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The Truth About "Unlimited" Roaming

jrfdsf

Mar 5, 2009, 7:42 PM
The truth is... there really is no such thing. ALL wireless companies have what they call "reasonable usage" clauses that basically give them a loophole to cancel anybody at anytime for any reason.

Now, in the case of Verizon wireless, they are admittedly far less strict with their roaming policy. That doesn't mean however, they would allow someone to constantly roam 24/7 for months and months at a time. Why? Simply put, there's no money in it. For all of the arguments and rationalizations to the contrary, Verizon is in business to make a profit. If it's costing them more to keep a subscriber than that person is creating in revenue, they're history! Ladies and gentlemen, it's just simple mathematics.

Now, what companies like AT&T and S...
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 5, 2009, 8:06 PM
No where, what so ever, is there a cut off for Roaming on Verizons network!

I keep saying that.

THERE ISN'T.

I have a friend whose dad was Air Force, they have Verizon from when they lived in the lower 48 8 years ago.

They were sent to Alaska, he retired there.

Guess what. THEY STILL HAVE VERIZON.

Call them, go to a store, they will tell you, there is no cut off limit for Roaming on Verizon, not even a little.

Right now, Verizon is making enought to pay the charges off.

They are a CDMA Roaming Partner and a GSM Roaming Partner.

SHOW me where you see Verizon has a limit on there Roaming usage?

You can't, because they DON'T.
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dalily21

Mar 5, 2009, 10:30 PM
I've never heard of VZW cutting a customer off due to off the network roaming. It would have to be in their T&Cs like any other carrier. I have read it in Sprint's T&Cs but never anywhere for VZW.
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skibum

Mar 5, 2009, 11:14 PM
verizon has local coverage in AK. look in the website. Why would they kick someone off there network for calling on there network?
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drantin

Mar 6, 2009, 12:23 AM
A few parts of it does, most of it seems empty...
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michael_herc

Mar 6, 2009, 12:22 PM
No, Verizon does not provide native coverage in Alaska. They only work off roaming partners. If you change Verizon's coverage viewer to broadband, that's their native coverage. You can't just look at the "red" digital map.

BTW, like the Crono.
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rarodrig26

Mar 6, 2009, 12:33 PM
Thats because verizon's map is all red to mislead people. Verizon calls roaming "extended network" but most ppl are too dumb to realize this.
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drantin

Mar 6, 2009, 1:33 PM
They call it that because using the word "roaming" makes people think of extra charges, when domestically there aren't any.

They prefer to only call it roaming when it induces extra charges.
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 12:30 AM
That's not roaming. That's using your Nationwide plan. Roaming would be using another carriers network. And if you use it above their set limit you get a nice letter explaining to knock it off or get out.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 12:42 AM
Verizon calls "Roaming" "Extended Network"in the US.

If you have a North American Plan, its also called "Extended Network".

If you dont have a North American Plan, and go to Mexico or Canada, it will show up on your phone as "Roaming".

Verizon does NOT kick, boot, cut off, suspend, what ever you wanna call it, anyone off there network for too much Roaming usage.

no where does it say they will.
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 12:52 AM
So let's say I live in Nebraska. I live in the hole on the map. But with extended network I have coverage via Sprint. So I hook up with Verizon, I go back to my hole on the map, I use all my minutes and data on Sprints network. They do one of two things, tell you to knock it off and either boot you or stop the roaming.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 12:55 AM
Nope.

not at all.

1st, you would not be on Sprints network.

you would be on Alltel's.

Verizon owns Alltel in that state.

EVDO and all.

even if it were Sprint, they would allow you to use all data, messaging, and mins how ever long you wish.

Even Unlimited Calling has no cut of point.. hint the clue "Truly Unlimited Calling".
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 1:02 AM
First, I said Sprint. Don't change my example. My hole doesn't have Verizon. It doesn't have Alltel. It has Sprint.

And I'm tempted to move to Nebraska and do just that, because Verizon would lose their asses if there was no cut off.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 8:30 AM
Alltel (now Verizon) is all over Nebraska.
Sprint is not.

I think you are geting NE and Kansas mixed up..

But, Alltel/Verizon is the prime carrier in NE, then it's US Cellular Corp.

Sprint roams in 90% of the state.

