price. There are some very subtle differences usually data speeds. Hypothetical example: Big Brand has speeds of 30gb per second. Little brother has 10gb per second. Unless you are a power user the difference is negligible. Everyone’s situation is different. Lots of savings to be had if you look around.

 

[Smawgunner2]

Just the information I’m looking for. If I switch from Verizon to visible and later down the road, I need a new phone. How does that happen since they don’t have a brick and mortar store?

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I use Puretalk which runs off of At&t and am very happy with it. Half the price of at&t services.

 

[5Cent]

Thoughts on Mint? I'd love to cut our Verizon phone bill in half, and I feel Ryan Reynolds is a smart business man and wouldn't associate if not a stand up company/service.

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

I tried Mint even after I had puretalk. Mint didn't have the coverage as claimed, so I reverted back to PT.

 

[jagermeister]

I’m sure a lot has changed over the years… But 8-10 years ago I tried the whole “same towers and service as Verizon” company switch and it really bit me in the ass. Service was absolute trash and then, worst of all, I couldn’t get my number back when I went back to Verizon. Had to start all over with my contacts.

 

[Quantum673]

To answer a few questions I saw.

How to upgrade is going to depend on the company. The ones that do not have brick and mortar stores usually are carried in some big box stores where you can buy a phone off the shelf. Others use online only for upgrades. Metro, Cricket, and Total have physical stores.

There is a difference between a lot of the smaller brands. They usually have agreements with one of the big 3 to use their network. This usually only includes their specific network and does not include any roaming agreements. So if you have Consumer Cellular on Verizon it is only going to work on Verizon’s network. An actual Verizon customer not only uses Verizon network but also uses any roaming agreements that Verizon has in areas they do not have coverage. The consumer cellular plan will not use those roaming partners. Mint mobile falls into this category as well. That is one of the advantages with using the Prepaid brands that are owned by the big 3 like Metro, Total, Visible, or Cricket.

If you do a substantial amount of international traveling I also recommend staying with Verizon, ATT, or T-mobile. Most prepaid carriers do not offer international traveling. Not as big a deal now a days since you can still use WiFi to call or text when traveling.

 

[Quantum673]

I’m sure a lot has changed over the years… But 8-10 years ago I tried the whole “same towers and service as Verizon” company switch and it really bit me in the ass. Service was absolute trash and then, worst of all, I couldn’t get my number back when I went back to Verizon. Had to start all over with my contacts.

You should be able to take your number back and forth as many times as you want. Back 8-10 years ago I do not remember if there were any limitations. Certainly could have been. Now though you can go back and forth.

Yes how others use the network has changed a lot over the last 10 years. The big 3 used to really limit others that used their network. They still do today for the prepaid brands that they do not own. But not as much as they used to. Just enough to keep a competitive advantage.

 

[Floki]

Was with Verizon since they were Alltell Serice kept getting worse where I lived. Trying to keep this short same place could never talk on phone inside house.

Switched to T-Mobile. Got magenta max plan plan basically unlimited everything . Etc 3 phones. And There internet service . Cost me 50 buck less or so than my Verizon bill.

They do not throttle home internet nor phone can talk in house on phone .
Internet is an amazing was getting like 8-12 mb per second with Verizon and paying for vista home internet 200 something a month. For 8 to 12 mbs .

walked in house was getting over 85 to 100 mbs instantly. T-Mobile may not work for everyone but you can get heck of deals .

public service worker military I think 10 percent offf . 5 bucks or 10 knowocked off a month for automatic payments.

Then use a Mangers deal or some shit like that knocks off 10 percent a month and locks in price.

over 55 knocks off price. Having magenta max you get home internet for 30 a month.
Each additional line added kncks off money.

You wanna get the best deal with T-Mobile go to Reddit and read up. people there show their plans some people have like 12 lines paying 45-50 bucks because every once in a while they offer a free line .

Short and skinny for me cutting Verizon. Getting T-Mobile home internet. And adding an extra line so 3 phones plus home internet -T-Mobile Cost me 50 bucks less than Verizon where I only had 2 phones . Couple that with what we were paying for home internet saved me like 3k or more a year.

Reddit has the T-Mobile hustle on there tho. Also having a 5g phone makes a difference.

The day I left Verizon forever was lovely. I’ve gotten a few people to change down here and they could not be happier .

I can’t Remember what it’s called manger special or some shit every once in a while they give out codes on Reddit. That knocks off 10 -20 percent of phone plan deals.

Like I said got to Reddit. They let me use that code and coupled that with public service percentage off. Etc etc. You can make hell of deals with them.
Reddit gave the win .

 

[Floki]

Was with Verizon since they were Alltell Serice kept getting worse where I lived. Trying to keep this short same place could never talk on phone inside house.

Switched to T-Mobile. Got magenta max plan plan basically unlimited everything . Etc 3 phones. And There internet service . Cost me 50 buck less or so than my Verizon bill.

They do not throttle home internet nor phone can talk in house on phone .
Internet is an amazing was getting like 8-12 mb per second with Verizon and paying for vista home internet 200 something a month. For 8 to 12 mbs .

walked in house was getting over 85 to 100 mbs instantly. T-Mobile may not work for everyone but you can get heck of deals .

public service worker military I think 10 percent offf . 5 bucks or 10 knowocked off a month for automatic payments.

Then use a Mangers deal or some shit like that knocks off 10 percent a month and locks in price.

over 55 knocks off price. Having magenta max you get home internet for 30 a month.
Each additional line added kncks off money.

You wanna get the best deal with T-Mobile go to Reddit and read up. people there show their plans some people have like 12 lines paying 45-50 bucks because every once in a while they offer a free line .

Short and skinny for me cutting Verizon. Getting T-Mobile home internet. And adding an extra line so 3 phones plus home internet -T-Mobile Cost me 50 bucks less than Verizon where I only had 2 phones . Couple that with what we were paying for home internet saved me like 3k or more a year.

Reddit has the T-Mobile hustle on there tho. Also having a 5g phone makes a difference.

The day I left Verizon forever was lovely. I’ve gotten a few people to change down here and they could not be happier .

I can’t Remember what it’s called manger special or some shit every once in a while they give out codes on Reddit. That knocks off 10 -20 percent of phone plan deals.

Like I said got to Reddit. They let me use that code and coupled that with public service percentage off. Etc etc. You can make hell of deals with them.
Reddit gave the win .

Guess I said the same thing a couple times but sometimes people need to hear it a few times . anyhow carry on.