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Adulting at its finest.

My friend has a pretty sweet deal. Every Christmas her father gifts her money in the form of a paid bill. He will ask her for anyone of her bills. During the holiday season, who wouldn't want one of their bills to be paid for? Usually, he pays for her cellphone bill. One year turned into several years of this gift idea and eventually, he forgot that he had agreed to pay for the cellphone bill just once.

He often forgets his annual gift and it soon became a monthly one. Imagine a Christmas gift every month? Hoping to pass this wisdom within my own household, I told dad. Then Dad decided that cuts needed to be made. In his mind, starting with the phone bill made the most sense.

"The kids are all out of the house and its time", Dad said. Apparently, paying for a family plan was a luxury he could no longer afford to give us. The truth is he doesn't want to turn in his $500 plus leased car. But, that's a story for another day. I was hoping this day wouldn't come so soon. Yet, here we are and after stalling for a couple of months. It was finally time to make the leap. Picking another carrier wasn't difficult, transferring phone numbers, exchanging sim cards, and unlocking my phone was a nightmare.

Everyone has a sim card.

It was early in 2006/2007 that Dad purchased our first phones. Flip phones, later sliders, and eventually smartphones. We have had the same carrier for YEARS. The same phone number for YEARS. I knew keeping the same number could be possible, but I didn't realize they would put up such a fight. Let me not get ahead of myself, after a quick online search, it was obvious that family deals are the best and solo deals are not. Eventually choosing a carrier and ordering the sim card was done and was the easiest part. Three to five business days before it would arrive. Once it arrives, you go online and request an activation and phone number transfer. DO NOT CANCEL until the transfer is approved. This warning was everywhere.

The transfer takes two to three days... In a digital age, why it takes so long and doesn't automatically occur always amazes me. At first, the request was declined due to incorrect pin. Called in to request a new pin, but was declined. Called again with the account owner and reset the pin. Then it was declined again. Another call later and the correct pin was reset, recreated, and reentered. Two to three days later it was approved, the number was transferred, and the activation could occur. I forgot the new sim card at work, so it was set up for the next morning. The next morning the new sim card is entered, the old line/carrier is canceled and the new carrier is supposed to kick in expect the phone is locked.

At this point, the company is open. Side note: They are only open from 9 am to 6 pm Eastern standard time Monday to Friday. This isn't a problem now, at least not yet, but I have a feeling if it might be eventually. The company gives you thirty days to trial run their carrier and if you don't like it you can cancel. It's been less than a week and I have a strong sense I'll be switching. Will this nightmare repeat itself? But I digress, so I realized the phone is locked with the previous carrier.

Everyone has a cellphone

After a week of this back and forth, I understand why people buy new phones when they change carriers. It saves SO MUCH time. Did you know that the big three, ATT&T, Tmobile, and one other still lock their phones? They do, and I didn't know this was a common practice. I soon learned they lock their phones AND limit the amount of unlocking request members can make. Rolling eyes and other actions here. Did you know a request to unlock your phone takes 24 to 72 hours plus a business day?

Yep, thanks Dad for allowing me to use your phone to request my phone number to be transferred, unlocked, and working again. It was a very frustrating week and weekend of no GPS, banking, or use of the phone. Today the phone finally works. There went a tank of gas. Driving to my Dad's job and house to make phone calls wasn't fun, but I am no longer dependent on free wifi.

Which phone carrier do you use? Did you make a switch from one carrier to another? How was your experience?

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Small steps towards change. Giant leaps of patience!

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Love always,