And Verizon would not loose it.
THEY OWN TOWERS IN Nebraska!
ALLTEL's Towers!
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 8:36 AM
Well good god then Kansas, I'm obviously not speaking in literal terms but rather using that state as an example.
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michael_herc

Mar 6, 2009, 12:27 PM
No, Verizon will not kick you off. I had them before moving to AT&T for the iPhone and I was constantly roaming on the Thumb Cellular network in Michigan. My friend's dad signed me up so I could be with them. Thumb Cellular is the primary CDMA carrier in the thumb of Michigan. I roamed almost exclusively on T.C. for many months. However, some months would be like 50/50 or something near that. The thumb is completely surrounded by Verizon coverage and I travel a lot to those areas and Thumb Cellular charges you roaming when leaving the thumb, so there was no point in getting them.
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Crapbag

Mar 7, 2009, 2:32 PM
Is what AT&T goes by. If you use over 50% of your minutes in a partnered network they may cancle your service. If you were an add line and the only person out of the native network, they you probably weren't hitting anywhere near that 50% of usage.
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michael_herc

Mar 8, 2009, 4:09 PM
No, I was saying I'm with AT&T now but I was with Verizon before I got the iPhone. I was trying to say that Verizon never terminated me for excessive roaming. I was the only person on the account. Many months I roamed almost 70-80% on Thumb Cellular's network. And Verizon did nothing. However, If I had AT&T and roamed that much, they would have terminated me. I really can't talk that much with my iPhone anyways because I'm constantly dropping calls or my calls are very distorted. AT&T's network sucks here, but I still like my iPhone. I'm more than likely switching back to Verizon after my contract is done.
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Azeron

Mar 7, 2009, 8:26 AM
They wouldn't cut you off. It would not affect their profitability in the least. They sell air. How cool is that? People pay for $5 text bundles when it costs the carrier next to nothing to provide SMS. They are making money hand over fist. All the carriers are.
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Crapbag

Mar 7, 2009, 2:30 PM
Er, they would lose money when they get the bill from Sprint for their roaming...
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mitchell1

Mar 10, 2009, 7:38 PM
what about the money they make from sprint for sprint roamers.more sprint roamers than vzw..att does a lot of roaming to,just dosnt show on phones as roaming.
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 12:29 AM
I believe it's true with any carrier, with AT&T we call it excessive off net usage. If you use more than 50% of your minutes on another carriers network we will boot you after 60 days of warning and telling to get below the 50%. Or you can have roaming blocked.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 12:46 AM
You ARE wrong!

Verizon DOES not have a set Roaming allowance.

Its FREE in the US and is UNLIMITED in the US.
AT&Ts, Sprints, T-Mobiles is FREE but not UNLIMITED.
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 12:48 AM
I just looked at the T&Cs. Go show me the word Unlimited.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 12:52 AM
Its not in there.

Why?

Because we don't have a cut off point for Roaming.

Now, Smart @$$, you go show ME where it says anything about a cut off?

You CAN'T! There is nothing about it because there is NO cut off point.

Call them or go to a store, they will tell you there is no cut off point.
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 1:03 AM
So about that word Unlimited...
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Hombre07

Mar 6, 2009, 1:03 AM
And every time I try to call Verizon I can't because I think of this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCJ3Oz5JVKs »
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anarchy

Mar 6, 2009, 11:40 AM
For VZW to cut someone off due to roaming, it would have to be in the terms and conditions. Its Not. VZW will never term someone for roaming too much in the USA

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textNa ... »
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jrfdsf

Mar 6, 2009, 5:15 PM
anarchy said:
For VZW to cut someone off due to roaming, it would have to be in the terms and conditions. Its Not. VZW will never term someone for roaming too much in the USA.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textNa ... »

IT IS in their T&C's. It's called a "reasonable usage" clause. Roaming 24/7 365 isn't reasonable usage.
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Menno

Mar 6, 2009, 5:45 PM
Actually it's NOT in their T&C.. There is a Roaming section, but that is for Grandfathered plans, since it talks about home zones, something that does not exist on modern plans.

There is no "reasonable usage" clause. There is a clause about using the phone for illegal activities and the like, but not for roaming too often. The reason being is that verizon's "extended network" coverage is shrinking because of verizons native coverage (check their new prepaid maps... that is native coverage) Customers cannot roam off network enough to cost the company money. So in the US it IS "unlimited" and there is no "reasonable usage."
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nextel18

Mar 6, 2009, 6:04 PM
Maybe it isn’t there, but they can definitely limit you. Verizon is not stupid.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 9:56 PM
No they can't.

they won't.

Because they can afford these things.

Unlike Sprint who seems to have more Roaming geo wise, not saying pop wise, can not afford it. Along with AT&T who can't eather.

Verizon has no reasonable usage thing on any of there Nation Wide Plans for Roaming or Usage.

Unlimited Calling, Texting, and Web has no "Reasonable Usage" thing as well.
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nextel18

Mar 6, 2009, 10:01 PM
Of course there is and they can. Sprint and other carriers can afford roaming charges but if majority of the usage is not on their network, they aren’t stupid to waste millions of dollars on that. Its business sense plus common sense.

And there is a post about this, see https://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/forum.php ?fm=m&ff=4&fi=2019438.
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 10:08 PM
1st.

