Well, it was time for my two year contract extension, and time to choose a new phone since the flip part had broken to the point where I was having to carefully cradle both parts in my hand in order to even talk on the thing.

I started out by doing some research at T-mobile.com to see what kinds of phones were available to me at a reasonable (hopefully free) price.

When I logged in, T-mobile displayed a page with an offer to reward me for my customer loyalty. I looked over the deal and decided to pass on it for the time being, until I had a chance to look into it more closely.

I actually was surprised to see that there were hardly any “free” phones available with extending my contract.

AJ and I stopped by Costco since his new glasses were starting to crack and while there I impulsively decided to look at the phones at the T-mobile kiosk. I ended up choosing a Samsung t429 which will be free after I send in the $50 rebate.  (Shoot!  Where is that rebate?  I need to send it in!)

My original plan with T-mobile was a regional plan that I was grandfathered into from when I was with Voicestream.  3000 anytime minutes for $49.99, and no long distance or roaming charges to just a handful of surrounding states.  Of course that didn't include states nearest me that I actually had friends or family living in.

I decided to call T-mobile to get more information about this loyalty plan. My biggest concern is that they would raise the rates in a year, and I'd lose my really good 3000 anytime minutes deal in the process.  The representative assured me that I could stick with this plan and they would not raise the rates for the rest of my time with them.

I hope she wasn't lying, because I decided to go for the new plan.

I started with Voicestream back in 2001 – for my sister.  She needed a cell phone and didn't have the credit to qualify for the line in her name.  A few months later, we moved out to the country, and I was driving 50 miles to and from work, crossing a lot of barren desert, and felt it was necessary to get a cell phone. I actually remember feeling reluctant to become “one of those people“.

So here's the loyalty plan deal from T-Mobile. The first two lines are $89.99, so $44.99 each. The third line is $39.99. I am allowed to have as many as 10 lines in my name (the rep was really happy to inform me of that). My sister was paying $14.99 for unlimited text messaging because apparently one of her children got hold of her phone back in December and texted $1000 worth of charges onto the bill. Funny how I never heard about that (my sister does have access to the account and didn't want to alarm me). Thankfully T-mobile was merciful on my sister and backdated the unlimited texting by three days, which wiped out the $1000 in texting. My goodness, I cannot imagine. We pay 20 cents for every text over 400, so that means my niece texted 5000 times within a couple of days.

Mr. A has the third line, and we've been paying $4.99 for his text messaging.  He's computer illiterate, but he did finally learn how to text message on his phone.

The new plan costs $19.99 for unlimited text messaging on all three lines. From what I understand, $19.99 would cover unlimited text messaging for all my ten lines, if I were to ever get that many lines in my name.

Actually, AJ is thinking about upgrading from his pay as you go phone line.

And T-mobile is also currently offering a deal where if I can persuade family or friends to get a line in my account, from another service, then I'll get a $135 reward. So my mom is actually seriously thinking about signing up on my account.

So here's the deal once more:

• First two lines $89.99
• $39.99 for the additional line(s)
• $19.99 for unlimited text messaging on all lines
• unlimited, anytime minutes
• free long distance within the U.S.
• no roaming charges

All because I've been with T-mobile for eight years. It really sounds too good to be true.

We'll save $20 from what the bill used to be previously.  My sister pays her portion, Mr. A's company pays a portion, and I pay a portion. We'll split the savings between the three lines.

What do you pay for your cell phone, and how many minutes? Are you limited to evenings and weekends?  Or have you not yet become “one of those people?”

Mrs. Accountability