OT-prepaid phones
#1
Official OSO boat whore
Charter Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Mequon, WI
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OT-prepaid phones
Ok, I'm cheap. Really cheap. So cheap that I don't even have a cell phone. Why? Because I don't want to pay a monthly fee. I'll only use the phone for a couple of minutes (average) per month, so a monthy fee isn't worth the service. Recently, at the considerable prodding from a few fellow members, I've started considering a prepaid phone. It looks like there are quite a few different plans out there. The ones that I'm liking are the yearly ones. That way, I don't need to worry about renewing the phone as often. I was wondering if any board members had some pointers for me regarding the different plans, roaming, phones, providers etc. I've never owned a cell phone before, so any info would be appreciated.
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Cord
I'm getting ready to check these out also. About a year ago when the markets caused my business to go down one of the first things I did was cancel my wife and daughters cell phones. I was glad to get rid of them because I hate monthly bills. My wife rarely used hers and my daughter always went over her limits. I would like a couple of phones to use when needed but not have the monthly bills.
I hope someone can give us some inside on the pros and cons of the prepaid system.
I'm getting ready to check these out also. About a year ago when the markets caused my business to go down one of the first things I did was cancel my wife and daughters cell phones. I was glad to get rid of them because I hate monthly bills. My wife rarely used hers and my daughter always went over her limits. I would like a couple of phones to use when needed but not have the monthly bills.
I hope someone can give us some inside on the pros and cons of the prepaid system.
#3
Enjoy the show
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Joisey Shore
Posts: 10,353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm in the business. The only time to get a prepaid phone is if your credit is shot. It' usualy more expensive on a per minute basis.
You should know that you can change plans monthly, just call the carrier to increase or decrease the minutes in the plan. Check around, they are all similar in price. What you want is good coverage. Ask friends how they like thier service. Usually Cingular or your local phone company will offer a good plan and service.
At home, to save money, drop your long distance carrier and use the Sams Club phone card for 3.5 cents per minute.
You should know that you can change plans monthly, just call the carrier to increase or decrease the minutes in the plan. Check around, they are all similar in price. What you want is good coverage. Ask friends how they like thier service. Usually Cingular or your local phone company will offer a good plan and service.
At home, to save money, drop your long distance carrier and use the Sams Club phone card for 3.5 cents per minute.
#4
Enjoy the show
VIP Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: The Joisey Shore
Posts: 10,353
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What else do you want to know.
There are many rip offs in prepaid phone cards. Like 1 cent per minute! Impossible, they hit you for a 49 cent call set up fee. A ten second call to an answering machine will cost you 50 cents.
The Sams club card is an AT&T card and 3.5 is great with no gimmicks. If you want the best post paid deal at home or your business, I can give you 3.9 cents per minute with no monthly fee (unless you use under $20, then the fee is $1.99).
Cellular is still a rip off. Those minute plans suck. I wish I could just pay by the minute. The only time you make out is if you use exactly the number of minutes in the plan. Prepaid Cellular is new and designed for people with bad credit. If you use the phone a lot, you'll spend more. If you use a little, you might save but since you don't get a free phone, it will take a while to justify the cost. My wife's plan is $20 a month with 60 minutes. And mine is $45 for 350 minutes, but I can be anywhere in the USA with no roaming fees, whereas hers is just for our area.
There are many rip offs in prepaid phone cards. Like 1 cent per minute! Impossible, they hit you for a 49 cent call set up fee. A ten second call to an answering machine will cost you 50 cents.
The Sams club card is an AT&T card and 3.5 is great with no gimmicks. If you want the best post paid deal at home or your business, I can give you 3.9 cents per minute with no monthly fee (unless you use under $20, then the fee is $1.99).
Cellular is still a rip off. Those minute plans suck. I wish I could just pay by the minute. The only time you make out is if you use exactly the number of minutes in the plan. Prepaid Cellular is new and designed for people with bad credit. If you use the phone a lot, you'll spend more. If you use a little, you might save but since you don't get a free phone, it will take a while to justify the cost. My wife's plan is $20 a month with 60 minutes. And mine is $45 for 350 minutes, but I can be anywhere in the USA with no roaming fees, whereas hers is just for our area.
#6
Charter Member # 55
Charter Member
The wife has a Virgin Mobile prepaid phone. Phone was $60. You have to buy a minimum of $20 worth of minutes every 3 months to keep your service. It deducts $.25 per minute from your balance for the first 10 mins each day, after 10 mins/day, its $.10 per minute. I checked them all out and this was the best deal I could find.
It also uses the Sprint PCS network and long distance is included as long as you are on the Sprint PCS network.
It also uses the Sprint PCS network and long distance is included as long as you are on the Sprint PCS network.
#8
Official OSO boat whore
Charter Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Mequon, WI
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just can justify getting a phone for $250 a year. That's why I was thinking of the prepaid plans. I found a program for $150 a year which has 350 minutes. Not many minutes (enough?) but I could do $13 a month.
Now that 3.5c long distance does sound like a great deal. Sure would suck to use a card when calling from home though...
Now that 3.5c long distance does sound like a great deal. Sure would suck to use a card when calling from home though...
#9
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Lewis Center, Ohio
Posts: 3,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by TulsaLarry
Cord
I did was cancel my wife and daughters cell phones. I was glad to get rid of them because I hate monthly bills. My wife rarely used hers and my daughter always went over her limits.
Cord
I did was cancel my wife and daughters cell phones. I was glad to get rid of them because I hate monthly bills. My wife rarely used hers and my daughter always went over her limits.
Tommy
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally posted by HyperBaja
If your daughter is old enough for a cell, she is old enough for a job. I bet $ that after getting that first bill, she wont go over the limit any more
Tommy
If your daughter is old enough for a cell, she is old enough for a job. I bet $ that after getting that first bill, she wont go over the limit any more
Tommy