Tracfone Question

[ohiomom28]

Perhaps you have it confused with something else. I've had tracfone for 10 years, and it's been this way.

No, I had it too as a teenager and that was longer than 10 years ago. Had to put at least $10 on it every month or they would expire.

 

[Imzadi]

I've also had 2 Tracfones for about 9-10 years now. I have no landline phone anymore as these two phones fill my needs for both a business phone number and a personal phone that I can carry with me at anytime.

Tracfone RENTS service for the 3 major phone carriers: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. It is the SAME exact service. If AT&T is lousy in your are, it will also be with Tracfone. Depending on which phone model you get and what area you live in, will determine which carrier you get.

I live in Verizon country, so I made sure I got non-SIM card phones, also known as a CDMA phones, to make sure I got ONLY Verizon as my base carrier through Tracfone.

Any time I want to upgrade to a newer phone model, I can and have. I get to keep the same phone numbers.

This in my review of the latest phone I have now:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2486103

I love the web capability, and picture taking without having to pay for a MONTHY data program with another service. I only use them as needed when I'm out & about.


This is a picture I took on July 4th, from my apartment window, of the Macy's fireworks. It costs me all of about $0.25(?) to take the picture. This is with their 1.3 MP camera phone. The newer models they have are 3 MP.

Tracfone has recently come out with a QWERTY keyboard and as soon as it becomes available, I am upgrading one of the phones.

 

[Stan Solo]

This is a picture I took on July 4th, from my apartment window, of the Macy's fireworks. It costs me all of about $0.25(?) to take the picture. This is with their 1.3 MP camera phone. The newer models they have are 3 MP.

Tracfone has recently come out with a QWERTY keyboard and as soon as it becomes available, I am upgrading one of the phones.

Great picture Imzadi! What an amazing view you have from your apartment!

The tracfone with the QWERTY keyboard is now avaiable (LG500G) I have two of them.

I got them to use when I travel to the US. The only problem is I have to be in the US to set them up (I live in Canada). I hope I'll be able to do this in the Orlando airport.

Any advice on this?

 

[robinb]

My DD has one from Page Plus Cellular. They run off the Verizon network. You can buy a phone from them for about $40 or you can pick up any regular Verizon phone from Craigslist or eBay. You can check the Howard Forums for a list of phones that work with Page Plus:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...D-BEFORE-ASKING-Phones-That-Work-On-Page-Plus . I bought my DD a LG Env3 VX9200 with a full querty keyboard.

I looked at all the prepaid plans (including Net10 and TracFone) and the reason why I chose Page Plus was their "Top up" requirement for keeping the account active is longer than their competitors. It is 120 days instead of the traditional 90 days. I didn't expect my DD to use her phone often (and I was right) so I looked at the minimum a phone would cost me to keep activated. I can buy 100 Page Plus minutes for $10 and they last 120 days. So, my yearly cost for the phone is $30. TracFone sells 60 minute cards for $20 but they only last 90 days. So, I would have buy and extra card to cover the year and I would end up spending $80 for about the same number of minutes (assuming they are doubled as many TracFone minutes are).

 

[RNMOM]

I switched about 3 years ago and love it. I have traveled to DW, Houston, Colorado and Niagara Falls for a few and have had no problems with reception. DH has a phone from work with Verizon and even with a "special" discount deal from them we were paying over $75 a month for 700 min. My son and I averaged less than 200 per month.

I bought mine on the tracfone website and got phones that have 'double minutes for the life of the phone'. I put either 30 min or 60 min. every 90 days and usually have a code for a discount. I get emails and mailings from them for discounts.

I am very pleased with my phone and service.

 

[rapriebe]

I purchased a tracphone for my mother so she would have a phone in case of an emergency on the road. While researching a good phone for her, I decided to get rid of our 2 cell phones and make the switch. Boy, the money we save now is great. We purchased cheap phones and made sure they had the double minutes for life. We put new minutes on them once a year for under $100. Make sure you check on-line for the discount codes that will give you additional free minutes. I even transferred my Sprint telephone numbers to the new tracphones. We travel all over the US and have never had a problem. We got one as a GSM phone and the other is CDMA, so we are covered anywhere.

