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Last summer it dawned on me that we're paying something like $1,700 a year for house phone, internet and cell phone service. Add another grand/year for DISH TV. That's way too much outgo for old people with no income.

I picked up a brochure for Straight Talk cell phone service at Wal-Mart the other day. It's a pay as you go, one month at a time, cell phone with web access if you purchase the proper LG phone. After phone purchase ($60-130), unlimited phone and web access is $45/month and the coverage map looks to be the same as Verizon's. A phone call to 'My Verizon' could neither confirm or deny Staright Talk's coverage to be the same as Verizon's. We need to make some changes when our current Verizon contract runs out.

Three questions:

* Does anyone have any knowledge of, or experience with, Straight Talk or other such cell phones?
* Why do we have a house phone and two cell phones?
* Why do we have two cell phones when we're nearly always together?

Thanks y'all.

Oldgringo wrote: * Why do we have a house phone and two cell phones?

I dropped my land line long ago . The only people who called were solicitors.

Oldgringo wrote:Last summer it dawned on me that we're paying something like $1,700 a year for house phone, internet and cell phone service. Add another grand/year for DISH TV. That's way too much outgo for old people with no income.

I picked up a brochure for Straight Talk cell phone service at Wal-Mart the other day. It's a pay as you go, one month at a time, cell phone with web access if you purchase the proper LG phone. After phone purchase ($60-130), unlimited phone and web access is $45/month and the coverage map looks to be the same as Verizon's. A phone call to 'My Verizon' could neither confirm or deny Staright Talk's coverage to be the same as Verizon's. We need to make some changes when our current Verizon contract runs out.

Three questions:

* Does anyone have any knowledge of, or experience with, Straight Talk or other such cell phones?
* Why do we have a house phone and two cell phones?
* Why do we have two cell phones when we're nearly always together?

Thanks y'all.

I have no knowledge of the Straight Talk deal at Wal mart you speak of. But, you can bet I will be checking it out when I get my plastic and go on my " Wally Walk "

We just recently did away with our house phone. The only calls we ever got on it was solicitation calls anyways. Gosh, I resent those people.

Each of you having cell phones would seem to be more for piece of mind, and convinience sake. Lets say you and Mrs. Gringo go somewhere and get separated. With each having a cell phone you could easily meet back up somewhere. That's the only reason I can think of.

Oldgringo wrote: We need to make some changes when our current Verizon contract runs out.

That's the time to negotiate .
Why not at least try to see if they can offer you a better deal to keep you as a customer.
Free phones , smaller monthly bill , ect.

If they can't match or beat the other guys, then it might be time to move on.

USA1 wrote:

Oldgringo wrote: We need to make some changes when our current Verizon contract runs out.

That's the time to negotiate .
Why not at least try to see if they can offer you a better deal to keep you as a customer.
Free phones , smaller monthly bill , ect.

If they can't match or beat the other guys, then it might be time to move on.

USA1 makes a great point. Verizon will deal with you on price. Most people that have service through them tend to think that the price they quote is set in stone.

They knocked 20 bucks a month off our bill last time we renewed because we told the agent we were thinking of switching to Sprint. It never hurts to push them a little bit, you might just get favorable results.

I've worked the "end of contract" re-negotiation before. BTW, that really works if you do it with your satellite TV provider.

We've spent the last four summers in the mountains and expect to do it again this summer. A phone that would let one check up on the CHL forum, pay your bills, make calls and do e-mail would be really handy.

If you do get a phone for primary Web access, IMHO getting a model with a "real" keyboard is well worth it.

And since were on the subject, I've seen Vonage ads. for highspeed internet for only $25.00 a month. I called and they said it can be had and no phone or cable service is required to have it work. Then there's Magic-jack, (only $19.95 a year) which I guess is a phone service that uses the internet (I thought that's what Vonage was...)

Can anyone please explain all this? Seems like I'm missing something, if this was true it seems you could have a great deal on phone and internet by combining the two. Thanks.

mctowalot wrote:If you do get a phone for primary Web access, IMHO getting a model with a "real" keyboard is well worth it.

And since were on the subject, I've seen Vonage ads. for highspeed internet for only $25.00 a month. I called and they said it can be had and no phone or cable service is required to have it work. Then there's Magic-jack, (only $19.95 a year) which I guess is a phone service that uses the internet (I thought that's what Vonage was...)

Can anyone please explain all this? Seems like I'm missing something, if this was true it seems you could have a great deal on phone and internet by combining the two. Thanks.

We switched to Vonage and it's a pretty good deal with a lot of features. I think we're going to cancel because it really makes no sense to have a cell and a land line...does it? Check out the reviews on Majic-Jack.

Majik-jack does not have a good reputation with the Better Business Bureau. We are dropping our home phone this month and our Fios which is all Verizon. As for as dealing for a better price Direct TV gave us a drop in price.

ANYONE will deal with you on price.

I got, for 61 bucks a month (including all fees) 400 mins/600 text messages/ unlimited 3g by being a complete imbicile at a tmobile store, and holding my ground. The worst thing that'd happen is that I ended up with nothing.