Cell Phone with cable company

[jrref]

Many cable providers are offering discounts on their services if you move your cell phones to their company and bundle with your TV and Internet services. The cable companies are buying service from major carriers such as Verizon and others so it looks like a good deal and it can be.

Just be aware that there have been many cases where customers have had trouble moving their cell phones from a cable company to other providers. This porting of your number to another carrier should be very easy but I'm hearing more and more stories where the cable company is not porting the number in a timely fashion and in some cases people are loosing their numbers. I have no idea how much this is actually happening but clearly there are more and more cases where for whatever reason, it might not be so easy to move your number once the cable company has it. Again, I'm sure your experience will depend on your cable provider.

There are also a lot of other discount cellular companies such as Consumer Cellular and others which will give you the same rates and sometimes better than the cable company. They also will provide you a device where you can port your landline telephone number so you can have a home phone if you want at a very inexpensive rate. You can also go to their store here in the Villages if you have a problem and they will resolve it for you in person.

Again, I'm not saying not to move and bundle your cell phones to the cable company but just be aware that it may not be so easy to change your service or move the numbers when they are all bundled together.

So when considering making this move like this, look at using one of the popular discount carriers for you cell phones and get your internet and streaming TV services from companies who's main business is providing these services. You will probably find the cost is the same or cheaper than bundling everything together with a cable company and a lot more easier to manage if you ever find a better deal.

[CarlR33]

LOL, some days I could use a new number as the number of phishing texts seems on the increase lately.

[jrref]

Also, forgot to mention, if you have one of these discount cell phone providers, let us know your experience. Maybe your experience can help others.

[retiredguy123]

Consumer Cellular does not use the Verizon network, but Xfinity Mobile does. I have never seen an independent rating that did not rate Verizon as the best overall cellular network. My Xfinity cell phone service costs $22 per month, it uses Verizon, and it is the only network that I would use.

[asianthree]

T Mobile 5 lines unlimited $93.27 months

[jrref]

Consumer Cellular does not use the Verizon network, but Xfinity Mobile does. I have never seen an independent rating that did not rate Verizon as the best overall cellular network. My Xfinity cell phone service costs $22 per month, it uses Verizon, and it is the only network that I would use.
Right, Consumer Cellular uses AT&T as their main carrier and T-mobile. AT&T is on par with Verizon in most of the country. Although the cable companies use Verizon’s network there are differences that you can Google but for basic calling it’s fine.

[jrref]

When you post what you are paying for cell service include what data plan you have because that makes the difference between $22/line or $30/line. The data plan might not be important for everyone but for many it is.

Also if you are on a promotion.

[retiredguy123]

When you post what you are paying for cell service include what data plan you have because that makes the difference between $22/line or $30/line. The data plan might not be important for everyone but for many it is.

Also if you are on a promotion.
No, I am not on a promotion. I have unlimited calling and texting, but I only have 1gb of free mobile data, which I have never exceeded in 4 years. A lot of people don't realize that, if you don't travel, you can use free wifi almost everywhere in The Villages, so there is no need for unlimited data. Most places have free wifi, and once you log in, it will automatically reconnect whenever you revisit that location.

One thing I don't understand is why Verizon is always rated the best network for at least the past 20 years. Why can't other networks catch up to Verizon?

[Stu from NYC]

Xfinity was very competitive when we moved here 5 years ago. After increase after increase I need to dump them.

[Bogie Shooter]

Xfinity was very competitive when we moved here 5 years ago. After increase after increase I need to dump them.

Have you tried visiting the store to see what they might do for you?

[BrianL99]

I've had a mobile phone, since 1979, when RCC was the only way to get one. I've had Cellular since 1988, which was the practical start of Cell.

I've used CellularOne, Verizon, US Cellular, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and a few other regional carriers.

Without a doubt, Xfinity offers the best coverage, service and pricing, of any provider or MVNO I've ever used. You get almost all the benefits of the Verizon Network, plus access to Xfinity's Mobile Hot Spots ... for about 50% of what Verizon charges.

Xfinity's customer service is lacking, but so is everyone else's. I'd rate Xfinity's CS on a par with any provider, other than Verizon.

[dolphin]

Also, forgot to mention, if you have one of these discount cell phone providers, let us know your experience. Maybe your experience can help others.

I did mine six months ago. Verizon and xfinity. Smooth transition saved $70.00 per month.

