DUDE, Your getting a dell...

[Mrs.Slotz]

Morning Mrs Slotz
Here is my take on cell phone companies.
Before working for the company I work for now, I was an account manager for a nationwide provider. Of corse I had my cell service with them for free, but after I quit there, I Knew there was NO WAY, I would EVER be locked in to a contract with ANY provider. They are all the same. They tell you that you can be \"out of contract\" and \" leave their service\" after a certain amount of time with no fees or fines, HA! Belive me when I tell you that once you are locked in you are IN! They have many loopholes to keep you there. For instance you pay $10 for the phone at sign up, but if that phone quits or goes bad you could pay up to $300.00 for a new phone. Want to take advantage of the \"phone upgrade\" once a year? It will restart your contract for another 2 years. Also in that 2 years if they change or discontinue your particular plan, they can put you into whatever alternative plan THEY think \"suits your needs\". My Solution ? Prepay !!!
I have tried them all, My kids have Virgin Mobile, they are OK but signal is not great in this area ( they run on Sprint towers ) and can be expensive. I had Tracfone for about 3 years and the signal and service is great, but there are really no special features such as ringtones and things like that.
About 6 months ago I got Straight Talk. They use Verizon towers, so the signal is awesome and you can get 1000 talk mins and 1000 text plus unlimited data usage for $30 or you can get unlimited everything for just $45 a month!!! I have recommended these to everyone !! I love mine, and they have some really cool phones too.

Wow, thanks for the info. I will have to check into that. Where did you get yours?

[pixiegirl]

Wow, thanks for the info. I will have to check into that. Where did you get yours?

right now you can only get them at Wal-Mart or online @ straighttalkl.com

[Mrs.Slotz]

right now you can only get them at Wal-Mart or online @ straighttalkl.com

I think we will check it out. Can they port over my existing land line phone #?

[nathandiehl]

Can they port over my existing land line phone #?

Yes. See: http://www.straighttalk.com/FAQ

[Mrs.Slotz]

Yes. See: http://www.straighttalk.com/FAQ

Thanks Nathan.
I want to know what you think of Straight Talk. Do you have any opinion on the plans and the phones?

[nathandiehl]

Thanks Nathan.
I want to know what you think of Straight Talk. Do you have any opinion on the plans and the phones?

Mrs. Slotz, as long as both of your lines will be on the $30/month plan, I think Straight Talk is a good deal.
But if you need one or both of them at the $45/month plan, you can save money by signing a contract with a traditional plan.
Not all companies are as bad as the one pixie worked for. T-Mobile allows you to upgrade or DOWNGRADE your plan at any time without signing a new contract. (T-Mobile towers are weak in this area though, and I would advise avoid them.)

One of the benefits of signing a contract, too, is the availability of a free phone. With Straight Talk, you'll have to pay at least $60 for a phone.

While I don't think Straight Talk is the right plan for everyone (especially families with multiple phones), as long as you are going to have both lines on the $30/month plan, I think that sounds like the best fit for you. And if you find it's not later, you can always switch to a traditional plan to save some dough.

I really don't have an opinion on the phones themselves. I think I would avoid the cheapest thing, though. As the general topic of this thread goes, you get what you pay for.

[Mrs.Slotz]

Mrs. Slotz, as long as both of your lines will be on the $30/month plan, I think Straight Talk is a good deal.
But if you need one or both of them at the $45/month plan, you can save money by signing a contract with a traditional plan.
Not all companies are as bad as the one pixie worked for. T-Mobile allows you to upgrade or DOWNGRADE your plan at any time without signing a new contract. (T-Mobile towers are weak in this area though, and I would advise avoid them.)

One of the benefits of signing a contract, too, is the availability of a free phone. With Straight Talk, you'll have to pay at least $60 for a phone.

While I don't think Straight Talk is the right plan for everyone (especially families with multiple phones), as long as you are going to have both lines on the $30/month plan, I think that sounds like the best fit for you. And if you find it's not later, you can always switch to a traditional plan to save some dough.

I really don't have an opinion on the phones themselves. I think I would avoid the cheapest thing, though. As the general topic of this thread goes, you get what you pay for.

Thanks Nathan. Great Advice. I have a lot of plans to look at and hopefully I will make the right decision.
What ****es me off is that Mediacom raised my phone bill (land line) to 50 bucks a month and just the other day I get the promotional flyer in the mail from them stating you can get the phone now for 20 bucks a month if you lock it in for 2 years. I can't do it because I am an existing customer. Well, what a bunch of bull crap.

[HoosierHelen]

Thanks Nathan. Great Advice. I have a lot of plans to look at and hopefully I will make the right decision.
What ****es me off is that Mediacom raised my phone bill (land line) to 50 bucks a month and just the other day I get the promotional flyer in the mail from them stating you can get the phone now for 20 bucks a month if you lock it in for 2 years. I can't do it because I am an existing customer. Well, what a bunch of bull crap.

Mrs. Slotz, I've been a Mediacom for quite a few years. I had a representative from Mediacom ring my doorbell about 2 months ago. He didn't realize I was already a customer and was trying to sell it to me at a much discounted rate for the same package that I am paying for now. When I finished listening to his pitch, I inquired why a long time customer could not get those prices. He winked at me and suggested that I call Customer Service and explain that I am looking for a better priced package and am looking for alternative options. I did so and I was able to discount monthly bill by $70. (I use their phone, cable, internet services). I had to request to talk to the Customer Service manager before I got that deal - but it was there. Just an FYI.