Advice Requested Regarding Provider Switching

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

My PCS phone, a very outdated StarTac, is on its last legs. I have
not been able to find any Sprint PCS phones for under $150 at any
Sprint store and am unwilling to spend that much on a new phone since
my needs are pretty basic (i.e., no camera or color screen necessary).

I also don't want to lose my current phone number, and Sprint is only
interested in offering me a free phone if I open a new account. Not
interested.

Therefore, I'm looking to switch providers. My last contract with
Sprint expired about two years ago, and T-Mobile seems to have a
relatively good offer available now, so I'm leaning toward them.

What do I have to do to seamlessly leap from one to the other? What
I'd like to avoid is paying both T-Mobile and Sprint for the same
month's service. In other words, I just received my latest Sprint
invoice. Will Sprint reduce the amount owed once I cancel the account
if it's only halfway through the invoice period? If not, then do I
just need to try and set up my new T-Mobile account so that it goes
into effect only at the end of my current Sprint invoice?

Does that make sense? Is it possible to avoid overlapping agreements?

Dennis

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <8999142c.0404070904.79281677@posting.google.com>,
chicagodennis@hotmail.com (Dennis McLaughlin) wrote:

> My PCS phone, a very outdated StarTac, is on its last legs. I have
> not been able to find any Sprint PCS phones for under $150 at any
> Sprint store and am unwilling to spend that much on a new phone since
> my needs are pretty basic (i.e., no camera or color screen necessary).
>
> I also don't want to lose my current phone number, and Sprint is only
> interested in offering me a free phone if I open a new account. Not
> interested.
>
> Therefore, I'm looking to switch providers. My last contract with
> Sprint expired about two years ago, and T-Mobile seems to have a
> relatively good offer available now, so I'm leaning toward them.
>
> What do I have to do to seamlessly leap from one to the other? What
> I'd like to avoid is paying both T-Mobile and Sprint for the same
> month's service. In other words, I just received my latest Sprint
> invoice. Will Sprint reduce the amount owed once I cancel the account
> if it's only halfway through the invoice period? If not, then do I
> just need to try and set up my new T-Mobile account so that it goes
> into effect only at the end of my current Sprint invoice?
>
> Does that make sense? Is it possible to avoid overlapping agreements?
>
> Dennis

They all make it painfully difficult to do what you want to do.

If you still are using your StarTac, Sprint will give you the same
discount as any new customer on a new phone, only as a rebate. Given
if the phone you're using has been in service for 18 months or longer.
Go to a Sprint Store and talk to the manager (maybe on a Tuesday
afternoon when they're not busy) and politely ask for what you want.
Apparently store managers have some discretion.

WLNP although supposed to happen in 3 1/2 hours usually doesn't. Your
account has to be active in order to be switched, and you dont want to
cancel Sprint before its switched if thats what you decide to do.

If you must go to T-Mobile wait till there's say a week left in your
billing period at SprintPCS and then go to T-Mobile; and cancel at
SprintPCS only when you are fully ported (often 3 or 4 days; only
sometimes the same day as FCC expects).

Good Luck; another option is buying a lightly used phone on eBay; many
times folks buy a SprintPCS phone (like the RL2500) and then decide they
want the VM4500 a month later, so they sell their phone on eBay.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

"Robert M." <rmarkoff@msn.com> wrote in message
news:rmarkoff-13DFF7.12200507042004@news6.west.earthlink.net...

>
> They all make it painfully difficult to do what you want to do.

Contrary to this statement, portability is happening same business day for a
greater majority of all cellular customers. Delays do still occur in some
cases, but the frequency of that has diminished greatly. And unlike Robert,
who has by his own accounts never ported a number, I speak from the inside
of the industry (but not for either of the carriers you mention).


>
> WLNP although supposed to happen in 3 1/2 hours usually doesn't. Your
> account has to be active in order to be switched, and you dont want to
> cancel Sprint before its switched if thats what you decide to do.

See my previous comments- Robert has a habit of using outdated material.

>
> If you must go to T-Mobile wait till there's say a week left in your
> billing period at SprintPCS and then go to T-Mobile; and cancel at
> SprintPCS only when you are fully ported (often 3 or 4 days; only
> sometimes the same day as FCC expects).