[Angelhug52]

Consumer Cellular does not use the Verizon network, but Xfinity Mobile does. I have never seen an independent rating that did not rate Verizon as the best overall cellular network. My Xfinity cell phone service costs $22 per month, it uses Verizon, and it is the only network that I would use.
Best move I made dumped Verizon went to Xfinity. Saved 100 a month. That savings has softened the cost of cable. Best is . .better service All over the state.! 23 and change per month. 5G ,unlimited everything. 2 phones.

[PurePeach]

In Atlanta, we had ATT fiber which was fantastic and our cell svc was with ATT and was horrible. When we moved to TV 4+ yrs ago, the only internet service available in our area was Xfinity. We took their 1-yr promo. Shortly after they gave us a great deal on cell service, so I jumped on that bandwagon and ported over numbers. When the promo ended, I called them and they found another package for me for a year. A little over a year ago we started getting the promos in the mail for Quantum Fiber. I researched and made the change, which has been great; however, I promptly got a notice from Xfinity that my cell bill was going to increase $25/mo for each phone since I no longer had internet with them. I immediately started searching and discovered Mint Mobile. I pay $15/mo for each phone (which is prepaid quarterly or annually) with 5 gigs data (which is way more than I use) and I’ve had no problems whatsoever. Every now and again, I have issues inside a retail store, but it’s so seldom that it matters not. We’ve streamed YouTube TV for about 10 years and are happy campers with the whole ball of wax that we now have.

[Snakster66]

One thing I don't understand is why Verizon is always rated the best network for at least the past 20 years. Why can't other networks catch up to Verizon?

T-Mobile is now number 1 in most surveys. Their 5G network rates as superior to other networks. Verizon has not ruled the roost since the LTE (4G) days.

That is not to say that there is not variance in local situations. But overall, nationwide, T-Mobile is the new king.

[retiredguy123]

T-Mobile is now number 1 in most surveys. Their 5G network rates as superior to other networks. Verizon has not ruled the roost since the LTE (4G) days.

That is not to say that there is not variance in local situations. But overall, nationwide, T-Mobile is the new king.
Here is what AI says:

"According to most recent data, Verizon is generally considered the best cellular network overall, particularly for reliability and coverage, though the "best" network can vary depending on your location and specific needs, with T-Mobile often leading in speed tests and AT&T also being a strong contender in certain areas."

I still have yet to read any independent review that doesn't rate Verizon as the best. Do you have another independent source?

[FredMitchell]

All providers are required by law to port numbers on request.

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/porting-keeping-your-phone-number-when-you-change-providers

It must be done promptly and it is easy for them to do.

[airstreamingypsy]

When I lived in my RV, traveling the US, I and most others used Verizon. It got a signal where no one else did. About 6 mos ago Spectrum offered me a deal I couldn't refuse, so I didn't. I'm happier with Spectrum's service than I was with Verizon. I have their Internet too.

[retiredguy123]

Recently, I purchased a new cell phone, which is a 5g phone. Previously, I had a 4g phone. Personally, I can't tell the difference. Should I be able to?

[RoseyRed]

Also, forgot to mention, if you have one of these discount cell phone providers, let us know your experience. Maybe your experience can help others.
We switched from Xfinity to Spectrum internet with my cell phone number ported over as well about a month ago. So far so good with cell phone service. They even sent a Spectrum employee out to our house to port the cell phone number over to avoid us going to the store for a long wait time!... awesome! The bandwidth for both providers is 500 mbps and have a lot of lag time. Spectrum is not quite as bad as Xfinity was, thank goodness.

What is interesting about Spectrum with the 500 mbps is we had exact same speed in NC with NO lag time and had 2 cameras there we do NOT have here!

[retiredguy123]

We switched from Xfinity to Spectrum internet with my cell phone number ported over as well about a month ago. So far so good with cell phone service. They even sent a Spectrum employee out to our house to port the cell phone number over to avoid us going to the store for a long wait time!... awesome! The bandwidth for both providers is 500 mbps and have a lot of lag time. Spectrum is not quite as bad as Xfinity was, thank goodness.

What is interesting about Spectrum with the 500 mbps is we had exact same speed in NC with NO lag time and had 2 cameras there we do NOT have here!
What is lag time? How do you measure it?

