<p>My D has been using her Alltel phone at Smith College since Fall 04. Just this month we’ve been hit with $90 of roaming charges for calls made at Smith. Alltel’s advice is for her to check her phone to see if it’s roaming every time she makes a call. I know that’s not going to happen! Anybody have any experience with this & maybe some helpful advice?</p>
<p>Our phones frequently pick up “roaming” charges from a nearby area- our provider credits it every time, as it’s not our fault, we were in the “right” place, I would nicely demand a credit if Smith is in her approved area, but do be sure she was not using the phone in non-allowed locations before being demanding. Please excuse the geographic ignorance, but are you picking up another state from there? But you’re in MA while doing it? Then Alltel ought to adjust!</p>
<p>Also, make sure your d has updated her phone. I use Verizon and I know that periodically I’m supposed to dial some number to be sure my phone is updated. Of course, I always forget to do it.</p>
<p>My D dropped hers in the toilet,lol and we had to send her a new one, no alltel near her school.</p>
<p>You might want to change cell plans if Alltel can’t promise access in all areas. My daughter is traveling on the east coast now and would incur roaming charges with her Cingular phone, but I talke to Cingular and that is an artifact of our plan - for $10 more per month I could eliminate the roaming charges, which of course I will do if d. goes east to college. </p>
<p>Sprint advertises a plan (“Fair and Flexible”) that automatically adjusts to put you in the best price category for your usage rather than charge directly for roaming.</p>
<p>I don’t know what other companies may offer. But basically there should be a way that you can pay a flat rate to eliminate most “roaming” charges.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Verizon coverage there- but I have been on the phone with various people canceling things after my purse with cell/wallet/palm was stolen yesterday- and the Verizon customer service guy by far was one of the most helpful, intelligent, and responsive reps I have spoken with for any company.
We also have a national plan- the minutes are the same if you are calling someone with a different plan if it is during the week- before 9m.
calling someone on same plan no matter where they are is free, calling after hours or on weekends is free.
I did incur roaming when I was out of the country in BC, but it wasn’t as much as if I had used a pay phone.
Different companies seem to be more popular in different parts of country- I couldn’t really find which was most popular with th e consortium but it must be out there</p>
<p>Verizon coverage is okay in Northampton but you lose it for a while in northern Massachusetts on I-91 and then again for quite a stretch in Vermont on 91. Generally Verizon East Coast coverage is very good though. And it is fine in New Hampshire (Hanover, etc.) right across the river from the interstate.</p>