CELL PHONE QUESTION
Mike got a new cell phone for his birthday. We wanted to switch him to a pay as you go plan, as that saves us a lot of $ each month. Well, we bought the phone, but he REALLY doesn't like it. The service is fine (I have the same service) but he hates his new phone. Does anyone know, if I buy him a new cell phone model for Christmas, can I just transfer the pay as you go service to the new phone somehow? Does it matter what phone I buy? I know I'll have to pay full price, since I'm not buying it with a plan, I just want him to have a phone he likes. |
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| It all depends on your carrier. My personal belief is that ALL CELL PHONE companies are out to get as much money as they possibley can from you any way they possibly can. If there is a way to charge you more and give you less they will figure it out.
For example, last Christmas the "big deal" phone was the Treo. Verizon (who I am with) had ads absolutely EVERYWHERE for the phone. It was priced at $299.00. There were ads on TV, in magazines and even pop ups all over the internet. I have been a Verizon customer for years and years and years. I went to the Verizon store to buy one for Doug for Christmas and was informed that the cost to ME since I was an existing customer was $495.00!!!!!!!!!!! The sale price was only for new customers. So much for customer loyalty!! So I suggest you contact your company and see what the "real deal" is. What ever it is I'm betting it's going to cost you more than it should and more than you think it will. Just sign me; "A bitter cell phone consumer" |
| Since you are on a pay as you go, I don't see as to why you can't go and buy any phone that is a pay and go. You are not tied to any contracts. |
| Yes but even with "pay as you go" she is bound by the "rules" of the provider. You can't just buy any phone and take it to any service provider.
When we added Doug to my phone plan he had just purchased a phone through another provider. Verizon would not allow us to use his old phone, we had to buy a Verizon phone. They told us that the phones are set up differently. |
| They are not just set up differently -- different carriers operate on different frequencies, so there is a technical reason why you have to get a phone for your specific carrier.
I also tend to think that carriers only allow pay as you go on certain models. I would check with them because there has to be a way for the phone and the carrier to communicate regarding the status of the account. I wonder if that functionality is embedded in the phone software. My advice is to call the carrier to ask there questions.  |
I am not real familiar with the pay as you go, except for Boost Mobile through Nextel. With Boost, you are able to purchase any Boost phone that you want. There are no "penalty charges" for changing phones. You just call them and tell them you have purchase a different phone and wish to change the service to that number. With number portability available now, you can change service providers and still keep your number. The penalty charges usually only apply when you are under contract and try to purchase a new phone. I hear the complaints on that one every day, since I work for Sprint/Nextel.  |
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