I currently have Verizon service, but my spouse is pushing for me to switch to a shared plan under his service provider, AT&T.  Obviously, I'm avoiding it like the plague!  I text often with my boyfriend and do not want the other half having ownership/legal access to my phone/data records.  Does anyone have any advice other than obtaining a second cell phone?

Thanks in advance, and thanks so much for this website!
aja

Unfortunately, although I considered a second cell phone, the overall costs associated were prohibitive, and the logistics of using it seemed taxing as well.  I did some investigating on my own and learned that staying with Verizon was the only safe bet (see below), so I dutifully considered AT&T phones, narrowed my choices, and eventually found legitimate reasons why only one specific Verizon phone would suffice.  It also helped that the cost of each family plan was nearly the same.

Details for those of you with the same issue:
Verizon's online account service is perfect for keeping usage hidden when YOU are the primary account holder.  The primary account holder can view every subordinate account's usage detail, but secondary accounts can ONLY view their OWN usage detail for their own phone.  Furthermore, a secondary account holder still has enough access to be able to make payments but only being able to view the bill total.  Thus, no one else can view my texting and calling detail for my cell phone.  This, of course, will only work for you if you can make yourself the primary account holder; it worked for me since it was already my account.

Regarding AT&T:
The same does not hold true for AT&T.  My special friend has a family plan with AT&T, so I encouraged him to set up a secondary account for his spouse, thinking that the same would hold true and avoid any suspicions lest she get curious about his texting habits.  Unfortunately when he did so, the secondary account could access all of his (primary) usage details as well.  I've suggested he switch carriers, but alas, we disagree on the subject.  But that's an entirely different post...

Hope this helps!
aja