Sprint

I have been a Sprint http://www.sprint.com cell phone customer since 2003.  Ten years! I originally changed to Sprint from Cingular http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless which has morphed into AT&T Wireless http://www.att.com/shop/wireless.  The reason I changed was that there were parts of Lubbock County that had spotty coverage by Cingular, and Sprint was much better.

During that time, I was travelling back to Western Massachusetts some.  Cell phone coverage was kind of spotty at my parent's house, but Sprint's network was originally set up along interstates, and my parents lived less than 10 miles from an interstate, so my cell phone worked when my siblings' cell phone sometimes did not.

I have a plain flip phone that was high tech when I purchased it in 2007.  I had to purchase it because my phone slipped out of my hand and flew across the floor breaking it so badly that they could not even transfer my information when I purchased the new phone. When I purchased the phone, I had a deal for Internet service for $15 a month. But, the screen was so small and the service was so slow, that I discontinued the service.

I have, from time to time, considered updating to a smart phone. That would just about triple my monthly phone bill, which I can afford, but I am not sure I would get my money's worth out of it.  I do not usually text, but when I do, it adds a per text fee to my bill that nowhere nears what I would pay for unlimited call, text and data.

I have been very pleased with my Sprint service.  I recently took a survey and even said I would recommend Sprint to others. 

Hmmm.  This weekend, I have had trouble with my Sprint service. I usually get good reception at my home, inside and out. But this has not been the case this weekend. In fact, today, there was no service, and my phone spent the afternoon looking for service, which drained the charge. I finally shut the phone off, and charged it.

I contacted Sprint online and asked if there was a service disruption. I learned that there was, and that they were trying to fix it but it might not be fixed until October 1, 2013.  I did not think about it until I was writing this blog, but I did not request a service credit.  So, I got back online, and requested one. This makes me realize that a service credit would not be automatic.  So, I have contacted some friends and acquaintances whom I know use Sprint, and advised them to ask for a service credit if they are having phone problems.

When there is a power outage, there is not a credit given, but automatically, since we are not using electricity, we get a "credit."  But that same is not true of phone service, cable or Internet service. We have to ask for credit for lost service. Last December, my email service platform was not working, and I had to ask for credit, which I received. Frankly that amount of credit I received did not seem commensurate with the amount of disruption and inconvenience I suffered. But, something is better than nothing. 

I understand that nothing is perfect, and outages occur. But I should not have to pay for not having service.  And, Sprint recognizes that even if they do not automatically offer it.