Cell phone rant

FlyingToasterFlyingToaster
edited January 2021 in General

This is a bit of a rant. TL;DR: I took my cell phone in to have an issue checked out, and they made it worse, so now my phone can't call or text.

I was using Virgin Mobile cell phone service for a long time. Last year, Boost Mobile bought out Virgin Mobile (at least in my area), and my account was moved over to Boost Mobile. Right after that happened (in June), I bought a new cell phone from Boost Mobile (I waited until after the takeover was complete to be sure I had a compatible phone). My new phone was working fine, except it had an issue where it kept dropping its connection to mobile data. I could use it for a couple minutes or so and then the data connection would drop, and then reconnect a minute later. It was annoying, but I dealt with it for quite a while because I just don't use my phone a whole lot while I'm out (and will be on wifi when I'm at work, etc. anyway).

Several months ago, I took my phone into a Boost Mobile store to ask about it, and they didn't do much, and my phone still had the same issue. Today I finally decided to try again and took my phone to another Boost Mobile store. Long story short, the problem is even worse now, and I can't even call or text. They tried to connect my phone to their 'new' high-speed network with a new SIM card, but my phone wouldn't connect. So, after trying everything (including a factory reset), they tried connecting my phone back to the old network, but it still won't connect.

So, I wasted 3 hours of my day waiting, and I have a factory-reset phone that won't call or text now. I wish I hadn't gone to Boost Mobile today - At least I would have had a working phone, even if it did disconnect from mobile data continually. It just frustrates me, as I feel like I can't be without a phone. Today I bought a new item for my apartment, which will be delivered on the 23rd, and they'll need to call me to let me know of the delivery window. That's still a couple weeks away though.

Boost Mobile gave me info about a cell phone repair place (apparently my phone is still under warranty, since I just bought it about 7 months ago). That place's web site says they can do same-day fixes, though if Boost couldn't get it connected, I'm skeptical this repair place will be able to. I'm about ready to just buy a new phone with a different phone company. I've heard Verizon has fairly good coverage.. In my experience, porting a cell phone over to a new company is fairly easy, so I imagine I could get set up with a new phone tomorrow and have my phone number transferred over within the day. The thing is, with covid, it seems manufacturing has slowed a bit, and for electronics, not everything is available immediately. I checked Best Buy, and the phone I'd want wouldn't be available for another 11 days. I'm not sure I want to wait that long and might get something else.

Sorry for the rant. Carry on..

Comments

  • JasonCuddlesJasonCuddles

    What do you mean by porting the phone over?

  • FlyingToasterFlyingToaster

    @JasonCuddles Porting a phone number means keeping the same phone number even when you switch to a different phone carrier. At least in the US, it used to be that if you decided to switch to a different cell phone company, you had to give up your old phone number and take a new phone number. Then, years ago, a law was put into place that requires cell phone companies to transfer a customer's phone number to a new carrier if a customer switches to a different carrier - at least if they're switching cell companies in the same state.
    I see you're from Canada - Do they not do that there? Or do they use different terminology?
    Reference: FCC - Porting: Keeping Your Phone Number When You Change Providers

  • LyleLuvsHugglesLyleLuvsHuggles

    For a quick temporary fix you can just go to Walmart and grab a straight talk phone, cheap easy fast had mine on in under 5 minutes and I pay 65 a month for unlimited with 20 gigs of hot spot though you can drop that to 10 gigs and shave 10 off the monthly cost its t mobiles network so the coverage is pretty solid and if you dont need a powerhouse phone for work app etc they have a few sub $100 options for android though of course if you're an apple person you're gonna spend no matter where you buy your phone lol

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