There is no need to cancel at Sprint- the account is cancelled as soon as
the port occurs.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

"Dennis McLaughlin" <chicagodennis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8999142c.0404070904.79281677@posting.google.com...
> My PCS phone, a very outdated StarTac, is on its last legs. I have
> not been able to find any Sprint PCS phones for under $150 at any
> Sprint store and am unwilling to spend that much on a new phone since
> my needs are pretty basic (i.e., no camera or color screen necessary).
>
> I also don't want to lose my current phone number, and Sprint is only
> interested in offering me a free phone if I open a new account. Not
> interested.
>
> Therefore, I'm looking to switch providers. My last contract with
> Sprint expired about two years ago, and T-Mobile seems to have a
> relatively good offer available now, so I'm leaning toward them.
>
> What do I have to do to seamlessly leap from one to the other? What
> I'd like to avoid is paying both T-Mobile and Sprint for the same
> month's service. In other words, I just received my latest Sprint
> invoice. Will Sprint reduce the amount owed once I cancel the account
> if it's only halfway through the invoice period? If not, then do I
> just need to try and set up my new T-Mobile account so that it goes
> into effect only at the end of my current Sprint invoice?
>
> Does that make sense? Is it possible to avoid overlapping agreements?
>
> Dennis

Dennis, when you spoke with SPCS, did you ask whether you were eligible for
a credit on a new phone? SPCS was offering a deal for those phones in
service for 18 months or longer and with the same telephone number for that
same period of time. Give SPCS cust. svc. a call again and see whether that
offer is still available.

Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

Thank you so far to everyone who has offered advice here.

Unfortunately, my StarTAC, whilst ancient, has only been in use for my
account since April 2003, so I am not eligible for any special
18-month deals from Sprint. I was rather hoping they might work with
me anyway, if only to keep me from leaving. I did inquire about this
possibility at a couple of Sprint stores, but none of the sales
guys/managers I spoke with was interested in making a deal.

Just for the hell of it, I'm going to look around eBay for some of the
used models mentioned, but I'm leaning more and more toward switching
to T-Mobile since their $39.99 plan looks like it will fill most of my
needs whilst saving me ten dollars a month in the bargain.

Does Sprint pro-rate final bills if the account is cancelled in the
middle of a month?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

"tom ronson" <tonostuff@blahoo.com> wrote in message
news:407446ad$0$71062$a8266bb1@news.titannews.com...
>
> "Bob Smith" <usirsclt_No_Spam_@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:ASWcc.319$A_4.85@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> > Give SPCS cust. svc. a call again and see whether that
> > offer is still available.
>
> Or click here....
>
> http/pcshandsetupgrade.sprint.com/
>
> (saves the call, and probable frustration)
>
> To the OP, look on ebay for a Sanyo 4900 --- there are a ton of them going
> cheap ---- great phone, with outstanding battery life. Get the ESN and
check
> to see if Sprint will activate it before you spend your $$ --- might save
> you some heartburn.

Good show there Tom! I was trying to find that link for quite a bit of time
.... . Got it bookmarked now for future posts ...

Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <8999142c.0404071816.cd67dfc@posting.google.com>,
chicagodennis@hotmail.com (Dennis McLaughlin) wrote:

> Does Sprint pro-rate final bills if the account is cancelled in the
> middle of a month?

SprintPCS do something customer friendly? You already know the answer.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

"Dennis McLaughlin" <chicagodennis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8999142c.0404071816.cd67dfc@posting.google.com...
> Thank you so far to everyone who has offered advice here.
>
> Unfortunately, my StarTAC, whilst ancient, has only been in use for my
> account since April 2003, so I am not eligible for any special
> 18-month deals from Sprint. I was rather hoping they might work with
> me anyway, if only to keep me from leaving. I did inquire about this
> possibility at a couple of Sprint stores, but none of the sales
> guys/managers I spoke with was interested in making a deal.
>
> Just for the hell of it, I'm going to look around eBay for some of the
> used models mentioned, but I'm leaning more and more toward switching
> to T-Mobile since their $39.99 plan looks like it will fill most of my
> needs whilst saving me ten dollars a month in the bargain.
>
> Does Sprint pro-rate final bills if the account is cancelled in the
> middle of a month?

