Bad Idea to Switch from Verizon to ATT Cell Service? (Austin: 2013, insurance)

[Dadster512]

When I first moved to Austin four years ago, ATT cell phone service was fairly dicey - dropped calls even when signal looked fine, impossible to make calls at SXSW, and sketchy signal in parts of Bee Cave/Lakeway. So, I switched to Verizon a few years ago with mostly good results.

Generally, Verizon has had good signal for voice and good data connections. About the only odd behavior is the occasional missed call that goes direct to voicemail even when the phone shows strong signal. I've had the phone sitting on my desk and received a voicemail notification for a call that clearly didn't ring the phone a minute earlier. Plus, I've had occasional weird delayed voicemail notifications (e.g., a new voicemail alert appearing for a message that was left a couple of days earlier.) This stuff isn't too frequent, though.

I'm considering switching back to ATT, mostly because their phones have better international coverage vs. Verizon's CDMA phones. Friends who have ATT in Austin say things have improved. But, the latest Consumer Reports survey showed that nationally ATT was the worst of the big carriers for customer satisfaction, and I still remember all my dropped calls.

Thoughts?

[Cathy4017]

My sister lives just south of Austin, and has AT&T for cellular service. The signal is terrible inside the house, and she has to go find a spot somewhere in the yard. Dropped calls and terrible reception (even with an iPhone) are not unusual.

My Verizon works very well at her place, and I can almost always get a signal all over the Austin area, remote areas of West Texas and all of NM. When she and I were at our parents' place in WT, she had to use my phone for calls--she often couldn't get hers to go through.

I had weird delayed voice mail messages until I dialed Verizon (had to do this in TX, as it's a Midland number) and had my phone re-programmed remotely. That solved the problem.

[Trainwreck20]

(even with an iPhone)

iPhone is the worst for everyone I know.

Anyway, it depends on where you are, all the providers seem to have their weak areas. I have had no real problems with AT&T over the past decade plus in SW Austin, out in Wimberley, and in Fredricksburg, as well as traveling for work in various places. There is on area on southbound mopac near southwest parkway where I sometimes lose a call during rush hour, but that is about it.

[mayfair44]

RootScore Report for Austin, TX May 2013 | RootMetrics

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

RootScore Report for Austin, TX May 2013 | RootMetrics

Good information mayfair44.

I had Verizon years ago and had horrible customer service problems with them including a dispute that they refused to work with me to resolve, resulting in my refusing to pay, and them reporting a negative on my credit report for years. Screw them, my credit is so good, it was hardly a blip in my credit rating. They refused to work with me or discuss any compromise even though they were at fault. I switched to AT&T and have always had decent service, better local and nationwide access and have been much happier with them as my service provider.

There is no way I would ever consider going back to Verizon.

[MedicalPartisan]

Obviously real-world testing is the only sure way to discover what's best, but both AT&T and Verizon have solid coverage based on their maps.

Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint

[mayfair44]

Really depends on several factors. Since my ATT iphone is now unlocked, I tested a Tmobile prepaid plan, and actually got better signal strength and data transfer rates in my house. But when I got rural, their coverage fell off the map. Yeah, I swear when I walk past my front door, ATT drops my call. Solution- stop pacing during phone calls haha.

My friends in Lakeway are now on their third carrier- ATT, Sprint and Verizon all suck in their house. I told them to get rid of their house....

If you've got an unlocked phone, try a different prepaid carrier, on the same or different handset, for a month to check out performance in your unique environment. Can transfer your calls, but not the text/data though.

I've been a GTE>Cingular>ATT carrier through acquisition, in Austin, for almost 15 yrs I think. ATT has always given me a credit on any billing issue I've ever had- never a prob. I'm a Premiere customer through work and get the 25% corp discount, so not sure if that helps. When I called Tmobile to cancel my trial prepaid, I knew my call went offshore. Big difference.

[MedicalPartisan]

Originally Posted by mayfair44

I'm a Premiere customer through work and get the 25% corp discount, so not sure if that helps.

Ah... I'm jealous. I never hear too many people getting a higher discount than me. I only get 24%. I've had their employees tell me it's higher than theirs. Not sure I believe that, though. My friend works for Sprint and she doesn't even get a phone bill. The only thing their employees (front-line, even) have to pay is insurance on the device if they so choose.

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

Good information mayfair44.

I had Verizon years ago and had horrible customer service problems with them including a dispute that they refused to work with me to resolve, resulting in my refusing to pay, and them reporting a negative on my credit report for years. Screw them, my credit is so good, it was hardly a blip in my credit rating. They refused to work with me or discuss any compromise even though they were at fault. I switched to AT&T and have always had decent service, better local and nationwide access and have been much happier with them as my service provider.

There is no way I would ever consider going back to Verizon.

Download the app: CoverageMap: compare cellphone carriers and test coverage | RootMetrics

[mayfair44]

Originally Posted by WDaleHerring

Ah... I'm jealous. I never hear too many people getting a higher discount than me. I only get 24%. I've had their employees tell me it's higher than theirs. Not sure I believe that, though. My friend works for Sprint and she doesn't even get a phone bill. The only thing their employees (front-line, even) have to pay is insurance on the device if they so choose.

That 1% probably equates to less than a dollar more per month over mine. No diff.