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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
        
(Message started by: LadyElaine on Jan 6^th, 2006, 6:05pm)

Title: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by LadyElaine on Jan 6^th, 2006, 6:05pm

I Have a cell phone and my contract ended this month. I don't use the thing except for maybe one or two calls a week, when I am out away from home. I just can not see paying $40 a month for something I only use a couple times a week.
I want one I can just buy a calling card and use. I don't know anyone that have used them, I was just wondering if any of you have them and if they are what I would want? There are so many to chose from. Any one have any advice on this for me?

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by maffumatt on Jan 6^th, 2006, 7:38pm

my daughter has one, 20 bucks for 40 min. It would be ok for emergency use but the minutes expire if you don't use them.

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Annette_Emond on Jan 6^th, 2006, 7:45pm

I have used Tracfone in the past- Walmart sells the phone and the cards. At the time it was perfect for me as I only needed it for a "911" phone while in the car. At last check- it cost about 17.95 for 30 minutes(units) of air time- hitting the "send button" costs you a minute and it runs until you end the call. Long distance calls cost you 2 units per minute. Buying larger amounts of minutes you got a price break the more you bought. You have to purchase a minimum of 30 minutes every 60 days - if your expiration date arrives and you haven't bought and added more minutes, you lose your phone number, but any unused minutes carry over to a new activation. They also had some good deals from time to time for extra minutes. You can go to tracfone.com to check it out for yourself. The disadvantage is that you also use 'units' on incoming calls as well. But they have free voice mail, so you don't necessarily have to answer the call, you can possibly wait until you get to a land line for those calls. I never activated the voice mail on mine, so I don't know if that costs you units to pick up messages.
Hope this helps some- Hi Elaine :)

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Jonny on Jan 6^th, 2006, 8:29pm

In other words, keep the cell phone and use all you free minutes, E-Baby

You pay out the ass for the prepaid and the phone dies when your minutes run out. :-*

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Jan 6^th, 2006, 10:55pm

I use a Virgin Mobile prepaid phone.
I have to put 20$ on it every 90 days to keep the number and the money rolls over. That's just the minute to minute plan, they have a couple other plans now. I have Kaleb on the virgin mobile plan too. He has to earn the 20$ to "top up" his phone.
To call people it is 25cents per minute for the first 10 minutes, then 10cents per minute after that in ONE 24 hour period. It's 10 cents per text to send, nothing to recieve them.
It works well for me since I only use the phone when trying to get ahold of Kaleb or I'm at a cluster convention. I also have no service at home, so I don't NEED to use it much.

There ya go,
Mast

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Gator on Jan 7^th, 2006, 12:10am

I use Tracfone. No contracts or complicated plans, relatively cheap and it's easy to track how many minutes I have left as they are always displayed right on the screen. I spend about $30 every other month for a 100 minute card and that more than gets me through.

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Jimmy B. on Jan 7^th, 2006, 8:29am

Elaine,

Since you said you only use the phone 1 or 2 times a week....then pre-paid would definitely be cheaper in the long run. It all depends on how much you use the phone. If you use it a lot...then a plan & contract would probably be cheaper. But if you only use it for emergencies and a few times a week...prepaid is probably cheaper.

Like Mast, I have Virgin Mobile pay as you go. I get a 20 dollar card every 3 months (like everyone has said, you gotta re-up every 90 days or you lose your phone number...and I never go over the 20 dollar. So cost wise it was

Phone - Fathers day gift so I don't know the price but probably about 20 dollars. I got a K9 & the website says they're 19.99 http://www.virginmobileusa.com

Minutes - 20 dollars every 3 months.

Pretty cheap, if you ask me.

Good luck,

Jimmy

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by Drk^Angel on Jan 7^th, 2006, 12:03pm

I've got Virgin Mobile, and I spend $15 every 90 days. If you can't top up before 90 days, the phone will become inactive until you top up. You have like 60 days once your service becomes inactive before they'll close your account (losing your number and remaining balance). They also have month to month and year to year plans. The phone works anywhere the Sprint digital network is available, but there's no roaming, so the service can be very limited if you're gonna been trekkin' the backwoods or mountains or something. They have camera and mp3 phones available if ya is looking for something like that. And if you don't like messin' with sittin' on hold for an hour with customer service, or waitin' in line all day at a store, you can away with doin' most of the ordering, set up, and changes online. The company is definitely gearing themselves towards the youth crowd, but you don't have to waste money on all that MTV and other stuff if ya don't want to.

PFDAN................................... Drk^Angel

P.S. BTW... If ya decide to go with Virgin Mobile, ya might wanna check into the referral thing with Mast or Jimmy B. That way, one of 'em may get a little bonus gift for helpin' you decide. http://www.virginmobileusa.com/promo/referral.do

DA

Title: Re: Anyone use prepaid cell phones?
Post by LadyElaine on Jan 7^th, 2006, 2:24pm

Thanks everyone I saved all the links and hopefully by the end of the month I will make my pick.
My phone ran me $59.95 a month , Devenys phone was $59.95 a month. The company she worked for took over her bill becase she uses it mostly for work. I just could not see paying $59.95 for 15 minutes of calls a week. I think this prepaid phone card phone will server me better. That should save us right at $95 a month. I love it.

Our new years resolution was to cut back on things we don't need or have to have.

So far we have cut out a little over $200 a month.

I will let ya'll know what I choose. I guess the fair way to pick who will get the referal (if I use that company )would be to pick who posted first.

They have a phone that I can buy and get the cards at the convient stores I am going to check on also. Not sure who they are by.

Thanks everyone.