No, they don't, and for good reason as well. If you went over the minutes on
a pro-rata basis, you could owe more money.

Bob

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <rmarkoff-13DFF7.12200507042004@news6.west.earthlink.net>,
rmarkoff@msn.com says...
> If you must go to T-Mobile wait till there's say a week left in your
> billing period at SprintPCS and then go to T-Mobile; and cancel at
> SprintPCS only when you are fully ported (often 3 or 4 days; only
> sometimes the same day as FCC expects).
>

No, with WLNP, once the number ports over, the account closes
automatically.

--
RØß
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <8999142c.0404071816.cd67dfc@posting.google.com>,
chicagodennis@hotmail.com says...
> Unfortunately, my StarTAC, whilst ancient, has only been in use for my
> account since April 2003, so I am not eligible for any special
> 18-month deals from Sprint.
>


Has this phone been used before that, though? If a phone has built
up 18 months of service, even with broken periods in between
involving other phones, a Cust service specialist *can* override the
18-month qualification.

--
RØß
O/Siris
I work for Sprint PCS
I *don't* speak for them

 

[Mike]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

O/Siris wrote:
> In article <8999142c.0404071816.cd67dfc@posting.google.com>,
> chicagodennis@hotmail.com says...
>
>>Unfortunately, my StarTAC, whilst ancient, has only been in use for my
>>account since April 2003, so I am not eligible for any special
>>18-month deals from Sprint.
>>
>
>
>
> Has this phone been used before that, though? If a phone has built
> up 18 months of service, even with broken periods in between
> involving other phones, a Cust service specialist *can* override the
> 18-month qualification.
>

This is something I was thinking about posting a new thread on today. I
was considering taking my A620 off my account and putting my Sony
Z-Phone back on.
1) I really like that Z-Phone.
2) I really want to get out of a bad failure/replace cycle I've gotten
in with my retailer warranty. I should have been rebate eligible in late
March 04, but I've had something like eight new phones in the mean time
- mostly from software problems.

So, what you're saying is that I could call Customer Care for an ESN
swap, pick out a phone, and possibly get the rebate?
-mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <Q%ddc.1725$A_4.1164@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
Mike <spamtrap@zbuffer.com> wrote:

> O/Siris wrote:
> > In article <8999142c.0404071816.cd67dfc@posting.google.com>,
> > chicagodennis@hotmail.com says...
> >
> >>Unfortunately, my StarTAC, whilst ancient, has only been in use for my
> >>account since April 2003, so I am not eligible for any special
> >>18-month deals from Sprint.
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > Has this phone been used before that, though? If a phone has built
> > up 18 months of service, even with broken periods in between
> > involving other phones, a Cust service specialist *can* override the
> > 18-month qualification.
> >
>
> This is something I was thinking about posting a new thread on today. I
> was considering taking my A620 off my account and putting my Sony
> Z-Phone back on.
> 1) I really like that Z-Phone.
> 2) I really want to get out of a bad failure/replace cycle I've gotten
> in with my retailer warranty. I should have been rebate eligible in late
> March 04, but I've had something like eight new phones in the mean time
> - mostly from software problems.
>
> So, what you're saying is that I could call Customer Care for an ESN
> swap, pick out a phone, and possibly get the rebate?

Start the ESN swap on the web, otherwise you may be hit with a $36
activation fee.

 

[Mike]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

Robert M. wrote:


>
> Start the ESN swap on the web, otherwise you may be hit with a $36
> activation fee.


Thanks for the advice, but I don't think I can.

http/activate.sprintpcs.com quote:

"Make sure your old phone is not a PCS Vision Phone."

I'd be swapping out an A620, which is a Vision phone.

-mike

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.sprintpcs (More info?)

In article <sVedc.1778$A_4.1528@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
Mike <spamtrap@zbuffer.com> wrote:

> Robert M. wrote:
>
>
> >
> > Start the ESN swap on the web, otherwise you may be hit with a $36
> > activation fee.
>
>
> Thanks for the advice, but I don't think I can.
>
> http/activate.sprintpcs.com quote:
>
> "Make sure your old phone is not a PCS Vision Phone."
>
> I'd be swapping out an A620, which is a Vision phone.

No matter, start it on the web, then call up and tell them you started
it on the web, and you don't think you should be charged.