Offshored "customer service" centers. Today I dealt with AT&T out of Mexico. Certain features of my phone are not working in the new year and in another year the phone itself will not work because it will be "too old". I bought it maybe five years ago for $50 and I definitely am not interested in upgrading but it looks like I don't have a choice. Does anyone use Consumer Cellular? They look like they might be the right price point for me for a monthly service plan but I don't know about reception, customer service, and the actual phones.