# Would someone walk me through the sequence of events re getting a new cell phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 13, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542 "2014-11-13T17:05:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/21 "2014-11-14T16:24:57Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > T-mobile will pay early termination charges. It doesn’t look like they have a Q10 but you can find Crackberries for them. Yeah, I know not it’s not the equipment desired in #1, but (probably) better service than #2. This is a good call. T-Mobile has eliminated contracts altogether and is now pay as you go, so you’ll be rid of contracts completely. They have good coverage, better than AT&T in some areas, and have 4G LTE service. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/22 "2014-11-14T17:05:37Z")
But neither one of those solutions will give her the phone she wants. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/23 "2014-11-14T17:27:22Z")
Before you decide to stick it out, calculate how much it will cost: [http://support.sprint.com/support/article/Learn\_about\_early\_termination\_fee/case-sp061027-20110823-171256](http://support.sprint.com/support/article/Learn_about_early_termination_fee/case-sp061027-20110823-171256) (quick reading suggests $240) Then, subtract $45 (+ sales tax for your state) from your current plan price including all taxes. How much are you saving each month ? Is it \>$20/mo ? Then you will save money by getting out now and paying the ETF. Don’t forget you can ebay your current phone as well once you get out, to help offset the cost of your new phone. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/24 "2014-11-14T20:08:57Z")
Note that the Straight Talk option only saves money at high levels of data usage. AT&T’s website suggests that a 2-year contract plan with 1G of data (which is enough for many people) would run $50/month, and then the ~$200 savings on the cost of the phone would make that deal cheaper overall. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/25 "2014-11-14T21:17:22Z")
Just be careful with the comparison there - a “$50” contract plan is going to have taxes and “fees” in addition to sales taxes, likely making the plan more expensive than it appears by perhaps $7-$15. In contrast prepaid plans have no extra taxes except sales tax, so $45 is much closer to what you really pay. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/26 "2014-11-14T22:20:25Z")
Definitely try and get Sprint to let you out of your contract (at no cost) due to non-performance at your new house. Roaming in your living room is unacceptable coverage and not the level of service you had when you signed the contract. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/27 "2014-11-14T23:53:15Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > Just be careful with the comparison there - a “$50” contract plan is going to have taxes and “fees” in addition to sales taxes, likely making the plan more expensive than it appears by perhaps $7-$15. In contrast prepaid plans have no extra taxes except sales tax, so $45 is much closer to what you really pay. Not true for all prepaid plans. I have Straight Talk’s $45 monthly unlimited plan and here’s what my cost breaks down to: ```auto Subtotal $45.00 Discounts and Credits 0.00 Tax1 3.65 Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications E911 Tax2 0.36 Federal Universal Service3 0.68 Regulatory Cost Recovery4 0.09 Purchase Amount $49.78 ``` So my total cost is closer to $50 than to $45. And even the tax without the other fees makes it $48.65. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/28 "2014-11-15T00:22:35Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > Definitely try and get Sprint to let you out of your contract (at no cost) due to non-performance at your new house. Roaming in your living room is unacceptable coverage and not the level of service you had when you signed the contract. I’m going to try. Unfortunately, I DID sign the contract after I moved here, but I had only been here a few months and wasn’t aware of how crappy the level of coverage truly was. When I did figure out that I was in roaming in my living room, they sent me an [Airave](http://www.sprint.com/landings/airave/?ECID=vanity:airave)thing (at no cost), which was supposed to help. And it does _help_. However, if I start talking on the phone and then walk out the door with my dogs, when I get out of range, the call drops. Granted, that’s not something I do all the time, but it’s a nuisance. I still lose calls in the house, too, like if I’m in the living room and walk into the kitchen. I don’t expect Sprint to see it my way. ---
