Complicated Helio/Sprint/Android situation-I have til May 25th to solve

Where do I even start?

Helio is done, gone, over, service is bye bye in 7 days from this post, May 25th; lights out. I need a replacement for my Ocean.

I pre-ordered the Evo. When I went to get a Sprint phone today (temp, to bridge the May 25th-June 4th gap) they told me that back in 2001, when I closed my business, I left a $422 bill. Whoops! If I recall, I tried to cancel all 4 or 5 phones we had, and they claimed I'd have to keep paying for 30 days post billing. I told them to go pound sand.

But that's linked to my SS number...9 years later. Ugh...whoops!

So, now I've got a $50 Best Buy gift card, a Zagg screen protector on order, and a phone that I probably won't be able to activate without paying $422 extra.

Switch to something else? New carrier? Here's a quick rundown of more goofiness:

-On top of everything else, I cracked the screen on my Helio last night, so NOW would be a nice time for a phone.
-My hands are huge. If the Dell mini 5 is coming, I'm getting it! Bigger is better for me.
-Will the 4g coverage in Tampa even stretch to me in downtown St. Petersburg? No point in the 4g if not.
-I have no shame is trying TMobile for 30 days, then Verizon, etc...If they all offer 30 day returns. There are a LOT of Android devices coming.
-I have no issue with an unlocked device on Metro PCS, etc.
-I've got a stupid $50 gift card to Best Buy now, so TMobile and Verizon might be the only companies I can use it with.
-If Helio takes up to 3 days to port, where will my current number ring to May 25-??

I want a bad ass camera, on a big ass phone, and not a lot of hassle. What to do? TMobile's new $50 unlimited plan looks nice, and I will see what they have in 30 days?

Will my pre-order spot be worth anything to someone on June 4th? Maybe Sprint will end up like Verizon and be scrambling for weeks to fill orders?

 

Avoid Sprint? Heck yeah! IIRC, I went to cancel my service after having 4-5 phones with them for 10 years, and they told me I MUST keep it active for 30 days after my next billing cycle. I'll never pay that bill, as it's already ruined my credit, and there's no moral obligation (IMHO) to pay for service not used. I didn't want to use Sprint, at all, ever ever ever again...but ooooh, the EVO!

Here's a little funny tidbit-yesterday, after being told this bill was still outstanding, I talked to customer service. I thought maybe I can work out something; pay a portion, whatever.

After explaining 10 different ways that my old phone number will not pull up my old account (long since it's been reassigned to another PCS phone), I was finally transfered to someone in finance. With broken English, I hear, "OK, let me put you on hold while I look into this..." and then the phone went dead.

Ahhhh...gotta love Sprint customer "service."

 

T Mobile is looking like a winner, month to month. Trying to figure out a cheap phone to "root" and "ROM". I love playing around with stuff like that, so I'm researching it now. This may be more fun than just buying an Evo.

BTW, I found out that the old Helio Ocean can be flashed to metroPCS. ugh...wow. I'm actually going to keep this for a while? I've got a replacement screen. This damn phone won't stay away from me!

 

I'm a long time Google Voice and Skype user, with a local Skype number. How would this work?

Are you talking about using an Android phone? $250 for a Hero flashed for pcsMetro.

 

I don't know if the contract stated that I was to give 30 days after the billing cycle. It matters not. I'm not paying $422. That's final. They're not going to get me service anywhere without that. That's final. If you want to lecture about that, it would be a fine waste of bandwidth, when the original question remains.

That is, what to do? So far, I've fixed my screen on my Ocean, and will probably just have it flashed ($40) to metroPCS. Then, $40/month for their service.

If I really get crazy, I could just get the HTC Hero, for $250, and have it on their network for $40/month. Beats Sprint's $110/mo I was about to throw down on the Evo.

Still bummed I don't get my Evo. Anyone want my spot? I've even got the Zagg protector sitting here waiting for the phone.

 

You guys just can't pass this by without giving me a jab for not paying a final bill, can you? I'm here with a ticket to the big show, but I can't get in, and you kick a man when he's down? I resigned to a 4th rate phone company (Helio was 3rd rate) and a 3 year old phone, and y'all feel obligated to pour salt in the wound.

I've lost my faith in human nature...just right now.

 

I was laying on the sarcasm pretty thick.

Off topic: My friends and I always joke that "I'm just saying," is somehow supposed to negate the rude phrase preceding it. For example:

"Wow, dude, your wife has really gotten fat since your wedding! I mean, I'm just saying."

 

Update-

I got the Helio flashed to metroPCS for a total of $10 set up fee, plus $45/month, for unlimited txt and voice. It's totally ghetto. This phone should now have chrome and neon. The GPS and Email don't work. I don't get a signal in my house. I hang my head in shame.