and dealing with various cell companies can be ugly...
however, I really like my current phone...
it's a Sprint Treo 755p, "smart phone"...
and since I don't have an ISP at home anymore...
it's been my link to e-mail at home or on the go...
and since my home phone is NOT working properly right now...
[and isn't getting fixed any time soon...]
it's become very important to me...
several months ago...
I went to the web site and removed the insurance...
[$7 per/mo....anything to save money...]
my plan [Fair & Flexible 300] includes :
nationwide long distance...
unlimited nights & weekends...
300 anytime minutes... for $35p/m
a small data package[online + texts] for $15p/m
all taxes, etc included...
BUT... my contract was expiring 12/02/09...
and when investigating all the e-mail offers to "re-up"...
everything was, "upgrade your phone"[$$$]
and the cheapest plan listed that allowed internet access...
WAS $ 90 !!! p/m...
I didn't need a "new" phone...mine is working fine...
it cost $600... and hopefully has years left...
[it's also my datebook & phone book...
I have 10 years of records on my computer in Palm OS...
I don't want to re-do everything, nor can I afford to...]
and when I used the Sprint usage calculator on the website...
my current plan fit perfectly...
But they no longer offer it...
according to the website, I'd need to buy a new phone...
& a more expensive service plan...
so I called... navigating a pretty simple menu...
[that was refreshing...]
and got quickly connected [what's up with that ?]...
to a friendly customer service person who was obviously NOT in India...[?]
I gave her my info, she made sure that I, was "really me"...
and then asked what she could do to help me...
I told her that my current contract was about to expire...
that my phone worked and I wanted to keep it...
she said, "no problem"...
she did tell me that because of my history with the company...
if I had wanted to "upgrade", I could get the $150 off deal...
[not bad, usually, returning customers have to pay full price...]
I then went on to ask if I could renew my current plan...
and she said,"yes, as long as continue to use a phone...
that is supported by the small data bundle[ie,NOT a touch screen]...
I could continue to renew my current plan..."
she also checked my usage and said...
"You're right, your current plan is the best plan for you..."
AND... then she said,"As a loyalty reward, if you renew for 2 more years...
we will give you a choice of $50 off once...
OR 10% of your bill, each month, FOR 2 YEARS !"
"I'd take the 10% for 2 years, if I were you..."
since I had prepared myself to barter for a 4 year contract...
if I could convince them to let me keep my phone & plan...
I was thrilled !
so now, my cell phone bill will only be around $45 p/m...
with all the features I listed before...
their cheapest new plan was $29.99 p/m...
for 200 minutes and no internet...
and if I need a new phone at anytime in the future ?
she told me that they still carry Treo 755ps...
and as long as I stay with that phone or its ilk...
I can keep my cheap plan...
thanks, Sprint !
and thanks to Him who sends the "little miracles"...
God is good, all the time...
2 comments:
Ah, isn't it sweet when something in this crazy world actually goes not only well but how we wanted it! Hold on to that Treo! I traded mine in an got an iPhone which does all kinds of "neat" things but it is a terrible phone (dropped calls constantly) and I pay about $85/mo for the privilege!Makes me long for my cute little red Treo (which I still have in my closet with all its connecting gadgets!) but I have gotton so used to the "bells and whistles" of the iPhone that I just can't go back...but wish I had never "gone forward!"
...a good lesson in staying with the simple, though I know many who would never call a PDA,"simple"...
as far as the newest phones go, my Treo IS simple...my low use "data" plan doesn't allow downloads from YouTube or will it open "attatchments"...but it sends and receives calls, e-mails, goes online & has even gotten a couple of text messages... it's also my calendar & address book... all that I need, especially since I don't have an ISP at home, oe a home phone that works ...
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