Trac Fone has done it again

[Princess Erin]

Great deal for all of us park travellers. No hotel phone bills.

TracFone is now offering bonus minutes to their package.

http://www.tracfone-orders.com/direct/tr/itemdetl.jsp?prod=2068&techzip=06451

This is great 94.99 for digital phone, one year of service, plus 200 minutes, now 350 minutes, 100 minutes referral, 20 minutes to activate and 10 minutes for email information.

Total minutes are 480 minutes and no contract and no worries for one year.

 

[Franne]

Do you know if there is a connection fee with each call. Ex...I amke a call that is 5 minutes, am I charged 5 units?
I am thinking of getting this for my daughter but don't want to be lulled into something misleading.

 

[DNBois]

I have a Trac Fone and if you call within your state you will be charged one minute which equals one unit; if you call outside of your state, you will be charged two units.
We just returned from Niagara Falls, Canada (rescheduled our Disney trip for January and headed up there) and realized that we were using 3 units for every minute - hope this helps.

 

[Franne]

Thanks, that does. I was going to get her a verizon phone, but they charge .35 cents connection fee for every call for the first minute. I thought that was too much to pay so I decided to look elsewhere. This might be great!
Thanks!

 

[wildaboutmickey]

I purchased the tracfone almost a year ago and got the bonus minutes, can I get another phone with the 1 year minute card and get the bonus minutes again? or do they allow only one bonus minutes per customer?

Thanks,
Michelle

 

[Straitlover]

The number of minutes used is not based on your state, it's based on your local calling area. You can key in your zip code on the Trac Fome website to see your calling area. I live 25 miles from work. Halfway to my office, I switch from local to roaming. Roaming takes 2 minutes per minute of talk time. However, my phone is only for emergencies or being late to work, so I have oodles of minutes to spare.

If you go to the website and click on Buy Airtime (or buy Phone) you will find the year card w/ the bonus minutes. I believe it's good until around 10/13. My phone just came up for renewal (my year was to run out 9/26), and I was able to get the bonus 200 minutes, too, so that part's not just for new customers. If you have a phone that is deactivated, you should be able to buy that card, reactivate it and get the 200 minutes.

edited to correct spelling

 

[mum of two pirates]

Just wanted to let you know that Safeway stores have a add for them this week only. 39.99 after $10 instant rebate.. It says no activation fees. nationwide long distance included. Phone models may vary. Have fun. I wonder if you can combine this with the other stuff for the great min.l

 

[Princess Erin]

I just checked that out. The price is still much more expensive per minute and you do not get the benefits of buying and registering online.

Worth looking at though.

 

[disney4me4ever]

It's OT, but maybe someone who has a Tracphone can answer this question for me. I bought my sister a Tracphone last year, as she can't afford a regular cellphone. I know that she *should* be able to use that phone anywhere; (I know she would be using double minutes when roaming). But when she tries to use the phone out of her home area, she gets prompted for a phone card---is this for long distance???? She's called customer service, but apparently there are some "language-challenged" people that work the phones. I feel bad, because I bought her the phone and it's basically useless. Does anyone have any advice?

TIA,
Nancy

 

[tink2dw]

1. I want to know why trac phones only work occaisionally and only if you are calling out?

2. If someone calls in it rings you answer hear hello and then the voice gets weaker so quickly you can't tell why they called??

3. And it gets worse every time you add minutes??

Please does anyone know what to do??

 

[georgina]

Originally posted by disney4me4ever
It's OT, but maybe someone who has a Tracphone can answer this question for me. I bought my sister a Tracphone last year, as she can't afford a regular cellphone. I know that she *should* be able to use that phone anywhere; (I know she would be using double minutes when roaming). But when she tries to use the phone out of her home area, she gets prompted for a phone card---is this for long distance???? She's called customer service, but apparently there are some "language-challenged" people that work the phones. I feel bad, because I bought her the phone and it's basically useless. Does anyone have any advice?
:

I have a similar problem. My phone won't work certain places. DH's does work everywhere, but his is several years newer than mine. There is something in my directions about needing a code to use the phone in certain areas, but I have never been able to figure it out. You're right, it is very difficult to make yourself understood to the customer service people.

tink2dw, your problem sounds like the phone is defective to me, not necessarily a problem with the service.

 

[frstimer128]

The only time I had a problem with mine was when I was in RI along the water where there was no signal.
Tracfone is not something you get if you are a talk-a-holic. It is great for that once in a while phone call or just to have for piece of mind. I love that I have no contract and that I am not getting a "surpirse" bill. You can only use the minutes you have so no overage charges.
Highly recommended for low to moderate use.

 

[AJKMOM]

An employee at the local WalMart recommended Virgin Mobile instead of Tracfone. Anyone else?

 

[dpayne1969]

hi guys,
i have a question in regards to this tracphone.I am wanting to get my 11 year old one of these for our trip in Nov.I do not want to get him a regular cell phone with a contract.I was wondering if this would work in Florida?We are from Oklahoma and i just want him to have one so if he gets lost from me i can call him on mine and find out where he is at and tell him to stay somewhere and meet me!
Please help.Any advice is very welcome.

 

[jizroc]

I have used a Virgin Mobile phone and have been very pleased with it. No roaming charges, 25 cents a minute and if you go over 10 min of usage in one day it drops to 10 cents per minute for the remainder of that day. Coverage is excellent.

 

[Raggedy]

do you get any nights or weekends free with these pre paid phones? That is king of expensivel, 25 cents a minute for the first ten minutes. I want to get my son a pre paid cell phone for his birthday this friday.

 

[Princess Erin]

I found this to work out great, for those who do not want a contract. It is an emergency phone for calls from the kids and for sporting events and kid pickups.

With the bonus minutes you actually make out very well. True with the contracted rates you have all those nights and weekends but it is a different usuage.

 

[Raggedy]

so they have nothing for nights and weekends?

 

[Straitlover]

Raggedy, w/ Tracfone, you use your minutes no matter what time of the day or night. If you're in your local area, it is one minute subtracted for each minute of talk time; in roaming areas, it's 2 minuted deducted for each minute of talk time. It doesn;t work like a cell phone plan where you get free nights and weekends. You just buy X number of minutes and have to buy more airtime at certain intervals to keep the phone active.

Pre paid phones are good for emergenices and people who use them rarely. Per minute they are a lot more expensive but in a year's time are a whole lot cheaper than having a phone w/ a plan. I talk maybe 10 minutes a month on mine, so I buy the one year card for $94.99. That works out to $7.91 per month, which is way less than a monthly plan for time that I won't use. I personally wouldn't get it for a kid if they are going to use it to call their friends.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Dpayne....I'm also in Oklahoma...although I have not used my tracfone in Florida yet I can't see it being a problem. The only place I have had a problem is the boonies in Arkansas.