Posted on 12/08/2006 4:11:05 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
(CBS4) BOSTON -- Picking a cell phone service can be pretty confusing. They all offer deep discounts and big promises but which one will really work when you need it?
Consumer Reports just tested the biggest cell phone service.
It's an ongoing battle. Cell companies are going head to head claiming to be the best.
Rosalind Tordesillas says a recent survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center shows one in four people are looking to change their cell service providers.
The survey asked almost 43,000 subscribers in 20 major cities about the five major carriers.
"Poor phone service, like dropped calls or no service at all was still among the top complaints. In fact, among those who had switched carriers within the past three years more than half said they did because of poor service," said Tordesillas.
Cingular and Sprint tended to score lower in the survey.
Verizon Wireless, as in previous years, was among the leaders in all 20 cities, particularly noted for strong customer service.
T-mobile, a close contender, was also noted for strong customer service, but Consumer Reports says there's still room for improvement.
"Overall satisfaction with cell phone service scored 66 on our scale of a 100. That's lower than many services that we rate. And it's the same league as other low scorers like cable TV and computer tech support," Tordesillas said.
If you're not happy with your cell phone service, Consumer Reports says check out its survey of top rated carriers first.
And when shopping for a new carrier, it's also important to check the service's coverage maps. You should also talk to family, friends and co-workers to see which service does well where you live, work, and travel.
I switched from Cingular to Sprint and have loved the change. Unlimited calls after 6:00pm weeknights and all weekend. NEVER a dropped call. I even canceled my land line and went with only cellular it's so reliable. Oh, and NO roaming charges... ever.
Satisfied Sprint user here too.
I have had nothing but good experiences with Cingular. I can even get a strong signal on base where others have trouble. We also have no land line, mostly because we call home so often, it is cheaper using the cell. I haven't had any bad experiences with dropped calls, and their customer service has always been good so far. We've had them for two years and just resigned our contracts.
Also, we had Verizon before Cingular, and it was a nightmare. Can you hear me now my a$$.
My Sprint contract runs out in January and I need to shop it around. I have 3 phones on it and will be adding a 4th and I need to find the least expensive quality service possible, but, to tell the truth, trying to compare the various plans makes my eyes glaze over and gives me a headache. "I try to think, but nuttin' happens"
I get a 15% NASA discount on any Sprint plan so that's nice. It basically eliminates the taxes. Since this is my personal phone the vast majority of my calls are after work. I paid an extra $10/month to get unlimited calling after 6:00pm. Plus I get 400 anytime minutes for a total of $44/month. The no roaming deal has come in handy a few times. When I was in the boonies the phone went analog roam. No $3/minute charges, or whatever the ridiculous roaming charges are. I think I can add phones for $10/month each.
My only cell is a Cingular "pay-as-you-go" account for emergencies and when travelling. It's turned off far more often than it is turned on. My only two complaints are that I can't hear it (Nokia) when not in loudspeaker mode and the weakest signal area I've tried to call in is my own home.
Too many people are just too addicted to their phones. The last time I was at the supermarket, I found more people chatting away on their cells than I did actually buying food!
I have had Verizon for several years, no land line, no problems. My wife and I each have a phone and share 1400 any time minutes a month and unlimited nights and week ends. Total cost $84 per month. My wife's employer reimburses her $65 per month because they require her to have one.
Heckuva deal!
Do they require her to keep it handy 24/7 also?
Sorry for the late reply but yes, they do. Most of her incoming business calls are during business hours though.
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