Cheap Cell Phone Service?

[Lexxiefern]

I am totally disgusted by what we are paying verizon wireless every month. I really want to cancel them but I am clueless to what is out there.

Has anyone used the prepaid phones? Are they really a savings?

Or any other service that is affordable?

If this has been covered in another thread, please point me to it. Thanks so much for any help!!

 

[DisneyShannon]

Well I will say this about pre paid phones. They do not work in all areas. I have had every prepaid phone there is. None of them worked where I live. I had to get the managers signature on every receipt because he swore to me they would work. Nope I got nothing. Wal mart had to take them back even though my wal marts policy is no returns on open phone. We have the family plan through t Mobil me and my sister split the cost. I would try calling around to different companies and seeing what they have to offer.

 

[luvmy3]

Well I will say this about pre paid phones. They do not work in all areas. I have had every prepaid phone there is. None of them worked where I live. I had to get the managers signature on every receipt because he swore to me they would work. Nope I got nothing. Wal mart had to take them back even though my wal marts policy is no returns on open phone. We have the family plan through t Mobil me and my sister split the cost. I would try calling around to different companies and seeing what they have to offer.

Tmobile has a prepay plan, Verizon has one too. I'm pretty sure every large carrier has one and the smaller prepay providers use the large carriers networks. I have verizon prepay, it works everywhere Verizon works.

OP, there are a few threads on this board from last week talking about different prepay plans and their cost. Also, for whatever you are interested, go to their site and check the coverage area before you buy.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

About a year ago I did an analysis of my cell phone billing for all of 2008. I found that I had only used 770 minutes for the entire year. And my cell phone was dying. And I was paying over $30 per month including taxes (almost $400 for the year).

So I went to T-Mobile. I spent $184 which got me a brand new phone plus 1,000 minutes in late March. I just checked and I have used about 600 minutes and have about 400 left. I will have to by more minutes before the full year is up, but all I will have to pay is about $100 for an additional 1,000 minutes.

 

[mommycrawford]

I used to have a T-mobile Family plan, and my daughter had a Virgin mobile prepaid plan with better coverage that me.

I switched our whole family to vigin mobile pre paid...they work over the Sprint network. It has better coverage than T mobile, and keeps us on budget!!!!

I would find out which prepaids use which networks and see how their coverage is in your main calling area!

...Bonus!!!!.....If I lose my phone, the phones are really inexpensive!!!

 

[minnie1928]

So I went to T-Mobile. I spent $184 which got me a brand new phone plus 1,000 minutes in late March. I just checked and I have used about 600 minutes and have about 400 left. I will have to by more minutes before the full year is up, but all I will have to pay is about $100 for an additional 1,000 minutes.

I too have the Tmobile prepaid phone. I've had it for years, and $100/year is usually more than enough for me. I also bought it for my grandmother (emergency use only) about 4 years ago. Paid $100 to get her "gold" status (or whatever it's called) so her minutes are good for a year. Then every year we add $10 to it, to freshen up her minutes expiration date. So, for 4 years it's cost about $140. Works out to be less than $3/month!!

I also have GREAT coverage with it, I've never had a problem.

 

[Pigeon]

I've had a Tracfone for years and have never had a problem with the coverage. I don't talk on the phone recreationally, and use maybe 30 minutes a month tops. For us it is much cheaper than having a regular cell phone plan with the major carriers. I spend maybe $100/year, and most of that is just to keep the phone active.

 

[TaraPA]

There's also kajeet - targeted more for kids because there are a ton of parental controls but really, anyone can use them. When my Sprint contract is up (basic plan, $29.99 plus taxes each month - 200 min & no text/month) I plan to switch to a very basic kajeet plan. They have plans starting at $4.99 a month (pay as you use). My DS12 is on the $19.99/month plan - unlimited text and 150 min. a month. In December they had a $14.99 plan with unlimited text & 60 min. a month. There is no contract with kajeet which is nice, you just pay month-to-month. The downside is that their phones are over-priced & you have to buy the phone from them to get the service. If you're not picky about your phone, they ususlly have a basic one for $24.99. To get one with QWERTY keypad you're looking at $90 minimum.

ETA: Kajeet runs off the Sprint network, so if you have good Sprint coverage, you're golden!

