Expert: DebiN - 7/15/2010

Question
QUESTION: I bought a second Tracfone (Motorola W376g) and it doesn't have the same coverage as my first Tracfone (Motorola V170).  Tracfone says that it's the provider, as indicated by the SIM card number (890141... good; 890126... not good).  How can I buy a new SIM card for the new phone (or exchange the old for a new) and specify that it specifically has the same provider (the good SIM number) as the old phone?
Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: 890141 indicates AT&T and 890126 indicates T-Mobile. The V170 worked on AT&T's network and the W376g works on T-Mobile. What you need Tracfone to do is to provide you with a SIM card on AT&T's network with a phone connected to that network. I would contact Tracfone and ask them for a phone and SIM that work on AT&T's network. Or you may also just want to consider getting prepaid service directly from AT&T instead. Hope this helps.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK.  I called Tracfone and asked them to switch my phone from T-Mobile to AT&T, expecting them to send me an AT&T SIM card.  They said they can't specify which carrier they will send.  Their system determines that the best carrier for my area is T-Mobile and that can't be overridden.  Is there a way I can find an area that AT&T has better coverage and tell them that is my area so they will send the correct SIM card?

Answer
If they think T-Mobile is better and it isn't for you, then I would strongly recommend bypassing Tracfone entirely and just going to AT&T and getting a GoPhone from them. You don't have to have Tracfone and since they won't let you choose the carrier, then get rid of them. You have the right to choose the carrier that's best for you (but they have to right to give you what they think is best in the area, unfortunately, even if it isnt').