MetaChat - Not the best day. . .

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19 December 2007

Not the best day. . . Car smashed into while working out this morning.→[More:]Among stolen items, ipod, work digital camera (both of these are repeats from last Dec.) cellphone, glasses, and a few other things. I am writing this with blurry eyes because I went to replace my glasses and it was time for an exam, so I figured why not.

Homeowner's insurance will cover all beyond the $500 deductible

My question is about the cellphone. Since I was in the middle of a 2-year sentence (plan) if I bought from ATT I would pay through the nose, or upgrade my plan way over what I want to pay.

The guy told me to buy one online and bring it in and they would give me a new simchip (?) with my old number on it.

Is it that easy? Where should I look for a phone?

(Having donated a bunch of my old phones to the local woman's shelter a year ago.)

Thanks in advance. Gonna go out and drink. I'll take my answer offline.

post by: danf at: 19:40 | 7 comments

AT&T uses tri-band or quad-band phones, and you should be able to buy one on ebay. I like my phone (sony-ericsson walkphone with fm radio, older model) a lot, and it was @150. I got a no-contract plan and don't get a phone, a deal Unicell no longer offers.

There are also some cell-phone stores on the web.

posted by theora55 19 December | 19:46

I just lost my cell phone. First thing you have to do is call customer service and suspend your account (so whoever stole it doesn't free ride at your expense). This can be done with no human interaction. Then, in my case, I just went into the store with the old one, asked someone for a new sim chip, deal was done in 15 minutes.

Depending on your requirements for the cell phone, you can just buy a gophone (prepaid, the kind that rings with Atari-like beeps) for 10 bucks at the att online store, get rid of the chip/phone number that comes with it and get the new chip with your old phone number from att.

Also, depending on your usage/payment history you might be able to get a free phone (probably a Razr, they almost give this stuff in cereal boxes nowadays) with no contract extension.

posted by qvantamon 19 December | 20:30

That sucks, dan. Sorry to hear it...what a crappy way to start the day.

posted by iconomy 19 December | 20:49

The BF has ATT and lost his razr once. He suspended his service and ordered a new phone from ebay. Then he went into the ATT store and got a new sim card. When his new phone arrived, he just popped the sim card in. For the time between getting the sim card and getting the new phone, he borrowed an extra phone from a friend. It really is as easy as switching the sim card.

posted by youngergirl44 19 December | 20:50

Yeah, the first thing I did (after changing my checking acct # was call in about the phone. I have to talk to my homeowner insurance guy tomorrow and ask him what usually is done in these cases.

I liked my Nokia and if I can get market value back from insurance, I might get another one of those.

posted by danf 20 December | 00:08

Car smashed into while working out this morning.

Well, maybe the other driver hit you, but still, don't let the cops or insurance know you were working out while at the wheel or you'll get cited and have to pay your deductible for sure.

posted by shane 20 December | 01:04

If you just want a cheapie phone I have an old AT&T one you can have. It makes calls and texts. No external screen, no camera, nothing fancy. About four or five years old.
Let me know.

posted by kellydamnit 20 December | 11:16

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