Posted on 10/21/2012 11:03:20 AM PDT by MarkL
Have any Freepers used "Straight Talk" cellular service, and if so, what has your experience been like?
I've been a Verizon customer for at least 10 years now, but I would like to save some money, while at the same time upgrading to an Android phone. The though of being able to check Free Republic while away from my computer is attractive, and I was amazed at how well voice directions while traveling worked on a recent business trip when a coworker used his Android phone for directions.
The problem is that even the cheapest, prepaid service that Verizon offers will cost more than my current service plan costs. Verizon requires a "data plan" with the use of a smart phone, and while there would be a discount on the phone itself, I'd be looking at an additional $20 - $40 a month.
However, the $45/month prepaid Straight Talk plan will save me at least $30 a month, and possibly even more than I'm paying now.
Walmart will allow me to buy a phone, and if I'm unhappy, to return it within 14 days, though there would be no refund on the $45 airtime service. But this would allow me to keep my current Verizon service and phone number while testing the phone and service. Later, if I decide to stay with Straight Talk, I would have my phone number "ported over."
Do any Freepers have experience with Straight Talk and their $45 unlimited plans? Any experience with their customer service, or with porting phone numbers?
What about other services, like Virgin Mobile or any of the other carriers?
I've gotten lots of terrific advice from fellow Freepers over the years, and hope you can help me now!
Thanks in advance!
Mark
I’ve been using Straight Talk for over a year and love it. We finally determined the first phone I bought was a lemon, but because I purchased the replacement warranty ($9 for $100 phone) - I got a full refund on it.
The service is extremely reliable and while I don’t do much online with it - my 14yo daughter loves it.
Have used it for a couple of years and would have nothing else. Have a droid phone and the $45 monthly service. Unlimited truly means unlimited for talk, text and web. Lots of free apps too.
Straight Talk is a Tracfone company.
I tried Tracfone several years ago. Their spamming was ridiculous: 2 emails, 2 landline calls, 2 cell calls twice a week. I complained and finally dropped them.
A couple of years later, I checked them out again. This time, they had opt-outs. I signed up for their pay-as-you-go because I make/receive few calls. I have not had any problems with their service. I even talked to relatives who were traveling across the open spaces of North Texas and Western Oklahoma. I dropped my landline 4 years ago in favor of Tracfone. My $25/month + long distance landline bill changed to about $5/month plus about $0.10/minute.
Straight Talk offers cellphone web data, but not laptop/pc connection. [Check their small print, if you are looking at their data plan.]
Hi Mark,
I have used Straight Talk for a couple of years (with their cheapest flip phone) and just recently upgraded to an LG Optimus Logic ($89). I am very happy with the phone so far. The service has worked well here in Georgia and the surrounding Southeast.
The customer service is about like most - not native English speakers, often have to call you back, etc. But I have rarely had to deal with them so that has not been a big issue to me.
We switched from Sprint cells + AT&T land line - and have saved lots of $$ with this system. I did not use my Sprint # so I cannot help with that but when I got this new phone - the change-over was seamless. Good luck!
I have had it for a year - LOVE it! I purchased the LG Optimus Q and now I am on it all day checking political websites.
The only time I reached my “unlimited” limit is when I watched 18 episodes of White Collar one after another. I got an email stating that the fine print says something about unnatural :) usage. Other than that I love it.
It’s a wall of text, but you really should read this snip from the fine print before you go with Straight Talk. It’s really not a replacement for a full fledged carrier. It’s a service you’d recommend to your 70 year old grandmother who rarely uses her phone.
The Straight Talk Unlimited Plans MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous mobile to mobile or mobile to landline voice calls; (ii) automated text or picture messaging to another mobile device or e-mail address; (iii) uploading, downloading or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (iv) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing; or (v) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services and/or redirecting television signals for viewing on laptops is prohibited. A person engaged in prohibited uses may have his/her service terminated without notice or a refund.
The Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plan is for individual use only and not for resale. Specifically, Straight Talk Unlimited services are provided solely for live dialogue between, and initiated by, two individuals for personal use and as otherwise described in this policy. Unlimited voice services may not be used for any other purposes, including, but not limited to, conference calling, monitoring services, data transmissions, transmission of broadcasts, transmission of recorded material, interconnection to other networks, telemarketing, autodialed calls, other commercial uses, or other connections that do not consist of uninterrupted live dialogue between two individuals. Straight Talk reserves the right to cancel or deactivate service, and/or reduce data throughput, without notice, in order to protect the Carrier’s network from harm due to any cause including, without limitation, the excessive and/or improper use of Straight Talk service. Straight Talk reserves the right to limit or reduce data throughput speeds or the amount of data transferred, and to deny or terminate Service, without notice, to anyone Straight Talk believes is using the Straight Talk Unlimited Talk, Text and Mobile Web Access Plan in any manner prohibited above or whose usage, in Straight Talk’s sole discretion, adversely impacts the Carrier’s network or customer service levels. Straight Talk will presume you are engaging in a prohibited use in violation of these Terms and Conditions if in Straight Talk’s sole opinion, you are placing an abnormally high number of calls, or repeatedly placing calls of unusually long duration, or if your talk, text or Mobile Web usage is harmful or disruptive to the Carrier’s network or services. If we determine, at our sole discretion, that you are using an unlimited service in violation of the Straight Talk Terms and Conditions of Service, or in any other manner that we deem to be unreasonable or excessive, then we may terminate individual calls, terminate or reduce the speed of data connection throughput, Mobile Web Access or terminate your service, decline to renew your service, or offer you a different service plan with no unlimited usage component. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Straight Talk reserves the right to deny service, deactivate or cancel existing service, terminate data connections and/or reduce data throughput speeds, to anyone for any reason at any time, in Straight Talk’s sole discretion.
Straight Talk may discontinue providing Service to you, discontinue your account, discontinue providing connections to particular telephone numbers or types of Services used or called by you, terminate data connections and/or reduce data throughput speeds for customers whose usage, in the sole judgment of Straight Talk: (1) appear likely to generate abnormally high call volumes or Mobile Web Access and data usage and/or abnormally long average call lengths or Mobile Web Access and data usage as compared to the usage of other Straight Talk customers; (2) may be harmful, disruptive, or interfere with the Carrier’s network or Straight Talk or the Carrier’s ability to provide service to other customers; or (3) for any other reason in Straight Talk’s sole discretion. For detailed description of activities that could result in service interruption or termination, see paragraph 7 and the section entitled “Straight Talk Features: Intended Use” under the Mobile Web Services Section below. By initiating Service and placing or receiving calls, you acknowledge and agree to Straight Talk’s right to terminate your Service under these circumstances.
Straight Talk may modify or cancel any Service or take corrective action at any time without prior notice and for any reason, including but not limited to your violation of this agreement.
7. STRAIGHT TALK UNLIMITED PLANS CANNOT BE USED FOR: (1) access to the Internet, intranets, or other data networks except as the device’s native applications and capabilities permit, or (2) any applications that tether your device to a laptop or personal computer other than for the use of Wireless Sync. IN ADDITION TO THE DISCLAIMERS SET FORTH IN THE AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE USE OF THE STRAIGHT TALK MOBILE WEB SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. STRAIGHT TALK MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT THE STRAIGHT TALK MOBILE WEB SERVICES WILL (i) MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (ii) ALLOW ACCESS TO ALL THIRD PARTY SITES, OR (iii) BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE OR ERROR FREE. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THE AGREEMENT OR THE STRAIGHT TALK MOBILE WEB SERVICES TERMS OF USE. You are responsible for all activities undertaken by you using the Straight Talk Mobile Web Services, including without limitation, the use of email. You shall not use, nor permit others to use, the Straight Talk Mobile Web Services in a manner or for a purpose contrary to this Agreement.
Straight Talk is another Tracfone company along with Net10. Tens of millions of people use these, including most of the Obamaphone users. The lease agreements will get “straightened” out, they always do. I’ve averaged about $9.50/month with Tracfone and Net 10 over the past several years and no service territory problems. I see that Straighttalk offers Android phones now. The data limits would not be an issue for non smartphone customers like me.
I have been using Straight talk for couple of years and plan to stay with them. The program is with out problems.
My S T plan is through Verizon.
I will never return to Verizon other than thru S T due to over billing while I was with them.
Wouldn’t that be homophobic?
Be careful. A large majority of FReepers are within 10 or 15 years of “70 year old grandmother”. Some of us even have outstanding technical credentials.
The OP is looking at upgrading to a smart phone though. That puts him in an entirely different category than you. I have to routinely call and threaten to cancel my service for 5 phones and 4 tablets, because I hit a data cap somewhere. One road trip from Dallas to Seattle, and I used 11g of data.
I’m not sure what this means..... I use it for the internet without any problem....I am constantly texting my children away at college, etc. I have never had any issues with “prohibited uses”. I am NOT 70 and use my phone all of the time....
My phone is a smart phone....
I’ve been using TracFone for almost a decade and it’s great. TracFone, StraightTalk and Net10 are all owned by the same company. When my minutes run out next time I am moving to Net10’s $15 a month plan that gives you 200 rollover minutes a month.
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