Consumer Cellular

[dixonge]

Just signed up, largely based on the recommendations from this thread.

I had already priced all of the carriers I could find recently. I stuck w/ T-Mobile in spite of their seemingly steep fees, mainly because I couldn't really beat the current deal. All three other major carriers and their supposedly discount subsidiaries barely saved me anything.

CC beats them all!

[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave J braumeister, I don't travel overseas. Which carrier do you currently use that works overseas?

I've been on AT&T for many years and have been quite happy with it. They (like other major carriers) let me roam worldwide, but overseas roaming charges are very high. So AT&T has a "Passport" program that lets you buy an amount of data you can use overseas for a month at a time at a far cheaper cost. I would guess Verizon probably has a similar program.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accidental Retiree I took my Consumer Cellular flip phone to Scotland and was told I could buy a SIM card for it to work in that country.

Yes, of course. But my point is that I want to use my own US phone number while I'm over there. I have an older phone I can get a local SIM for but that gives me a local number (which is also a good thing in many cases).

So apparently I was right and Consumer Cellular is strictly a US carrier and your phone number disappears when you travel. That's the deal breaker for me.

[Disappointed]

Accident, if you travel abroad a lot then you should go with T-Mo, their plans allow you to use data roaming for free. You will still have your US number and the per minute cost is very low. The free data roaming is a huge advantage.


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Mp

[pjm-7]

I have had Consumer Cellular for about four years. I still use a flipper, but have considered getting a smart phone through them. I am very satisfied with their service. I don't travel out of the US so lack of international service is not a concern.

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjm-7 I have had Consumer Cellular for about four years. I still use a flipper, but have considered getting a smart phone through them. I am very satisfied with their service. I don't travel out of the US so lack of international service is not a concern.

When I switched from Tracfone to CC, I opted to get an entry level smartphone with the thought of downgrading back to a flip phone if the smartphone didn't work out. The tutorials on CC for my model phone helped a lot to lessen the learning curve.

I still miss using a flipper occasionally as I still believe a flipper still does two things better than a smartphone... making and receiving calls .

[Cat-tirement]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr._Graybeard The nice thing about Consumer Cellular is that you can adjust your data/call plan as you go. So if you have high-usage month once in awhile you can adjust you plan on the spot so you don't get slapped with a high overage rate.

I have been on CC for only a few months, but this is a really good feature which allows you to more carefully control costs. You can keep your data plan on the cheaper low level, and if you get a message saying you're close to the limit, you can just bump it up to the next level. Even if you go over the limit, you can bump it up anytime before the billing cycle ends.

I also like that CC allows using your phone as a hotspot, which it seems most of the prepaid carriers don't. This was the primary reason I switched, so I can have internet access on my computer while traveling.

I rarely use my phone for actual talking, so all the one size fits all unlimited talk plans are a waste for me. I go for the minimum talk plan (and with CC texts are part of the data plan rather than the talk plan like most others).

The last little benefit is a small discount for AARP members.

[Dave J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cat-tirement I also like that CC allows using your phone as a hotspot, which it seems most of the prepaid carriers don't. This was the primary reason I switched, so I can have internet access on my computer while traveling.

For others wanting the hot spot feature, beware that the Moto E has this, but the older Moto G does not. I'm not sure if the Moto G LTE has or does not have hot spot on it. If important to you, check with CC first.
It works great on our MOTO E.

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Accident, if you travel abroad a lot then you should go with T-Mo, their plans allow you to use data roaming for free. You will still have your US number and the per minute cost is very low. The free data roaming is a huge advantage.

I've toyed with this idea before, but when we go overseas we just get local SIMs. Two main reasons for us: 1 - we can communicate w/ everyone back home using other means. For example, Facebook Messenger has an *amazing* voice call quality! 2 - all our local friends/expats have local numbers. Very difficult and expensive to use a US # in Mexico to call a Mexican cell #.

Of course we spend months at a time there, not just a vacation. YMMV.

[easysurfer]

I changed the data plan of my CC to save a couple of bucks a month . If my usage goes up during the month, I can always adjust to a higher plan.

[Tadpole]

We don't have a landline but miss that definitive "you have a call" loud ring. Since CC deals with AARP, do they offer loud ringing, eyesight friendly, volume adjusting old folk cell phones?

[Dave J]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tadpole We don't have a landline but miss that definitive "you have a call" loud ring. Since CC deals with AARP, do they offer loud ringing, eyesight friendly, volume adjusting old folk cell phones?

My MOTO G EXT has a very load ring if I choose one of the louder ones and TURN IT UP. The sound when ringing is user adjustable. My SO's MOTO E is also loud if turned up.
Ths size of font on screen is also adjustable, so it can be bigger. I wear reading glasses and progressive glasses and can see phone.

[Tadpole]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave J My MOTO G EXT has a very load ring if I choose one of the louder ones and TURN IT UP. The sound when ringing is user adjustable. My SO's MOTO E is also loud if turned up. Ths size of font on screen is also adjustable, so it can be bigger. I wear reading glasses and progressive glasses and can see phone.

Thanks, I'll look at it. It sounds like what I am looking for.

[Dave J]

Tadpole,
I tried to send you a private message with some CC info, but it said you had it turned off. If interested, turn it back on?