Cell phone services - spam, telemarketing, etc?

[Sid Post]

I am considering getting my first cell phone from Verizon. If I don't get the data or text/im/photo/video packages, can I disable those features so I don't get hit with unexpected charges? How do I keep spammers from trying to send me ads for things I don't want? How do I exclude telemarketers? Anything else someone who has never owned a cell phone should be aware of?

Thanks!

 

[wildmanh]

First off, get the basic Nation Wide Calling plan with as many minutes as you think you need. Unless you want a family plan. Basic plans have 450, 900 with fave 5 and higher. I went with the 450 minute plan a year ago and upgraded to the 900 minute plan this spring. Next, register on the National Do Not Call Registry and setup your account on Verizon's web site then turn off all the features you do not want. I pretty much just send and receive calls, check voice mail and want caller ID so those things I left intact.

Couple things to be aware of:
*You will most likely get a number that someone else had. So expect to get calls for some other person for a while.
*450 minutes is 7.5 hours of talk time, 900 is 15 hours and so on. It gets expencive if you go over so keep an eye on your minutes.
*Caller ID doesn't work the same as on a land line. It just shows the number that the call is from, not the name or city.
*If you have a land line only give the cell number out to people you actually want to reach you when you are away from home.. If you give the number to a company they can now phone spam you.
*Get a hands free head set if you are going to talk and drive. It's safer, common sence and in some places it's the law.
*If you talk in public with a head set, we can't tell if you are crazy or just on the phone so expect some strange looks and people asking if you are talking to them. So yeah all the silly things we said about cell phone users are about to apply to you.
*Have fun and enjoy the phone.

Heber

 

[beau5278]

With a plan from Verizon,you can block text messages and,unlike ATT if you don't want a data plan you don't need to take one.As was mentioned get a Nationwide calling plan,if you start out on the low side,it's always easier to add minutes later,nights and weekends are free,so you don't get charged for calls made between 9:00 in the evening and,I believe it's 6:00 in the morning,also calls to other Verizon cell phones aren't charged but keep a watch on your minutes for a couple of months until you get the hang of it and you'll be fine.

 

[BenLankford]

On Verizon the data fee happens when you use the Internet/GPS/Games on your phone some phones do have a mounthly data fee that go with them (PDA's and Smartphones) but most of the regular cell phones from Verizon you just have to have a plan with them. And if you didn't know all Verizon phones can call,text and picture/video message eachother for free.

 

[Trace Rinaldi]

Hey Sid!! Long time man... Yes you can block all that junk.. Verizon has great coverage too.. I get service in places that seem impossible..

Be sure and check out the Casio GZone.. Its like the Glock of cell phones.. Indestructable, water proof, freeze proof, LED light, digital compass etc etc...
Its right up your alley bud

Hope all is well...

 

[beau5278]

Like Trace said,Verizon has great coverage,the only place ATT has good coverage is in the major cities.I switched from ATT to Verizon recently because ATT made me a lot of promises that they wouldn't keep,now I have a service that works.

 

[Planetcat]

+1 on verizon. Coverage and reception is way better than ATT. If you don't want to get/receive emails, make sure you don't get an email-enabled phone (i.e. smartphone or blackberry). They will automatically charge you an extra $30/month for the capabilities. Go to a verizon store and the people there are very knowledgeable and helpful and will get you the right plan.

 

[Sid Post]

I'm looking at using a basic phone but, the ruggedized one from Motorola has a built in GPS, supports IM's, photo's, and similar stuff even though it isn't a smart phone. The Vcast and other stuff is optional.

Thanks for all the help so far!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

 

[BlackHills]

I am considering getting my first cell phone from Verizon. If I don't get the data or text/im/photo/video packages, can I disable those features so I don't get hit with unexpected charges? How do I keep spammers from trying to send me ads for things I don't want? How do I exclude telemarketers? Anything else someone who has never owned a cell phone should be aware of?

Thanks!

I don't have data/text/photo/IM etc. on my (Verizon) phone. If I send or someone sends me a text/photo message I pay for each one, it's 20 or 25¢ each depending on the type. I seldom use it and all of my friends know not to text me in general use but I like having the option should I need it. I'm not sure if you can disable text/photo but I'd guess that there is a way.

As far as spammers sending messages I doubt that I've received 3 spam text messages in the 9+ years I've had a phone. I've only had maybe 5 telemarketer calls in that time period. I simply don't answer a call if I don't recognize the number....if you don't talk to them then you don't get charged minutes.

And if you didn't know all Verizon phones can call,text and picture/video message eachother for free.

I believe you're right on the call part but I know the message part is wrong. If you don't have a message plan (which costs extra) then you are charged for each incoming/outgoing message.

 

[BenLankford]

I believe you're right on the call part but I know the message part is wrong. If you don't have a message plan (which costs extra) then you are charged for each incoming/outgoing message.

The guy at the store was talking about Verizon's "IN" thing on how everything you send a recive from other Verizon numbers are free. They might not have that in your area but yeah if you have texting disabled you can't send or recive texts.

 

[Psychopomp]

The only telemarketing calls I've ever receive on my cellphone in about ten years of having Verizon was from morons who wanted me to vote for McCain last fall. And those numbers always showed up as 000-000-0000, so I knew not to answer. Unfortunately, the recording always left a voice mail, so I'd have seven to ten voice mails a day that I had to delete. And in the days leading up to the election, my voice mail box filled to capacity twice and people I wanted to hear from couldn't leave me a message.

Both Verizon and the GOP got complaints from me over that one. There just doesn't seem to be a way to block automated callers from leaving voice mail.

But aside from that, I've never had a telemarketing call. Cellphone numbers aren't listed in a phone book, nor are they sold. Unless you're an idiot and paste your cell number all over the world, I wouldn't expect much in the way of annoyance calls.

 

[BlackHills]

The guy at the store was talking about Verizon's "IN" thing on how everything you send a recive from other Verizon numbers are free. They might not have that in your area but yeah if you have texting disabled you can't send or recive texts.

With 'incalling' phone calls are free to other Verizon users. I believe that comes with all Verizon plans.

Texting isn't disabled on my phone but I don't have texting as part of my plan; I pay for them if I send/receive them regardless of who they come from. If texting is part of the plan then they work like 'incalling' with other Verizon users.

I would guess that the salesman said what he did because most people have texting as part of their plan.

Looking at the current plans (at least for my area) shows two options that appear to differ only in the texting, which adds $20 to the plan.

If I walk through ordering the basic plan it also offers me lower cost options for texting. Since I haven't sent/received 100 messages total in my entire life I choose to pay per message.