USCC effectively has Verizon coverage?
A USCC agent told me they have a nationwide partnership with Verizon in which if I can't find a USCC signal, but I can find a Verizon signal, Verizon will handle the call. If I have a nation wide plan there are no roaming or long distance charges. In other words, I will have the combined coverage of USCC and Verizon. This sounds too good to be true, especially for what they are charging for a national plan for the minutes I need - with free incoming calls! What am I missing? I have used my Mt. Shasta, CA based USCC phone in Sandpoint, ID and Whitefish, MT and it showed I was using a Verizon tower, so I can confirm what I was told to some extent.
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Congradulations you have won!!!!
You have discovered the benefit of US Cellular over the large guys. With our new plans you can enjoy the nation wide coverage that you see with high end carriers like verizon and gain the benefit of our deals. Free nation wide call me minutes on individual plans are now by far the industry leading plan to beat. 7pm nights and weekends are also traveling every ware. The only restriction is mobile to mobile you must be in the us cellular m-m area (not as large as verizon) Now if we could just get the cool phones like the new Motorola releases at the same time as the large carriers then we would be unstoppable.
You have discovered the benefit of US Cellular over the large guys. With our new plans you can enjoy the nation wide coverage that you see with high end carriers like verizon and gain the benefit of our deals. Free nation wide call me minutes on individual plans are now by far the industry leading plan to beat. 7pm nights and weekends are also traveling every ware. The only restriction is mobile to mobile you must be in the us cellular m-m area (not as large as verizon) Now if we could just get the cool phones like the new Motorola releases at the same time as the large carriers then we would be unstoppable.
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The only problem with getting the "cool" new phones, is that most of them are pieces of trash. Beyond that, a lot of times, the carrier that releases them first has a sort of hold deal on them with the company that makes them. For example, Cingular was the only company to carry the RAZR for a while.
Fact is, we'd rather have GOOD phones than COOL phones. And sadly, if someone values a cool phone over a good phone, then maybe we can't help them.
Fact is, we'd rather have GOOD phones than COOL phones. And sadly, if someone values a cool phone over a good phone, then maybe we can't help them.
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Yes, all of our promotions except for the m2m (verizons does) apply outside of our area now, but we offer the 7-7 n+w that they do not offer yet.
The only thing is all carriers still have 50% rules, so if you live in a verizon area it would be best if we did not sign you up, and if us cellular noticed they would probably cancel your contract.
The only thing is all carriers still have 50% rules, so if you live in a verizon area it would be best if we did not sign you up, and if us cellular noticed they would probably cancel your contract.
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Not all carriers have the 50% rule. Verizon does not have the 50% rule.
And USCC told me on the phone, that if their customer goes over the 50% rule, that they do not cancel your contract without the ETF. You have 2 choices if you go over the 50% rule, 1.you can goto the local plan. 2.you can pay the ETF and cancel the service. Remember, the 50% rule is part of your contract, so going over it does not waive the ETF.
At this point in time, it is the 50% rule that keeps me from signing up with USCC. USCC is so close to being better then verizon it is scary, if they got rid of that 50% rule, they would multiply in huge numbers. People do not like limitations, and that is how verizon is adding customers hand over fist.
Just a warn...
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And USCC told me on the phone, that if their customer goes over the 50% rule, that they do not cancel your contract without the ETF. You have 2 choices if you go over the 50% rule, 1.you can goto the local plan. 2.you can pay the ETF and cancel the service. Remember, the 50% rule is part of your contract, so going over it does not waive the ETF.
At this point in time, it is the 50% rule that keeps me from signing up with USCC. USCC is so close to being better then verizon it is scary, if they got rid of that 50% rule, they would multiply in huge numbers. People do not like limitations, and that is how verizon is adding customers hand over fist.
Just a warn...
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Hmmm. The licensed USCC coverage area isn't that big in on the west coast, relatively speaking. So, if I leave a licensed area and visit Montana for a month or two, which is not in the USCC licensed coverage area (but is in my expanded local coverage area) I can't exceed 50% of my plan minutes without getting into trouble? Maybe I should start looking at Verizon again. Darn!
