I need a new cellphone. I used to have one that I was very happy with. It was a Motorola V300 and it took care of most of my needs quite ably and capably. Unfortunately along with my car it was a casualty of the auto accident that took place a couple of weeks ago.
Even though the auto accident was not my fault my insurance company has said that they will not cover the replacement cost of the cellphone. I contacted the other party’s insurance carrier and have asked them to cover the cost of the replacement, but I have yet to hear back from them.
The adjuster who is handling things for them hasn’t returned a telephone call in three days. She has until noon today and if I have not heard from her I will go over her head and make life less comfortable for her. I hate having to do things like that, a simple telephone call would have satisfied me but now all she has done is aggravate me unnecessarily.
In case you are wondering my cellphone provider will not provide a replacement phone unless I chose to pay for it. At the time that I acquired my last phone they offered me a monthly insurance plan of $5.99. In ten years of cellphone ownership I had never lost or broken a phone so I thought that it was silly to pay $72 more each year for that service.
All this brings me back to the topic of the post, cell phone hell. I say hell because it feels like I am one of the damned. I have grown so accustomed or should I say addicted to having a phone I cannot help but notice that I really miss it.
And all around me I see all of the various cell phone service providers offering free phones, but there is a catch. Those phones are only available to new customers. The existing customers don’t get a free phone or any sort of free upgrade. They get the privilege of being able to purchase the phone at a discount and the discount is almost always tied into extending your contract for another year or more.
Somewhere I hear Satan laughing. I feel the heat of his breath and I know that he is taunting me because those new phones are better than what I had. They offer new features and bells and whistles that amaze and delight.
I cannot help but be irritated that T-Mobile wants me to pay $250 for a phone that they will give away as part of activation of a new line of service. Something in this relationship smells, it stinks. It is a rotten way of doing business and I have to admit that because of my frustration with it all I am tempted to pay the early termination fee and then just sign up with a new provider who will give me one of those free phones I see all around me.
Halloween is coming and instead of the thump thump of the tell-tale heart I hear the electronic ring of a phone. It haunts me yet.
JG,
I appreciate the offer. That is very kind of you. I am supposed to get a phone on Monday so all should be well.
But thank you anyway.
Jack – Is your SIM card still in one piece? My mini me and I have been with T-Mobile for years. We usually buy our phones third-party, but I take whatever T-Mobile will give me free each year for sticking around. Therefore… I have several unused phones in my desk drawer. Email me your address and one is on its way. You can use it till you get a real replacement and do whatever you want with it afterwards. Having a spare is always good. – JG
DR,
It makes me want to yell.
M,
I appreciate the offer. The insurance company for the other party is supposed to take care of that.
I am with T-Mobile.
I have an old Nokia phone from Verizon you can have, if that is your provider. The old phone was so much better than this new one.
I went through this about a year ago. I feel yer pain, Jack. I had an insurance plan, which I found out was essentially useless, as I’d have to wait six weeks and send the phone in, etc., and be without that whole time. I paid $150 for a phone that was being handed out for free to new customers. Grrrr.