Selectel Issue

**mizwiz** · 07-04-2022, 03:23 AM

I've been with Selectel for a very long time. About 3 weeks ago, my extended roaming service area started giving me problems. It has worked seamlessly for years prior to this. My text wouldn't send and it had error code 97. I tried to make a phone call and it came on with a message telling me I was connecting with Inland Cellular and that my ESN number was invalid for the area. I had a rep reset both mine and my husband's lines several times and it has not helped.

I suspect that the reports of Verizon and Inland Cellular having roaming agreements between them is false. Something has definitely changed and it is not from my side. I hope this can be resolved soon or I will be forced to switch carriers.

My cell is a Moto G7 Power XT1955-5 and my husband just got a new Moto G Pure. His never goes to extended where mine does. His shows "no service".

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**zapjb** · 07-04-2022, 01:35 PM

Yeah you're going to have to move carriers.

**Boz1** · 07-04-2022, 03:48 PM

Would this have something to do with the coming end of 3g / CDMA on Vzw?

**mframe** · 07-04-2022, 05:34 PM

Roaming agreements do eventually expire, and might be renegotiated with altered terms, if not discontinued entirely. It might be that Verizon is discontinuing offering postpaid-style roaming for Selectel. If you have a plan that had the extra $5 per month to include roaming, you might want to check with Selectel to see if it is still offered, or being discontinued.

Were you previously using VoLTE when roaming, or falling back to 1x for voice? As Boz1 has theorized, maybe Selectel only had a 3G/1x roaming agreement with Inland Cellular.

**nomornings** · 07-04-2022, 10:02 PM

When Inland Cellular first got LTE, it was as a Sprint rural LTE partner, and my understanding was that they were using Sprint's LTE core. Back then I had a Motorola flip phone so didn't go into any details, and ported my number out a year or so later - so I don't know when/if VOLTE ever got to Inland, but I'd guess that your problem is part of the Sprint shutdown.

**mizwiz** · 07-05-2022, 12:36 AM

After another reset from a chat person, today I had 1x extended and I could text. My outgoing call gave me a fast busy signal. I didn't get the Inland Cellular message but I couldn't call. At least I had text back.

I plan to call Selectel tomorrow and see where I stand.

My nephew has recommended that I get a trial from US Mobile because they have roaming. I'm not sure it would be any different with them.

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**mizwiz** · 07-05-2022, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by Boz1

Would this have something to do with the coming end of 3g / CDMA on Vzw?

I saw my phone go to 3G today coming close to town.

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**mizwiz** · 07-05-2022, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by mframe

Roaming agreements do eventually expire, and might be renegotiated with altered terms, if not discontinued entirely. It might be that Verizon is discontinuing offering postpaid-style roaming for Selectel. If you have a plan that had the extra $5 per month to include roaming, you might want to check with Selectel to see if it is still offered, or being discontinued.

Were you previously using VoLTE when roaming, or falling back to 1x for voice? As Boz1 has theorized, maybe Selectel only had a 3G/1x roaming agreement with Inland Cellular.

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**mizwiz** · 07-05-2022, 01:36 PM

I called and got a rep for Selectel today. All she could say is there could be changes with Verizon as far as 3G, 5G and towers being changed. Nothing concrete from her lips for certain. So I can only hope things get worked out ... or not. She suggested I be in an extended area and use another functioning cell to call and then perform tests on my cell. Probably not going to happen. When I have extended service, my husband's cell on the same plan has no service.

This is disheartening, to say the least.

UPDATE: I'm in area of concern and everything is back to normal. I was in 4G LTE more than not. I never went to extended once. I ordered a trial SIM for US Mobile to try them out. Not sure if it's a good fit but I like the pooled plan they have.

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**mizwiz** · 07-08-2022, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by mizwiz

I called and got a rep for Selectel today. All she could say is there could be changes with Verizon as far as 3G, 5G and towers being changed. Nothing concrete from her lips for certain. So I can only hope things get worked out ... or not. She suggested I be in an extended area and use another functioning cell to call and then perform tests on my cell. Probably not going to happen. When I have extended service, my husband's cell on the same plan has no service.