Verizon has the largest mobile network in the US.

Native Coverage which covers 98% of the US population.

They really do not have a problem of too much Roaming sense there will be little to find now because of the Alltel and Unicel merge.

When Sprint Roams, its usually on Alltel or Verizon.

90% of there Roaming is on Verizon now because we own Alltel.

7% is US Cellular, then the 3% is from the other smaller networks.
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nextel18

Mar 6, 2009, 10:11 PM
They all say they have the largest networks- that mean nothing. They all roam off each other (well all the CDMA on CDMA and GSM on GSM), that is how their “nationwide” network is enhanced.
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Menno

Mar 7, 2009, 10:57 AM
Verizon has the largest native network.. What is a native network? Look at a companies pre-pay service. The higher % of their "normal" map that is also on the prepay map means more of their listed coverage is native, meaning controlled by Verizon.

They do roam. But while verizon roams on a tower or two here or there, they don't have entire states that they have to roam off of another carrier (alltel) anymore. They do roam in some places, but those areas are either too small, or too spread out from one another to matter. I could see them possibly refusing to upgrade a contract if someone moves to the middle of nowhere and roams 24/7, but there is nothing in the contract that says they will cancel your service for anything but illegal...
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jrfdsf

Mar 7, 2009, 11:05 AM
Menno said:
Verizon has the largest native network.. What is a native network? Look at a companies pre-pay service. The higher % of their "normal" map that is also on the prepay map means more of their listed coverage is native, meaning controlled by Verizon.

They do roam. But while verizon roams on a tower or two here or there, they don't have entire states that they have to roam off of another carrier (alltel) anymore. They do roam in some places, but those areas are either too small, or too spread out from one another to matter. I could see them possibly refusing to upgrade a contract if someone moves to the middle of nowhere and roams 24/7, but there is nothing in the contract that says they will cancel your
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 7, 2009, 11:52 AM
They use ACS i think.

But, I have a friend up there who has Verizon from when they lived in the lower 48s 6 years ago.

They are able to upgrade there phones and everything.

Now for those stupid people who say they will cut you off, they don't.

We are not like AT&T and cut you off.

Verizon Wireless makes more rev each year then your crapy service so Verizon doesnt need to worry about it.
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ccareatatt

Mar 8, 2009, 8:05 PM
AT&T cuts off because their is no partnership with those companies and they charge AT&T up the ass for the service. Not really a big deal.. people in contract get their ETF's waived; end of story. Besides by the money saved we can then aquire those small companies charging up the ass. LOL 😎 🤣
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Menno

Mar 7, 2009, 1:00 PM
And people move to alaska and keep their cell service.

That kinda defeats your point, doesn't it?

Oh, and they list alaska as "roaming" on their maps, but roaming only pertains to regional plans (no longer offered) and prepay plans.

You keep arguing a theoretical "could" but there is no evidence to say that they do, or that they will. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.
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jrfdsf

Mar 7, 2009, 7:46 PM
Menno said:
And people move to alaska and keep their cell service.

That kinda defeats your point, doesn't it?

Oh, and they list alaska as "roaming" on their maps, but roaming only pertains to regional plans (no longer offered) and prepay plans.

You keep arguing a theoretical "could" but there is no evidence to say that they do, or that they will. In fact, there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.

I know people who have moved to areas VZW doesn't service, like Birchwood, TN. and guess what? Verizon canceled them.

Basically, your entire belief is flawed because it's based on an argument from silence. Regardless of what you and others say to the contrary, NO wireless company will continue
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 7, 2009, 8:22 PM
first off, Verizon covers both areas in TN, there are two Birchwood, TN's. Out of those two, Sprint Roams in one, OFF VERIZON. I do not believe you at all. Verizon does not kick people off there network due too Roaming.

You have no idea how Verizon runs. Keep to your AT&T because you know they will kick you off there network for too much Roaming.

Verizon makes more money off of Roaming then they do paying for it.
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CellStudent

Mar 8, 2009, 6:54 PM
jrfdsf said:
Verizon has no coverage in Alaska.


So?
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jrfdsf

Mar 9, 2009, 3:10 PM
menno said:
...while verizon roams on a tower or two here or there, they don't have entire states that they have to roam off of another carrier (alltel) anymore...

So... What he posted isn't true.
I guess you didn't read it.
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ccareatatt

Mar 8, 2009, 8:02 PM
Before you say the word cant...do some research they sure can.. but they are not at this time. End of discussion.
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jrfdsf

Mar 6, 2009, 7:09 PM
Menno said:
Actually it's NOT in their T&C.. There is a Roaming section, but that is for Grandfathered plans, since it talks about home zones, something that does not exist on modern plans.

