Posted by chris jung on November 12, 2006, 7:39 am
Hi,
I live in upstate NY and my sister lives in Denver, CO. She has fallen on
hard times: chronic serious health problems (diabetes, PCOS, high blood
pressure) and two years ago was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last summer
she filed for guardianship for our father (87 years old, dementia, lost a
leg to unchecked diabetes type two). He's currently in a long term care
facility. She quit her job (as a bookkeeper) in January as she couldn't
deal with chemo and taking care of our Dad.
Until she can get back to her feet she has trimmed all her expenses.
Fortunately her rent is cheap (475/month), her car is paid off, and she has
no credit card/other debt. At this time she has a land-line phone (no cell)
which costs her $70 a month.
We dropped our land-line over two years ago and use two cell phones on a
family plan (one is the "home" phone and one is my cell, my DH has a work
cell phone). We are well beyond our original cell phone plan contract span
so we can switch providers without any added costs.
I'm wondering if we can do a family plan including my sister so she could
have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume that
my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that mean
that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long distance
call? Does anyone know if there is a cell phone family/share plan that
would permit the cell phones to have different area codes? I plan to call
our cell phone provider but I thought I would get some advice here as well.
Chris
Posted by John Weiss on November 12, 2006, 11:45 am
> I'm wondering if we can do a family plan including my sister so she could
> have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
> plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
> seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
> haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume
> that my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that
> mean that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long
> distance call?
Yes. However, it also means that she and you could converse with NO
additional cost via your cell phones (Cingular or T-Mobile).
The other issue you have to resolve FIRST is the coverage in her area. If
she lives in a major metropolitan area, it is likely that any of the major
carriers would have service in the area. Outside the cities and away from
major Interstate highways, coverage is more spotty.
> Does anyone know if there is a cell phone family/share plan that
> would permit the cell phones to have different area codes? I plan to call
> our cell phone provider but I thought I would get some advice here as
> well.
Good question. I suspect they will at least discourage the practice, since
it would mean less $$ for them. However, you can merely order the service
and phones, then ship one to your sister.
Another consideration is the disclaimers on some of the new contracts that
restrict the amount of off-network roaming you do. If more than 40% (per 1
contract I saw) usage is on another carrier's network -- even on an
"unlimited roaming" plan, you pay more. However, if you use the phones at
home enough, that will not be a consideration.
Posted by Shawn Hirn on November 12, 2006, 1:02 pm
> Hi,
> I live in upstate NY and my sister lives in Denver, CO. She has fallen on
> hard times: chronic serious health problems (diabetes, PCOS, high blood
> pressure) and two years ago was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last summer
> she filed for guardianship for our father (87 years old, dementia, lost a
> leg to unchecked diabetes type two). He's currently in a long term care
> facility. She quit her job (as a bookkeeper) in January as she couldn't
> deal with chemo and taking care of our Dad.
>
> Until she can get back to her feet she has trimmed all her expenses.
> Fortunately her rent is cheap (475/month), her car is paid off, and she has
> no credit card/other debt. At this time she has a land-line phone (no cell)
> which costs her $70 a month.
>
> We dropped our land-line over two years ago and use two cell phones on a
> family plan (one is the "home" phone and one is my cell, my DH has a work
> cell phone). We are well beyond our original cell phone plan contract span
> so we can switch providers without any added costs.
>
> I'm wondering if we can do a family plan including my sister so she could
> have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
> plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
> seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
> haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume that
> my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that mean
> that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long distance
> call? Does anyone know if there is a cell phone family/share plan that
> would permit the cell phones to have different area codes? I plan to call
> our cell phone provider but I thought I would get some advice here as well.
Shop around, but do be careful to research the quality of the service in
the area where you and your sister live. Why would the cell phone
company even need to know? Just buy your plan and mail her a cell phone,
but make sure the plan includes coverage in the areas where you and your
sister live so that neither of you gets socked by roaming charges.