This is disheartening, to say the least.

UPDATE: I'm in area of concern and everything is back to normal. I was in 4G LTE more than not. I never went to extended once. I ordered a trial SIM for US Mobile to try them out. Not sure if it's a good fit but I like the pooled plan they have.

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My husband's cell is fixed, thanks to rep Susan. It was an item that needed to be unselected (like mine). Good catch!

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**mizwiz** · 07-11-2022, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by mizwiz

My husband's cell is fixed, thanks to rep Susan. It was an item that needed to be unselected (like mine). Good catch!

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It is NOT fixed. Still doesn't get extended service where I do. He has no service.

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**mizwiz** · 08-03-2022, 07:13 PM

Here's what I learned today: (Refer to my #8 post where I show screenshots of which plan I'm on).

I was told the reason I can't make calls in Extended Network areas (I get a fast busy signal) is because I did not buy a $10 flex card. I told the agent that those are used for data top ups and since I've never exceeded my allotment, I've never bought one. She claims it can be used for data OR (now listen to this) domestic roaming @ 25¢ a minute. It doesn't expire until you use it up. Years ago they had FREE domestic roaming, then they did this flex card 25¢ thing and then I was told if I paid $5 extra (Mexico & Canada) I would have domestic roaming. So I've been paying $35/mo. for mine and my husband's cells for years thinking I had domestic roaming (jumping onto a partner network) and in reality I had a bit fat ZIP. The agent said it changed 2 years ago. Really?

US Mobile, that claims to have domestic roaming included in their plans (maybe I don't even understand what domestic roaming even is), behaves the same way Selectel does. No phone call, just fast busy signal.

I honestly don't know what to think!

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**cnypackerfan** · 08-03-2022, 07:33 PM

This situation made me curious. So I went to our favorite plan comparison site, prepaidcompare.net and found few companies that offered domestic roaming on Verizon. Out of the ones that do, it looks like Ting is the only one that doesn't charge per minute for roaming calls. Even Verizon prepaid does if the information is correct.
You have to look at the details of the plans to see that info.
I may have missed something but that's what I found.
Good luck!

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**mizwiz** · 08-03-2022, 07:46 PM

When I first signed up with Selectel (2015), they had FREE domestic roaming. Then in 2017 I bought a few $10 flex cards and used those to get 25¢/min. domestic roaming. July 2018 is the first time I paid $35/mo. and I believe I had calls by double dialing in Extended Network areas. From then to now, it changed. Too bad I didn't know my $5/mo. extra was for domestic roaming IN Canada & Mexico ONLY and had nothing to do with being able to make calls in rural areas.

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**Boz1** · 08-04-2022, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by mizwiz

When I first signed up with Selectel (2015), they had FREE domestic roaming. Then in 2017 I bought a few $10 flex cards and used those to get 25¢/min. domestic roaming. July 2018 is the first time I paid $35/mo. and I believe I had calls by double dialing in Extended Network areas. From then to now, it changed. Too bad I didn't know my $5/mo. extra was for domestic roaming IN Canada & Mexico ONLY and had nothing to do with being able to make calls in rural areas.

You're still confused about Canada / Mexico. The higher cost plan you're using includes calls TO Canada / Mexico, NOT roaming IN Canada / Mexico.

But it's ALSO supposed to include domestic voice roaming.

Description of the so-called "Enhanced" plan:
https://www.selectelwireless.com/product/35enhanced/

$35.00
Description
Unlimited Domestic Voice Minutes
Unlimited SMS & MMS Messages
Unlimited Data First 2GB up to 4G LTE then 2G
Unlimited Domestic Voice Roaming
Unlimited Direct Dial Calls to Mexico & Canada Landlines & Mobile Numbers
Caller ID
Call Waiting
Voice Mail
Call Forwarding
30 Day Plan
No Annual Contract