{"id":2780,"date":"2010-08-09T05:51:55","date_gmt":"2010-08-09T12:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bhagwad.com\/blog\/?p=2780"},"modified":"2016-06-15T20:56:41","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T15:26:41","slug":"cell-phone-frustration-in-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhagwad.com\/blog\/2010\/personal\/cell-phone-frustration-in-the-us.html\/","title":{"rendered":"Cell Phone frustration in the US"},"content":{"rendered":"

My wife’s parents are visiting the US, and once more it hits me just how bad the US mobile phone system is compared to India. It’s so bizarre that it’s tough to even\u00a0explain to one not used to it. So instead of trying, I’m reproducing (with permission!) a rant mail written by my wife when we first came to the US two years back.<\/p>\n

Dear All,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a great deal of fuss and a great deal of proclaiming that I dont have a “credit history” (dont ask! I’m tired of cribbing!), the American government finally decided to let me have a post paid mobile connection to suit my requirements!!<\/p>\n

So now, even though my incoming calls are still charged on weekdays, I have managed to work a deal where I dont have to buy a new phone! It was of primary importance to me that I retain my current phone coz nothing else comes close! Apart from the Apple iPhone of course, which I was DENIED. Why? Because I dont have a “credit history” of course!!<\/p>\n

Ok ok I’ll explain.<\/p>\n

(Warning – venting session begining!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone who comes to this land (%$%@$#!!) is supposed to get an SSN number which enables anyone (and I mean ANYONE) to track, monitor and god knows what else, the person in question. So when you apply for a job, your employer checks your history via your SSN. The same holds good for opening a bank account, applying for a loan, paying your utility bills… everything!! Without an SSN, you just dont exist!<\/p>\n

Anyways, so when I asked around regarding cell phone connections, I was told that unlike in India, you cannot just buy a SIM card here to insert into your phone here. You have to buy the whole package! The instrument included! This was disheartening since I really love my HTC touch. But I thought, oh well.. cant be helped. And decided to go for the best I could find – The iPhone. So I marched into the AT&T Store (the mobile connection provider for the iPhone) and asked for the deals for the iPhone. The lady promptly asked me for my SSN (as I had expected) and ran a check on me on her computer (So infuriating! To be nothing more than a number!). And then she looks at me straight in the face and tells me that since I am new to the country and have no credit history, the computer has declared that I will have to pay a deposit of $500 for a mobile connection!!! Can you believe it!! AND I would have to sign a 2 year contract (which of course, I would have to break, since I am going to be out of here in a year – thus resulting in my LOSING the entire $500!!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Whats frustrating is the fact that this is not a universal law! It was specific to ME! She even asked Bhagwad to try and check what the deposit would be against his SSN (Implying that maybe he’s more credit worthy than I am!).. So its like a personal attack on me! A very focussed and personal insult!<\/p>\n

:-|
\n
\n(Venting session ends!)<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>So now I have had to settle for a lesser service provider. The drawbacks being, the service is bad and there arent really enough towers all over the country. But then I get to keep my own instrument. So thats as close to a good deal as I am entitled to! (Because I dont have any credit history!!!! – I just cant get over that!)<\/p>\n

My boss tells me that Bhagwad and I have been very lucky in this country because usually people are not even given a place on rent if they dont have this credit history. And so, when you first arrive, you have no choice but to share accomodation with someone else and in the meantime, build up your credit worthiness! Thankfully we didnt face that problem. Lucky.<\/p>\n

Oh well, I am happy that I get to continue to use my HTC touch. But its just the frustration of being told that you’re not good enough to get whatever you please that is a constant reminder that this is not MY country. I do not belong here. And I will never be accepted as a human being with the same rights as everyone around.<\/p>\n

I so miss India!<\/p>\n

If anyone’s interested, I can write a whole essay on why India totally rocks! :D<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To summarize why she’s frustrated, here are the main points:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. You’re charged for incoming calls and<\/em> outgoing calls<\/li>\n
  2. You’re charged for incoming SMSs<\/li>\n
  3. You can’t just buy a SIM card. You have<\/em> to buy a phone with service from a provider<\/li>\n
  4. You can’t change the provider for two years<\/li>\n
  5. You can’t cancel service. You have<\/em> to pay the service fee for two years even if you lose your phone in the first week<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    According to the carriers, the reason for the lock in is that consumers buy the phone very cheap – which is true – and the contract is to offset the subsidy. This logic fails because if you get your own unlocked phone from somewhere, the service plans are just as expensive! The entire system is designed to make sure<\/em> you get locked in with them.<\/p>\n

    Awful. Not exactly what you expect from a free market eh? The Indian system is so<\/em> much better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Owning a mobile phone in the US is a nightmare for us Indians. They come with contracts, and are locked in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[22],"class_list":["post-2780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-personal","tag-experiences-in-the-us"],"yoast_head":"\nCell Phone frustration in the US<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Owning a mobile phone in the US is a nightmare for us Indians. 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