First off, I've been a Verizon customer for just over 20 years and have remained so only because my wife trusts them to have service when she travels.

I actually had Verizon back in the 90s, too, but switched to someone, can't recall who, until they were absorbed by Verizon.

My account consisted of 2 iPhones, 2 iPads, 3 smart watches and has been running about $160 per month including a $35 discount for being a veteran (or so they claim).

Today, I got a text that my bill will be $60 higher this month because I got my wife a new smart watch (4 of them on my account now) and there is a connection fee of about $60. Next month it will be $174 per month.

Finally, my wife agrees we can change providers and I am thinking of doing just that.

Now all or almost all their stores are "authorized retailers" rather than being operated by Verizon and I don't like that, either. Had a bad experience with one of the contract stores that isn't relevant to this post. Just another reason not to like Verizon.

But I don't want to change just because I despise Verizon if the change will result in lesser service or only a small decrease in my bill.

For cell service, my experience with Verizon leads me to believe they are great.

So, in my area, is there a cell provider you like and, if so, why? T-Mobile and Consumer Cellular were the ones I was considering. Did not price them, yet.

Or, should I just eat the cost and keep them?

I'm not in your area but I recently switched to Cricket after getting a similar rate increase from AT&T.

Cricket actually uses the exact same AT&T system so my service is exactly the same as before except it's unlimited everything, data, texts, voice (not a big issue for me).

The customer service, website for payments, etc. is much better. They throw in HBO Max with the deal and it's a little less than 2/'s of what I was paying before.

No contract either. You can bring your old phone as long as it's paid for and unlocked.
If AT&T has decent service where you are, I'd give it a try.

They also have a referral plan so you get a $25 discount signing up if you use a code and you can do the same for others and get a $25 credit for each one.
If it works for you, send me your number or email and I can text it to you (my email in member info so it's not out here for spammers).

Don't know about Fla, but I have found Ting to be a less expensive, but adequate MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator). Ting runs on T-Mobile which seems to be about as well-provisioned as anybody.

Like 220-9er i am not in your area but i also switched to Cricket from Verizon Better Service and cut my bill from $115 to $ 80 for 2 phones unlimited everything

I'm not advocating staying or switching as I have no idea what cell service is like on the West Coast of Florida. However, what I've found with cell service is that it is like many things in life. If you are unable or unwilling to pay more to get more, you pay less to get less.

Regardless of what you do, I would call Verizon and see if they will waive the $60 fee. That is an insane amount of money to add a line.

Also, I have read about a "loop hole" where you can get a $10/mo. credit on your bill by making Verizon think you are getting ready to port out. Here is an article that explains it.

Verizon Users Dsicover Loophole to Get $10/month Discount on Their Plan

I would recommend calling to try to get the $60 removed first and then try the hack.

You may luck you and get your bill close to back to $160 with the extra watch line.

We’re about 75 miles south of you in SW FL. After several of the hurricanes we had in recent years, T-Mobile service was working, with a strong signal. Our carrier’s service was down for a week. We switched over to T-Mobile a few months ago and the service has been excellent. A much stronger phone signal.

We left Verizon years ago. I hated dealing with them.

If T-mobile is available in your area, I highly recommend them. Rates are "All fees" included. If your plan is $50, that's the price. Lots of plans, so you can choose what you want/need. Dedicated support, USA based, ours is in Oklahoma City.

I dumped AT&T after over 20 years to go with T-mobile and won't look back. I started with T-mobile Home Internet at $50, and then with cellular service, which dropped my internet to $30.

Home Internet is so much more reliable than my previous cable internet with NO caps on data or speed. Only 1 outage in 6 months, called (US based tech support), they switched my service to a different tower and boom, up in under 15 minutes.

If you are looking into T-Mobile, you might want to check Tello, they use T-Mobile's network.

I switched to them last December from ATT Prepaid.
Been pretty satisfied. Saving money from ATT and it was cheaper than T-Mobile.

If you have internet service through Charter or Spectrum, you can get a great cellular service plan at very reasonable cost. It will ride on the Verizon network, which has excellent coverage in most of Florida.

https://www.spectrum.com/mobile/plans

My bro still lives in Tampa and he has used Version for 20 years, he mooches off mom n dad’s account.he’s never had an issue

We just dumped Verizon here in Temple because I was losing calls, not getting texts and had to walk outside to get a clear call. Turns out they don’t have any local towers.

Whatever carrier you are looking at, check to see if the have towers near your area. Since going to AT&T we haven’t had a single issue.

Thanks to all, I think I will check Spectrum since we have our internet through them, and if I don't like what I hear, try T-Mobile.

