Let me take this opportunity to tell you all how Cingular is screwing me over, yet again. I hate them so much.
They are charging me a fee to be on my current network. My contract expires at the end of October, but they will not let me out of my contract unless I "upgrade" and, of course, sign on with them for more time. So, basically, I am stuck paying them $10 because I cannot leave them until the end of October. I hate them so much.
Why not upgrade? Well, because I hate Cingular. Actually, as I will tell them in a letter once my number is safely transferred to another company and all accounts are paid in full, hate does not quite get at the level of LOATHING and DISDAIN I feel for this company. Here's why: They say their network is more reliable, which is complete bullshit. Everyone I know who has fallen for this spiel (or been coherced into falling for it, as in the case of my dear friend Mel) and "upgraded" to their GSM network has just as many problems as I have. If not more, given the crazy voicemail nightmare that some of my friends have.
And, Cingular's favorite line of all time? "Well, that's a problem with your phone, so we're not responsible." Not EVERYTHING is a problem with the phone. Some things are problems with your bogus bullshit network, Cingular.
My favorite commercial right now is the Verizon commercial where the guy is standing there with two other real employees and a bunch of cardboard cutouts claiming that they're just like Verizon and then when the customer knocks over all the cutouts, the guy says, "That is a problem and we are working on it." That's Cingular's other favorite line. And when I told them that I was not interested at all in continuing with the company and that I either wanted out of my contract or I wanted the fee waived, they told me that that was not possible. Now, AT&T, which was the best company ever, and I curse them daily for getting out of residential, would have offered me a ridiculous amount of free promotional minutes at this point in the conversation. And it's not like I'd take them because I would rather eat my own feet than stay with Cingular at this point, but at least they would have offered. Cingular doesn't even care. They don't care at all. They're like, "Psshhh, go ahead an leave then."
I can tell you one thing: The day I pay more money for fewer minutes, less coverage, and the same quality reception will be a cold day in hell.
As always, this is just one way that Cingular is raising the bar while I have to assume the position. Their bullshit fee is the absolute last straw. Verizon or Team Mobile or Sprint, here I come.
If any of you all are considering Cingular, I suggest that you reconsider, unless of course you like taking it up the ass, in which case, proceed to the Cingular store nearest you.
Posted by LoWriter at September 29, 2006 07:26 PMI concur! They told me it was a problem with my phone too even though my cell service was the new 'gsm' service. I have to say, personally, I like TMobile. They offer you free minutes for anything, but that's just what I've heard. I don't think I've ever had to call for a reason. I don't know if they cover up north though.
Btw: I know your pissed, but the article is hilarious.
Posted by: 10lees at September 29, 2006 08:40 PMI'm so happy it was hilarious! That's what I was going for!
Yeah, the up-north coverage will really be the deciding factor. And now that I seem to be a bit of a travelor, roaming/no roaming will probably be a factor as well. And texting. Really, I'm going to go to them and say, "Look, I'm leaving Cingular. Tell me why your won't suck as much as they do."
Posted by: Lo at September 30, 2006 09:01 AMI have T-Mobile currently and it is alright. I have good coverage around the TC Metro but can be shoddy at best when veturing off of major highways. I recently went to a wedding in Iowa and lost data coverage for a couple hours on I35. Phone was still working but data coverage must have been too busy out driving the combine.
I miss AT&T too.
Posted by: jeff at October 2, 2006 08:36 AMoccasionaly i have to update my phone, but everytime i do so, i get better coverage... verizon really is the largest network. but you really gotta go for what works in your important zones, ie back home. :o) oh yeah, and verizon is really good for shared packages. i dont know what they offer right now for individuals, so you'd better do some research. oh yeah. nothin' like mindless research for lower bills.
Posted by: dr gonzo at October 2, 2006 10:30 AMEither Sprint or VZW should get you the coverage you want. VZW is a bit better in rural areas, but they haven't been keeping up well with the subscriber growth in the cities. As for cost, if you can get the ID and email of a Sprint employee go for SERO, as it'll blow pretty much everything else from anyone away on pricing.
Posted by: Jeremy at October 2, 2006 08:17 PM