Choosing a Phone company-the little guys?

[J_Bunny]

I am with Rogers right now and they suck!
Sometimes my phone doesnt ring and sends calls straight to VM, othertimes the connection is so weak I can't make calls or I loose them.
I've just been smacked with absurd phone bills 2 months in a row (+$500) and while Rogers has fixed some of that, they won't fix the total amount.
I am on my 3rd Blackberry now in 10 months and just fed up with Rogers all together.
Will I deal with crap no matter what company I'm with?
I'm debating joining one of the smaller, no contract, all unlimited cell service providers.
This does however, mean taht I will be getting crappy service (some only reach as far as langley before youre roaming) but, will it be any worse than I already have with Rogers?
Is anyone with one of these new companies?
Who really has the best coverage and the best rates?
I'm about to enter an unknown period of unemployment and really won't be able to handle any of Rogers monthly surprises anymore wso I think I need to get out now! Any input would be great!
Thanks Perb(ette)s

 

[badbadboy]

Will I deal with crap no matter what company I'm with?

Yes.

Depends what you want and how much your pain threshold is from the other new companies.

I have a Rogers account, friends have Fido (Rogers Lite), Telus (Rogers evil twin) and the newcomers like Wind.

If I were you, I would take your bill to any of them and get an honest review of your expenses and what they would do to help you. Then with that info, go back to Rogers and play hard ball with them. They hate losing customers. Churning is a statistic that all the Networks look at and it is reported on their bottom line. Lower the churning rate the better the investment to their investors.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

I tried mobilicity/wind mobile and while they are cheap their reception/call quality is the pits. You can try their service on a trial basis if it's still available and see it. But when i used wind/mobilicity going to metrotown was a drag cause half the mall u wouldnt get reception. Then certain parts of town the walls or whatever is to thick for reception. Pacific centre mall food fair is one example both wind/mobi has no receptioin there. Im with chat-r/rogers right now for 25/month for the first six months and i like it.

 

[MrBrown]

My experience with Rogers years ago was similar (absurd bills), Telus is probably the only provider that will proactively advise you if your usage pattern requires a change of plan.
If your mobile phone is important to you go with the company that has best local coverage locally. Seems that's what you're experiencing.
Telus and Bell invested billions in their network - one of those two would be my pick.
Wind in Mobilicity have no future.
As for smartphone device - Android!

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

With chatr there's no hidden rates you can have a pay as u go plan or buy top up cards. First six months it's 25/month and then it goes to 45.00/month which includes everything callerid,voicemail,canada wide calling,call anytime. So the bills dont have any hidden surprises at all. I dont even think they do a credit check since it's pay in advance.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

im on two plans right now one with chatr for voicecalls and one with wind for the unlimited internet. Both plans are fixed and you're saving more money than going with just fido. But keep in mind that also means two cellphones .....one smartphone and one reg.

Under 90.00 a month

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

i had shit reception with bell ...which was solo mobile (bell)

Telus and Bell invested billions in their network - one of those two would be my pick.
As for smartphone device - Android!

 

[J_Bunny]

So chatr is rogers? Does this mean that they use rogers towers and have the same coverage? And do you have to have a contract?
I was told that my phone might be an issue so I am going to cell it and get an android I think. Besides, if I go with another small company they apparently my Blackberry isnt on the right frequency.
Thanks for all the input!

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

No contract it's month by month and same towers as fido/rogers. Only thing with chatr is they dont allow internet usage but the voice plans are super cheap and fixed rate. That's why i use wind mobile for the internet/blackberry usage and chatr for the voice plan

So chatr is rogers? Does this mean that they use rogers towers and have the same coverage? And do you have to have a contract?
I was told that my phone might be an issue so I am going to cell it and get an android I think. Besides, if I go with another small company they apparently my Blackberry isnt on the right frequency.
Thanks for all the input!

 

[badbadboy]

So chatr is rogers? Does this mean that they use rogers towers and have the same coverage? And do you have to have a contract?
I was told that my phone might be an issue so I am going to cell it and get an android I think. Besides, if I go with another small company they apparently my Blackberry isnt on the right frequency.
Thanks for all the input!

Not necessarily the frequency. Wind has one different frequency but what matters is if your Rogers phone is locked to Rogers. You can pay for a unlocking code or get an unlocked phone and input the APN of the network you choose to use.

I just got a Motorola Atrix, unlocked version and I use it on Rogers network. Input the APN and voila it is now a Rogers phone not Bell or ATT where I got it from a month ago.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

Dont wanna confuse you but this is what some peop do. They use wind mobile/or mobilicity for the smartphone internet and they also allow you to teether ...using it for internet for your laptop/computer.(plug in your phone ). If they miss the good reception of big three then go with chatr cause they have fix rates and it's very affortable...you can pay before and cancel anytime with chatr,wind,mobilicity.

Both plans would cost you less than 90 bucks a month

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

Quite possible to screw over rogers for the 500.00 bill. Since chatr is pay before no contract you can go on their network again and they cant do a dam thing. Dont even have to give them your credit card or bill info. Can have it so you have a prepaid card at 711 or london drugs. This is exactly the same with wind mobile.

I've just been smacked with absurd phone bills 2 months in a row (+$500) and while Rogers has fixed some of that, they won't fix the total amount.

 

[mercyshooter]

did you actually read the your plan? rogers is by minute per call. so if 10 seconds phone call, it'll be turned to one minute! did you check your phone settings? lots of questions! haha!

 

[TheEmpress]

Telus EPP plan. If you call and are stubborn enough they'll give it to you. It's 17.50/m all fees but tax in, after add-ons around 30-40 depending on how much air-time/long-distance you use. Funny though I just dropped them because I was having the problem you are with Rogers, where as my Rogers bill is faithfully the same amount each month and never a dropped call. I think they're all owned by the same people, and push buttons around to F*ck with us, cause they're bored. My Telus blackberry, has been through hell and back with me, I almost feel sorry for how loyal it was to me, lasted 2yrs! No lie. Have never had an electronic put up with me that long, I showered with it, slept with it, and kept in nestled between my legs while driving. Sigh* My new phone is crap Already malfunctioning.

 

[TheEmpress]

BTW. Purchase your phone online, check the pin or epn on it depending on the company. Then when you call in to hook it up tell them you paid full retail price, and want to see some compensation if they are locking you in. I normally get 2yrs of free business bundle, whatever that is too the company at that time. voicemail,data,txt.ect.. Good luck

 

[J_Bunny]

I have actually spent a few days on this now.
Koodo is pretty good. Looks like you can get unlimited everything for about $60/month.
Telus however is the best even though I'd be locked into a contract. The plan would be about $50/month and include everything (that I need) which is way better then my $80rogers plan. Plus Telus sends you little notices to tell you how close youre getting to your limit of mins, data or whatever. How nice is that? They also have the best coverage thanks to the sharing of towers with bell.
I called Rogers who has finally matched the offer, as long as I top up my contract to 3 full years. Also, as of March 30th, Rogers has started sending out friendly little reminders to their clients nearing their usage limits due to overwhelming complaints from people like me getting smacked with $500 phone bills.
This all happened because I had unlimited incoming calls on an expiration date, unknown to me. Who opens their bills if they never change? Whats the point? I hate opening mail. Lesson learned.
Thanks for all your input guys!
Looks like the future is friendly for this bunny