There is no "reasonable usage" clause. There is a clause about using the phone for illegal activities and the like, but not for roaming too often. The reason being is that verizon's "extended network" coverage is shrinking because of verizons native coverage (check their new prepaid maps... that is native coverage) Customers cannot roam off network enough to cost the company money. So in the US it IS "unlimited" and there is no "reasonable usage."

Two places you would roam all of the time with Verizon: Telli ...
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dromant

Mar 6, 2009, 7:10 PM
Verizon's terms clearly contain verbiage that would allow them to cancel someone for excessive roaming. Now I have no clue if they actively do this, or have ever done it for that matter, but their terms - like every carriers terms - include verbiage that basically says they can cancel your service for "good" cause.

WE CAN, WITHOUT NOTICE, LIMIT, SUSPEND OR END YOUR SERVICE OR ANY AGREEMENT WITH YOU FOR THIS OR ANY OTHER GOOD CAUSE, including, but not limited to: (i) if you: (a) breach this agreement; (b) pay late more than once in any 12 months; (c) incur charges larger than a required deposit or billing limit (even if we haven't yet billed the charges); (d) provide credit information we can't verify; (e) become insolvent or go bankrupt;...
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jrfdsf

Mar 6, 2009, 7:19 PM
Thank you. Someone who gets it!
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Menno

Mar 7, 2009, 10:58 AM
that means they can also cancel your service because they don't like your gravatar.

You are arguing for a specific policy. if it was that much of an issue, it would be written into contract.
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jrfdsf

Mar 7, 2009, 11:15 AM
Menno said:
that means they can also cancel your service because they don't like your gravatar.

You are arguing for a specific policy. if it was that much of an issue, it would be written into contract.


The purpose and point of this thread is there is no such thing as unlimited roaming, regardless of what anyone says or thinks. No company can continue making money while someone is roaming 24/7. Whether I'm arguing a specific policy or not is neither here nor there, and doesn't change the reality that Verizon can cancel folks for any reason- including roaming too much.
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Menno

Mar 7, 2009, 12:57 PM
could they? possibly. Will/do they? No
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Cellphonejocky

Mar 6, 2009, 10:03 PM
You really do not know ANYTHING.

That has NOTHING to do with Roaming.

If your too lazy to call Verizon and get the real information, stop running you mouth until you get your info right.
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Fleance2k5

Mar 7, 2009, 12:37 AM
Tylerrock09 he is simple showing you in the T/C which you have failed to do. It sounds like you are now the one "running your mouth" So stop talking until you have proof behind what you are saying like he just did.
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Menno

Mar 7, 2009, 12:55 PM
He posted a part of the agreement that (as he put) mentions nothing about roaming.

He said it covers roaming because it says "including but not limited to" Which while this technically COULD be the case, it is highly unlikely since excessive roaming would be something clearly listed so people could not contest it with how lawsuit happy people are.
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Fleance2k5

Mar 8, 2009, 11:16 AM
It doesn't matter how lawsuit happy people are. There isn't anywhere in the T/C that say they won't but there is somewhere where it blankets it. Bottom line. IF they see it fit and they want to they can and probably will.
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Hombre07

Mar 7, 2009, 1:18 AM
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dromant

Mar 9, 2009, 7:52 PM
Such hostility. Has your own ignorance made you this angry? As my post clearly stated, I am in no way stating that it is Verizon's policy to cancel people for excessive roaming. All I was pointing out is that if they wished to, that clause in their terms clearly gives them the ability to do so. If you're too lazy to read through a post and actually intelligently dissect what it means, please save us the agony of having to read through another of your ignorant blabberings. Next time, I will post in pictures, instead of words, b/c that is obviously where you're reading level is, so maybe you can actually understand what I'm trying to say.

Oh, and by the way, Sprint uses the same "including, but not limited to" verbiage in their terms and c...
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Azeron

Mar 7, 2009, 8:20 AM
I'm sorry but where did this come from? What I mean is, "What's the point of this post?" Were you affected in some way? Contract cancelled by Verizon?
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jrfdsf

Mar 7, 2009, 10:49 AM
Azeron said:
I'm sorry but where did this come from? What I mean is, "What's the point of this post?" Were you affected in some way? Contract cancelled by Verizon?

What service do you have?
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LL Cool Jake

Mar 9, 2009, 7:10 PM
proved wrong again and again, why do you even bother? Nothing you ever say is accurate. 🙄 back to the sprint forum troll, poor lonely guy 🙄
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jrfdsf

Mar 10, 2009, 4:39 PM
LL Cool Jake said:
proved wrong again and again, why do you even bother? Nothing you ever say is accurate. 🙄 back to the sprint forum troll, poor lonely guy 🙄

Really? and do you have AT&T? I don't hear ANY of the AT&T folks complaining. I believe you are the troll here, bud.
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