In a bind (cell phones)

[Katlyn]

I have had nothing but problems with my cellphones recently and I'm not sure what to do. I'm not super cellphone savvy so I was hoping someone here who knows more could help me.

My personal phone has stopped working. The mic on it does not work anymore though I can retrieve messages, get call display, do text messaging, take photos, browse net, etc...Can not make a call because of the mic. The warranty expired a few weeks ago: of course.

My work phone's call quality has been deteriorating rather quickly. I never expected much as I did not pay much for it but I expected to at least be able to use it.

I am on Telus with my personal phone, have been with them since 2003 before all this SIM chip stuff was really popular. Work phone is a pay as you go Fido.

I'm sick of carrying 2 phones and would rather just have the one and switch the chips in and out as my work phone is only on when I am working and I don't take personal calls anyway. But I have a couple problems...

First I have 16 months left with Telus, I can't bribe someone to take the plan over because the phone is garbage now and they want me to pay them $320 to break the contract. Someone told me that legally they can only charge $200 but still, I just can't afford that.

Second I can't agree to a contract because due to (student loan) bad credit a new cell company wants a $1500 deposit, which I also can not afford, and I have no idea where I will be in 3 years. I just do not want to commit and go through this breaking contract thing again. So I have to buy the phone outright...this combined with the fee to Telus is looking really unrealistic.

I could go buy another cheap cheap phone but it'll crap out quick again and as I'm starting to get into the travelling thing I'd rather get a nice phone like a blackberry that I can easily access internet on when I am travelling so that I am always accessible to clients. I'm really at a loss of what to do, or even where to go to buy a phone and not get raked over the coals and am reaching out looking for suggestions from you perbites who (i hope) are more cellphone savvy than me.

xox
~ Katlyn ~

 

[Inamorato]

You can probably find a decent used Telus blackberry for a good price.
Lots of people I know have upgraded to an Iphone or newer model of berry, and still have their older phones kicking around collecting dust. Lots on Craigslist right now.

Telus only charges $10 to switch phones.

Unfotunately, swapping SIM cards isn't really an option for you as long as you're tied into the contract with Telus.

 

[teejay69]

Your best bet is to go on Craigslist to buy a used Telus compatible phone as there is no way for you to get out of the contract. You can most likely get one for $50 to $75.

It is easy for you to switch between Rogers and Fido. You can now keep your number when switching to Rogers and they will give you a good deal on a Blackberry if you sign on for 3 years.

The other option is to upgrade with Telus (get a Blackberry through them) but then you are stuck on their crappy network.

 

[Katlyn]

yah but being with telus is not an option for travel. I need a phone that has a card so that I can be accessible no matter what country I am in without paying $6/min.

that is why I am posting here...there may be a way to break the contract that we don't know about. I have to replace both phones and I can't be buying 2 new phones so the logical option is to leave telus and get a sim card phone. Just trying to figure out the cheapest way to do this...

Telus will offer me a replacement phone if I renew for another 3 years...but that would be 5 years tied to them plus it still means I am carrying two phones.


p.s. sorry if my first post was not super clear...I wasn't really sure myself what I was asking when i posted at first

 

[Katlyn]

You can probably find a decent used Telus blackberry for a good price.
Lots of people I know have upgraded to an Iphone or newer model of berry, and still have their older phones kicking around collecting dust. Lots on Craigslist right now.

Telus only charges $10 to switch phones.

Unfotunately, swapping SIM cards isn't really an option for you as long as you're tied into the contract with Telus.

is it worth it to buy phones on CL? I'm always afraid they will break down immediately and then I lost my money.

 

[Inamorato]

is it worth it to buy phones on CL? I'm always afraid they will break down immediately and then I lost my money.

I've bought 3 used phones over the past few years and without any problems.
There is always a risk involved but if you inspect the phone carefully before buying you will probably be ok.

Most people take good care of their phones, especially Crackberry users, and many also upgrade whenever the newest model comes out, so the mileage isn't all that high.

 

[geek]

Hi Katlyn

Samsung has a couple of phones that supports both CDMA and GSM and can take dual sims. A Samsung W629 or a Samsung W339.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Samsung-w629-Sty...l]http://in.samsungmobile.com/mobile/SCH-W339

Now you may have to go through ebay or a place like Dynamism to get these phones but you will only have to carry one phone and they're perfect fro traveling. I only did a quick google search for dual CDMA GSM phones so there may be other phones that can handle both types of networks.

I've never bought a phone from CL but I've bought my last two cell phones from Usedvictoria.com and I really haven't had a problem with the phones.

Hope this helps

geek

 

[Validator]

If u do get a pre-owned phone, be sure to call telus customer service and ask them to verify that the serial number on the back of the phone is not a stolen cell.

I see minimal risk in buying used cell phone-only drawback is no warranty.

Telus offers a BB "world phone" that has sim card capabilities and can be used on telus network.

There is no other way to get out of the contract. Either pay it out, or transfer the contract to someone else. Be sure to do the transaction with telus customer service rather than a telus mobility store. Those sales guy can paint a bleaker picture only to see you a phone...many times they are lying.

I know two phones is really inconvenient, but the question is, is it really worth $320 plus cost of new sim card phone? If u don't have good credit, it will be icredibly expensive upfront to get a blackberry on a no contract basis (unless u want a black berry pearl)-good luck!

 

[seattlemike]

A few ways you can do this:

1. Buy a used phone from Craigslist. Some people are phone junkies and upgrade their phones as soon as a new model comes out. I've given away 2 older blackberrys myself.

2. Find a bum with no credit and transfer the contract to his name. If telus does not require a deposit, you are not on the hook and the new guy will do whatever he/she wants.

3. Probably many people on this board will have extra phones lying around. I probably have one or two basic phones that you are welcome to.

 

[Adriana✿]

I have one u can have Kat. No charge, it works fine. I know what starving student feels like.

(ur pm's are off?)

u will just need to get a charger for it (its a motorola V360, model # 93217xybsa, Pay as u go (rogers/fido).

Call me tomorrow afternoon (;

 

[Katlyn]

wow thanks guys, I will call you tomorrow Adrianna/

Thanks for the dual chip suggestion, and the telus phone that takes sim chips, I didn't know these existed, I'm gonna do some googling tonight

 

[teejay69]

Rogers over Fido

Also - if you do plan on a lot of travel (i.e. to United States) - Rogers offers better roaming packages.

 

[Purrr VertIcal]

I bought an identical copy of my cell phone on E-Bay with no worries.
It was pre-Blue-Tooth (method of inter-phone info-compatibliity and transfer), and I wanted to be able to transfer the chip-card with my long phone list, without havign to re-enter the data.

EBay: sometimes people upgrade when there's nothing wrong with the previous phone at all, and sell the 'old' one. The duplicate I bought came like new.

You have to be careful to be very specific about model number to get the same one.

One of the SP's on here I know has an I-Phone,
she raves about it,
It's very cool.

Very Internet friendly, too.