UPDATE INFO - Another Cell Trail Cam question-sim card&plans

[DMD]

Ok...I went to AT&T yesterday to get a sim card. The woman said they have changed their non-contract plan recently. It will cost me $25 per month for the plan I need for trail camera PLUS, if I fail to renew it for 1 month, I lose the number and I have to go in a buy another sim card!!! My plan was to only activate the card the months I need it. That plan is out the window.

Are there any other options out there that are cheaper? How about STraight Talk or T-mobile? Anyone tried these?

 

[cbhunter]

Re: Another Cellular Trail Cam question - sim card and plans

I'm not any help on this but man that stinks!

 

[DMD]

Re: Another Cellular Trail Cam question - sim card and plans

I went to another AT&T store - in Oak Ridge this time. They knew much more what they were doing and were EXTREMELY helpful. They were amazed at the camera - only one guy had seen one and he said a fellow brought one in about 3 years ago. I surprised they hadn't seen more. Anyway - I had talked to Covert this morning and Covert told me that AT&T offered a plan $9.99 a month for a 1000 texts. So, I asked AT&T about that. I had about 4 guys huddled around the camera discussing the options. They said that they did have that plan. HOWEVER, when they went to set me up with it - they could not find it available anywhere in their system.

After 30 minutes of looking and scratching their heads, they contact their own customer service. Customer service then set me up with the $9.99 plan.

Here's what I THINK is going on, for others who may be getting a Cellular camera - AT&T is in the midst of restructuring all their plans and services. It is part of competing with STraight Talk and T-mobile and other non-contract companies. Their unlimited texting plan went from $19.99 to $25 per month. I BELIEVE (I could be wrong) - that they are phasing out the $9.99 1000 texts per month. A lot of these changes have just occurred in the last few days - I THINK that's why they went ahead and let me have the 1000 texts for 9.99. I could be wrong about that - but that is the impression I got.

So...if you have a cell camera - and haven't set it up yet - I'd go ahead and get to At&t now and really push them about getting the $9.99 plan. If you are in Oak Ridge area, the young man who helped me was named Sam and he was very helpful and now has experience!

Hopefully, I am locked into this plan and will not lose it!

Something else I learned through this process - In order to control your ATT account online, they text you a password - it is the ONLY way to get a password for your account. So...since your camera cannot receive texts, you need to get them to help you at the ATT store get your online account set up. They will take your sim card and put it in one of their phones to receive the password via text. Then, they can setup your online account. That way you can add minutes through your online account. just FYI

 

[TheLBLman]

Re: UPDATE INFO - Another Cell Trail Cam question-sim card&p

Pastorbmp,
You're not the only cell cam user who had these type experiences.
I'm hoping they (both the cell service providers & the cell cam manufacturers) can make the whole experience work a little more "as advertised" in the coming year. Cell cams are a great idea, working well for a few users, while many more (such as myself) have lost much of their initial enthusiasm, at least until they get "the bugs worked out" better.

 

[vixty]

Re: UPDATE INFO - Another Cell Trail Cam question-sim card&p

I have to deal with Those issues all the time. My camera doesn't have and ID number so they always try to tell me it does. I always use the 1000 texts for 9.99 but the lady was correct. The sim card becomes inactive after 30 or 60 days and you have to pay the 20 bucks for the new card again. Its very irritating but I guess its better than having to buy a 30 dollar a month plan. My camera is hard to set up which is the reason why I hate having to get a new sim card.

 

[DMD]

Re: UPDATE INFO - Another Cell Trail Cam question-sim card&p

I have to deal with Those issues all the time. My camera doesn't have and ID number so they always try to tell me it does. I always use the 1000 texts for 9.99 but the lady was correct. The sim card becomes inactive after 30 or 60 days and you have to pay the 20 bucks for the new card again. Its very irritating but I guess its better than having to buy a 30 dollar a month plan. My camera is hard to set up which is the reason why I hate having to get a new sim card.

I am just going to keep the 9.99 plan year round instead of having to go through the headache of setting it up again.