Anyone have a Nokia TRACPhone?

[Deb in IA]

There is one on sale from Target for 39.99. It's advertised with no monthly fee, no contracts. Pay as you go plan.

We are thinking about getting one for our DD. She is routinely involved in afterschool activities, and communications between her and us is getting problematic.

Is this a good way to go?

How does this compare to a traditional cell phone plan?

DH and I each have Verizon cell phones with specified minutes, monthly fee, etc. Would it be better to go with an additional cell, as opposed to the TracPhone?

We would want DD to ONLY use the phone for contacting us in emergencies. This is NOT for her to use to socialize endlessly with her friends, send pictures, surf the net, etc, etc.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Hillbeans]

The Nokia Tracfone is perfect for what you have in mind for your DD. If she calls local numbers, she only uses one "point" per minute of call time.

The only problem with the Nokia phones is that they don't have any bells or whistles per-se (no ringtones, flip phone, etc) however that doesn't seem to be needed. I'd say go for it.

It costs about $19.99 per 40 "unit" card, and you need to get a new card at least every 90 days I believe. That's a lot cheaper than the cheapest cell phone plan through a phone company out there.

 

[SnowAngel]

I have an AT&T pay as you go phone. You pay for the month ahead of time. You have a set plan, etc.. when you go over the amount you pay, you pay more or don't to have the phone off, If there are some months you don't want to use the phone you don't pay. Yet, the next month you can start it right back up. I have nights (after 7 I believe) and weekend frees. It costs $39.95 for the minutes I have.

I love it as I don't use my phone often and mainly have it on if I plan on traveling anywhere. It works good for me.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I've been researching this very subject for about 2 months. After much research it's become clear that the way to go is a family "share" plan or some version thereof. My husband and I each had our own plans and what we did instead was made me the "primary" one and then added my DH and my DD for $10 per phone. We all share the minutes and they rollover if not used each month. You may want to switch cell providers if you are not bound by a contract. The best one that I found was with cingular. You could comparison shop online and then when you find the one that sounds best, call and ask questions.

We also got our phones for free(3 of them) by signing a 2 year contract. They're flip phones and they're camera phones....very cool for free!

 

[Deb in IA]

It costs about $19.99 per 40 "unit" card, and you need to get a new card at least every 90 days I believe. That's a lot cheaper than the cheapest cell phone plan through a phone company out there.

How do you get new cards? Do you have to go back to where your phone was purchased, or can you order them online?

 

[Hillbeans]

Deb, you can "re-up" on line via the tracfone website, or you can buy cards at any retailer like Target, WAWA, etc.

 

[flamom]

i've had my tracfone for about 2 years. i add my minutes online at tracfone.com it is very easy to do. if you don't make alot of calls it is great. i mainly wanted a phone for when i'm driving in case of an emergency. when you get the phone they send you coupons for additional minutes when you purchase cards. also check currentcodes.com for additional minutes codes. hope this is helpful

 

[Sherrypooh]

has one and I swear by it. As a matter of fact, I am getting my DS 13 one for xmas this year so now they both can reach me if they need to.

 

[snoopy]

We looked into getting one for my brother's son, who goes to nearby Univ. of Maryland.....DH and I worry about him as he doesn't live on campus but in an apartment in sort of a seedy neighborhood and wanted him to have a cell phone to call us in case of an emergency.

The thing we didn't like about the Trac phone is if you don't use the minutes, you lose them. You can't carry them from month to month, or at least that was the case when we looked into it, about 18 months ago.

His Dad eventually got the family plan, which was more cost effective in the long run.

 

[krissy3483]

Virgin Mobile is another option you might want to check out. It is pretty much the same as Tracfone, except your minutes do not disappear if you don't use them. You just need to add $20 every 90 days. The phones are available at Best Buy, as are additional minutes cards. You can add more minutes online if you want, or a number of other stores carry the cards. On the Virgin Mobile website you can search for stores in your area that carry it. They offer phones that are a little fancier than Tracfone, and they have a pretty basic one as well. If you're not going to be using the phone a lot, it is a good way to go.

 

[cati]

I love my tracphone. In fact we are getting my DS one for Christmas. I dont use mine alot, but when I do need it - its great. It picks up better than my SIL's $160.00 phone

You do carry your minutes from month to month now. If you dont buy a new card then you lose your minutes. I usually just buy the $19.99 card and every three months renew it. It is really easy to renew. If you dont renew your phone when the date expires (this date is on your phone when you turn it on) then you lose the phone number you were using - but they just give you a new one - you do lose your minutes if you dont renew your phone by the date shown.

