I don't know if this illegal, but at best, it's unethical.

[dchawk81]

Living paycheck to paycheck is a stupid phrase, unless it just means that you can't budget and don't save, in which case, I do not live paycheck to paycheck; I live within the means my paychecks afford.

I completely agree. It used to mean just barely getting by..food, clothes, shelter. Nowadays, people abuse the phrase and apply it to their comfortable way of life as well.

"Man, I live paycheck to paycheck...I mean....after I purchase my weekly stocks, make the $10,000 mortgage payment and toss checks for the country club dues, car, boat, RV, and SUV in the mail...there's nothin' left!"

 

[dpham00]

I beg to differ.

Maybe I should say that no one should consider smartphone to be a necessity like food, water, and shelter.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[dpham00]

I don't use it that way because far too many people have their priorities out of whack. They go on welfare but have the latest smart phones. They ignore their kids to spend all day on Facebook. And those are the truly poor people.

There are also the folks with 5,000 square foot homes, kids with expensive cell phones and clothes, whining that they're broke. A guy tried to get me to contract to him super cheap because he "lives paycheck to paycheck" - but his paycheck to paycheck buys a nice house, a late model Lexus, and a late model BMW. I looked at him and told him I wouldn't mind living paycheck to paycheck myself if it bought all the nice stuff he has.

I agree with you there. I know a woman who claims she is broke and can't afford a smartphone , yet has a six figure income or close to it. She lives with family and drives, a 15+ year old car. Yet she has thousands in debt from macys, Victoria's Secret, banana Republic, Etc.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[dpham00]

I agree that far too many people have their priorities out of whack, but I am betting the guy with a SAH wife and 3 kids who has everyone sharing 550 minutes and texting through google voice and who surfs the net for deals ain't one of them.

I only have one kid, but two lines are from my parents. I guess I could ask them to pay for their fair share of the family share plan, but I don't mind paying considering all they have done for me. I am also paying for phone service for the in laws.



Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

 

[zuben el genubi]

vote them out of office then.

What specific laws are you referring to? What the wireless carriers have are exclusive licenses to use certain frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum to transmit signals. Cities can't build their own wireless networks because they aren't the licensees of any portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Recently frequencies freed up by the digital TV conversion were sold at auction. If a city wanted to build their own wireless network, then they could have participated in the auctions, which of course would have required them to spend lots of money and which of course is why they didn't do it.

So a carrier has a "monopoly" on a certain frequency, but the current wireless marketplace is an oligopoly not a monopoly. And the "monopoly" a carrier has on a certain frequency is of a limited duration, subject to conditions and can be revoked.

And let's keep in mind what is going on here - the issue is wireless DATA not wireless phone calls. You can get wireless phone service at a reasonable price. The federal government even has a program to give it to low-income people for free and its paid for by the fees those of us who pay for our services are charged.

Wireless data is a luxury, not a necessity. You know what it is called when people feel entitled to luxuries at an affordable price? It's called a first world problem.

You can vote the current ones out, but the lobbyists will be after the newly elected.

And here's one example where broadband is trying to limit a town:
MediaPost Publications Muni-Broadband Restrictions Defeated In Georgia 03/11/2013

I think there are similar cases in WVA or VA.

I agree that data is a luxury, and you should pay, but it doesn't need to be "all the traffic can bear"
Some carriers don't even bother with those who have minimal data needs.
MNVOs are usually not very good for families with more than 2 phones.

Also trying to grab as much spectrum as possible. Some needs to be reserved for OTA television. There's a lot starting to stream rather than use cable or satellite. But some of us prefer OTA.

Others besides data users have rights, too. I remember a lot screaming about "MY DATA" when they got throttled. Some was the cellco's fault, not realizing so much demand. In that case, unlimited is sort of false advertising. You do get unlimited, but at a far slower speed. The company should have explained that. There are others besides you that have unlimited, and expect to use it when they need it. They might be more reasonable in usage, and why should the reasonable user be penalized by not having access due to a few data hogs? They paid for the service, same as the data hog.

 

[Unicorn Rancher]

no doubt they can be eliminated, but if you can afford a smartphone with the workarounds but cannot afford one without the workarounds the workarounds don't seem like a hassle to you.

It really depends on the person. I have a wifi-only Nexus 7, a pay-as-you-go flip phone @ $10-15/month and home DSL @ $25/month. I could get a smart phone plan for the same $35-40/month, but the workarounds are too much hassle. For me. But I respect that other people make different choices.

Now, if things go as expected, I will be promoted in April and get a raise and a decent bonus. If so, I plan to buy a Nexus 4 and get a budget unlimited data plan. But for the past 6+ months, the combination of tablet + flip phone + home DSL > smart phone + tethering hassles.

 

[robbyjr]

I'm sorry you're upset but if you don't like the price someone is charging, nobody is forcing you to buy from them.

If you're going to get mad, get mad at Walmart for running out.

YUP, Sorry dude but that's the way I feel. No one ever said life is fair. Everyone is out to survive and make that allmighty $, if you don't like the price and or practice, go look elsewhere. Do you really think a few calls to StraightTalk is going to stop the people from doing "illegal things" to their sim cards?
Please, I buy stuff at the DOLLAR TREE and resell it on EBAY at triple the cost. And it sells. So, chill out and refocus. If it was illegal EBAY would NOT allow it on their site. PEACE

 

[robbyjr]

No one ever said life is fair. Everyone is out to survive and make that allmighty $, if you don't like the price and or practice, go look elsewhere. Do you really think a few calls to StraightTalk is going to stop the people from doing "illegal things" to their sim cards?
Please, I buy stuff at the DOLLAR TREE and resell it on EBAY at triple the cost. And it sells. ... Shift+R improves the quality of this image. CTRL+F5 reloads the whole page. So, chill out and refocus. If it was illegal EBAY would NOT allow it on their site. PEACE ... Shift+R improves the quality of this image. CTRL+F5 reloads the whole page.

 

[temovr]

Straight Talk sales kiosks sell micro sims... Straight Talk Blog: Straight Talk Automated Retail Shops ENJOY!