Switch Cell Providers??

[elind]

Be careful when using WIFI calling. 911 calls maybe directed to the wrong dispatch center if your traveling outside of your WIFI network.

[BTimmer]

We were with Verizon 27 years and switched to T-Mobile 2 years ago. I've never looked back and TM is especially good because TM provides free international data and excellent free Canada and Mexico coverage not to mention free Apple + and Netflix. Ed also went with their wireless home internet and left Comcast. We save a bunch of money each month.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Adony

Am thinking about changing from Verizon to T-Mobile.. Verizon has raised prices and we get very poor cell service in our housing area..2 blocks away Verizon is strong but not here..Any thoughts on switching from Verizon to T-Mibile? Good..Bad..??

What you're looking for is a strong signal in your area...
Do you have any neighbors that you can ask about which cell phone carrier they use?

[Sunseeker16]

Originally Posted by BTimmer

We were with Verizon 27 years and switched to T-Mobile 2 years ago. I've never looked back and TM is especially good because TM provides free international data and excellent free Canada and Mexico coverage not to mention free Apple + and Netflix. Ed also went with their wireless home internet and left Comcast. We save a bunch of money each month.

Ditto

[sjgh20]

I was a longtime Verizon customer but switched to T-Mobile a few months ago to the 55+ magenta max plan for me and my spouse. My experience has been great. Even recently switched my internet from Spectrum to T-Mobile Home Internet. Plus with the added Space-x partnership, this should be very interesting. I've been very happy with my phone service and now internet.

[PenJoe]

Verizon customer service thanked us last month for being loyal customers for 16.5 years. Our call to them was to get a pin number to transfer service and phone numbers to Consumer Cellular.

Verizon informed us that we primarily using a 3G flip phone that was going obsolete at the end of the year. We had an aging Samsung S5 that we rarely used. Along with the 3G phone notice, we were informed that Verizon was increasing their rates.

As indicated, we were rarely using data. Planning a 3-month trip, we bought a Verizon hotspot. While trying to get a bank printout. we exceeded our data by ..02 Megs. Being new to the technology, we were over before we were notified. That was a $19 education on our next billing. After returning, we dropped the hotspot. Nope, you're under contract. So, we are paying for services with a device laying in a drawer.

Well, even though the 3G phone was supposed to work until the end of the year, it did, but it didn't. Being our only service, it worked everywhere, but at home where we needed it for an emergency. We could still reach Verizon. Apparently, a 3G tower problem wasn't going to be fixed.

Ah, but wait, Verizon to the rescue! They were shipping us a new 4G flip phone we didn't ask for. It was rated as the biggest piece of crap they had on their shelves. We took it to a Verizon store front and theyt didn;t want it either. The store rep made arrangements to have Verizon send a return shipping label WITHIN 5 DAYS. That has been a month ago.

As one might expect, making the change away from Verizon was getting easier. Consumer Cellular was promising on the face, but was it totally functional? Consumer Cellular claims to use two networks-T-Mobile and AT&T. That's true, but AT&T service is the one service available in the US. Though, from previous experience with AT&T 16.5 years ago, we would have preferred T-Mobile, it was not available with Consumer Cellular.

We were more than a little apprehensive trying a new service because: 1, It is our only phone service for emergencies. 2, we are in a marginal service area. 3. We have two homes and need dependable service in both areas-and in between.

Consumer Cellular is company formed by two guys in Oregon. There are no contracts. They have several plans to fit most budgets. Unlike, Verizon, if the data limit is exceeded, you are put into the next up for data use and no overcharges. It can then be reverted to the original plan with a phone call.
We now have two smart phones and more data, no connection fees, transported phone numbers, and a savings of $25/mo.

We have gone to some very remote areas that our GPS had trouble finding. Having tried the service from these and multiple others, the service has been stellar.

[Lvnthedream]

Switched to T-mobile after testing it for 30 days for free. You can have both Verizon and T-mobile on your cell phone. I did a speed test on T-mobile and Verizon at several locations. T-mobile was faster 90% of the time. Do a test where you live and frequent before switching as I did. Again, T-mobile is so confident, that they will give your service for 30 days free.

[sherman12]

To the OP, my DW and I were in a similar position as you this past early Spring. My wife's old Samsung 6 was starting to peter out, and my Pixel 2 was doing the same.

We went to Verizon and explained how many years we've been great customers and asked what kind of deal they had with new phones. They came back and said we were already getting a great deal because we were 55+ and the most they would do is offer a new Pixel 6 with $100 off each phone ($699). For unlimited talk & text with only 3G of data, we were paying $114 per month.

We went to T-Mobile, and they worked hard and very courteously for our business. At $70 per month unlimited everything including Canadian service, two new Pixel 6 phones at $100 per phone, or $4 per month, we now pay $78 including all taxes (huge in NYS) per month, and that rate is locked in for as long as we stay with T-Mobile. I figure we are saving $70-$90 a month with the cost of the new phones figured in.

