I'm Keeping My Phone for Two More Weeks (or, Why I Hate My Cell Carrier)

I hope you'll give me credit for trying.  We hopped into the Boost Mobile store last night to pick up a phone for Margo and port her number over from BS&S (a nickname, if you will), which was successful.  We decided to go with Boost because they don't have contracts and the longer you stay with them the lower your bill goes.  That way, if I decide I really can't live without a cell phone, I can always jump over to Boost Mobile without having to change plans and extend an already ridiculous contract.

Speaking of ridiculous contracts, I called my cell carrier, which is earning it's nickname from me of BS&S.  I spoke with a pleasant lady who clearly thought I was lying when I said that I was not changing to another carrier, and just wanted to terminate my service.  To that end, she informed me that if I wanted to keep my phone number (which I am a little sad to lose, having had this number for 8+ years), I would have to have an active line to transfer it to/from.  I confirmed that I was aware of this fact.  She then offered to reduce the price of my plan, and also offered me a $30 credit for 3 months to stay.  She asked if I was leaving because my service was too expensive, and I reiterated that I just did not want to have a cell phone any longer.  To which she said, and I quote, "Everybody has a cell phone."  She went on to acknowledge that it would be quieter not to have a cell phone.

She told me that my service would end on 11/11/11 (kind of fun, in spite of my irritation) and it didn't really sink in right away that that was more than two weeks away.  She went on to inform me that I could transfer my plan to someone else before that date if there was anyone else who wanted to take over my plan (which I suppose might be attractive because I still have the no-longer-available $30 unlimited data plan).  I assured her that I did not have anyone who wanted to take over the plan.  I then asked her if it was possible to turn off my service prior to the end of the billing cycle.  She assured me that it was, but then told me that THEY DON'T PRO-RATE YOUR BILL so I may as well keep it on until 11/11/11 anyway because I'd be paying for it either way.  Which I guess means that we are paying for Margo's service as well through 11/11/11.  Bastards.

I don't remember this being the way that other cell carriers I've used have worked.  In my memory, when you terminate your service, you also terminate your financial obligation related to your service, regardless of where in the billing cycle that termination might fall.  So, even if I were not already convinced to ditch my cell, this would have pushed me over the edge.  I can't imagine a circumstance in the future in which I would use this cell carrier again for this sole reason, not to mention the outrageous cost and the dropped calls.  So, good work, BS&S.

The upshot, however, is that I still have a cell phone until 11/11/11.  I could have shut it off today, but I'm not willing to pay them for something I'm not using.  Also, I've got 4000 rollover minutes to use between now and 11/11/11, so if you want to chat on my dime (or their dime), let me know.  Or if you want to take over my contract, let me know that too.

On a side note, I'm making parsley-walnut pesto tonight with the ridiculous amount of parsley we got from our CSA this week.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

I've almost ditched my phone and other almost-updates

1.  My home phone was hooked up last week, and I purchased a phone (two, actually) and an answering machine.  The plan now is to get Margo a new cell phone tomorrow and end my service with AT&T on Wednesday.  Keep me honest, dear readers.

2.  We saw our dear friend Lisa George and her son and two step-children at the end of August.  It was wonderful, and made me want to hang out with her more.  Sadly, at least in terms of her proximity (which we were not taking any advantage of at all), things in her life changed significantly earlier this month, and she moved back to Montana.  Which has inspired my own nostalgia for Montana (or Iowa, or wherever I could live in a small town, quite frankly).  More on that later, perhaps.

3.  Hiking has been a bust this year.  We were so busy this summer that we hardly got any hiking in at all.  We had a couple of nice hikes (Little Si, which nearly killed us; Squak Mountain), but hiking largely fell by the wayside.

4.  Playing the Wii every week has also fallen by the wayside.  Unless, of course, watching Doctor Who on Netflix Streaming counts as playing the Wii.  (and can I tell you how much I love Doctor Who?  I have a new board on Pinterest devoted to Dr. Who geekery)

5.  Trying new recipes every week.  I've tried a bunch of new recipes.  Whether I've tried one every week is debatable.  Maybe on average.  We bought a new programmable slow cooker, and I have made some nasty shit in that thing.  Recipes that look good on first blush, but result in the wasting of enormous quantities of food and the eating of cold cereal for dinner.  One recent positive standout, however, were the batch of snickerdoodle pumpkin cream cheese sandwich cookies that Margo and I recently collaborated on.  Those were an unmitigated success.  Also, Margo has been cooking more, which is great, but reduces my opportunities to use new recipes.

6.  I have no update on the countertops, much to Margo's chagrin.  We keep spending the money in the home improvements/fun savings account on fun and travel rather than on home improvements. 

7.  We are heading to the Seahawks-Bengals game on Sunday!!!  I'm pretty stoked.  Also trying not to think about the miserable fantasy football season I'm having this year.  I'm 1-6 and have had the low score in the league in two weeks.  Quite a fall from last season, where I actually did pretty well.  Apparently that beginner's luck only lasts a year, regardless of the degree of your naivete.

8.  I haven't gotten a pedicure in months.  My pedicure buddy has two small children and has had a hard time getting away for a pedicure.  And I haven't had the impetus to go on my own.  And Margo hates to have her feet touched, so I'm on my own.

9.  We are trying out the Tahoma Farms CSA through Terra Organics.  I'm really liking Terra Organics and the Tahoma Farms CSA.  The CSA will end this week or next, and then we have the option of a number of other organic produce boxes.  Two appealing options are the Pacific Northwest box and a build-your-own option as well.  Another nice feature is that they deliver.  We come home on Tuesday evenings to a box of organic produce. 

10.  No dinner parties as of yet, but we are hosting a brunch potluck this weekend.  I'm thinking that might count.

11.  We actually went to Zoo Tunes twice this summer.  Once to see Lucinda Williams (who was significantly less drunk than the other time I saw her) and once to see Brandi Carlile, who totally rocked.  Things I learned:  we need some of those low chairs for outside concerts and I really don't like being out on weeknights.