Verizon

[Maclowery]

In my years with T-Mobile, I had lots of issues. But one place that company shined, at least for me, was their willingness to renegotiate my contract so that I could upgrade a phone before the full 24 month period. I switched to Verizon about 20 months ago.

I have 4 more months with them, and my phone is shot to [expletive]. Online sales rep is obstinately refusing to budge on anything. The store guy practically laughed in my face. The manager was almost nearly as rude. Basically the entire company is sticking their middle finger in my face and saying "HAVE FUN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS SUCKER!".

I don't want to pay 600 [expletive] dollars for a new phone when mine theoretically still 'works'. So I see no alternative but to stick with my garbage phone for the fall and give more money to this awful company.

Piece of [expletive].

[TheoSqua]

T-Mobile changed their policy, i used to always be able to reupgrade. Now they have the same stance. No new phone until 22 months.

[Sutter'sBeard]

In my years with T-Mobile, I had lots of issues. But one place that company shined, at least for me, was their willingness to renegotiate my contract so that I could upgrade a phone before the full 24 month period. I switched to Verizon about 20 months ago.

I have 4 more months with them, and my phone is shot to [expletive]. Online sales rep is obstinately refusing to budge on anything. The store guy practically laughed in my face. The manager was almost nearly as rude. Basically the entire company is sticking their middle finger in my face and saying "HAVE FUN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS SUCKER!".

I don't want to pay 600 [expletive] dollars for a new phone when mine theoretically still 'works'. So I see no alternative but to stick with my garbage phone for the fall and give more money to this awful company.

Piece of [expletive].

You can break the contract for around $170, maybe less.

[pioneer98]

I had the same thing happen with Verizon. Broke the screen on my smartphone. They wouldn't give me a new contract+phone, either.

You could buy a used phone that might get you by. They obviously vary in price depending on the type. If you are handy, you could try to repair the phone. I bought a replacement screen for mine for like $30+shipping. Before I bought it, I found a Youtube video that showed how to replace the part, and it didn't look too hard so I gave it a shot. If it didn't work, then my phone was trashed either way, so what the heck. Just another idea, depending on what is wrong with your phone.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Why not just buy a used one (depending on how much you want to spend, you can get anywhere from a smartphone to the original carphone) and use it for 4 months and then keep it, get a new one and use that. If it [expletive] out before 24 months then you have the one you just bought as back up....

http://www.replaceyourcell.com/category ... nQod5T4A3w

[Transmogrified Tiger]

T-Mobile had the least flexibility/understanding about billing of any company I've ever encountered. They changed my plan and notified me by text message, which upon reading I took to be an advertisement for a new plan offering. After $100 dollars of unwanted charges, they decided they'd rather have my cancellation fee than keep me as a customer.

I can't remember, does Verizon use SIM cards? Could you find a craigslist phone for like $50 to help bridge the gap?

[Maclowery]

,No SIM cards like tmobile had, no.

Im gonna look at the whole used thing. Most likely I'll stick with this POS. I'm mostly upset at how completely uncaring the customer service was. I get it that the policy is stringent - that sucks, but I get it. But I wasted an hour heading to the store hoping for some good news, and was met with truly callous douches. I'm sure tons of people want a deal before their contract is up, but holy crap at least fake some empathy.

Id say I'll leave them and pick up a new carrier, but as far as I can tell every one has about equal amounts of haters.

[haltz]

My only advice is to get your next phone from Best Buy with their protection. You even get a free battery once a year or something. I've been through several phones in the last year, mostly my fault, and they give me a loaner while they replace or fix the phone every time. And Sprint lets you buy out remaining months for like $15 per for an upgrade, which is better than nothing.

[pioneer98]

,No SIM cards like tmobile had, no.

Im gonna look at the whole used thing. Most likely I'll stick with this POS. I'm mostly upset at how completely uncaring the customer service was. I get it that the policy is stringent - that sucks, but I get it. But I wasted an hour heading to the store hoping for some good news, and was met with truly callous douches. I'm sure tons of people want a deal before their contract is up, but holy crap at least fake some empathy.

Id say I'll leave them and pick up a new carrier, but as far as I can tell every one has about equal amounts of haters.

When I was in my dilemma a few weeks ago, I looked, and you could get a used smartphone for $35. Might want to check that out.

[docellis]

I honestly don't have any serious complaints with Sprint. They have worked with me when I needed an upgrade. I think they screw with my bill, but every telecommunications company (and financial company, for that matter) does, imo.

I do wish some company offered a reasonable wifi device. Something that could be offered as an add-on for under $20 a month that would allow wireless access anywhere to laptops and tablets and kindles. Is that out there?