#$%& cell phone service

[swampgator]

Well, George and Steve,
I have first hand experience with those who are militarily retired. They do qualify. How many E-7's and E-8's do you wish for me to line up for you? And, I know one retired Navy Captain who is using the service. Huh? Remember, I live in a military community and many of them retired. Many of them who are informed carry those phones. It does not matter if able or disabled retired military.

If you are on Medicare, you do qualify. My wife gets Medicare, not Medicaid and she was offered the phone some years back. Also, the TV ads specify if you are on either, you qualify. Your income can disqualify you. Also, only one per household per carrier.

Now, for a fact, as a retired DOD worker, I do NOT qualify because I make so much money. Forget I get about $1500 per month, I still make too much. I normally have my facts before I make statements like that so you may wish to verify for yourself. It may have something to do where you live as you apply by zip code. I have not checked out that part. To my knowledge, it is a Federal program. Go to the websites and apply.

Fact check: https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Safeli ... o/benefits

http://www.assurancewireless.com/public/FAQs.aspx#faq4

[oldc6]

Farmer: If you want the latest high tech stuff it will cost you.

In my other life in the automotive world. Keyless entry systems. alarm systems, backup sensors, backup cameras, built in GPS systems, automatic
temp control. The list goes on and on.

If a gadget is offered the people will buy it. Especially when the neighbor
just got one.

I am 69 years old , and really dont want to be connected that much. Time for a little piece and quiet.

Because of my frugal ways we have had two trac phones for the last ten years. costs $20.00 every three months for a new card. We had to replace both of them this year because the batteries quit $14.95 each and that includes double minutes with each card.

Now, off the subject a bit. I drive a Ford Ranger 4 cyl. manual trans.
28-30 mpg.

car is a 2010 Mecury Grand Marquis. 24-25mpg. car does have keyless entry
and auto temp control. thats the only way you can get them equipped. It also has a Garmin GPS which cost $150.00 plus $7.00 for the sandbag to set
\on the dash......

These vehicles fit my needs as wife has a bad leg and cannot get inot a lot
of vehicles. We dont camp or boat so, the Ranger works fine. Have hauled three different shopsmiths home in it. Sometimes with attachments.

The moral of my story is,,, if you can afford it get it, and enjoy it. In my case i would rather spend it on a tool or some wood for a project..........

[fjimp]

I find the phone discussion highly informative. My wife and I have used high tech phones for several years. I discovered my wife liked them every time mine went missing. I first bought one as a business tool. She was working in a Medical research lab. We have found them great tools. However the last four years we find carriers promising service have no desire or ability to deliver. We lived for 17 years in rural Virginia and for 15 of those years had reasonable coverage. Then Verizon purchased a small local carrier and disconnected the rural towers. Then T mobile promised the moon. When they weren't delivering explained our phones wouldn't work with new towers. Yes we bought new phones which were offering no service. T Mobile invited us to take a hike because they cancelled an agreement with AT&T which subsequently worked great until we relocated to Colorado. Over the last two years their service has diminished constantly. We have been given a high tech booster that funnels our calls thru our home wireless service. Some days its fine some days the air magically turns blue. Last evening we were comparing notes with our kids whom have all switched to trac phones and find their service diminished by the day. Virtually everyone I speak with is angry about poor cell service. Hey why hasn't this been a political argument, perhaps it is a government conspiracy, I say with only a slight grin. Personally I am convinced the cell phone industry is united in destroying the concept. Jim

[allsas]

Thanks for the topic. I had been following the Tracphone since it was endorsed previously on the forum. I'm waiting to get a cell phone when I hear of a HAPPY customer.

Reminds me of the two dinosaurs having lunch down in the swamp. Lunch was going great, lots of good stuff to eat, no meat eaters harassing them, clean water, and no volcanoes spewing ash. A phone starts ringing.

Both dinosaurs ignore the ringing phone and continue having lunch. The phone continues to ring.

Finally, the little dinosaur roars " Is that your phone?"

The much bigger dinosaur calmly answers " No, we don't have phones, We're DINOSAURS!".

Had to be there.

[Ed in Tampa]

The thing that bugs me and I wonder how they get away with it is requiring Data Service plan if you have a smart phone.

I want a smart phone and would use the "smart" side of it only on WIFI.

I'm told if I buy an unlocked smart phone without a data plan that each provider will eventually require me to buy data service.

None of the providers will sell you a smart phone without a data plan.

This should be against the law. How can they require me to buy something I never would use? I'm willing to pay full price for the phone.