 

[runwad]

Hey all sorry to hijack but my dd has had her tracfone for 4 years, never had a problem with no service now it seems places that she used to get service she now can't. Any clue why this would change and what we could do?

 

[Imzadi]

Great picture Imzadi! What an amazing view you have from your apartment!

The tracfone with the QWERTY keyboard is now available (LG500G) I have two of them.

I got them to use when I travel to the US. The only problem is I have to be in the US to set them up (I live in Canada). I hope I'll be able to do this in the Orlando airport.

Any advice on this?

Getting activated is really easy. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes. When you get to the airport, call the 1- 800- 867-7183 number on the back of the packages FROM A PAYPHONE there. Since you are calling from a payphone in the U.S. it shouldn't cost you anything.

Basically, you enter a bunch of codes in to program your phone, then you turn your phone off & back on, so it's signals the cell tower where the phone is. You should be activated after that in less than an hour.

Make sure you have the phones charged up before you leave home so you can activate immediately!

The QWERTY keyboard phone model you mentioned is an AT&T or T-Mobile Tracfone. You can tell by the "G" at the end of the model number: LG500G. It signals that it is a GSM or SIM card phone. I need one that ends in a "C" for CDMA phone which works with Verizon. The new CDMA phone models are always a little slower in coming out on the market.

BTW, I think you have one of the 3 MP camera phones! I'm envious!

 

[Imzadi]

My DD has one from Page Plus Cellular. They run off the Verizon network. You can buy a phone from them for about $40 or you can pick up any regular Verizon phone from Craigslist or eBay. You can check the Howard Forums for a list of phones that work with Page Plus:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...D-BEFORE-ASKING-Phones-That-Work-On-Page-Plus . I bought my DD a LG Env3 VX9200 with a full querty keyboard.

I looked at all the prepaid plans (including Net10 and TracFone) and the reason why I chose Page Plus was their "Top up" requirement for keeping the account active is longer than their competitors. It is 120 days instead of the traditional 90 days. I didn't expect my DD to use her phone often (and I was right) so I looked at the minimum a phone would cost me to keep activated. I can buy 100 Page Plus minutes for $10 and they last 120 days. So, my yearly cost for the phone is $30. TracFone sells 60 minute cards for $20 but they only last 90 days. So, I would have buy and extra card to cover the year and I would end up spending $80 for about the same number of minutes (assuming they are doubled as many TracFone minutes are).

Yes, most of the newer phones all automatically double the minutes when you add on a minutes card. PLUS, there are always promo bonus codes to add on more free minutes. This is why I prefer to add on new cards every few months instead of buying a year card. I haven't really done the math for a year card, but it seems that with those promo bonus codes, that one gets way more minutes for EACH card added on, that just adding minutes on once a year.

A person can actually get more minutes and days with two 60 minute cards than buying one 120 minute card. You get say, 30 free bonus minutes with each card, PLUS, each card gives 90 days, which are stackable. So you end up getting 180 days for the same 120 minutes.

PLUS, just activating the phone gives 30 or 60 days, even if you do NOT add on minutes at the same time. Activate the phone. Get the 60 days + 20 minutes for activating. THEN add on a minutes card in a separate transaction, which will add on 90 more days to the END of the 60 days. Right there is 5 months.

Hey all sorry to hijack but my dd has had her tracfone for 4 years, never had a problem with no service now it seems places that she used to get service she now can't. Any clue why this would change and what we could do?

Is it the same phone from 4 years ago? She might have an old analog phone. All Tracfones are digital nowadays.

As I said earlier, Tracfone RENTS service for the 3 major phone carriers: Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. It is the SAME exact service. If AT&T is lousy in your area, it will also be with Tracfone. There shouldn't be any difference.

