Jan 18, 2007 11:46 AM
As a Department of Education employee, you are eligible for discounts on personal cell phone service from the three major providers. You can get these savings applied either to new service or to your current service going forward.
Cingular Wireless (the only fully unionized company in the mix) offers the Cingular Premier Savings Plan to DOE employees. You’ll get 20 percent off your monthly service. Cingular will waive its activation fee with a one-year contract and give you $25 off any order placed online, with free shipping. You’ll also get a 45 percent discount on all equipment purchases.
If you want to start new cell phone service with Cingular, call 1-888-444-4410, select “order new service,” and give the Cingular representative the foundation number 45223. If you want the discounts applied to your current Cingular account, go to www.cingular.com/discounts. Retirees are eligible for the discount. (Please note: The information originally published in the New York Teacher about accessing the Cingular discounts was inaccurate.)
Sprint offers 25 percent off its monthly rates for cell phone service as well as discounts on phones and selected special features. Nextel offers 15 percent off its monthly rates to DOE employees and family as well as similar savings on phones and special features. To start a new service online or to add the discount to your existing service, go to Employee Value Program or call 1-888-457-6294 and ask for an Employee Value Program representative. Proof of employment and pre-approval is required.
Verizon Wireless offers a 19 percent discount on monthly access fees on all plans $34.99 or higher. (Verizon is unionized, but Verizon Wireless is not.) You also get a 25 percent discount on accessories that come with either a one-year or lifetime warranty.
If you want to sign up for new service with Verizon Wireless, contact Bruce Silverberg at 1-917-282-4257 or e-mail him at Bruce.Silverberg@VerizonWireless.com.
If you are an existing Verizon Wireless customer who wants to take advantage of the special discount, go to the DOE Web site, click on Human Resources and then on Employee Discounts in the “Most Popular Clicks” section — and finally scroll down to the “Verizon Employee Enrollment Form” link. Fill out the form — entitled the Employee Liable (B2E) Enrollment Form — and include proof of employment (a copy of your DOE-issued ID card or a copy of a pay stub and your driver’s license). Fax the supplied cover sheet, the form, and proof of DOE employment to 1-800-711-7788.