[MsSurfer]

T-Mobile has a $15 plan for seniors 55+, but it is PRE-PAID; and a rep said a cell tower is within 5 miles of Lake Sumter Landing. I've never seen TMobile advertise that rate after I signed up for it years ago so you have to request it. It has data, but I've never exceeded it because I generally only use the phone for calling and texting.

Regarding internet service, Xfinity has a plan for under $30 with 200mbps which is adequate for me in a single-person household using wifi only to get online, stream TV (YouTubeTV) and for security cameras. Xfinity advised that 200mbps speed will make TV streaming sporadic, but that has not been the case for me; however, there could be a huge difference in connectivity for a two-person household and the number of devices connected. Neither service required a contract.

[RoseyRed]

:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:When you post what you are paying for cell service include what data plan you have because that makes the difference between $22/line or $30/line. The data plan might not be important for everyone but for many it is.

Also if you are on a promotion.
Yes we are on a 1 yr promotion for 500 mbps package at $40 per month including 1 cell phone with Spectrum. It's cake & ice cream for a year then the smoking wallet walks in the room! :22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

[RobertScott]

I have always suspected that Spectrum's unrelenting campaign to get me to switch to their cell phone is because their research shows that folks are less likely to cease using them for the other services if the phone is with them as well.

The hard sell started with the phone call to switch from Xfinity for TV and internet, and continues unabated, with a carpet bombing of targeted TV commercials and mailings.

[JRcorvette]

Many cable providers are offering discounts on their services if you move your cell phones to their company and bundle with your TV and Internet services. The cable companies are buying service from major carriers such as Verizon and others so it looks like a good deal and it can be.

Just be aware that there have been many cases where customers have had trouble moving their cell phones from a cable company to other providers. This porting of your number to another carrier should be very easy but I'm hearing more and more stories where the cable company is not porting the number in a timely fashion and in some cases people are loosing their numbers. I have no idea how much this is actually happening but clearly there are more and more cases where for whatever reason, it might not be so easy to move your number once the cable company has it. Again, I'm sure your experience will depend on your cable provider.

There are also a lot of other discount cellular companies such as Consumer Cellular and others which will give you the same rates and sometimes better than the cable company. They also will provide you a device where you can port your landline telephone number so you can have a home phone if you want at a very inexpensive rate. You can also go to their store here in the Villages if you have a problem and they will resolve it for you in person.

Again, I'm not saying not to move and bundle your cell phones to the cable company but just be aware that it may not be so easy to change your service or move the numbers when they are all bundled together.

So when considering making this move like this, look at using one of the popular discount carriers for you cell phones and get your internet and streaming TV services from companies who's main business is providing these services. You will probably find the cost is the same or cheaper than bundling everything together with a cable company and a lot more easier to manage if you ever find a better deal.



When we tried to switch our cell phone out of Xfinity it was a nightmare that went on for months. I had to threaten them with legal action. Comcast is the worst company ever to try to deal with.

[tjdmlhw]

Here is what AI says:

"According to most recent data, Verizon is generally considered the best cellular network overall, particularly for reliability and coverage, though the "best" network can vary depending on your location and specific needs, with T-Mobile often leading in speed tests and AT&T also being a strong contender in certain areas."

I still have yet to read any independent review that doesn't rate Verizon as the best. Do you have another independent source?

Verizon is the leader in 4G coverage and because of that their overall coverage area is the fullest of the 3 major players, but T-Mobile's 5G coverage is far greater than Verizon.

Even 3rd place AT&T has a larger 5G presence than Verizon. It's as if T-Mobile and AT&T are building for the future while Verizon is relying on their reputation.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

No, I am not on a promotion. I have unlimited calling and texting, but I only have 1gb of free mobile data, which I have never exceeded in 4 years. A lot of people don't realize that, if you don't travel, you can use free wifi almost everywhere in The Villages, so there is no need for unlimited data. Most places have free wifi, and once you log in, it will automatically reconnect whenever you revisit that location.

One thing I don't understand is why Verizon is always rated the best network for at least the past 20 years. Why can't other networks catch up to Verizon?

It's free UNSECURED wifi. When I want wifi specifically, I try to use an xfinity wifi server whenever there's one available (many businesses in and around The Villages use xfinity for their wifi). That way I can log in with my own VPN on my phone, to my own xfinity account and password.

I wouldn't ever log into a store's unsecured wifi.

