I signed with LaWard when we moved to Victoria about 10 years ago. Since then, I've replaced my phones online with Cingular (now AT&T). When I got the letter from LaWard, I called AT&T. The first customer service rep tried to direct me LaWard. I told her I would call them on my own after the call, because I still had a few questions for AT&T. She passed me further up the chain at AT&T.

The second rep I talked to seemed pretty knowledgeable. I explained to her that while I had initially signed with LaWard, since that time I had replaced my phone several times through Cingular and had signed contracts with Cingular. My current contract runs through September 08. After checking, she said that the equipment was theirs, the number was theirs, and my contract was AT&T. I asked her if I took no action, would I still have phone service after July 31st. Her answer was yes.

I then called LaWard. Lousy customer service. I explained my conversation with AT&T. The girl took my cell number and said she would call AT&T to see if she got the same story. Still haven't heard back from her after about 2 weeks.

One more thing, if you have a Blackberry, you won't be able to stay with LaWard. They won't offer that service.

As everyone can see when you post a blog there isnt personal attacks...everyone at laward is trying to help the customer as best as they can, but sometimes people come into laward with the wrong impression. Laward employees are helping hundreds of customers a day. What people need to understand is that att ended the contract with laward because they GOT TOO BIG to where they dont need little contractors like la ward. As for the smell there is usually 20 people or more in the waiting room so its not like its going ot smell like roses. if people would be more understanding to the situation that laward is having to deal with losing some of their customers they have loved serving over the years because of a chagned at&t made.

So, I got a letter, too. Don't understand any of it. Even called LaWard-still don't understand. We got our phones from ATT. We have NEVER done business with LaWard. She told me they own the phone #'s. I haven't had thechance for my husband and children to go without their phones for 1 day so I can suffer the inconvenience of taking time off work, spending a small fortune on gas to drive to Victoria to [it sounds like]spend my day going between 2 cell phone companies to get this mess straightened out. I did get one thing clear, she physically needs our cell phones. Well, my kids are gone until 8-2. What happens to their cells?

LaWard going out of business? Well that's to bad. NOT!

LaWard Cellular is a JOKE!! We switched from AT&T to them in March because we were told that they bought out the contracts from AT&T and had to spend over $300 for new phones because the ones we had would not work with their system. Now, after 4 months of pure misery with the bills, we find out from other people you DON'T have to switch to them, you can stay with AT&T. Guess what??? It's not that easy. I called to the LaWard office yesterday and after it ringing and ringing, I get a lady that says "Yes, you can be ported back to AT&T, all you need to do is go to a AT&T store before this Thursday, due to their conversion period. We went today, Tuesday and we CANNOT be ported back to AT&T because we have a 2 year contract with LaWard. The man just plain said "You are with us and if you would like to switch back to AT&T, it will cost you $450 for 3 lines to be disconnected. When we got home, we called LaWard (On The Go) and stayed on hold for over 16 minutes while the home office tried to get someone to answer the phone. Once the phone was answered, the lady was very rude and did not even want to listen to me and just said "You switched back in March, you're going to stay with LaWard and that's that." She then proceeded to give me a name of a so called owner and the phone number, and when that number is called, it's an answering service that cannot give you any type of information. When asked when the person I needed to talk to would be in, I was told she ususally doesn't take calls. Someone needs to do something with the service and the customer service of LaWard cellular. If I do have to be with them until 2010, I sure hope they can acutally figure out how to bill correctly, answer the phones, and be polite and courteous. Whatever happed to "The Customer is Always Right?" Apparently LaWard Cellular has their own motto. Not sure what it might be but maybe "Do you know what you're doing-WE SURE DON'T".

all this fuss about cell phones, when they should just get rid of the contractual mess altogether. I have a boost mobile phone from walmart. it's got a camera, it sends messages to your email, you can instant message, send pictures and videos, go on the internet, make long distance calls free and I have unlimited Talk, Text and Web for only 70 bucks a month.

No contract, and only 70 bucks a month for unlimited EVERYTHING! it's the best, don't worry I don't work for boost mobile, but they are the best and i have jumped from carrier to carrier trying to find the best deal and this one is it!

Ursela, are you talking about the AT&T store in Victoria? Where the old HEB used to be? I HATE that store! I HATE going in there because the people are so rude! I renewed my contract with AT&T back in May. I've been with them for years. Well, my phone started acting up around the first part of July. At first I thought it was just the weather. It continued and got worse so I called the customer service 800 number on July 12. I spent an hour on the phone trying to figure out what was going on. Finally, they told me my SIM card was bad and that they were noting my account. I was instructed to go to the AT&T store and get a replacement SIM at no charge. I went in that afternoon and stood in line for 30 minutes and got frustrated and left. I went back Monday and waited 45 mins before someone even acknowledged me. After another 30 mins, a very RUDE sales person named Wes asked me the same questions I had answered to the Customer Service Rep over the phone. I patiently explained that my account was noted and if he would pull up the account he'd see what the problem was. Then he went on and on about did you do this, did you do that? There might be an outage in your area.... Again, I reminded him to look up the notes... finally he put in a new SIM and said: "That's $25.00"..... I said: "Put the old SIM card in, give me my phone and I'm going to go to Verizon" Only then did he change his attitude and looked up the account notes... The whole time I'm ready to go to another carrier. He finally said that he would "honor" the agreement. As soon as I left the store, I called the customer service number and gave them 2 minutes to convince me to stay on as a customer..... I got a free car charger in the mail....

Glad this isn't just my bill. I got an AT&T phone on my plan but for my Mom in Palacios. Lo and behold, a couple of months ago I get a letter telling me all this stuff about changing over, yada yada yada. I called AT&T and they said not to worry about it and that, since we aren't LaWard Cellular customers, our service is not going to be affected at all.

But I guess we'll all see soon, huh?

Lo and behold, i sure am glad someone commented on this!!!! I have used LaWard Celleluar for years. I went in last week, just to see what was going on. The only question the rude chick made to me was "are you staying with at&t?" Well yeah, i am, that's who i had my service through. No other explanation was given. She did some stuff in the computer and told me i had to go down to the At&T store, but in the mean time my SIM card wouldn't work for just a short time. Ok, no prob, i go down to the AT&T store, sign in like you have to, was asked what i needed, showed them the paper and the lame laward cellular sim card that LaWard Cellular gave me, and the nice lady at the AT&T store told me, "Since the contract is in your husbands name he has to be present." Uhm ok, so i'm thinking he can come in on the weekend when he doesn't have to work. Oh to my suprise!!!!! My phone didn't work when i got in my car!!!!! The SIM card was deactivated! I go home to make i nice little call to LaWard Cellular, they tell me they had no idea the account holder had to be present, i told the chick she needed to turn my SM card back on since all she did was do something in the computer anyway, and she said "well aren't you still at the AT&T store? They can get your husbands permission over the phone." "Uh no i'm not there and no i'm not wasting gas because you're an idiot and you lacked the knowledge and common sense to inform me." My last words to her were "I knew there was a reason i didn't like LaWard Cellular!" One last comment about this company, every time i ever went in that store they were rude and stuck up. They could never show you how exactly the phone you thought about purchasing or using for the next 2 years worked, it was like here it is, take it or leave it. Hope they go out of business.