Switching cell phone providers can be a daunting task, filled with promises of better deals and coverage. After being a loyal Verizon customer for over 14 years, the rising costs pushed me to explore alternatives. Like many, I was on a smaller data plan, the “Small 2gig” for $35 a month, which ballooned to around $60 with taxes and fees. The shift to solely unlimited plans, starting at a steep $75 per month and potentially exceeding $100 with fees, made staying with Verizon financially unsustainable. A recent experience with throttled speeds even after purchasing extra data solidified my decision to look elsewhere for my cell phone service needs.
Having Comcast internet already established at home, Xfinity Mobile, powered by the Comcast network, emerged as a logical contender. One of the key factors in my decision-making process was the flexibility to use my own modem with Comcast internet, a feature not always available with other providers who often lock down their equipment. Similarly, I prefer using my own router and network setup at home, and neither Verizon nor T-Mobile easily allows disabling the built-in router functionality on their devices, making Comcast more appealing from a technical standpoint.
My visit to the Xfinity store provided an initial positive impression. I was quoted $40 per month for a single unlimited line, with the final bill estimated to be around $43 after taxes – a significant saving compared to Verizon. The $25 activation fee was disclosed upfront, which I appreciated for its transparency. So far, the cost aspect of Comcast Cell Phone Service seemed promising.
However, the initial honeymoon period wasn’t without its bumps. Just two days into my Xfinity Mobile service, I encountered a frustrating issue: I was unable to make calls. The error message “The number you are calling has restrictions…” was a cause for concern, and a quick online search revealed that this wasn’t an isolated problem. The subsequent hours spent trying to resolve this issue tested my patience. The online assistant proved unhelpful, leading me through endless loops. Live chat support, on two separate occasions, also failed to fix the problem. Eventually, after finding a support phone number online, I managed to connect with a live agent. Despite the agent having a heavy accent and the process taking another hour and a half, they were able to resolve the calling issue by making adjustments to the network settings on their end. A test call the following morning confirmed that the fix was holding.
While this initial customer service hurdle was time-consuming and frustrating, the crucial question is whether this was a one-off incident. In terms of service quality, my experience with Comcast cell phone service, or Xfinity Mobile, has been comparable to Verizon so far. Coverage appears to be on par, and internet speed is satisfactory for my needs. If this call issue proves to be an isolated event, and if the promised cost savings materialize as expected, I anticipate being content with Xfinity Mobile.
A key element in my smooth transition to Comcast cell phone service was having an unlocked phone ready to go. Capitalizing on Black Friday deals at Best Buy the previous year, I purchased a Samsung Galaxy A54 for $260. A non-negotiable feature for me is having an SD card slot for expandable storage, and the Galaxy A54 was one of the few phones in its price range that still offered this. While it’s considered a lower-end phone, it meets all my functional requirements perfectly. Crucially, using an unlocked phone provides me with the flexibility to switch providers again in the future if Xfinity Mobile doesn’t live up to expectations. This back-up plan offers peace of mind and control over my mobile service.
