I went to the cell phone store to update my plan. In the old days, you called the phone company and they did it all for you, but nowadays the phone is more like a Barbie: once you get one, you spend months or years loading up on the accessories. You also have to do it yourself.
I must admit that my phone is for emergencies only, so over the years I’ve only had to upgrade it once, and I never worry about using up the minutes I’m allotted. The fellow next to me at the massive eight-register counter, on the other hand, had gone over his texting and call limits, and his bill was the cost of a new television. He didn’t seem to mind.
Mine carried a balance, and this caused me a problem.
There is a limit on how much of a balance one can bank on the cell phone plan. The most cost-effective way to load minutes is by the year, so that’s what I wanted to do. The computer, unfortunately, wouldn’t let me do that because I would have had a few dollars more than the balance limits.
The customer service rep was pleasant and apologized for the wait while he hashed out the problem with the headquarters office. I wound up being in the store for about 45 minutes for what could have taken five.
The final solution was that the phone company had to remove the amount that would have put me over the balance limit, and they will give it back to me in a few days. Their recommendation was that I use the phone a lot between now and then. I laughed.
I suppose I could blame myself for not having a life, since I obviously don’t use the phone often enough to hack away at the balance, but if one uses a cell phone for emergencies only, why should the cost be so astronomical and the limits so incapacitating? Sure there are plans for $10 a month, but this was better than that plan and I don’t feel I should have to pay for a convenience I truly need.
Of course they won’t give me any of that money back, so I’m stuck with money I don’t use, and heaven knows what will happen next year this time.
Susan's Scribblings the Blog 