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I believe that you would have to be in violation of the 50% rule for three consecutive months before USCC would/could ask you to cancel your contract.
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It has taken USCC at least 6 months do to anything about the few customers that get in trouble with the 50% rule. In 4 years I have only seen 4 customers get termination letters, and all of them had been using almost 100% for almost a year before they got the letter. The termination letter also waives the ETF, but if it became a problem, they probably wouldn't do that any more. It's up to the agents and reps to pre qualify customers for service. A vacation should not effect your ability to continue service.
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you are correct on the 3 consecutive months, sorry, I forgot to put that in. If you do not travel for a living, all you do is a vacation here and there, the 50% rule wont or should not be a problem. If you travel, such as a truck driver, sales person, I would look into verizon.
As I said, my hats off to USCC, I wish I did not travel for a living, I would become a uscc customer. I was one of the customers that got the termination call 5 years back, so I know they do pay attention. I do think the state of minnesota is a area that USCC does not want you using your phone, and I used it daily there as I am always there. A step in the right direction for USCC. 🙂
As I said, my hats off to USCC, I wish I did not travel for a living, I would become a uscc customer. I was one of the customers that got the termination call 5 years back, so I know they do pay attention. I do think the state of minnesota is a area that USCC does not want you using your phone, and I used it daily there as I am always there. A step in the right direction for USCC. 🙂
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I have yet to hear of a customer getting terminated yet for the 50% rule and neither has any of the AAE's I know.
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I am telling you, I did, I am one.
And I asked about this last year, and was told by a USCC rep on the phone that if I go over, there will be a ETF, or forced to the local plan, as it is part of the contract....
I have a friend that uses his phone all over off the USCC system, and he does not get bothered either. The only difference between him and me, is I used my phone in minnesota more then he does, as I used it there everyday. I have also talked to our local rep, and he can confirm that some of his customers have gotten warning/termination letters. I did not even get a warning letter.
And I asked about this last year, and was told by a USCC rep on the phone that if I go over, there will be a ETF, or forced to the local plan, as it is part of the contract....
I have a friend that uses his phone all over off the USCC system, and he does not get bothered either. The only difference between him and me, is I used my phone in minnesota more then he does, as I used it there everyday. I have also talked to our local rep, and he can confirm that some of his customers have gotten warning/termination letters. I did not even get a warning letter.
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Does the USCC 50% rule mean you can't exceed 50% of your total plan minutes, regardless of how many you use, or does it mean out of area minutes can't exceed 50% of the actual minutes used?
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It means the minutes used off USCC towers. IF you are on a USCC tower, you are fine. The 50% rule applies to the minutes used on roaming towers, and will only apply to national plans.
Example...if you are on a 500 minute plan, and you use 251 minutes 3 months in a row on roaming towers, you could be contacted. As I said, if you do not travel for a living, there should be no trouble. Unfortunately for me, I do travel, and I can go over those minutes in a week.
For a map of what is considered USCC territory, just look at the map and the part that is highlighted wide area, used to be local, that is all USCC territory, the rest of the nation will be roaming, that should give you an idea if you will be outside their territory to much. ...
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Example...if you are on a 500 minute plan, and you use 251 minutes 3 months in a row on roaming towers, you could be contacted. As I said, if you do not travel for a living, there should be no trouble. Unfortunately for me, I do travel, and I can go over those minutes in a week.
For a map of what is considered USCC territory, just look at the map and the part that is highlighted wide area, used to be local, that is all USCC territory, the rest of the nation will be roaming, that should give you an idea if you will be outside their territory to much. ...
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I called USCC's national contact number and was told that the 50% rule is applied to the minutes used, not the total minutes in the plan. In other words, if you have a 450 minute plan, and only use 100 minutes, 50 minutes have to be on USCC towers. This rules out my getting a national plan with a LOT of minutes and keeping my total usage below 50% of the total plan minutes.
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