Oh, you can buy a motorola tracphone for around $90.00 that is a flip phone if he would prefer a flip phone.

 

[Kirby]

We purchased Tracfones last spring and love them. I have a plain Nokia. My husband has a Motorola. He uses his for business and it has been lots cheaper than his other cell phones that he signed contracts for.

Depending on how much you are going to use it, consider forking out the money for the one year prepaid card. It's a big payment up front but you don't have to worry about the renewal time it you aren't going to use it a lot. I'm thinking about buying one because my time runs out usually long before my minutes do. And then there's the double minute one.

I'm all the time receiving e-mail notices with codes for extra minutes when I purchase cards. And you get a coupon book with your phone also.

 

[Imzadi]

Deb in IA, I'm sending you a private message with more Tracfone details.

I've had my Tracfone for over 3 yrs now. I love it. It uses ANY carrier available, not just one dedicated to the specific phone as other phones are. I've had good reception when traveling to remote areas.

As for losing your minutes, as far as I know (from a few months ago,) you do NOT lose your minutes unless the phone has been deactivated for a couple of MONTHS. You may lose your phone number if you don't add a new card on the due date, but NOT your minutes. And minutes do rollover.

What's really great is, if you get a digital phone, the voicemail & caller ID are included. I use my phone more like a beeper with voicemail. EITHER of those services alone are about $9/mo each. With Tracfone, I get those services AND a cellphone when I need it. Only a few people have my number. When the phone rings, I can check the Caller ID to see who is calling (if they do not have Caller ID blocking.) If my phone is turned off, I can check it later to read a list of "Missed Calls".

usually, I do NOT answer my call. I let it go to voicemail, if it's not urgent. Then from a regular phone, I can check my voicemail (like I would have if I only had a beeper) and save myself from wasting my Tracfone minutes. I save those for emergency or urgent calls.

Cheaper ways to buy more phone cards are by buying from eBay. Also, when you can, combine them with coupon codes & specials.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

The only problem with the Nokia phones is that they don't have any bells or whistles per-se (no ringtones, flip phone, etc) however that doesn't seem to be needed. I'd say go for it.

Actually I have a Tracphone that does have all of that, but it is one of the more expensive ones. I paid about $100 for it.

 

[powellrj]

we have had family shared lines for several years until they raised the rate. Ours was $9.99 now its $19.99 unless you sign up for a $59.00 or more plan. Thats more than I want to pay, so we got my DS a tracphone a few weeks ago. It was a great deal. I paid $34.xx for the phone, 120mins that don't expire until march and shipping. I ordered it online at tracphone.com (I think) and had it in about 3 days. The only bad thing was it required a signiture to be delievered, but we are really happy with it.

 

[MagicalMom]

I got my DD, 13 a free refurbished one from their website, I just had to pay for the minutes. Her's has a few games & a lot of ringtones. I decided to go with this type of phone after hearing so many horror stories of teens going over their minutes. Have you checked their site?

 

[Nancy]

We all have tracfones and they now have some nicer phones. They have the flip phone that runs about 89.00

I bought my DD's refurbished ones through the tracfone website. $29.00 with 100 free minutes of airtime. If you redeem your cards on-line and sign up for their account you get perks. Right now I get 50 minutes of free airtime with every 100 minutes i buy. The minutes roll over so if we don't use them we don't lose them. The girls aren't crazy about them because they can't call all their friends and chat, but the phones are only for emergencies. (like getting picked up) so for us it works out better. I have had friends that end up with bills over 200.00 a month because the kids go way over their minutes. NO thanks, I'll stick to the tracfone and control what my kids do.

 

[Fire14]

I'm thinking when I was in Verizon store in Sept. they had a pay as you go plan also. I personally love my Verizon service but mine is regular just like yours.

 

[nancy679]

I usually buy the 1 year plan for $95, you get 150 units plus 100 free bonus units , that way I dont have to keep remembering every 3 months to renew it. The units carry over too. The units can go quickly if your not careful. If you talk for 1 minute and 1 second, its counted as 2 units.

 

[Blondie]

We've had a Tracphone for several years now and it's perfect for our needs.

We don't use it to chit-chat, play games, or to pass the time, it's only for checking in at home (if I go out to run errands and the boys are home) or if I'm stuck in traffic and will be late for an appointment, get a flat tire, things of that nature.

I think eventually as my boys get older, we'll probably get the 4 phone family plan deal with Verizon or like company, but for right now, Tracphone is the way to go for us!