Either something is wrong with the antenna of her phone, it's so old. Or your major carriers have changed service in your area.

The Tracfones are so cheap. For $10 at Walmart, she can get a new, updated model and keep the same phone number.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_query=TracFone&search_constraint=0&search_redirect=false&tc=0&ic=48_0&ref=+125875.365086&tab_value=13_All

 

[cassie]

I love my tracfone. I've had the service for years, and upgrade the phone when needed. I only get the 90 mins every three months as I really never use the phone. Once I did need it for a car emergency...very good to have. Usually my minutes roll over and I save them for vacation. I even used it on vacation in Ireland

 

[Stan Solo]

Getting activated is really easy. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes. When you get to the airport, call the 1- 800- 867-7183 number on the back of the packages FROM A PAYPHONE there. Since you are calling from a payphone in the U.S. it shouldn't cost you anything.

Basically, you enter a bunch of codes in to program your phone, then you turn your phone off & back on, so it's signals the cell tower where the phone is. You should be activated after that in less than an hour.

Make sure you have the phones charged up before you leave home so you can activate immediately!

The QWERTY keyboard phone model you mentioned is an AT&T or T-Mobile Tracfone. You can tell by the "G" at the end of the model number: LG500G. It signals that it is a GSM or SIM card phone. I need one that ends in a "C" for CDMA phone which works with Verizon. The new CDMA phone models are always a little slower in coming out on the market.

BTW, I think you have one of the 3 MP camera phones! I'm envious!

Hi Imzadi

Thank you for your reply!
I don't have one of the MP3 camera phones I have two mind you once I leave the US and go back to Canada all I will have is a couple of shiny black paper weights.

Thanks to you I should be able to activate the phones. Now I will just have to find a place that sells the airtime cards (maybe Hess Express near Downtown Disney). I can't by airtime on line because I need to have a US billing address for my Credit Card.

Do you (or anybody) know can I buy airtime from the phone without having to enter my address or zip code? I have a US MasterCard but it still gets billed to my Canadaian Address.

 

[sharonmickey]

OP - I've had a tracfone for three years up at the lake. Verizon Wireless does not get service there. The landline was costing over $20 a month which, considering we only use it in the summer, was quite expensive. The tracfone works well, it has double minutes for life as PP have said. I spend $20 every three months with gives me 120 minutes (60 minutes doubled) and adds 90 days to my service.

I purchase the 60 minute tracfone card at Giant Eagle, which gives me fuel perks, using my Disney Visa so I also get reward dollars

 

[Imzadi]

Hi Imzadi

Thank you for your reply!
I don't have one of the MP3 camera phones I have two mind you once I leave the US and go back to Canada all I will have is a couple of shiny black paper weights.

Thanks to you I should be able to activate the phones. Now I will just have to find a place that sells the airtime cards (maybe Hess Express near Downtown Disney). I can't by airtime on line because I need to have a US billing address for my Credit Card.

Do you (or anybody) know can I buy airtime from the phone without having to enter my address or zip code? I have a US MasterCard but it still gets billed to my Canadaian Address.

Too bad they aren't the Verizon Tracfones, or I'd be willing to take them off your hands.

I've never bought the minutes through the phone. I know there is that feature. I usually buy online, or I get a card at the drugstore to add on, then do it online.

Let me think, I know that CVS and Rite Aid drugstores carry the airtime cards. Walgreens might also. Not to be confused with WalMART, which also should have them. I think some Kmarts might have them.

Bring up a Google Map of Orlando and then just enter in the store names. You hopefully will find one close to where you are staying. Most hotel room phones will let you access the 1-800 phone numbers from your hotel room without any charges. So, you'd still be able to activate or add on minutes to your Tracfone.

Remember, text messages are 0.3 units per text - or 1 unit for each 3 texts. that is both sending and receiving. Don't go crazy with that QWERTY keyboard!

