[rice]

So, I'm struck by the insistence that there are authentic and inauthentic SERO plans. I, personally, signed up through SERO, using the website www.spriont.com/sero, in December of 2005. I recieved a fair and flexible plan with all the benefits of the SERO program that was called a "Fair and Flexible" plan. Back then we had 9pm nights and minutes and I don't know if texting was included or not (we used picture mail a lot)
Two years ago when I re-upped my plan, I convinced a representative to transfer me to the newer plan that included 7pm nights and weekends and unlimited texting. That new plan had the SERO label.

Personally, I would not call a plan that someone has had for a long time "inauthentic" It might be the result of some silly issues in the sprint computer system, but it is what it is, a sero plan.
Personally I think that sprint should have put everyone form the old plan onto the new one but in this day and age you don't get good things unless you ask for them.

[HowardPM]

Originally Posted by boxoroxs

Again, if you have a NVP discount and it says FAIR and FLEXIBLE, it's a SERO clone plan.

Authentic SERO plans say SERO.

On Sprints website for me it says:


SERO F&F 500 (at the top of the screen)

* Sprint Fair & Flex
* Caller ID
* Adjustable Anytime Minutes
* Call Waiting
* Three-way Calling
* $30.00 Minimum Monthly Charge
* Voicemail
* Nationwide Long Distance Included
* Unlimited Night & Weekend Mins. Included
* Nights: M-Th 7PM-7AM Wknd: F 7PM-M 7AM
* Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (pcs to Pcs)

Plan add-ons
* 3 Numbers, Any Network-Unltd Included
* EVDO Casual Included
* Cellular Call Detail Included
* Unl Shared Nights/Weekends 6pm Included
* PCS PICTURE MAIL Included
* First Incoming Minute Free Included


It doesn't say unlimited txt messages, but I have them.

[boxoroxs]

Originally Posted by HowardPM

On Sprints website for me it says:


SERO F&F 500 (at the top of the screen)

* Sprint Fair & Flex
* Caller ID
* Adjustable Anytime Minutes
* Call Waiting
* Three-way Calling
* $30.00 Minimum Monthly Charge
* Voicemail
* Nationwide Long Distance Included
* Unlimited Night & Weekend Mins. Included
* Nights: M-Th 7PM-7AM Wknd: F 7PM-M 7AM
* Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (pcs to Pcs)

Plan add-ons
* 3 Numbers, Any Network-Unltd Included
* EVDO Casual Included
* Cellular Call Detail Included
* Unl Shared Nights/Weekends 6pm Included
* PCS PICTURE MAIL Included
* First Incoming Minute Free Included


It doesn't say unlimited txt messages, but I have them.

Correct.

The SERO plans never listed unlimited texting (as far as I recall) in the plan details but it showed up in the usage detail page.

Same thing with the Fair and Flexible 500 plans when they offered free unlimited texting for a limited time.

It never showed up in the description or the plan addons, but it showed in the usage details.

[giants_fan]

Originally Posted by Touhy

did you buy the phone thru them and have them activate it?
this is another reason i am scared to upgrade my phone. i will probably just buy a p hone off ebay and activate it online myself. i think TP2 you can do that. instead of dealing with sprint.

I purchased the phone online and when I tried to activate it online, the activation failed and the website told me to call in. I knew I was screwed at this point. When I called, Sprint said it wasn't compatible with my plan blah blah blah. I said thanks and hung up.

Thanks to everybody on this forum, I kept trying and eventually, after 5 tries with 5 different CSRs, one of them finally said they'd do it for me.

I don't know if they are 'cracking down' on Smartphones or if it's just lameness on their part.

[giants_fan]

IIRC, I signed up for this SERO or SERO-like plan 3 years ago. There was a long fatwallet thread about it.

Anyway, now that I think about it, unlimited text messaging wasn't included but according to the FW thread, you could just ask for it and they'd add it for free. That's what they did for me.

So I guess I feel a little less bad about having to pay $5 for it now, but still, I've had the (free) unlimited text addon for the life of my account with Sprint and I am pissed that they randomly removed it.

Someone mentioned "calling the sero people directly" or calling "executive services". Are those different numbers than the standard customer service numbers? Anybody have them?

[Touhy]

Originally Posted by giants_fan

I purchased the phone online and when I tried to activate it online, the activation failed and the website told me to call in. I knew I was screwed at this point. When I called, Sprint said it wasn't compatible with my plan blah blah blah. I said thanks and hung up.

Thanks to everybody on this forum, I kept trying and eventually, after 5 tries with 5 different CSRs, one of them finally said they'd do it for me.

I don't know if they are 'cracking down' on Smartphones or if it's just lameness on their part.

that is disheartening to hear =(

[kaotic504]

Originally Posted by boxoroxs

Actually the SERO labeled plans are the original SERO's.

The Fair and Flexible 500 plans (or 1250) are clones. They were designed when Sprint was migrating from P2K to Ensemble. They were designed because in Ensemble, SERO doesn't allow for the NVP discount attachment and there were a lot of SERO subscribers who had it in P2K.

The only way those subscribers could keep their discount was to change plans, or be put on a similar plan.

that's not entirely true. i got the SERO plan when it first came out. before they even offered Unlimited Text. When Sero first came out, it was just for minutes and unlimited data, and i think 250 txts or something like that. i KNOW it wasn't unlimited. so i had a F&F plan. later on, they modified it and added the unlimited text, when this happened, i added another line, and that line was labeled SERO. i got eCare to add the unlimited text code to my account to make it match, then "current" SERO plans, and they did so.

you're probably right, the labeling probably had to do w/ a system change, but i know the VERY early SERO plans, were not labeled SERO and did not include unlimited text. i have 3 lines to prove it.