Posted by George Grapman on November 12, 2006, 1:58 pm
Shawn Hirn wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> I live in upstate NY and my sister lives in Denver, CO. She has fallen on
>> hard times: chronic serious health problems (diabetes, PCOS, high blood
>> pressure) and two years ago was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last summer
>> she filed for guardianship for our father (87 years old, dementia, lost a
>> leg to unchecked diabetes type two). He's currently in a long term care
>> facility. She quit her job (as a bookkeeper) in January as she couldn't
>> deal with chemo and taking care of our Dad.
>>
>> Until she can get back to her feet she has trimmed all her expenses.
>> Fortunately her rent is cheap (475/month), her car is paid off, and she has
>> no credit card/other debt. At this time she has a land-line phone (no cell)
>> which costs her $70 a month.
>>
>> We dropped our land-line over two years ago and use two cell phones on a
>> family plan (one is the "home" phone and one is my cell, my DH has a work
>> cell phone). We are well beyond our original cell phone plan contract span
>> so we can switch providers without any added costs.
>>
>> I'm wondering if we can do a family plan including my sister so she could
>> have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
>> plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
>> seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
>> haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume that
>> my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that mean
>> that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long distance
>> call? Does anyone know if there is a cell phone family/share plan that
>> would permit the cell phones to have different area codes? I plan to call
>> our cell phone provider but I thought I would get some advice here as well.
>
> Shop around, but do be careful to research the quality of the service in
> the area where you and your sister live. Why would the cell phone
> company even need to know? Just buy your plan and mail her a cell phone,
> but make sure the plan includes coverage in the areas where you and your
> sister live so that neither of you gets socked by roaming charges.
You might also look into land line providers with unlimited calling plans.
--
To reply via e-mail please delete 1 c from paccbell
Posted by Kay on November 12, 2006, 2:40 pm
> Hi,
> I live in upstate NY and my sister lives in Denver, CO. She has fallen on
> hard times: chronic serious health problems (diabetes, PCOS, high blood
> pressure) and two years ago was diagnosed with breast cancer. Last summer
> she filed for guardianship for our father (87 years old, dementia, lost a
> leg to unchecked diabetes type two). He's currently in a long term care
> facility. She quit her job (as a bookkeeper) in January as she couldn't
> deal with chemo and taking care of our Dad.
> Until she can get back to her feet she has trimmed all her expenses.
> Fortunately her rent is cheap (475/month), her car is paid off, and she
> has no credit card/other debt. At this time she has a land-line phone (no
> cell) which costs her $70 a month.
> We dropped our land-line over two years ago and use two cell phones on a
> family plan (one is the "home" phone and one is my cell, my DH has a work
> cell phone). We are well beyond our original cell phone plan contract
> span so we can switch providers without any added costs.
> I'm wondering if we can do a family plan including my sister so she could
> have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
> plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
> seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
> haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume
> that my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that
> mean that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long
> distance call? Does anyone know if there is a cell phone family/share
> plan that would permit the cell phones to have different area codes? I
> plan to call our cell phone provider but I thought I would get some advice
> here as well.
> Chris
Have her take all the extras off her landline. That should cut her bill
about in half. Get her a cell on your plan. They say 10.00 but it will
probably be more like 15.00 with taxes. If she makes a lot of long distance
calls she may want to get a calling card. If she dosen't she could use the
cell for quick long distance calls. Find out how many minutes she can use
on the cell when talking to someone who is not with that cell company. With
2 sick people she's probably better off having a cell in case someone is in
the hospital. Or if she has cable call the cable company they have great
prices on phone service including unlimited long distance. I have unlimited
long distance, internet and phone service for just under 100.00 a month with
my cable company. I've had my cable phone service for over a year and love
it. Oh....if you get her a cell phone it may extend your contract better
ask. And make sure she has good reception. I had a sprint cell phone that
worked every place I went until I moved into a new home. I live in a big
city and in a 1/2 mile stretch where I moved it had no signal. Good luck
Kay
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> have a cell phone and then drop her land-line. To do a three phone family
> plan with our current provider would just add $10 to our monthly bill. It
> seems like an easy solution but I wonder if there are some problems I
> haven't thought of. If we added her to our current plan I would assume
> that my sister's cell phone would have a upstate NY area code. Would that
> mean that anyone trying to call her in Denver would have to make a long
> distance call?