# Cell phone companies: fuck you for breaking your phones **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016 "2010-06-21T18:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/1 "2010-06-21T18:38:22Z")
I went through this a few years ago with Verizon when I bought my Razr: yes, it’s a great phone! You can have pictures and MP3 ringtones and all kinds of stuff! But only if you buy it from us or use our service to send it to yourself, what’s the problem? I HATE THAT SHIT. So I switched to AT&T, which let me add all the custom made ringtones I wanted without any interference from them, thankyouverymuch. (Since I have about 70,000 mp3s I mostly ripped myself, I’ve got all the ringtones I could ever desire.) So I was getting a cheapo service via Virgin Mobile over the weekend… and long story I dont have time to tell and it’s boring anyway short… I learned that rather than the VErizon learning it’s lesson, all the other companies are following Verizon’s lead! THIS IS SO MESSED UP AND FUCKING MADDENING!!! I am a good capitalist, I understand the need and desire to make a dollar in this day of ultra cheap phones and service, but still…FUCK YOU. I don’t want an ultra cheap plan so I can blow $2 a pop for your bullshit ringtones!!! ARGH!!! (And it’s a big issue not because it’s so damn important to have special ringtones for phone calls, but because I am using my phone as a calendar alarm system, and different sounds mean different things. Plus most ringtones are just fucking obnoxious.) So, sorry if I wasn’t entertaining, but I just wanted to express my irritation publicly. Thank you, and good day. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/2 "2010-06-21T19:59:52Z")
I thought you were a Communist. 😕 ISTR reading that, back in the days when you were still **stoidela**. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/3 "2010-06-21T20:06:13Z")
I’ve been meaning to start a thread titled “Are there any cell phone companies that don’t actively ooze evil?” but haven’t gotten around to it yet. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/4 "2010-06-21T20:08:53Z")
The dictatorship of the proletariat has no need for something as decadent as 70,000 ripped MP3’s turned into frivolous calendar ringtones. So we kicked Stoid (previously, Stoidela) out for ideological impurity. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/5 "2010-06-21T20:28:53Z")
T-Mobile thankfully keeps its intrusive bullshit to a minimum. Recommend. Would call again, etc. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/6 "2010-06-21T21:05:34Z")
I always hear people bitching about this (mostly Verizon users), but have never had an issue with it on ATT. I can override most things on my Blackberry and delete or add whatever I want. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/7 "2010-06-21T22:02:20Z")
I think the lower end your plan, the harsher the restraints. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/8 "2010-06-21T22:32:53Z")
I wish my restraints were a bit harsher, myself. I just want my phone to store my phone book (and show it to me when I ask) and let me make and receive telephone calls. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/9 "2010-06-21T22:53:16Z")
I hate to say it, but the only good answer is to buy the phone by itself at full price and then stick a SIM card in there. Sure, you don’t get the discounted phone, but you also don’t get stuck with a 2-year contract. Then again, I use about as basic a phone as I could get, and the design didn’t really change from the first model I got back in 2002. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/10 "2010-06-21T22:56:54Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I think the lower end your plan, the harsher the restraints. Right. Pay for less, get less. You gotta problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/11 "2010-06-21T23:05:56Z")
> [@](#): > > I wish my restraints were a bit harsher, myself. I just want my phone to store my phone book (and show it to me when I ask) and let me make and receive telephone calls. What are you, Amish? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/12 "2010-06-21T23:13:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > What are you, Amish? I heard if a camera on an iPhone takes your picture, it sends your soul directly to Steve Jobs. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/13 "2010-06-21T23:49:38Z")
People who own iPhones have no souls. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/14 "2010-06-22T00:16:33Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > People who own iPhones have no souls. Not _any more_, they don’t! ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/15 "2010-06-22T00:22:06Z")
This is one of the reasons I switched from Verizon after 6 years. I was sick and tired of buying a phone that on any other network would allow you to do wonderful, even magical things, except for on Verizon’s network, which is locked down tighter than a Texas tick on a bull’s scrotum on the Fourth of July. That plus the fact that I could get the same service for $40 a month less with T-Mobile made it a no brainer. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/16 "2010-06-22T00:25:30Z")
I have to get some cell phone coverage. Who is the least evil? I already have my own unlocked phones, so just need a chip and maybe pay as you go for 1-2 phones? On the other phone, I’d like to have a data plan. We’re a family if there are family deals. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/17 "2010-06-22T00:27:31Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > I have to get some cell phone coverage. Who is the least evil? > > I already have my own unlocked phones, so just need a chip and maybe pay as you go for 1-2 phones? On the other phone, I’d like to have a data plan. We’re a family if there are family deals. Check to see if T-Mobile has good coverage in your area. If they do I would go with them. Check out metroPCS. I have a few friends with them and they seem happy. Customer service after you switch on the account though seems to be lacking. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/18 "2010-06-22T00:29:42Z")
Perhaps you could take them to court? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/19 "2010-06-22T00:40:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > People who own iPhones have no souls. There’s an app for that. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/20 "2010-06-22T00:45:28Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I heard if a camera on an iPhone takes your picture, it sends your soul directly to Steve Jobs. Hmmmm…that might explain why my cats are trying to kill me. Their photos are the only ones I have on my iPhone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016.md?page=2)