Telepathy or just pure misery with AT&T and Nokia?

Hey everyone on the forum,

I’m going to air my grievances here because this place seems way more active than the Mobile Tech boards, and honestly, it's mostly because I can actually get a rise out of these local moderators... 😈 If anything actually happens to this thread... No, I'm being serious here. I honestly think I could get drunk just reading it... 🙂 Whoops, wrong topic...

Thread topics: How redmarlin3 absolutely wrecked AT&T like a rookie... and how redmarlin3 bulldozed through Nokia like a construction worker in a skyscraper...

So, I finally did it. I decided to break free from the shackles of that overpriced, elitist Verizon nonsense and embrace the glorious world of budget mobile plans designed for the working class. I picked out a new smartphone—you know, the kind that takes photos, records video, handles voice calls, keeps track of time, plays music, and probably washes the dishes and irons your clothes too—through Internet Explorer, and headed over to the nearest T-Mobile store feeling pretty good about myself. But, because I’m still clinging to my precious, high-society phone number, I had to sit through this whole tedious transfer process before I could actually do anything useful. All they ended up handing me was my new SIM card and some random prepaid number they tossed in for free...
Alright, fine. I’ll just sit tight and wait those ten days or whatever...

They also told me I can't sign up for that permanent three-month Taft plan because I don't have a credit card. It doesn't matter that I’ve had a bank account for ten years and hasn't seen a single day of a zero balance... but since I actually chose to live within my means instead of living on credit, apparently I don't qualify for the extra discount on a new phone. So much for saving myself from making trips to the post office and standing in lines for the next two years...
Alright, fine. I'll say it again...

January 8th was a massive day for me. I finally got that notification that my number transfer went through successfully... everything is officially moved over. 👋 At around 9:00 AM, my Verizon SIM card just bit the dust. Total blackout. Naturally, I did exactly what any rational person would do—I rushed straight to the nearest T-Mobile store right after work to pick up that new phone I’ve been eyeing. But man, talk about bad timing... As soon as I stepped through the door, I walked right into a conversation that went something like this:
Hey there, I just switched over to your network, and now I’m looking to pick up a phone from you guys. I want to pop one of your SIM cards in so I can actually make calls and use data, then just settle up the bill with the company later on...
Look, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but there's a catch. You can't just jump from activating your service straight into snagging those special device discounts. There’s a mandatory waiting period—you've got to let at least 24 hours pass before you're eligible...
What's that supposed to mean?
So, what that actually means is you have to get your AT&T SIM card activated first... and then you wait a full 24 hours before you even bother showing up to buy the device.
So, how exactly do you go about activating a SIM card?...
Just make the call from her phone...
And how the hell am I supposed to get this damn thing done when I don't even have a freaking phone to stick the damn SIM card into?????...
Look, I’m sorry, really, but I can't take the fall for your decision to buy a phone through a Verizon contract...
😕

I won't beat around the bush—I finally managed to borrow an old telephone from my parents and get my SIM card activated. And what do you know? Barely twenty-four hours later, I'm back at that T-Mobile store, banging on the door like a crazy person. Only problem was, they didn't have the specific phone I was looking for. Not only that, but they didn't have a computer, a landline, a cell phone, a fax machine... heck, they didn't even have a carrier pigeon to work with. They had absolutely nothing to check which other T-Mobile location might actually have that model in stock. So, I decided to bluff my way over to ExxonMobil. They didn't have the model I wanted either, but they did have a working telephone, and the guy working there was a total lifesaver... shout out to him if he’s reading this, you're a legend and I can't thank you enough... 🙏I called a few other T-Mobile stores just to see which one actually had it in stock. Finally made the trip over to the shop in downtown Chicago and picked up my new phone, all set with the monthly plan included... $33So, for two years... and that's without setting up any kind of permanent billing or auto-pay...

We’ll get to the whole saga of how Nokia bit the dust later on. Maybe. ...

I gave my boyfriend my number, and obviously, we ended up talking several times a day... I figured, hey, it’s free, so why not? And honestly, he seemed pretty thrilled about it...
I decided to check my data usage just for the hell of it after about ten days... I mean, honestly, I wasn't even looking for anything specific, just curious to see if my habits were actually hitting the limit. It turns out... $29. Seriously. EIGHTY-SIX DOLLARS 😲 And I didn't call anyone except him—maybe a couple of calls lasting a minute or two, and maybe 30 messages total. So I call customer service, and they tell me my number wasn't even activated 🙄 claiming it was their mistake, promising they’d activate it and refund both of us for everything we spent talking to each other.

It's been 20 days since my activation. My current balance is sitting at $42, though they decided to credit me $10 of that. Give me a break. With this overpriced Verizon, I’ve never once had a bill go over $50 for an entire month. I called them yesterday to demand a detailed call log.

I'm just waiting on the new statement now, and I have a feeling (probably) this whole saga isn't over yet. 🙂

I still need to write the part about that specific Telephone. I will...