[jrref]

So, most are saying the cable companies are offering the cheapest cell service. That said, I wonder if they are giving you a discount on the cell service and making it up with overpriced TV and internet? Maybe a deal only for 1 year to get your business becasue they know most won't change to another provider once they have your phones?

I know Spectrum would give me a discount if I moved my cell phone to them but the price for the internet was still significantly more that what I paid for Quantum. So, my Quantum internet and Consumer Cellular, no offer but regular price, was a little cheaper than the Spectrum deal that they were going to give me for 1 year.

As far as Verizon, they don't offer minimal plans with very little data unless you get prepaid, which is why they are more money. It's the data that increases the cost because they need to provide the bandwidth at all times. Xfinity, Spectrum, Consumer Cellular, and other providers offer plans with minimal data which is why it might be best for those who don't use much data each month.

As far as cable's wifi service, although very convenient, I'm not comfortable on how secure it is when you access it outside your home. Too many ways to hack it. Just my personal opinion. When I was at Verizon, we deployed that service but it was spotty in some areas and too hard to secure 100% so it was discontinued. I guess it's good for those who get the least expensive service then use the hot-spots for data when they need it.

[RUCdaze]

I have T-Mobile for my cell. I pay $20.00 per month and I'm very happy. I have xfinity for my internet and land line, but they are getting ridiculous with their increases. I want to dump them, and will probably look into T-Mobile it they can handle my land line.

[Normal]

LOL, some days I could use a new number as the number of phishing texts seems on the increase lately.

I enjoy the creativity some try to implement. We had one not long ago send a text telling us how to pay for express lane use….lol ( I guess Sunpass isn’t any good anymore). One of my favorite is the old McAfee expired texts (all we use is Apple at home). Then there is the your Visa was used to pay for a 699 dollar computer (except my visa statement can be read in a click or two with my credit card app).

It never ceases to amaze me what some try.

[jrref]

I was helping a neighbor looking for cell phone service and currently as we have been discussing, the cable companies are offering discount cell service that you can bundle with TV and Internet. It looks like a good deal but in reality, you can get the same or better deal for cell phones with other companies.

For example, both Spectrum and Xfinity you can get $30/line, no data cap with is good but after 30GB they slow down the data speed so you use less. Consumer Cellular, for example will give you 2 lines for $60/month with unlimited data.

If you bundle your cell phones with cable, they will give you a discount on the TV and Internet for a limited time like one or two years which is good but again, it's only for a limited time and why would you do that if you could get pretty much the same plan that's not an offer and will stay the same for many years?

Just something to think about when considering bundiling your cell phones with the cable company.

[jrref]

When we were discussing why get Verizon when you can get other companies cell service that use the same towers and network. After doing some research, although many providers are using the Verizon network, Verizon is always more expensive because they give you more features such as unlimited data, the fastest data all the time, and almost all the plans have extras like access to streaming and music services.

So, that said, most of us here in the Villages probably don't need all the Verizon extra's and just want "vanilla" cell service but I just wanted to point out why Verizon is more money.

Also, if you go with a "discount" provider and get the cheapest plan with 1GB of data, be aware of how you use that data because you might use it up faster than you think depending on how you use your phone.

From what I read, many people who are younger and not retired desire all these "perks" and extra services whereas retired people don't want or need them anymore and want to cut costs so they tend to switch away and go with a "discount" provider. No right or wrong, just interesting.

[retiredguy123]

Verizon is the leader in 4G coverage and because of that their overall coverage area is the fullest of the 3 major players, but T-Mobile's 5G coverage is far greater than Verizon.

Even 3rd place AT&T has a larger 5G presence than Verizon. It's as if T-Mobile and AT&T are building for the future while Verizon is relying on their reputation.
If I can't tell the difference between 4G and 5G, why should I care?

[retiredguy123]

When we were discussing why get Verizon when you can get other companies cell service that use the same towers and network. After doing some research, although many providers are using the Verizon network, Verizon is always more expensive because they give you more features such as unlimited data, the fastest data all the time, and almost all the plans have extras like access to streaming and music services.

So, that said, most of us here in the Villages probably don't need all the Verizon extra's and just want "vanilla" cell service but I just wanted to point out why Verizon is more money.

Also, if you go with a "discount" provider and get the cheapest plan with 1GB of data, be aware of how you use that data because you might use it up faster than you think depending on how you use your phone.

