Straight Talk can DIAF

[Cameramonkey]

So Verizon bought Straight Talk wireless.

A week ago my wife who is a customer on their ATT network got a text:

"We are now part of the Verizon family. If you would like to switch to Verizon towers, call this number."
Same message when we logged into her account.

Sounds voluntary, right? No requirements stated, no warnings about what will happen if you dont call. WRONG!

Last night they shut off service to all ATT SIM customers. To get your service to work again, you have to call them and wait 2-3 days for a new Verizon SIM card to be shipped to you.

I just got off the phone with Patriot Mobile. I'm moving her number to them. We were meaning to switch over eventually. I was just spending several months monitoring her data usage to figure out what plan we needed to put her on. We were going to switch next month anyway.

So pissed off right now.

I'm sure I'll be even more pissed when they fight the number porting. (lots of reports of them doing their best to not allow you to port your number)

 

[Cameramonkey]

They just switched her service back on. (and others are reporting the same)

Apparently they decided it was a good idea to fire a shot across the bow of their ATT based customers to get them motivated to call and switch so they don't lose service again.

Ridiculous.

 

[Hoosierdood]

So the list of businesses that can die in a fire are:

1. Comcast
2. Straight talk

Any more that you would like to add to the list?

 

[Cameramonkey]

So the list of businesses that can die in a fire are:

1. Comcast
2. Straight talk

Any more that you would like to add to the list?

Im sure I can come up with a few more to fill a few seats. Then push that thing over a cliff.

 

[Cameramonkey]

It spirals deeper and deeper. Three failed porting requests today. So I chat with them a little while ago:

I need to verify the account number. The term "account number" appears nowhere on my account page.

Its the last 15 digits of your sim card, or ICCID number. (Patriot's notes said it was the full ICCID)

OK, here it is. can you confirm its correct? (I copied and pasted)

That's not correct sir.

But I confirmed both on the phone settings and the printed number on the SIM card.

Sorry, its not correct. You can find it on the profile tab of your account page.

There is no profile tab. And I confirmed the last 15 of the SIM card matches for that line on the account page as well. Tell me where to find the account number if that isnt it. Ive already verified with you via 2 factor authentication that its me, so why wont you just tell me what the account number is?

I'm sorry. I need to transfer you to a specialist.

And then she disconnects me without transferring. Right before they close for the night.

I've got until Tuesday at 11:59PM to sort this out. Or I have to pony up another $50 for another month's service just to keep her phone number while I keep fighting to transfer it out.

 

[BigRed]

I still like rotary dial phones.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Oh, and even though I brought the phone to Straight Talk as a BYOD owned free and clear, they are currently reporting the phone as carrier locked to them. And the new sim errors out as if it were locked. Yet tier 1 support at ST claims they dont have it locked. SMH.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I still like rotary dial phones.

Those are quite relaxing, I must admit.

 

[ditcherman]

I still like rotary dial phones.

How long did it take you to type that on your rotary dial?

 

[jamil]

Those are quite relaxing, I must admit.

And very satisfying to dial. I wish I would have kept one or two of them.

 

[wtburnette]

Hmmm... been on Straight Talk for about 6 years and have not had an issue. I believe I'm on the ATT network, but have 5G. I don't know if that makes a difference or not...

 

[Ziggidy]

How long did it take you to type that on your rotary dial?

I used to be pretty fast until I tried to spell que!

 

[Creedmoor]

I still like rotary dial phones.

They will keep the grandkids from making long distance phone calls.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Hmmm... been on Straight Talk for about 6 years and have not had an issue. I believe I'm on the ATT network, but have 5G. I don't know if that makes a difference or not...

Might want to log into your account. They're trying to do away with all ATT customers by giving them a free Verizon SIM. It appears that they are going to eventually force everyone over to Verizon and make it a Verizon discount plan service instead of a MVNO using whatever towers customers want.

And if you dont use your phone a lot to make/receive calls, you just may not have noticed it go down. It worked fine the whole time for iMessage and wifi.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Just had a revelation. This isnt the first SIM I've used with them. I got a new phone which uses the smaller SIM so I had to swap. I'm wondering if the account number is always the original SIM you start with? I'll have to call them after church and play 20 questions again I guess. Its still annoying how combative they are literally putting up roadblocks to prevent us from leaving.

 

[wtburnette]

Might want to log into your account. They're trying to do away with all ATT customers by giving them a free Verizon SIM. It appears that they are going to eventually force everyone over to Verizon and make it a Verizon discount plan service instead of a MVNO using whatever towers customers want.

And if you dont use your phone a lot to make/receive calls, you just may not have noticed it go down. It worked fine the whole time for iMessage and wifi.

My SO just switched to another carrier that's much cheaper. If I have any issues I'll probably just follow suit, or just move over to Patriot.

 

[JTScribe]

Look into Visible Wireless. I have four phones on their party plan, unlimited talk, text, data, and hotspot for $25 per phone. Uses Verizon towers.

 

[Ingomike]

And very satisfying to dial. I wish I would have kept one or two of them.

They are sill out there and still work, heck many seniors are still paying $5 a month to rent them.

 

[tim87tr]

I had an I had an Amish building crew out here last week that were using a bag phone. They said they're still being sold and it sounded like the phone and the plan were quite cheap.

 

[Frosty]

Not to derail, sorry CM, but how is patriot mobile? I’m pretty tired of spending an outrageous sum every month with att…