Now, as has been said in prior posts, everyone told us we're nuts going with T-M because we were leaving on a two-month cross-country trip starting this past May. Our kids were concerned that we would be stranded in the middle of nowhere without the ability to call for help. Well, other than not having service in Yellowstone NP (most don't) we had almost zero problems with service, even in remote Kansas, high desert areas of Nevada and Utah, and virtually any other desolate regions. We used our cell phones connected to our laptop to pay bills, book campgrounds, download Kindle E-books, and more.

Though unsure to start, switching to T-Mobile was one of the best money-saving moves we made, right up to cutting Spectrum cable TV.

[jeff64]

Was a previous 4g t-mobile customer. Went to Verizon for a short time. Big mistake!$$$! Went back to t-Mobile 5 g 55+ magenta plan. Should have stayed there.

[bikendan]

Tmobile gave the DW a free upgrade to a 5g phone. They didn't want her 4g phone at all.

[pcsdpo]

You might want to take a look at Ting Mobile. They resell mostly T-Mobile service for starting at $25/month for 5GB of data (we use mostly our WiFi Internet calling at home). They have other plans with more Gigs.
We were skeptical about changing, but when our similar Verizon plan (customer for probably 25 years starting with a bag phone) is over $70/month. It's a no brainer. Except that we then used the T-Mobile our coverage here in Montana was much worse. The good news is that you can request a switch to their Verizon service (same price but LTE service aka 4G service for now). If you're happy with T-Mobile, just go with the standard offering. If you want to use Verizon, make that request when signing up (Ask for Verizon Support Dept when signing up . . . I did that via their Chat service). They'll send you a Verizon LTE/4G SIM chip (for $1).
I've dealt with their support folks and they're great.
Just a thought.
https://tingmobile.com

[popshumphrey]

Been with T-Mobile for years. Love the price. Love the customer service. Coverage is like all of them. But for over 60 you can’t beat the price.

[Rocknoids]

I have had Verizon at work for 15 years. Since I retired 2-1/2 years ago, I have been using T-Mobile. I can tell you from experience, Verizon is better by far. Remember, you get what you pay for. Florida seems to be the worst place for T-Mobile. You can complain enough and get Verizon to GIVE you a signal booster. My daughter had to get one for her house.

[sherman12]

I think most folks would agree that Verizon does have the best coverage. But, it should be when you take into account that their prices are close to or more than double what T-Mobile or most class B providers charge.

If you look at T-M coverage map, 5G should be available in virtually all of Florida. When we signed up with T-M last Spring they only showed about 20% coverage in Kansas. As I mentioned in my prior post staying at a Harvest Host more than 6 miles of dirt roads away from the interstate (I70) down with the sense of being in the middle of nowhere, we had excellent service, so much so that my wife used her phone to pay a couple of bills.

[TowPro]

If you really have bad service with verizon at home, call and complain. tell them you are going to switch. the squeaky wheel gets the grease (it might not cost you anything).
Here is what works for Verizon. it hooks to your ISP and makes a small cell site that covers your home.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TowPro

If you really have bad service with verizon at home, call and complain. tell them you are going to switch. the squeaky wheel gets the grease (it might not cost you anything).
Here is what works for Verizon. it hooks to your ISP and makes a small cell site that covers your home.

Just to expand on this statement...
These types of internet based cell extenders MUST have a separate internet connection to boost your cell coverage.

So if you are using a cellular provider to get your internet and having issues getting good signal, these are worthless. Also keep in mind, if you do have a separate internet provider and their service goes down, so does your cell coverage.

Besides, many of today's phones have WIFI calling so if you want to have cell coverage via WIFI, (which are all these devices do) simply turn on WIFI calling in your phone setting and you'll need no other piece of equipment from anyone.

[camper_Lucy]

Originally Posted by TowPro

If you really have bad service with verizon at home, call and complain. tell them you are going to switch. the squeaky wheel gets the grease (it might not cost you anything).
Here is what works for Verizon. it hooks to your ISP and makes a small cell site that covers your home.

this is funny

so many people recommend these here.

Never put these in, first if you have a separate internet connection (paying for it), just turn on Wifi calling on your phone and the weak cellar coverage issue is solved.
Second, if you cell provides recommends this, ask them if they are going to reduce your fee since they are asking you to use bandwidth you are paying for and that is not on their network, hey fair is fair and the carrier is charging you for bandwidth usage when it is on their network so they should discount you when you need to provide your own bandwidth to reach the carrier network.

[TowPro]

I know from experience that wifi calling is not 100% perfect for inbound calls. I get way to many calls working from home.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by TowPro

I know from experience that wifi calling is not 100% perfect for inbound calls. I get way to many calls working from home.

You might want to check your mobile device/WIFI system.

I live in a rural part of the Allegheny Mountains and I've been working from home (and from our R/V) for just over 5 years and use WIFI calling everyday through my Samsung devices. I've not experienced the inbound or outbound issue.

With my last two devices they have the capability of connecting to my home WIFI via 5G. (note: not 5G cellular but 5GHz WIFI frequency) This has improved my range considerably across my property.

WIFI calling may not be for everyone but if you have a solid internet connection and poor cellular reception, this does work and in my case, works well and even supports WIFI video calling.

[TowPro]

sorry, you guys are right. I am wrong.

please disregard my statements