When you take pics with that phone, you should be able to download them to your computer, without using up minutes to send them to yourself. There is a tutorial online somewhere that should tell you how to do that. There are a couple cellphone reviewers that go through the ins & outs of the Tracfones when they come out.

 

[Stan Solo]

Too bad they aren't the Verizon Tracfones, or I'd be willing to take them off your hands.

I've never bought the minutes through the phone. I know there is that feature. I usually buy online, or I get a card at the drugstore to add on, then do it online.

Let me think, I know that CVS and Rite Aid drugstores carry the airtime cards. Walgreens might also. Not to be confused with WalMART, which also should have them. I think some Kmarts might have them.

Bring up a Google Map of Orlando and then just enter in the store names. You hopefully will find one close to where you are staying. Most hotel room phones will let you access the 1-800 phone numbers from your hotel room without any charges. So, you'd still be able to activate or add on minutes to your Tracfone.

Remember, text messages are 0.3 units per text - or 1 unit for each 3 texts. that is both sending and receiving. Don't go crazy with that QWERTY keyboard!

When you take pics with that phone, you should be able to download them to your computer, without using up minutes to send them to yourself. There is a tutorial online somewhere that should tell you how to do that. There are a couple cellphone reviewers that go through the ins & outs of the Tracfones when they come out.

Thanks Imzadi for your ideas. I was able to get phone number for the Hess Mart (it's walking distance from downtown Disney). They do carry the cards we were planing to go there the day our plane lands anyway for water, energy drinks and snacks for the room. I'll pick up a couple of $20 cards and load the phones at the resort.

The main reason I picked these phones was because of the keyboard so we can text each other when we need to split up. With $20 activation on each phone we should be able to do lots of texting in the week.

 

[Imzadi]

Thanks Imzadi for your ideas. I was able to get phone number for the Hess Mart (it's walking distance from downtown Disney). They do carry the cards we were planing to go there the day our plane lands anyway for water, energy drinks and snacks for the room. I'll pick up a couple of $20 cards and load the phones at the resort.

The main reason I picked these phones was because of the keyboard so we can text each other when we need to split up. With $20 activation on each phone we should be able to do lots of texting in the week.

Make sure you jot down a couple Tracfone promo bonus codes for extra FREE minutes from this thread below. You might not go through all your minutes, but it's better to have them just in case. They're free.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/731724/?newest=1#last

Since you are getting the $20 cards which is 60 minutes (minutes double when added to the phone,) look for a 60 minute card bonus code, toward the LAST page. Do this right before you leave, so you don't accidentally write down an expired code. (Jot down two different codes just in case. ) Over the phone there will be a prompt to add in the promo code.

 

[Michelle67]

My daughter had one. Completely and utterly worthless where I live, unless you need a paperweight or something to throw at your husband when you are angry (kidding). If you decide it sounds right for you, try to find people in your own area who use them and make sure it works well where YOU live.

 

[Stan Solo]

Make sure you jot down a couple Tracfone promo bonus codes for extra FREE minutes from this thread below. You might not go through all your minutes, but it's better to have them just in case. They're free.

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/731724/?newest=1#last

Since you are getting the $20 cards which is 60 minutes (minutes double when added to the phone,) look for a 60 minute card bonus code, toward the LAST page. Do this right before you leave, so you don't accidentally write down an expired code. (Jot down two different codes just in case. ) Over the phone there will be a prompt to add in the promo code.

That is one handy site! I wish they had something like this for the pay as you go phones here in The Great White North.

My daughter had one. Completely and utterly worthless where I live, unless you need a paperweight or something to throw at your husband when you are angry (kidding). If you decide it sounds right for you, try to find people in your own area who use them and make sure it works well where YOU live.

I know they won't work where I live. I just need them to work when I'm on holidays. 2011 Disney, 2012 NY in the spring, Star Wars Celebration next summer, planing a trip to Chicago for 2013.

It drives me nuts that we have to jump threw hoops just to use a phone or get a satellite tv signal. We have two of the greatest free countries in the world but in so many ways we are not free.