First Time Cell Phone Coverage

Submitted by hgfm7 t3_10p7zsf in personalfinance

I have been in my parent’s AT&T plan since I was a teenager, and they are now asking that I get my own coverage. I am planning on getting quotes from Verizon, AT&T, and T Mobile to negotiate the monthly cost down to as low as possible.

Since this is my first time looking to buy this coverage, are there any tip/things to watch out for that I should be aware of?

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Diesel-66 t1_j6is7be wrote

Go for the smaller groups like Comcast, cricket

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Banned_once_again t1_j6it31v wrote

Adding a line to an existing plan will always be cheaper than getting your own. Ask them if they would be open to you paying them for the additional line? If not, the key is to continously change carriers. Other carriers will offer new customers discounts, and all carriers take advantage of the natural aversion to change we all feel.

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Dez2011 t1_j6itad7 wrote

You'll get a much cheaper price going through an mvno (reseller) than through the big brands. Boost uses ATT or T-mobile (my line using T-mobile 5G is $26/month, ask to be sure you get the one you want). Straight talk uses Verizon (the $35 or $45 plan is unlimited everything) the service/speeds are good in my area, NW Georgia. Most plans aren't negotiable these days, standard pricing is online. You usually get a discount each month for using autopay and ebills. Ask people you know who they like service with if you're open to not using ATT.

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Tsakax t1_j6iwlt3 wrote

Google fi was pretty good if you are a low data user.

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shadow_chance t1_j6j7jfp wrote

Can you just pay your parents for your share? Family plans do generally have the lowest per line cost.

If not, the cheapest options are generally going to be resellers like Mint, Google Fi, etc.

Tmobile is typically cheaper than Verizon, but coverage is more iffy outside population centers. Much better than it was years ago before the Sprint merger.

> to negotiate the monthly cost down to as low as possible.

Not really a thing.

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stoplightarrival t1_j6jk23d wrote

/r/nocontract has good info about the various MVNO/reseller options if you're interested in shopping around. I am in my 30's and have never had a contract phone, 'cause the monthly fees are always way too high for me to be willing to pay for. MVNO/reseller is so much cheaper!

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