Since there's absolutely no activity in its forum, I'm putting this Consumer Cellular advice-seeking post here.
I've had AT&T for so long (late '90s) it went through two name changes, first to Cingular, then back to AT&T. Before I moved back home to California, I had no connectivity issues. Before I moved, I gave them the address and asked if there would be good reception there; they said there was excellent coverage--but I'd need to upgrade my [pre-Android] phone, so I did.
Okay, so I arrive at my house...and find I get ZERO bars. Inside. If I walked all the way through the backyard, between the lemon and tangerine trees, I'd get one...sometimes two bars.
Two cell phones and five smartphones later, I still get virtually no reception in my house. Thank goodness the landline (and same phone number!) we've had for 48 years is 100% reliable.
The ONLY time I take my phone off airplane mode is when I leave my house, like for doctor visits. I'm paying the lowest rate I could negotiate with AT&T, ≈$38/month. I LITERALLY use zero data minutes most of the time; the only texting I do is via WhatsApp on wifi.
I've seen Consumer Cellular ads with rates as low as $15 or $20 a month. I know the company is geared toward, well, old geezers. Now, I have nothing against old geezers...since I'm one of them. But I'm not a CLUELESS old geezer, you know?
I'd like to know if CC would work out for me. Can I keep my existing phone and number? Does it work reliably on wifi? Is there any reason NOT to switch? Like customer service--or, as we see a lot today, a lack thereof. If you have any personal knowledge or experience with them, I'd love to hear it.
I've had AT&T for so long (late '90s) it went through two name changes, first to Cingular, then back to AT&T. Before I moved back home to California, I had no connectivity issues. Before I moved, I gave them the address and asked if there would be good reception there; they said there was excellent coverage--but I'd need to upgrade my [pre-Android] phone, so I did.
Okay, so I arrive at my house...and find I get ZERO bars. Inside. If I walked all the way through the backyard, between the lemon and tangerine trees, I'd get one...sometimes two bars.
Two cell phones and five smartphones later, I still get virtually no reception in my house. Thank goodness the landline (and same phone number!) we've had for 48 years is 100% reliable.
The ONLY time I take my phone off airplane mode is when I leave my house, like for doctor visits. I'm paying the lowest rate I could negotiate with AT&T, ≈$38/month. I LITERALLY use zero data minutes most of the time; the only texting I do is via WhatsApp on wifi.
I've seen Consumer Cellular ads with rates as low as $15 or $20 a month. I know the company is geared toward, well, old geezers. Now, I have nothing against old geezers...since I'm one of them. But I'm not a CLUELESS old geezer, you know?
I'd like to know if CC would work out for me. Can I keep my existing phone and number? Does it work reliably on wifi? Is there any reason NOT to switch? Like customer service--or, as we see a lot today, a lack thereof. If you have any personal knowledge or experience with them, I'd love to hear it.