From what I read, many people who are younger and not retired desire all these "perks" and extra services whereas retired people don't want or need them anymore and want to cut costs so they tend to switch away and go with a "discount" provider. No right or wrong, just interesting.
I have the Xfinity 1gb data plan, and in 4 years, I have never used 1gb of data in a month. Most of the time, I use less than half of that. I get unlimited talk and text for $22 per month. However, I use WIFI for data whenever possible, which is almost always. Almost every Villages business and the rec centers offer free WIFI. There are also free Xfinity hot spots all over the place.

[BrianL99]

I was helping a neighbor looking for cell phone service and currently as we have been discussing, the cable companies are offering discount cell service that you can bundle with TV and Internet. It looks like a good deal but in reality, you can get the same or better deal for cell phones with other companies.




Not exactly.

Verizon does not have access to Xfinity Hot Spots, of which there are over a million.

Service for service, Xfinity seems to always have the best pricing, especially when you consider the perk of access to their Hot Spots.

Curiously, Xfinity Customer Satisfaction Index is higher than Verizon by a a percentage point.

Here's a fairly complete comparison of everything the 2 providers offer.


Just a moment... (https://www.reviews.org/mobile/xfinity-mobile-vs-verizon/)

[jrref]

Not exactly.

Verizon does not have access to Xfinity Hot Spots, of which there are over a million.

Service for service, Xfinity seems to always have the best pricing, especially when you consider the perk of access to their Hot Spots.

Curiously, Xfinity Customer Satisfaction Index is higher than Verizon by a a percentage point.

Here's a fairly complete comparison of everything the 2 providers offer.


Just a moment... (https://www.reviews.org/mobile/xfinity-mobile-vs-verizon/)

That's a good article comparing the two companies. It's basically what I said in my post. But Verizon has hot spots as well just not as many as Xfinity. Everyone's needs are different, but I personally wouldn't rely on hot spots because when you are not in a hotspot, and you have run out of data and you need to use data, you will pay the overage. Also, I know you like the hotspots, but they are not secure unless you use a VPN and many are not going to set everything up. I had a friend who tried to use Xfinity's hotspots, and he said when you are at one, they work well but they didn't cover all the areas he frequented so he went with an unlimited data plan. Just another point of view.

[jrref]

You might want to check out Visible by Verizon. Plans start at $25/month, includes taxes and fees, unlimited data, talk and text. Much better than the plans offered by Xfinity and Spectrum because you are getting unlimited cellular data at that price.

I have a couple of neighbors on Visible for several years and are very happy with the service. Just another option and your cell phones are not bundled with your cable services.

[bopat]

We have the old T-Mobile one plan, the plan with the lifetime price lock guarantee. Had it since 2017. In writing and in their ads they said they would never raise their rate for that plan. Yesterday, on 3/13, they raised the rate on that plan, up $5 per line. We called them and were on the phone for over an hour, they wouldn’t do anything. Google it yourself, you’ll see, they ****ed off tons of people. I guess T-Mobile is allowed to break their contracts.

[Packer Fan]

When we were discussing why get Verizon when you can get other companies cell service that use the same towers and network. After doing some research, although many providers are using the Verizon network, Verizon is always more expensive because they give you more features such as unlimited data, the fastest data all the time, and almost all the plans have extras like access to streaming and music services.

So, that said, most of us here in the Villages probably don't need all the Verizon extra's and just want "vanilla" cell service but I just wanted to point out why Verizon is more money.

Also, if you go with a "discount" provider and get the cheapest plan with 1GB of data, be aware of how you use that data because you might use it up faster than you think depending on how you use your phone.

From what I read, many people who are younger and not retired desire all these "perks" and extra services whereas retired people don't want or need them anymore and want to cut costs so they tend to switch away and go with a "discount" provider. No right or wrong, just interesting.

I don't think thats it. Its because so many people just have had Verizon so long they are willing to keep paying the $80 a month because they get a "free" phone every 3 years and they don't know there are options. They also want to be able to have a store to go to if they have an issue. However, the big cell companies have too much capacity so they sell it off to the MVNOs for people who have a clue. Spectrum is also bundling so people think they are getting a good deal on cell coverage but they keep paying inflated home internet. Apple keeps people paying rediculous prices for lousy phones by convincing people that "Blue bubbles" in text messages are important and their "ecosystem" is so great. Most people go with the path of least resistance and then whine they are poor and have no money. Worse yet, they finance it all and pay interest. Every time I compare what I pay for internet and phone with people, they don't believe me...... They are always paying too much.
I have to say I was actually impressed by a few people on here that knew what an MVNO is... TV people are pretty well informed.

