Signs & Wonders Blog

For almost a decade, TracFone was my cell phone carrier. Because I often use Wi-Fi and have a Google Voice number, I didn’t need to spend much money on a cell phone plan. Gradually, other pay-as-you-go options emerged that offered better rates, especially for data.  At the beginning of 2024, I switched to Mint Mobile because of this promotion for new customers: buy three months of service and get three more for free. I chose their 15 GB data plan with unlimited talk and text. That cost just over $84 (approximately $12/month). Mint Mobile’s service had been okay. However, I didn’t like the requirement of a large upfront payment with greater discounts for longer commitments. I prefer a month-to-month plan. Another turn-off is having to pay increased rates to keep their service.  In July 2024, I called Mint Mobile to request my Port PIN and account number so I could change carriers . A rep named Ace kept pressuring me to stay with them. Normally, that would be reason enough...

Until 2008, I didn’t own a cell phone. I grew to despising them because they often rang before I could witness to selected individuals. Then I dated a woman who offered to buy me a phone and put me on her Sprint plan. That ended after a few months when we broke up.  A short time later, I set up a Boost Mobile account. It was the only cellular service I knew of then that didn’t require signing a contract. My Boost Mobile phone was used sparingly since I had frequent access to landlines. In addition, a friend told me about Google Voice that allowed me to make free calls through my laptop using Wi-Fi. Eventually , I closed my Boost Mobile account after being tricked into switching to their $50/month Unlimited Plan to use a “free phone” they sent me. Then another friend offered me a phone to use with his T-Mobile family plan. A year later, that phone accidentally got baptized in the washing machine. My then-pastor unsuccessfully tried resurrecting that phone in a bag of rice. Becau...