prepaid phone comparisons

[Icarus]

Looking at options other than tracphone. We rarely use our cell phone-often not even once a month. Even tho tracphone is cheap, the yearly fee is high for the amount of use. We mainly just carry it in case of an emergency.I looked at the info on go phone. I read about a charge of $1 a day if you use it that day, but it is unclear to me if you need to pay a monthly fee or just the cost of the cards. Anyone know the answer of know of something better for us to check out?

You can certainly find a prepaid phone/plan that doesn't charge a daily fee. You might want to start be re-reading this thread.

Many of the plans that do charge a daily fee, only charge the fee on days you use the phone. They deduct the fee from the stored (pre-paid) value in your account.

-David

 

[Patri]

Thanks everyone. We have no idea how many minutes my son would use, and I bet it's less than he thinks. He wants the Virgin Mobile. One plan calls for $24.99 a month for 200 anytime and 500 night/weekends. We'd also get 200 texts for $5. He can afford that.
I talked to a Virgin rep and you can set it up that they would charge you a higher rate if you go over your minutes, or it could shut you off (my choice) until the next month started. I don't want surprises on any credit card statements.
The pay as you go plan is totally confusing. One part of the webpage says you must add $20 every 90 days to keep service active. The same page says you must buy minute cards every 30 days or lose your minutes. If you lose your minutes, there's no point to service. Does that just mean you keep your phone number?
I think it would be a hassle to remember every 30 days unless it is set up automatically via credit card.
Anyone use Virgin? Can you explain this to me in VERY SIMPLE language?

 

[Miss Marty]

www.prepaidreviews.com


All the Information On Prepaid Cell Phones You'll Ever Need

 

[Icarus]

The pay as you go plan is totally confusing. One part of the webpage says you must add $20 every 90 days to keep service active. The same page says you must buy minute cards every 30 days or lose your minutes. If you lose your minutes, there's no point to service. Does that just mean you keep your phone number?

I don't know about Virgin Mobile, but the way most of these work, is that the more minutes you buy, the longer they last. And vice versa.

It sounds like with the $20 refill, the minutes only last for 30 days. If you buy more minutes within the 30 days, that moves the expiration date forward for another 30 days from the date you add those minutes.

Once you run out of minutes, they can deactivate your phone. It sounds like Virgin Mobile will deactive your phone and recycle your number after 90 days with the $20 refills, if you don't refill again.

-David

 

[Patri]

Marty, I went to that site. The reviews are all over the place, which is not unusual. I personally have a tracfone and maybe should stick with what I know!

 

[jules40]

Thanks everyone. We have no idea how many minutes my son would use, and I bet it's less than he thinks. He wants the Virgin Mobile. One plan calls for $24.99 a month for 200 anytime and 500 night/weekends. We'd also get 200 texts for $5. He can afford that.
I talked to a Virgin rep and you can set it up that they would charge you a higher rate if you go over your minutes, or it could shut you off (my choice) until the next month started. I don't want surprises on any credit card statements.
The pay as you go plan is totally confusing. One part of the webpage says you must add $20 every 90 days to keep service active. The same page says you must buy minute cards every 30 days or lose your minutes. If you lose your minutes, there's no point to service. Does that just mean you keep your phone number?
I think it would be a hassle to remember every 30 days unless it is set up automatically via credit card.
Anyone use Virgin? Can you explain this to me in VERY SIMPLE language?

I've used Virgin Mobile for about 3 years now and just recently set my son up with the least expensive plan-100 minutes/$14.99 per month and then I pay $10 extra each month for him to have 1000 text messages. He does more texting than anything.
I have the charges go to my credit card.
I'm not sure exactly how the minute cards work, but you'll get a text message reminding you to top up. I don't believe you'll lose your number if you don't top up in time.
Julie

 

[marsha77]

David,

Thanks for the link, good deal!

Marsha

Next time buy your refills on callingmart.com at a discount. See my posts above.

-David