I bought my FIRST cell phone (and I can't use it yet)!

[BTM]

This is weird...

With the situation of my car breaking down twice in about a year's time, I finally decided I was tired of not having a way to call someone when this happens, so I made up my mind to finally buy a cell phone.  I didn't want anything fancy (or expensive), didn't need a camera, to browse the net, send texts or anything like that, just wanted something that would dial numbers for an emergency.  I went over the electronics section in Wal-Mart, told the sales lady what I wanted and she recommend I get a Tracphone.

Now, here's the funny part (well, the first funny part): turns out these guys who sell phones are smart, they won't let you get away with just "having" a phone and letting your minutes roll over from month to month without you paying anything, even with these so-called "pay as you go" cell phones.  No sir, you have to buy minutes every so often (whether you need them or not) to keep the phone service active.  In this case, it's once every three months.  

I went ahead and got a calling card for 60 minutes of talk time to go with the phone  (crazily enough the card costs the same at the phone itself, around $20.00.)  I could have bought the $15 one, but I guess I wanted the pouch and the few other zany extras that came with it.  According to the sales lady, without the card, I only would have had 10 minutes to start with, and you know, you can be on hold for that length of time with some numbers.

Taking my new toy home, I set about activating the new phone.  I went to the website, put in my basic information, then I entered the activation number, then they wanted me to put in my zip code, and then the "SIM" number (no idea what "SIM" stands for, but it was a number I had to go navigating through the cell phone menu screens to find.)  I punched in the number and I got an error message saying, "There is a problem with your number, please call Customer Service at (800 number)". .  

I hit the Back button and try again, same result.

Well, shoot, I thought.

I call these guys up and, after speaking a bit to a slightly accented fellow, he tells me he's going to mail me a new SIM number.  I ask him why he needs to do this and he tells me the SIM number that came with the phone does NOT work in the zip code I provided.

Say what?

Ooookay.  I have NO idea what that means.  He tells me the new number may take up to "three to five days" to arrive.  Now, here's the funny,  I bought this damn phone for emergencies, and instead of getting it work the day I buy (like I wanted), I have to wait several more days.  I tell you, if something happens between now and then and I gotta walk several more miles along the highway because this company couldn't organize their crap better, I'm going to be p**sED.

But, knock on wood, hopefully that won't happen.

Still, it's a monumental occasion for me, I've bought my FIRST cell phone.  Woo-hoo!  Now, if only I could actually use it...

[Doggett]

I ask him why he needs to do this and he tells me the SIM number that came with the phone does NOT work in the zip code I provided.

Your phone wants you to move into a nicer area. 
It refuses to work under the current conditions.

 

[3mnkids]

congrats on the phone.    Sorry it didn't work out like it was supposed to. Hopefully you will get the new sim card quickly. My 2 oldest use tracphones. Its cheap, they can text, and when they run out of time they use their allowance to buy more minutes. works out great.

[Jack]

Our kids have cell phones - "In case of emergency" was the reason I was given.  So far, 19 trillion calls, still no emergency.  Our two youngest don't even answer the damned things when my wife or I call (they only answer calls from important people like their friends), so I fail to see what use they would be in an emergency.  So I've just shut it out of my mind;  I pay the bill and don't think about it.  I find that to be the case with about 90% of the stuff in my life.  But I digress...

[BTM]

Your phone wants you to move into a nicer area. 
It refuses to work under the current conditions.

 

Hell, I WANT me to move to a nicer area, one with an actual job market, but I can't afford it right now.

[BTM]

Our kids have cell phones - "In case of emergency" was the reason I was given.  So far, 19 trillion calls, still no emergency.  Our two youngest don't even answer the damned things when my wife or I call (they only answer calls from important people like their friends), so I fail to see what use they would be in an emergency. 

That's the downside of caller ID, they're like "Uh, oh, it's dad! I'll just let voicemail get that..."  I wouldn't be surprised if they even have a special ring tone set up for when you guys call.  (Insert your own joke here, can't think of anything clever)

BTW, how many kids you have, how old are they?  (If you don't mind me asking.)

[Jack]

Three kids, the girls are 19 and 17, and our son is 14.  Our oldest one actually answers the phone when I call - I'm so proud