You’re probably too young to remember back when you COULDN’T own your own phone. You rented it from South Central Bell or Southern Bell (we were right at the dividing line of the two Bell Babies). It was $4 per month per phone.

I remember once at a church business meeting I suggested we buy our phones and stop renting them from the company. One of the ladies explained to me that this way if a phone quit working, they would replace it at no additional charge.

I pointed out that we could buy a phone for $10 and at that rate if they averaged lasting longer than two and a half months a piece, it would still be cheaper to buy than to rent. They reluctantly went along.

Then the preacher wondered about the phone that was in the closet, if we needed to return it with the others. It had been in the closet, broken since he was called to pastor. We’d been paying $4 a month rent the entire time for a piece of junk.

Nobody was at fault, we just didn’t know.

And while the company doesn’t care about you like your family does, they DO want to keep you satisfied if that’s what it takes to keep your business (and get your money).

David for good value

I just don’t want to see the same thing happen when you have
a land line with NO OTHER OPTION, and they won’t give you
decent service. Don’t think it doesn’t happen.

I’m waiting for the day they won’t let you buy a telephone and the
only way you can get one is SIGN A 10 YEAR contract as I don’t
think any Company anymore cares about the customer.
It is all the same hoohaw, lock you in and Charge you up the
ying-yang! We don’t care, we don’t have to, we’re the PHONE
COMPANY…..

If there is only one land line provider and you MUST use a land line, you have no options. If you have other options and aren’t happy with your land line service, you might take one of those other options.

I agree, there are dead spots in houses and other areas which make wireless less favorable than landline. If it weren’t for that, even more people would have switched to wireless. We switched from Verizon to AT&T because they had such poor service in Century. I think Verizon improved service since then but haven’t checked because I am satisfied and won‘t change unless AT&T bugs me with poor service.

As to the 2 year contract, that is only to get a free or reduced cost cell phone. If you don’t get one, you don’t have to sign a long term contract. In fact several companies sell phones with so many minutes and no contract at all.

You have options.

David considering options

NO DAVID we need PSC or some fact simile over the land line
providers who would take our money and blow us off when we
don’t have service.

I just paid off my cell phone company (who told me when I signed
with them that I would have good service here and I found out I
had nothing in the house) over 5 hundred dollars to get out
of my contract. They said they don’t guarantee service in the home.
Well they said they did when I signed the contract. I discussed it
in some detail with them because I just waited for get out of my
contract with another company. Guess next time I’ll have to take my LAWYER to read the stupid thing and tell me if I should sign it or not.

I sure wouldn’t want that to happen with my Cell phone.
Nobody cares anymore.

“SPIT”

I think the idea is that you are no longer stuck with them if you don’t feel they are doing you justice. You can switch to some other carrier. If they have to provide service to get your money, they will do so or the one you finally stick with will.

David for freedom of choice

NOW WHAT !