Contract about to expire, what to do?

**Aftcomet** · 05-31-2012, 12:07 AM

If someone could provide me with some help it would be immensely appreciated.

This is my current plan.

I have a family plan with 3 devices in total.

700 shared minutes.
UMB on one device. (the $10 plan).
Caller ID on one device.
Unlimited in-between calling.
1000 Shared Sent Texts.

This costs us about $73 per month before taxes. Our contract expires in June.

I figure since I'm probably going to have a 3 year contract I want to have the best phone possible since I don't do Hardware Upgrades.

I don't know if it would be better to get separate plans with MY10 or something. Family plans look ridiculously expensive right now for what you get. After my contract expires, I become a month-to-month customer and lose all my credits, I'll be paying $125 for my current plan.

This is basically what my family needs:

I need a phone for my mom, my dad, and me. We would prefer to have unlimited calling between us.

Phone 1:
100-200 Minutes
Unlimited between us calling.
Samsung Galaxy S2

Phone 2:
300-400 Minutes
Unlimited between us calling.
Caller ID.
E-Mail, approx. 1GB of data.
Samsung S3

Phone 3:
200 Minutes
Unlimited between us calling.
Unlimited text messaging.
1-3GB of data.
Caller ID if it's included, not if I have to pay for it separately.
Samsung S3

What's the best plan I could get that would be suitable for us?

**tangje** · 05-31-2012, 08:23 AM

Although retentions has gotten less generous it would probably be worthwhile to call in and find out what they can do for you. With the amount of credits you had it will be unlikely that you can keep the same features and stay at the same price point on any kind of in market plans.

Your current plan doesn't have any data, so it would be helpful to know what kind of budget you are working with.

**Aftcomet** · 05-31-2012, 11:43 AM

Knowing my budget is really important like you said. I know I'll be expected to pay more especially if I want data. But as anyone, I'd love a good plan at a really good price. Realistically the most I'd be willing to pay for all three lines is $110 before taxes.

I'd be jumping for joy if I could get the following for all three lines because the My5 would basically work like a family plan. I have no idea how some people even begin to get this:

Originally Posted by E2EK1EL

I've seen even better in the past .... Unlimited NA Calling w/ SMS + 6GB Data + VP for $65, but this plan is still amazing and a lot of ppl would agree.

Just like theplayground & ceredon said ... it's all about the UNITY in here, helping each other out and making sure everyone gets a happy + fair plan for their usage.

Personally, plans like these have no use for me b/c I dont talk much, I'm super happy and grateful for all the help I've got in here over the years. I've saved so much money and that's what matters the most, it's not a competition in here at all.

(Strange, why is DC2000 w/ Rogers when he works @ Bell RET? I'm sure they have EPP and massive discounts for their employees right? Well no matter now, he's signed a 3 yr contract w/ Rogers)

**tangje** · 06-01-2012, 04:26 PM

Those plans are like unicorns. It is not even reasonable to compare to them.

My suggestion would be to take over plans from Telus where unlimited nationwide calling between family members (lines on the same account) is included. $110 won't get you very far if you want data because of the way it is priced. Flex data options are good for low users (100-200mb for $10) but if you want anything more you're paying $30 for 1GB (or 6GB when those promos are on).

**Aftcomet** · 06-02-2012, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by tangje

Those plans are like unicorns. It is not even reasonable to compare to them.

My suggestion would be to take over plans from Telus where unlimited nationwide calling between family members (lines on the same account) is included. $110 won't get you very far if you want data because of the way it is priced. Flex data options are good for low users (100-200mb for $10) but if you want anything more you're paying $30 for 1GB (or 6GB when those promos are on).

Thanks for the response. I got off the phone with Rogers Retentions and this is the family plan (3 lines) that they offered me:

400 Shared Minutes
2GB Shared Data
MY10 Canada for each line
Unlimited Text, Video, Picture Messaging.
Call Display on one line.

$110 in total before taxes.

How well did I do? Do you think I could aim for better? I was thinking they could add some bonus minutes at the very least. Even a $5 discount goes a long way over 3 years.

The main thing I'm afraid of is 5GB of data or something becoming the norm or much cheaper in the future. I remember when they gave me 1000 shared messages (which wasn't enough) and the norm became unlimited. This is what scares me about 3 year plans.

**tangje** · 06-02-2012, 11:09 AM

Given what you said are your needs I think that is reasonable in the current rententions climate (minimal discounts). You can always try to get more discounts but you have to weigh whether it is worth your time and frustration. For some people they actually enjoy that process.