[Packer Fan]

Not exactly.

Verizon does not have access to Xfinity Hot Spots, of which there are over a million.

Service for service, Xfinity seems to always have the best pricing, especially when you consider the perk of access to their Hot Spots.

Curiously, Xfinity Customer Satisfaction Index is higher than Verizon by a a percentage point.

Here's a fairly complete comparison of everything the 2 providers offer.


Just a moment... (https://www.reviews.org/mobile/xfinity-mobile-vs-verizon/)

Thats great except you have to pay Xfinities inflated prices for internet at home. I moved from Xfinity to Quantum fiber for $35 a month with speeds 4 times as fast (you don't really need it, but its fun to measure). I was paying double that for Xfinity 200 MBPS. BTW, Quantum fiber pricing includes no increases for life (they can raise the equipment price though, just not the service). It does work extremely well.

We have 3 lines between my wife and I. I like electronics and move sims around between phones too. Have multiple phones, its like an addiction. :)
Here are my rules -
1. No Iphones - Got rid of my last iphone last year. They haven't really advanced in like 4 years, and Android is miles ahead, and way cheaper. Apple locks you in with percieved values that are not. Imessage and Facetime are the worst. There are people who won't leave apple because of those, and there are better options for both. Even 3 or 4 year old iphones are crazy prices.
Note I said MY RULES. This is no slight on anyone with an iphone. Just not for me and realize you pay a huge premium.

2. I normally buy my phones ebay refurbished the previous years models for half price. If you buy very good or excellent they look new and act new when they arrive. So you today I would be buying Samsung S24, Pixel 8, or oneplus 12. Phones are like computers now, they don't advance that much. Of course I have imported two phones you can't get in the US but thats another story. You can buy Tablets and computers this way too. I got a Galaxy Tab S8 for $300 and it looked new when I got it (highly recommend Galaxy S series tablets, they are excellent).

3. Churn the lines to get best pricing. I usually jump around with each line and pay yearly. Right now have one line on Tello I pay $9.00 a month for(only 1 gb of data, but its a second line). 2 lines on mint mobile, one we paid $180 the other $165, unlimited data for a year. You have to be a new customer(off at least 6 months) and catch the sales correctly. We like Tello and mint because both are great for international travel, but I have also used XMobile, US Mobile and Google Fi also at times depending when. My wife's Mint runs out in May and will look for who is having the best special to port her number to. My goal is to keep each line at $15 a month with as much data as possible. We need to keep at least one line with a carrier with good international roaming rates because we are overseas a lot. Tello is probably the best for that, but Mint is not bad.
4. Have run phones on all 3 networks, I measure speeds regularly. T-Mobile is definitly my favorite for speed and coverage - I like 5G rocket fast. Second is Verizon. AT&T stinks. Even prioritized they slow down in crowds. They are all good if you are just in The Villages.

All that said if you want no hassles, go to a place that has brick and mortar stores like Boost Mobile, consumer cellular, or even T-Mobile to get your phone and service so you have someone to help you. Mint, Tello, US Mobile and the like are great and cheap, but there are no stores, its dealing with them over chat.

For our next lesson, I will tell you how I bought my childhood phone number (with the villages area code of 352) on numberbarn and ported it to a new line..... Bet you didn't know you can buy a phone number. Amazing what you can do these days. They have 352-352-WEED for sale for $7999 for example... I paid $19.

BTW- need to change that at the bottom, sold the place in Oak Creek and moving now!

[biker1]

If you like the T-Mobile network then consider their MVNO; Mint Mobile. Their lowest cost pre-paid plan is $15 per month for unlimited voice, text, and data (although the bandwidth may be reduced after 5 gigabytes).


We have the old T-Mobile one plan, the plan with the lifetime price lock guarantee. Had it since 2017. In writing and in their ads they said they would never raise their rate for that plan. Yesterday, on 3/13, they raised the rate on that plan, up $5 per line. We called them and were on the phone for over an hour, they wouldn’t do anything. Google it yourself, you’ll see, they ****ed off tons of people. I guess T-Mobile is allowed to break their contracts.