Thanks for reading this. 😍

Moral of the story: don't trust these mobsters, even when they're running ads. 🧐

I find it honestly hilarious how some people just don't stop to think—they fail to grasp the simple reality that nothing in this life is truly free... there’s no such thing as a total handout 😁

Look, I had the exact same experience with him back when I was on Verizon. We’d end up barking at each other for hours on end sometimes, and just like I said before, my bill was never anything more than $50. My statement clearly showed that none of those calls ever actually cost me a dime. It explicitly stated $0.00. Plus, every other call and text was logged perfectly, with the pricing accurate down to the penny. So, honestly, that argument of yours doesn't really hold water. 😁

No, that’s not quite it... I’m talking specifically about AT&T... there is just no logic behind their "unlimited" claims. What actual benefit could they possibly gain from offering something free like that? Honestly, none at all 🥳

I’ve been with T-Mobile forever, though I did recently switch over to their 75 plan... and I get 250 minutes to use however I want. But here’s the kicker: I actually know I have those 250 minutes available, whereas you might think you have all the minutes in the world for free, when in reality, you don't really have them 😁

I remember back in the day, I actually had unlimited calling for just fifty cents for about six months straight. Then that deal vanished, and now fifty cents only gets me unlimited talk time with my mom and sister. AT&T is such a strange outfit; I still remember when I went to pick up that free SIM card they gave out at a local newsstand, and they told me right then that I could use it to buy any device I wanted 🤷

I’ll say it again: nothing beats T-Mobile and Verizon. Now we’ve got AT&T, Tomato, and all this other junk cluttering things up

Anyway, that really gave me a good laugh, so please forgive me 😳

Karen Young17 said:No, that’s not it... I’m talking specifically about AT&T... there’s just no logic behind their "free minutes" nonsense... what kind of benefit would they actually get from giving stuff away for free? Honestly, none at all. 🥳

I've been with T-Mobile forever, though I recently switched over to their 75 plan... and I get 250 minutes to blow through however I want... but here's the kicker: I actually know I have those 250 minutes. With you, it's like you think you have all the minutes in the world for free, but when it comes down to it, they aren't even there. 😁

We’ll see who's left standing when the dust finally settles... 😈

😁

Every time I realize I've made some stupid mistake and it turns out they were absolutely right all along... 🤣

So, we were hanging out at a shopping center near Times Square the other day when a woman from a T-Mobile kiosk flagged us down. 🙄
"Do you guys have a prepaid plan?" she asks. "Because if you do... would you want to make calls at 40% off?"
Well, here’s the catch—it isn't actually a standard contract (not like the one you'd see with $16). Instead, he's locked into a two-year commitment just to get cheaper call rates. Meanwhile, things like texting—which is what he uses most—cost about 6 cents per message 😱 and don't even get me started on anything else...

I just told her straight up: there’s absolutely no logic to it. 🥳

hmm, a few of my buddies also made the jump over to AT&T recently, and since they’re constantly on the move, they end up stuck with zero signal all the time. I guess because AT&T relies on roaming through other networks, it takes forever for the phone to actually hand off from one tower to the next.
it's honestly such a joke.

anyway, I'm actually pretty curious about this whole thing with Nokia, because mine is currently in the shop right now (been broken for a couple of months), and I'm low-key terrified they're just going to ghost me.

Goddammit. I’m dealing with the same headache. Over the last month, I’ve been burned by their so-called "Zero Cost" plans, and my bank account is still bleeding money.
Why can't a carrier just show up with an offer that doesn't feel like a straight-up mugging?

And don't even get me started on their helpdesk. They’re a bunch of clueless amateurs who couldn't care less about helping you; they just want to talk you into some overpriced plan that benefits them, not you.
How the hell am I supposed to activate Knockout Zero anyway? It says to text KOZERO to 888. So, that’s exactly what I did.
And this was the reply I got:
"AT&T is giving you $0.00/min for calls within the AT&T network at no monthly charge! Top up your balance with $33 and enjoy the best rates on the market!"

So, am I actually on Knockout Zero now? I checked via *130#... Nope. Not even close.

What does their own website say?

The monthly fee for the Zero option is $16. In the Knockout plan, there is a connection fee of $0.08 per call.

The Knockout plan might be even more affordable for you. Just text KOZERO to 888 to talk within the AT&T network for $0.00 per minute. The Zero option is available to all new and existing AT&T "blah blah" customers and subscribers using the Knockout plan (Knockout subscription).

I’m a "blah blah" customer, and a relatively new one at that. I’ve got >$17 in my account. I sent KOZERO to 888 and absolutely nothing happened. Total joke. 😠
What am I supposed to do? How do I actually get this plan working?