Of course there's always the chance my wife will change my mind and we'll keep Verizon. She doesn't ask much, so.... I will try to strike tomorrow so that doesn't happen.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by straightshooter1:

Thanks to all, I think I will check Spectrum since we have our internet through them, and if I don't like what I hear, try T-Mobile.

Of course there's always the chance my wife will change my mind and we'll keep Verizon.

If you go with Spectrum, you will still have Verizon service. Spectrum is a Verizon MVNO (airtime re-seller). The major difference will be your cost. You can get service for two phones, unlimited everything, for $29.99 / month TOTAL, including all taxes and junk fees. Wife and I have been using Spectrum mobile for several years, absolutely no complaints. Probably the most trouble-free cellular service that we have had.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by straightshooter1:

Thanks to all, I think I will check Spectrum since we have our internet through them, and if I don't like what I hear, try T-Mobile.

Of course there's always the chance my wife will change my mind and we'll keep Verizon.

If you go with Spectrum, you will still have Verizon service. Spectrum is a Verizon MVNO (airtime re-seller). The major difference will be your cost. You can get service for two phones, unlimited everything, for $29.99 / month TOTAL, including all taxes and junk fees. Wife and I have been using Spectrum mobile for several years, absolutely no complaints. Probably the most trouble-free cellular service that we have had.

This. Its actually worth signing up for Spectrum/Charter internet service to get the cell service.

Verizon without the costs/hassles.



RMD

My dad has the spectrum service, he's 85 and there is a bigger discount for him, something like $15 a month

We have T-Mobile so far the service has been very good, we don't have much in the way of dropped service, a spot out on a back road in the country is about it.

IF you are 55 and over then they have the 55 Plus/Max plans discounted for two phones, my apple watch is $10 a month, don't remember any setup fees when added, basically any cellular non phone device is $10 a month.

Verizon should have the same 55 plus plans, so check online and then if you qualify move them, and I'd complain to CS if you are a LT customer about the fee, can't hurt.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

My dad has the spectrum service, he's 85 and there is a bigger discount for him, something like $15 a month

Any Spectrum internet customer can get Spectrum mobile service on a couple of price plans. Note that the quoted prices are the actual cost, as all taxes and junk fees are included. This is not true of most of the plan prices that you see advertised from other providers.

$14.00 / month buys unlimited talk and text, plus 1GB data. If there are multiple phones on this plan, there is a data pool of 1GB per phone, and that pool can be used by any phone on the plan, it could be used with an even split, or one phone could use most of the pool.

$29.99 / month buys the same unlimited talk and text, and also unlimited data (as opposed to 1GB in the $14 plan.

But wait, there's more! Spectrum is running a special deal: Buy One, Get One. You can get the unlimited everything plan for $29.99, and add a second phone with the same unlimited everything, and the service plan for the second phone is free for a year.

Best of my knowledge, Spectrum mobile does not offer a senior discount, nor a veteran discount. I asked, looking to save a buck or two, and was told "no."

There's a Spectrum office or store just a few blocks away from us, so we plan to visit and see how much with all the "stuff" we have.

Thanks-again-to all of you.

Bob

As far as I know Spectrum only does voice lines. If you have data lines for Ipads and Apple Watches, I don't know if Spectrum will support them.

If you go thru any carriers website, you can usually go thru the purchasing routine, with or without new devices, to find out what a monthly bill would look like with all your lines and options on their varous different plans. Just don't actually purchase anything unless you really want to.

Edit: I actually went to Spectrums webpage and looked to see what they offered. They do offer tablets and watches, so I guess they do offer data lines for them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Paten,

quote:

$14.00 / month buys unlimited talk and text, plus 1GB data. If there are multiple phones on this plan, there is a data pool of 1GB per phone, and that pool can be used by any phone on the plan, it could be used with an even split, or one phone could use most of the pool.

That may be what he's talking about, either way, he spends most time at home not out and about so 90% of his data is wifi accessible. Still $15 is $15...

Thanks for all the input.

It took us a while to get to the Spectrum Store. Nice, nice young man but otherwise our visit was like a Hoover Vacuum cleaner.

The cost for 4 Apple watches, two iPads, two iPhones the first year will be about 25 bucks cheaper than Verizon BUT, after a year, with taxes, etc., the cost would be about the same AND we will have only one watch hooked up to cellular, the other three would be bluetooth which means I gotta have my phones with me using bluetooth.

With Verizon all 4 watches are hooked up to cellular.

We may just stay with Verizon now, absent finding a Consumer Cellular store near me.

Bob

I think the only reason I like T-mobile is because my phone line is $25 a month. It's only $25 a month because I've been with them over 20 years, since they were VoiceStream, and my line is grandfathered in. Now, to get a good deal, you have to have at least 4 phone lines.