**Author:** ![jacobsta811](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jacobsta811/32/2893_2.png) [@jacobsta811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacobsta811)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/29 "2014-11-15T02:46:07Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Not true for all prepaid plans. I have Straight Talk’s $45 monthly unlimited plan and here’s what my cost breaks down to: > > ```auto > > Subtotal $45.00 > > Discounts and Credits 0.00 > Tax1 3.65 > Prepaid Wireless Telecommunications E911 Tax2 0.36 > Federal Universal Service3 0.68 > Regulatory Cost Recovery4 0.09 > > Purchase Amount $49.78 > > ``` > > So my total cost is closer to $50 than to $45. And even the tax without the other fees makes it $48.65. You only pay some of those because you auto-refill with straight talk directly. Stop, and buy cards directly at walmart and you pay only sales tax. Admittedly sales tax is the majority of that, but you can actually reduce the cost to \<$45 month before tax by buying 3 or 6 month cards at walmart. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/30 "2014-11-15T03:47:35Z")
> [@jacobsta811](#): > > You only pay some of those because you auto-refill with straight talk directly. Stop, and buy cards directly at walmart and you pay only sales tax. I wasn’t aware of that before. And since I shop for food at Wal-Mart, I’ll pick up a card next time it’s time to refill my account. > [@](#): > > Admittedly sales tax is the majority of that, but you can actually reduce the cost to \<$45 month before tax by buying 3 or 6 month cards at walmart. I can barely afford one month at a time. Three months at a time isn’t in my budget. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/31 "2014-11-16T21:57:20Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The desired objectives: > > 1. I wind up with a new cell phone, a BlackBerry Q10 (this will be my fourth BlackBerry–I like them–not interested in another brand). > 2. I wind up with a new carrier, AT&T. I"m currently with Sprint and have been with them for about 16 years. In my new house, I’m in roaming in my own living room, plus at work I’m in a Sprint Dead Zone. I have internet through AT&T at home, so I want to switch to AT&T. > 3. I keep the same phone number. > > Complications: > The physical phone is “out of stock” on the AT&T web site as well as out of stock at all the stores in the city where I live. I think they just sent them all back to the electronics warehouse next to where Indy’s Ark wound up. > > However, the Q10 is available with AT&T on amazon. I’m fine with a 2-year contract and the phone is $49, just as it would be through the AT&T website if it were “in stock.” What you do is have AT&T “port” your number from Sprint. You give them permission to move your number to their system/your account, and then they handle the technical details (canceling with Sprint first would cause you to loose your number :eek:)! You can buy the phone on Amazon at any time, and then ask AT&T to add to your account under the ported. Your contract would only be for service or data, since you are bringing your own phone. I would recommend speaking with a sales agent from AT&T and explain your situation, so that they can guide you through the details. ETA:[Keep & Transfer Your Phone Number to a New Phone with AT&T](http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/transferyournumber.html?tab=2) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/32 "2014-11-17T01:54:25Z")
> [@runningdude](#): > > (canceling with Sprint first would cause you to loose your number :eek:)! Yeah, this was why the SEQUENCE of events was important. Did you get to the part where I discovered I still have a year on my contract with Sprint? I haven’t called them to see if I can get out of it, as I’ve had a few minor catastrophes to deal with around the house this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/33 "2014-11-17T17:18:33Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yeah, this was why the SEQUENCE of events was important. Being able to “port” a number is required by law. AT&T would handle the details. I did not mean to offend, but simply point out a possible serious error in the sequence to avoid in handling the matter. (I lost my original number to a botched port, so that is why I am urging caution.) > [@](#): > > Did you get to the part where I discovered I still have a year on my contract with Sprint? I haven’t called them to see if I can get out of it, as I’ve had a few minor catastrophes to deal with around the house this weekend. AT&T might buy out your contract, but you may have to sign a contract with them. The alternative would be paying a cancellation fee to Sprint. AT&T wants your business, so your sales agent would likely try to make this very easy for you; you personally may not even have to contact Sprint. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2014, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542/34 "2014-11-17T17:43:13Z")
> [@runningdude](#): > > Being able to “port” a number is required by law. AT&T would handle the details. I did not mean to offend, but simply point out a possible serious error in the sequence to avoid in handling the matter. (I lost my original number to a botched port, so that is why I am urging caution.) I got that and appreciate the caution. I really want to keep this number. You didn’t offend. The guy who called me a 13-year old did. I’ll have you know I’m 13 X 5. 🙂 > [@](#): > > AT&T might buy out your contract, but you may have to sign a contract with them. The alternative would be paying a cancellation fee to Sprint. > > AT&T wants your business, so your sales agent would likely try to make this very easy for you; you personally may not even have to contact Sprint. I don’t mind a contract. I’ve been with Sprint for over 15 years. It’s the change in coverage since I moved that’s the problem. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-someone-walk-me-through-the-sequence-of-events-re-getting-a-new-cell-phone/704542.md?page=1)