I’ve been on this plan for years now and honestly, I have zero complaints. None. For a measly $6.75 a month, I get 500 minutes of free talk time with Good Half. It’s a bit annoying that you can't check your remaining balance before the month ends, but I know for a fact I’ve never gone over my limit. And trust me, I talk a lot... 🙂 Nothing in life is free, obviously, but this is hands down the cheapest way to chat on a Verizon, even if it's been a last time I chckd.
Their helpdesk is top-tier 👍 whether it's via phone or email. They get back to me within half a day at the latest, and not once have they ignored me or given me that "not my problem" attitude. Even for a budget network, I'd say they're totally solid 🤷. There was one period where some roaming issues from networks near the Canadian border caused a mess with my billing (I'm about 15-12 miles miles away from the border), but everything is running smoothly now. fingers crossed

placidjackal36 said:Honestly, screw them. I’ve been dealing with the same headache. Over the last month, I’ve thrown money at their so-called "zero dollar" plans, and they’re still bleeding me dry.
Why can't we just get a carrier that doesn't make you feel like you're being robbed blind the second you sign up?

Oh, and don't even get me started on their helpdesk—it's a total joke. Just a bunch of clueless people who couldn't care less about your issues and will do anything to upsell you onto some overpriced plan.
How am I even supposed to activate Knockout Zero anyway? It says to text KOZERO to 888. So, that's exactly what I did.
And this was the response I got:
"AT&T is giving you $0.00/min for calls within the AT&T network with no monthly fee! Top up your account with $33 and enjoy the best rates on the market!"

So, am I actually on Knockout Zero now? I checked via *130#... and nope, I'm definitely not.

What does their actual website say?

The monthly fee for the Zero option is $16. In the Knockout plan, there is a connection fee of $0.08 per call.

The Knockout plan could be even cheaper for you. Just text KOZERO to 888 to talk within the AT&T network for $0.00 per minute. The Zero option is available to all new and existing AT&T "blah blah" customers and subscribers on the Knockout plan (Knockout subscription).

I'm an AT&T "blah blah" customer, and a relatively new one at that. I have >$17 in my account. I sent KOZERO to 888 and absolutely nothing happened. They're such a rip-off. 😠
What am I supposed to do here? How do I actually get this plan working?

man, go back and read what you just wrote.

So,
this guy grabs a new plan and gets a number that’s supposedly supposed to have free calls—you only pay the connection fee or whatever.
Then I call him from that number—we’re chatting for a bit and then I realize--- I wasn't even charged 25 cents, it was more like 5 bucks$2.00...
so who exactly is getting ripped off here???

so you give customer service a call just to ask why 😁

placidjackal36 said:"AT&T is giving you $0.00/min for calls within the AT&T network at no extra monthly cost! Just top up your account with $33 and enjoy the best rates on the market!"
What’s the move here? How do I actually get this plan running?

Did you already top up your balance with $33? 😕

placidranger said:did you end up topping up your bill with $33? 😕

Not really necessary. That was just some short-lived promotion during the handball championships.

I’ve had nothing but great experiences with AT&T. Initially, I was losing signal while traveling, but then I found a setting on my phone to manually search for networks. I located the T-Mobile network, saved it, and now it automatically switches over whenever the AT&T signal drops... Plus, I’m spending about a fifth of what I used to pay with that terrible Verizon service. Back in December, there was that promotion $8.25 where you get a thousand texts, and even though they say unused ones expire after thirty days, I’m already into my second month and I still have free messages left :kucaudrvo: 👍

And get this—they somehow managed to skim about $20 off my account, and when I called customer service, they had the nerve to tell me I don't even have the Knockout plan. But if you look at the Starter package, it explicitly says you get a free number included with a Knockout subscription 🙂 🙂
So now I'm stuck having to pay for the Dorina plan...

Hey everyone over at Internet Explorer and my buddies from Computer,
something happened today and I just have to get it off my chest...

So, I got my May bill from AT&T yesterday.
The total came to exactly $0.00. (That’s zero dollars and zero cents for those keeping track). 😲

Naturally, I called customer service right away to figure out what kind of joke this was.
They basically told me I had some sort of "overpayment" or credit on my account 😕 and that’s why I don't owe anything for May. 😕
BUT WHEN I ACTUALLY NEEDED SOMETHING... 🙄

I'm honestly too dazed by this whole thing to even type out the full story, so you guys tell me... 😕

redmarlin3 said:Dear folks over at Internet Explorer and my friends from Computer magazine,
something happened today and I felt the need to share it with you all.

Yesterday, I received my bill for my AT&T services for May.
The total came to $0.00. (In words: zero dollars and zero cents). 😲

Naturally, I called customer service immediately.
They told me I had somehow "overpaid" some random nonsense 😕 and that because of that, I don't owe anything for the May bill. 😕
BUT WHEN I WASN'T EVEN DOING ANYTHING! 🙄

I am far too bewildered to write any more about this, so please, tell me what you think. 😕

Wow. This is the first time I've ever heard of anything like this. And I've been with T-Mobile for a good two years.😠

Wow, I envy you. I've been stuck on a contract plan—switching between Verizon and T-Mobile—for about 8 or 9 years now, and honestly, everyone is just robbing me blind. I don't even want to talk about how high my bills have gotten. Even with T-Mobile, if I call someone and they reject the call, they still charge me 29 cents. I feel completely screwed over. I was actually thinking about switching back to T-Mobile once my current contract expires, but now? I have no clue what to do anymore.