[JoelJohnson]

Not exactly the same thing, but there are a number of Villagers that have a "land line". These are really phones that connect with the phone system through a cable modem. A way to save money on the "land line" is to buy something called Ooma. Ooma will let you connect your "land line" to the phone system without a high monthly fee (they only charge a small maintenance and 911 and taxes fees ($8-$10/mo). You can also save money by buying your own modem/router. It does take a few days for the cable company to transfer your phone number to Ooma, so be aware of that.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

great thread/post, very informative for everyone, who is looking for the cheapest cost of service.

thanks

jrref

[Flyers999]

I have T-mobile two lines for $84 per month. They just sent me a text that it's going up $5 per line. Now you're thinking, "no problem just switch." Well it's not that easy because one of the phones is locked to the T-mobile network.
Service with T-mobile has been OK. I've been a customer for over 20 years. In Europe it surprisingly works well without an extra charge. My home is not within their 5G yet, so I couldn't get an internet/phone bundle. My "plan" had been to wait until the phones (Samsung Galaxy 7) become obsolete but they work well and I'm not sure if I could save money in the long run by switching now.

[bopat]

I have T-mobile two lines for $84 per month. They just sent me a text that it's going up $5 per line. Now you're thinking, "no problem just switch." Well it's not that easy because one of the phones is locked to the T-mobile network.
Service with T-mobile has been OK. I've been a customer for over 20 years. In Europe it surprisingly works well without an extra charge. My home is not within their 5G yet, so I couldn't get an internet/phone bundle. My "plan" had been to wait until the phones (Samsung Galaxy 7) become obsolete but they work well and I'm not sure if I could save money in the long run by switching now.

They oversold their network, and oversold their 5g home internet. Talking with them, they have no plans on expanding their cell presence here. I think they are counting on Starlink to help their overcapacity issue. They have great coverage here but low bandwidth, and their 5g latency is horrific, barely good for video calls.

[Meboko]

We have the old T-Mobile one plan, the plan with the lifetime price lock guarantee. Had it since 2017. In writing and in their ads they said they would never raise their rate for that plan. Yesterday, on 3/13, they raised the rate on that plan, up $5 per line. We called them and were on the phone for over an hour, they wouldn’t do anything. Google it yourself, you’ll see, they ****ed off tons of people. I guess T-Mobile is allowed to break their contracts.

We had the same plan with T-Mobile. $70.00 a month for life (2 lines). A year or so ago they advised that if we continue to use a charge card they will charge an additional $5.00 per month, per phone. They wanted our checking account number or our debt card. We said no to giving them our checking or debt card info. So we have been paying $80.00 a month for 2 lines. On 3/13 my husband received a text advising they will start charging an additional $5.00 per line starting April 2nd. We will then pay $90.00 a month.

I also called T-Mobile no one could explain why “$70.00 a month for life” only lasted 8 years. We went to Consumer Cellular on 3/14 and switched. $30.00 a line with unlimited talk, text and data. We now pay $60.00 a month.

The lady right behind us was also at Consumer Cellular dropping her T-Mobile plan.

[jrref]

We had the same plan with T-Mobile. $70.00 a month for life (2 lines). A year or so ago they advised that if we continue to use a charge card they will charge an additional $5.00 per month, per phone. They wanted our checking account number or our debt card. We said no to giving them our checking or debt card info. So we have been paying $80.00 a month for 2 lines. On 3/13 my husband received a text advising they will start charging an additional $5.00 per line starting April 2nd. We will then pay $90.00 a month.

I also called T-Mobile no one could explain why “$70.00 a month for life” only lasted 8 years. We went to Consumer Cellular on 3/14 and switched. $30.00 a line with unlimited talk, text and data. We now pay $60.00 a month.

The lady right behind us was also at Consumer Cellular dropping her T-Mobile plan.
Its very common for companies to avoid the credit card charges by debiting your checking account.

Be prepared for more of this or pay extra.

[Ignatz]

We fell for T Mobil's gimmicks a few years back and swore off their services permanently, even if they did offer the best rate by a few bucks. Fool me once…

[jrref]

My neighbor just switched his phones from Spectrum to Visible. Very easy, better service, unllimited real cellular data and slightly cheaper price.