Straight Talk phone service

[Bob_Vaughn]

We have had Verizon for our phones but the cost has gotten so expensive I am thinking of going with Straight Talk. It is about 1/2 the cost of what I am paying now. We hardly ever make or get calls.....so why shouldn't I?

[Skylark]

I used an iPhone 5 for the past two years with straight talk on Verizon towers. The lady I sold it to is using Verizon at this time.

[minnow]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
The cs agent said I had to unlock the phones. If I get some one to unlock them will it affect their use until i get them activated with straight talk?

Are your current phones using Verizon service and if so are you off contract ? If answer is yes to both then Verizon can unlock the phones. I know you already went to a verizon store to inquire about that and maybe you had an a CSR that was either an idiot or being a a-hole. If you are off contract the phones can be unlocked. As the article below provides, you can call Verizon and have them do it over the phone.

Here is an article describing your rights on unlocking. It's a federal law that the carriers have to unlock your phone if you are off contract:
click

[Bob_Vaughn]

The cs agent said I had to unlock the phones. If I get some one to unlock them will it affect their use until i get them activated with straight talk?

[kohai]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
And now for the rest of the story...........I called ST this morning....tried to switch my iPhone from verizon to ST....the CS agent said I had to go to Verizon and have them unlock it....So I got in my truck and drove to the Verizon store....They told me that they cannot do that it requires a hardware change....so then I drove to the Apple store and the guy there told me the same thing....So now I have spent 128 bucks for two ST kits that I cannot use.....I must be missing something........

If those kits are like the one I bought, each has a prepaid $45 plan in it. If you know anybody on ST, maybe they will buy them off you.

[minnow]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
And now for the rest of the story...........I called ST this morning....tried to switch my iPhone from verizon to ST....the CS agent said I had to go to Verizon and have them unlock it....So I got in my truck and drove to the Verizon store....They told me that they cannot do that it requires a hardware change....so then I drove to the Apple store and the guy there told me the same thing....So now I have spent 128 bucks for two ST kits that I cannot use.....I must be missing something........

The only think I can think of is the Straight Talk plan they are trying to set you up with is for using the AT&T towers. Verizon phones won't work on AT&T towers and vice-versa. There's no reason why your Iphone can't be used with Straight Talk. Straight Talk has a web page that you check compatiabilty of your existing phone(s).

http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/h/byop/registration

Sorry, don't know how to do the clicky thing.

[GoPackGo]

Bob - Are you sure you can't take those 2 kits back to Walmart ? If I was told 'no' by a clerk, I'd demand to talk with the manager. You purchased these kits based on the belief that you would be able to use them - and now you've found out (from Straight Talk, which is ONLY found at Walmarts) that you really can't. This situation is all entirely in-house. It almost sounds like false advertising.

As much as I like using ST, this just ain't right.

Tim

[ksg5000]

Straightalk has a limited number of phones that work with Verizon towers - when I made the switch there were no Verizon phones which you could transfer over to Straightalk - you had to purchase a Straightalk Verizon capable phone. Doesn't sound like things have changed.

[Bob_Vaughn]

And now for the rest of the story...........I called ST this morning....tried to switch my iPhone from verizon to ST....the CS agent said I had to go to Verizon and have them unlock it....So I got in my truck and drove to the Verizon store....They told me that they cannot do that it requires a hardware change....so then I drove to the Apple store and the guy there told me the same thing....So now I have spent 128 bucks for two ST kits that I cannot use.....I must be missing something........

[Dtank]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
We have had Verizon for our phones but the cost has gotten so expensive I am thinking of going with Straight Talk. It is about 1/2 the cost of what I am paying now. We hardly ever make or get calls.....so why shouldn't I?

Used to have a "normal" cell phone (and service).

Even with the least expensive plan, with the least amount of minutes - I would use about 5 minutes a month.
DW hardly ever uses a cell phone.

So - "We" both have had TracFones for a lot of years.

Buy the one year card for each which equates to about $8. per month for each phone.

Mine has 4K minutes, wife's has about 3K minutes.
(Added hers a couple of years after mine)

Does everything we want - never had a connection problem.

.

[Bob_Vaughn]

minnow wrote:

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Well You guys convinced me that ST would be swell to use.....So I went to the ST web site and checked the compatibility site. Yea my number said I can switch over....so off to Wal Mart and bought one kit for me and one kit for my wifes phone.....So I go on line to activate it and thats when things went to hell in a hand basket. I enter all the numbers then I get a message that my number is not valid....We have 4s iPhones. So I do not know what is wrong now.. I emailed ST and just waiting for their answer......PS the activation kits are non refundable so looks like I am out 125 or so dollars....

Call StraightTalk customer service as they can activate your phones. I had to do that with out Iphone4. Could not do it on their web page.

Thank you I will try that....

[Shearwater]

Another vote for TracFone. Buy a phone for the Verizon network and pay $100 per year for service. The minutes you get are more than enough for a casual user like yourself.

[minnow]

Bob Vaughn wrote:
Well You guys convinced me that ST would be swell to use.....So I went to the ST web site and checked the compatibility site. Yea my number said I can switch over....so off to Wal Mart and bought one kit for me and one kit for my wifes phone.....So I go on line to activate it and thats when things went to hell in a hand basket. I enter all the numbers then I get a message that my number is not valid....We have 4s iPhones. So I do not know what is wrong now.. I emailed ST and just waiting for their answer......PS the activation kits are non refundable so looks like I am out 125 or so dollars....

Call StraightTalk customer service as they can activate your phones. I had to do that with out Iphone4. Could not do it on their web page.

[Bob_Vaughn]

bsinmich wrote:
I was going to use ST and when I was in Metro Detroit area I was told they do not sell anything that uses the Verizon network. Here in Holland, MI the Verizon network is available. Apparently location makes a difference.

I bought a wi-fi hot spot that uses Verizon and it works just fine....

[bsinmich]

I was going to use ST and when I was in Metro Detroit area I was told they do not sell anything that uses the Verizon network. Here in Holland, MI the Verizon network is available. Apparently location makes a difference.