[estroh99]

That's correct, they kept offering unlimited text included for a few months at a time to get people to sign up for SERO.

Back then, notices went out on different forums so that we could call in to get unlimited text added or included.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/732781

Originally Posted by kaotic504

that's not entirely true. i got the SERO plan when it first came out. before they even offered Unlimited Text. When Sero first came out, it was just for minutes and unlimited data, and i think 250 txts or something like that. i KNOW it wasn't unlimited. so i had a F&F plan. later on, they modified it and added the unlimited text, when this happened, i added another line, and that line was labeled SERO. i got eCare to add the unlimited text code to my account to make it match, then "current" SERO plans, and they did so.

you're probably right, the labeling probably had to do w/ a system change, but i know the VERY early SERO plans, were not labeled SERO and did not include unlimited text. i have 3 lines to prove it.

[EpOxY]

Originally Posted by kaotic504

that's not entirely true. i got the SERO plan when it first came out. before they even offered Unlimited Text. When Sero first came out, it was just for minutes and unlimited data, and i think 250 txts or something like that. i KNOW it wasn't unlimited. so i had a F&F plan. later on, they modified it and added the unlimited text, when this happened, i added another line, and that line was labeled SERO. i got eCare to add the unlimited text code to my account to make it match, then "current" SERO plans, and they did so.

you're probably right, the labeling probably had to do w/ a system change, but i know the VERY early SERO plans, were not labeled SERO and did not include unlimited text. i have 3 lines to prove it.

I did the same thing I got on SERO like 4 years ago when it first came out and it was an F&F plan way back then. It didn't include texting. When I upgraded to the Touch 2 years later, I asked and got free texting added to match the new SERO accounts that included it.

[Eyecon82]

Originally Posted by EpOxY

I did the same thing I got on SERO like 4 years ago when it first came out and it was an F&F plan way back then. It didn't include texting. When I upgraded to the Touch 2 years later, I asked and got free texting added to match the new SERO accounts that included it.

I also did the same thing, but my plan still shows as SERO 500 F&F

There were 3 SERO Plans

First sero didn't have 7pm nights and no texting ...nights were at 9pm
Second SERO had 7pm nights, but still no texting
Third and final sero had 7pm nights and texting built in

I have the 2nd type of SERO..but got unlimited texting added on as an add-on

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by boxoroxs

Again, if you have a NVP discount and it says FAIR and FLEXIBLE, it's a SERO clone plan.

Authentic SERO plans say SERO.

Interesting... I didnt realize there were SERO clone type plans. Mine says SERO but it ALSO says Fair and Flexible! Is this is an authentic SERO plan? I got it about 6 months - 1 yr before they killed the "SERO" campaign.

I hope Sprint stays in business, I never want to lose my plan. I also hope they allow SERO users to buy the nextgen Winmo 7 devices. I'm afraid once they are the new "hot" thing they will be excluded too. Eventually, we may not even be able to get the latest PDA/Smartphones.

SERO F&F 500
* Sprint Fair & Flex
* Caller ID
* Adjustable Anytime Minutes
* Call Waiting
* Three-way Calling
* $30.00 Minimum Monthly Charge
* Voicemail
* Nationwide Long Distance Included
* Unlimited Night & Weekend Mins. Included
* Nights: M-Th 7PM-7AM Wknd: F 7PM-M 7AM
* Unlimited Mobile to Mobile (pcs to Pcs)
Monthly charge for service plan
$0.00

Plan add-ons for XXXXXXX
* EVDO Casual Included
* AIRAVE Coverage $4.99/device 4.99
-$4.99 Loyal Customer Credit (I paid full price for Airave, new house is located in a dead spot. Sprint really stepped up to the plate here!)
* PCS PICTURE MAIL Included
* Nights and weekends starting at 7pm Included
* 3 Numbers, Any Network-Unltd Included (i.e. Pick 3)
* Sprint EMP Referral FF 500 30.00
* Total Equipment Protection 7.00
* Unlimited Text Messaging Included
* Cellular Call Detail Included

[ryan1918]

The fair and flexible is your discounted overages on minutes..

you pay in tier's so 1-30 minutes is $5

instead of 45 cents a minute..

that is what mine reads and I have the SERO 500

[yungwunn911]

OP,

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME.

I NEVER GOT THE UNLIMITED TEXTING BACK. I DOUBT YOU WILL EITHER.

This aelly really really sucks. I went overseas and added int'l BB service. When i got back got slappe with like 50$ in text charges. No rep, no mater who i spoke to could bring it back. I feel even crappier now because at least they gave you the texts for $5. They wouldnt go below 7.50 for me!.

goodluck man.

[estroh99]

Why did they take off your unlimited text when you added international blackberry? Its a different code?

Originally Posted by yungwunn911

OP,

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME.

I NEVER GOT THE UNLIMITED TEXTING BACK. I DOUBT YOU WILL EITHER.

This aelly really really sucks. I went overseas and added int'l BB service. When i got back got slappe with like 50$ in text charges. No rep, no mater who i spoke to could bring it back. I feel even crappier now because at least they gave you the texts for $5. They wouldnt go below 7.50 for me!.

goodluck man.

[yungwunn911]

no clue.

some1 messed up and they could not get it back.