For many years I have used Verizon as my cell phone service carrier. Until we moved recently they also provided my land line but now we are a cell only family. Their service has been outstanding… for the most part. A few months back I let a very crafty salesman talk me into getting a Blackberry. I liked the phone but I didn’t like that $30 Internet charge for it each month. Several times I asked for just a regular phone but once that guy knew I had a thing for the Blackberry he made sure to needle me until I walked out with one. I can only blame myself for being weak… and over the last few months that wasted $30, since I rarely use the Internet feature, has been bothering me.
Then I read about My Plastic Free Life‘s decision to cancel her cell service, despite being happy with it, and go to Credo. That planted a seed in my head and then this week I got a mailing from them and decided to try Credo myself.
So what is Credo? They are a cell service that donates 1% of your cell bill to progressive causes like the ACLU, Feeding America, Democracy Now, Defenders of Wildlife, and many others. They also showed how AT&T and Verizon are sending money to places and people I would rather NOT support…. like Bush, Cheney, McCain, and other conservatives who try to block environmental and social legislation that I agree with. Both of these carriers have been known to stifle free speech by censoring web casts that are critical of Republican campaigns and blocking pro-choice text messages. So much for a free country…
So, as long as I am spending money anyway I thought it would be a good idea to send a portion of that money to progessive, liberal causes. I will also be saving money by switching and getting a no frills phone. AND because I did not want to get a new phone (they had some nice free phones too) I ordered a refurbished phone and I get to keep my same number. Wahoo!
Phone service with a conscience, no new phone, same number… I also get to try it for 30 days risk free with a temporary number. If I find all is well I will make the switch and they are buying me out of my old contract so I won’t be out the $175 early termination fee. I guess I will gift my pink Blackberry away on Freecycle…
that is super awesome! i have been going through the same thing. i trued to get my internet turned off my blackberry (from verizon) they said NOPE. i had to pay that $30 as long as i had that phone :( i’ll be checking this company out, thanks :)
Sorry to read your ignorant views, I will unfortunately be unsubscribing. I wish you kept your posts based on natural family life, not politics.
Uhm.. what exactly did I say that was ignorant? Why would I send money to people I do not agree with politically if there is an alternative?
Don’t even worry about it, Tiffany. Some people need to feel like everyone agrees with them and get offended when this proves to be untrue.
Sheesh the “kari” person who commented before me is a bit melodramatic. I think its ignorant to cancel your subscription over one post because the blogger has their own opinions as you do. Its not ignorant to express them, and to follow your beliefs. I believe being earth friendly/natural AND liberal go hand in hand at least a wee bit. She wasnt pushing you to believe her and force you to go liberal, its just her reason for switching to Credo….I could go on, but its beside the point….Tiffany, thank you for all your wonderful, helpful blogs!
I’ve looked at Credo but was worried that a smaller company might not have the infrastructure to provide good service/coverage. Let us know how it is and if you have any problems!
I’m a Credo subscriber and absolutely love them. When can you say that aobut your cell phone company? I believe they are on the Cingular network so they have the same coverage. They also have fabulous customer service – bill disputes are always adjusted in my favor (not that there have been that many).
Thats great to hear! Verizon has always been so rude with bill desputes? I wonder if Credo has a military discount :)
I think they are on the sprint network though, unless it changed.
I think I may have to look into Credo as well. But I am leery of leaving Cingular/AT&T as we have three phones on the family plan with rollover minutes. I have yet to find another company that can beat what I have – we’ve been with Cingular for just over 5 years now so our plan is no longer available to new subscribers and we are “safe” as long as we don’t change it. As for bill disputes, anything weird has always been taken care if immediately and to my favor. Maybe I’ve just been lucky with them that way.
Keep up the good work, Tiffany. You are an inspiration!
Tiffany,
If you don’t have a land line or Internet service on your cell, how do you access the Internet for your business? I’d love to get rid of our land line, but we need the DSL service!
Just one comment on the donations to liberal causes…although the ACLU have done some wonderful things their basic tenants are antithetical to pure religion. Many of their causes strive to remove our freedom to practice our religion according to the dictates of our own conscience. Maybe what I see here in California is different than what you see in your home state. Then, of course, we are all limited to what the “news” industry wants us to see or hear!
I love your blog! My favorite post of late? Vagabond living….every day I’m working towards greater freedom from stress. Thanks for sharing all your many wonderful ideas and reference sites!!!
Deanne,
I have high speed cable internet so no phone required. LOVE it! I forgot to mention that I also use Skype so I can talk via my computer.
Thanks for this great info! I just checked out their website – and found no info on texting…?? Am I just a dunce – did I miss it somehow? My family will not get on board with any changes that leave out unlimited texting as part of the plan…Anyone have info on this?
When I signed up they asked me if I wanted unlimited texting for $5 a month. Its not for me but sounds like a good deal if you text alot.
Thank you for the Credo info. We too have Cingular/AT&T and have been with that service for 5 years as well. We have no problems but hate being tied to a contract. No one wants to be committed to a contract of any kind. You never know what life throws at you and it’s just nice to know that you can cancel a service at anytime without additional costs if need be. We do like our rollover minutes as we hardly ever use our shared minutes each month – it’s nice to know that if you go over once in a while you are covered. We don’t text but there are so many people that text me now that I get charged to just view a text. I don’t like getting a bill that differs just because we chose to view a text message. A flat text message rate would be nice, just for those instances. I’m always in favor of companies that donate to good causes. I love that you can keep your current number. We have our cell phone #’s printed in our business literature so changing a phone number that we’ve had for so long is a real hassle. We’ll certainly check into it. Thank you Tiffany for sharing your stories with so many of us. We all learn from each other. :)