The plan you were offerered is one of the in market family plans but they have definitely discounted each line by at least $5. You should find out exactly how this is priced out so you have an idea of what kind of flexibility you have going forward. You can all but be assured there will be promo data offers when the next iPhone is released (6GB for $30). I suspect that a family voice&data plan will be hard to change since the data option is built into the plan. I would look at the voice only family plans and then add data so that the data is separate and can be changed more easily in the future. You should be able to get to similar price points (maybe slightly more expensive). With a 3yr contract, however, I would want the flexibility.

Call in and find out what they can do for you. Say something about how one line for sure needs data but the other one may not need it in the future so it doesn't make sense to have a data package for three lines that only one uses. I know this isn't true but it will get the rep to look at separate data add ons (perhaps with discounts) for your line and your dad's line.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Aftcomet

Thanks for the response. I got off the phone with Rogers Retentions and this is the family plan (3 lines) that they offered me:

400 Shared Minutes
2GB Shared Data
MY10 Canada for each line
Unlimited Text, Video, Picture Messaging.
Call Display on one line.

$110 in total before taxes.

How well did I do? Do you think I could aim for better? I was thinking they could add some bonus minutes at the very least. Even a $5 discount goes a long way over 3 years.

The main thing I'm afraid of is 5GB of data or something becoming the norm or much cheaper in the future. I remember when they gave me 1000 shared messages (which wasn't enough) and the norm became unlimited. This is what scares me about 3 year plans.

**Aftcomet** · 06-02-2012, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by tangje

Given what you said are your needs I think that is reasonable in the current rententions climate (minimal discounts). You can always try to get more discounts but you have to weigh whether it is worth your time and frustration. For some people they actually enjoy that process.

The plan you were offerered is one of the in market family plans but they have definitely discounted each line by at least $5. You should find out exactly how this is priced out so you have an idea of what kind of flexibility you have going forward. You can all but be assured there will be promo data offers when the next iPhone is released (6GB for $30). I suspect that a family voice&data plan will be hard to change since the data option is built into the plan. I would look at the voice only family plans and then add data so that the data is separate and can be changed more easily in the future. You should be able to get to similar price points (maybe slightly more expensive). With a 3yr contract, however, I would want the flexibility.

Call in and find out what they can do for you. Say something about how one line for sure needs data but the other one may not need it in the future so it doesn't make sense to have a data package for three lines that only one uses. I know this isn't true but it will get the rep to look at separate data add ons (perhaps with discounts) for your line and your dad's line.

Good luck.

The CSR told me he discounted each line by $15. I remember being offered 6 for 30 a while ago and I wanted much less. I thought it was overkill at the time and that I didn't want to pay $30 for that much. I think about 2GB is perfect for us and the CSR said I could add 1GB for $10 in case I need it.

But you're absolutely right about checking the difference between that and a simple voice plan. I really wonder just how much that 2GB is costing me.

I'm generally happy with this but really I want it discounted further. We've been Rogers' customers since 1999 but I doubt that counts for anything with them.

Do you think I could get further discounts on each line? Each line has already been lowered by $15. Maybe I could get the Call Display credited?

**tangje** · 06-03-2012, 09:29 AM

That doesn't seem right. It doesn't add up with $15 discounts per line. The cost for that plan with the base 2 lines is $125. Voice only line should be $17.35.

FYI, that plan without data is $69. So you're paying $55 for 2GB (split between two lines). Seems better to pay $30 for 6GB for each line eh? You should read about the in market plans on Rogers.com so you can see where you are working from.

Loyalty counts for nothing. Just ask about the Caller ID. If that is the make or break tell them.

**Aftcomet** · 06-04-2012, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by tangje

That doesn't seem right. It doesn't add up with $15 discounts per line. The cost for that plan with the base 2 lines is $125. Voice only line should be $17.35.

FYI, that plan without data is $69. So you're paying $55 for 2GB (split between two lines). Seems better to pay $30 for 6GB for each line eh? You should read about the in market plans on Rogers.com so you can see where you are working from.

Loyalty counts for nothing. Just ask about the Caller ID. If that is the make or break tell them.

You're absolutely correct. But it's actually for 3 lines, and the 2GB is split between them. But even then, I'm paying a major, major premium to have 2GB split between 3 lines. Actually not a great deal at all. I'd rather pay $30 for each line and have 6GB for each one.

You've given me a lot to think about. Thanks for pointing this out.