 

[ceecee]

I've had a Tracfone for years and have never had a problem with the coverage. I don't talk on the phone recreationally, and use maybe 30 minutes a month tops. For us it is much cheaper than having a regular cell phone plan with the major carriers. I spend maybe $100/year, and most of that is just to keep the phone active.

Ditto! Never had a problem and we've used it all over OH, CA and FL. We spend $100 for 1 year of service and 800 minutes. I hate using a phone when I'm a out and about so it works fine for us.

 

[WickedElphaba]

I have net10 and hae never had a problem. Its basically 15$ a month(10c a minute to talk 5c for text) you can buy more per month but the 15$ card is perfect for me

Word of warning though CS is NOT wonderful. It is all overseas and MAJOR language barriers they few times I have had to call(transfer # to upgraded phone) but ALOT can be done online yourself so if i have to suffer through 1 call a year I am happy with that

 

[wovenwonder]

Straight Talk uses the Verizon Network

$30 for 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and a certain amount of data

or

$45 for unlimited phone, text and data.

CLICK HERE for a message board with some great info on pay as you go plans including ST info.

 

[solfan68]

Another big fan of prepaid service. DW and I have had Tracfones for more than three years. Have used them up and down the Eastern seaboard. The thing is, prepaid is not for everyone. If you live on a cell, or text like a teenager... you won't get any kind of price break to be sure. But we only use it for short calls like "be home soon" or "do we need anything at the store ?". That said, if you are a minimal user, you will save yourself some nice change towards your next WDW trip by picking up a prepaid phone.

 

[2minnies]

http://www.pagepluscellular.com/
also uses Verizon network

http://howardforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=364
great discussion board regarding pageplus

 

[luvmy3]

Here is an interesting site. It shows you where/what carriers have towers in your area. It may help you find another one that will give you service.

http://www.cellreception.com/towers/

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

Can you transfer your excisting cell number to a pre-paid one? That is all that is stopping me from switching over. TIA

 

[djbleach]

Another New fan of Straight Talk. We are on Verizon. Contract will end in March.
My wife wanted a new phone with key board style. So $99 at Walmart and a $45 unlimited card, gave to her for her to try it out.
So far, so good. No problems.
Then I got my sister to get the same deal. Only problem she has is she really uses her cell phone for FaceBook. She doesn't have interet, so this is a big deal. The internet connection isn't as fast. Think Dial Up. ST says if you get the $300 dollar phone it is much faster. Not that interested in that.
We did not port our number.
We just put a message on her Verizon phone and told the new number. This way she has two months and people will get her new number.
We'll just get two $30 cards each month so our new bill will be $62ish(they still charge taxes, not as bad as Verizon)
I don't think this is the best deal if you have 3 or 4 phones? It all depends on the usage. We are on the 1400 minute plan from Verizon and pay $5 for 250 texts.
ST will work for us.
I will say the Customer Service isn't that great. I say this because I'm trying to get her phone on AutoFill, so I want have to get cards every month. So far I haven't been able to get them to refill the minutes. I called yesterday.
It would have been simple if I would have just gotten the $30 card at first, because then I would have autofilled online. What happend. It autofilled but it was the unlimited $45.....so I had to call and cancel. Then I had to call back when the "card" expired. Anyway.
For talk and text, I don't think anything can touch them. Straightalk is teamed up with Tracphone, Which is teamed up with Verizon prepaid. I'm not sure what difference the cell phone towers are between Verizon contract and prepaid, but Straighttalk is on the prepaid towers.???
Good luck.
I don't like being locked into a contract!

 

[Mrs D]

I used to have a T-mobile Family plan, and my daughter had a Virgin mobile prepaid plan with better coverage that me.

I switched our whole family to vigin mobile pre paid...they work over the Sprint network. It has better coverage than T mobile, and keeps us on budget!!!!

I would find out which prepaids use which networks and see how their coverage is in your main calling area!

...Bonus!!!!.....If I lose my phone, the phones are really inexpensive!!!

I too use Virgin mobile. Have for a few years. When I signed up I could do 100 mins a month for $15. I will NOT be giving up that plan! I lost a phone, bought a new one for under $25 and still have the cheap plan. I also buy a text package of 30 texts for $3.
The service is great. In additon to good service at home I have used it at WDW, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Indiana.