Anyone have a pay-as-you-go cellphone?

[Flaxbee]

Verizon's, or TracPhone (whatever it is) or any of the others? I don't want to get locked into another two-year contract right now, and my cell phone just crapped out. I have gathered a bunch of literature, but would like some 'real-life' input from users. I'm not a heavy cell phone user, in fact am getting grumpy about others thinking I am reachable everywhere, all the time, but I do like to have one for convenience, occasional work use, etc.

Any recommendations or awful tales to tell?

Thanks! :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

1. I have a Virgin Mobile...

20 cents a minute, 10 cents a minute to other Virgin Mobile phones...Add $20 to my account every 3 months, and no monthly fees.

It's perfect for me...I love it!

[PunkinPi]

5. I used to have Virgin Mobile and it was great...

until it stopped processing my top-up's via the phone. x( Though you can top-up online, I was never near enough to a computer when I needed to be, so I went with Verizon Wireless.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

6. That's odd...

I can still top-up from my phone.

[hunter]

13. That's what I have.

It's perfect for me. I top it up $20 every three months, but I only use about $5.00 of that. If there's ever some emergency and I need to use it a lot, I have plenty of minutes.

[peekaloo]

26. another Virgin Mobile here.

inexpensive phones that hold up quite well.

[RushIsRot]

2. I've got TracFone. Never had a problem.

I don't use one much either.

[mdmc]

3. I used to have one my friend.

The worst part about it is the temptation to use it like a regular cell phone.

I found it was too expensive. I found that it was of great value if you turned it off and used it sparingly. Don't leave it on, don't talk all the time. Just use it when necessary.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

4. You get charged for having it on standby for incoming calls?

I know embarrassingly little about cell phones but I've been thinking about getting a tiny tracphone for certain situations where I'd like a phone handy but I don't want to haul my Treo around.

[Critters2]

8. No. At least not Tracfone.

I suspect the writer is saying that you don't want to have people calling you all the time. The minutes are more expensive than a contract.

[mdmc]

10. No, my rich buddies would always call me

It takes discipline not to ruin your minutes.

[Critters2]

7. My first cell was a Tracfone.

I wasn't going to get a cell phone. I have Luddite tendencies, but my dad insisted I have one before I was to drive home one Christmas. The weather predictions were ominous but uncertain, so he didn't want me driving without a phone. He actually sent it to me, complete with a good load of minutes and a snarly message insisting I have it turned on on the drive home.

Turns out, I started buying minutes and used it more than I thought I would. When I moved here, I got a contract. I found it a great way to have a phone. I finally bought one of those year-long cards, so I didn't have to worry about it running out every 2 months.

I agree with others, if you don't use the phone a lot, it makes sense. If you do, it gets expensive.

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. Thanks for this thread. I've been thinking of getting one too.

I may soon need to get a phone that I can receive calls during daytime other than my office phone, since it will be for job-hunting. But I don't want a permanent leash or a long-term contract.

Is there any reason for requiring long-term contracts other than that they all suck and nobody would stick around if it wasn't expensive to go to another provider?

[Chovexani]

11. I used to have a Cingular GoPhone

It was okay, but then I moved and it became my primary way of getting in contact with people. That's when it stopped being economical, because they charge a dollar per day if you use it, even if you just make one call that day. That's in addition to whatever they charge you per minute for the call. It ended up being cheaper for me to get a plan.

My verdict: for occasional and emergency use, they're good, but look out for hidden fees and charges. Anything more than that, you're better off with a contract.

[RebelOne]

22. I have the GoPhone and am quite satisfied.

I use it very seldom, just for emergencies.

[supernova]

12. I have a Virgin Phone

and I love it.

I can do web browsing, email, txt, voicemail and pix. Plus I only need to feed it $20 every three months.

I looked at Verizon, my landline supplier, but with their wireless service they still charge you a daily fee for the phone even when you aren't using it. Phooey on that. :P

[TreasonousBastard]

14. I've had a TracFone for over a year and love it...

Verizon was costing me 75 bucks a month and it was worth it when I was on the road a lot and used it for business. Now, it would be a waste, and I use it like you say you would, and hardly anyone has my cell number. Those that have know I won't be in for long bullshit sessions on it. Actually, the lament that I have linmited, and very expensive, minutes becomes a tactful way to hang up on windbags.

The TracFone's minutes are about 30 each cents the way I buy them, but I'm on the phone for 10-20 minutes a month now so I'm saving a bundle, and don't have Verizon's monthly bill. There are cheaper minutes available if you're going to use them. The minutes you buy have a time limit on them, but there are ways around that.

Be sure they cover the areas you're moving around in, but "roaming" for them usually just means an extra minute charged.

BTW, TracFone doesn't charge you that extra buck-a-day-if-you-use-it that some others charge.

[Schema Thing]

15. Pageplus cellular

Best deal going.

5.7 cents per minute if you buy 80.00 at a time.

[Rosemary2205]

16. Tracfone - 2 yrs - only know of one complaint

my service has been flawless. Tracfone turned off a friend's service in error and in order to get it back on had to change the phone number. She got all her time and minutes, plus extras as an apology for the irritation.

[Richard Steele]

17. I had a TracPhone a few years ago.

Never had any problem with it. I understand the
contracts (regarding "zones" and "roaming fees")
are even better than they were back then; I'd have
no worries with getting another one.

[Flaxbee]

18. My options in town are TracFone, Verizon and something

called Net10, which got panned by the kid at the store. Sounds like TracFone has been good for several of you... thanks for all the input! And sorry for not responding to each post; my internets seized up and at 2:41 a.m. I am just getting caught up. Thank y'all!

[enigmatic]

19. I do

Telus (Canada)and I love it. I hate phones to begin with, so I rarely use it other than to call my wife or for work. I don't regret getting one..

[harmonicon]

20. I have one

it's in the UK, which isn't quite the same, because laws and the market are different here: incoming calls are free, for instance, but making a call is expensive as all hell. Still, I prefer this to having a contract, because I travel so much. On average, I'm probably gone (out of the country) for one week a month, so I'm glad I'm not paying for a contract at those times. I was gone for almost a month around Christmas, and didn't have to pay a cent, except for a few insanely expensive calls I made on it in France. If I used it all the time like I did my phone when I was living in one country, it would be a rip off, but with all of this travel, it turns out to be a lot cheaper.

[radfringe]

21. tracfone here

have had it for over 3 years, my partner was skeptical at first

but when her contract expired and they were upping the rates, she decided to give tracfone a try

loves it

we are even able to get a signal where other people can't

if you decide to go with a tracfone - check out these promotional codes for deals
http://www.momsview.com/tracfone_promotional_code.shtml
http://www.savings.com/m-TracFone-coupons.html

bookmark it for future use when adding minutes

[Beer Snob-50]

23. I have t-mobile

So far I have had no problems with it. I go on line and add minutes to my entire families accounts. Very easy and convienant.

[Uncle Sinister]

24. T-mobile here, it's brilliant.

Flat 10c/minute, anytime, anywhere. No fees, hidden charges or "gotcha's. Airtime is good for 1yr after purchase (this rate is only if you buy $100 at a time, though.) Since I don't use my cell often, I average about $10/month.

Used to have Virgin mobile, and VERY briefly Tracfone. Tracfone sucked, Virgin wasn't too bad. Been with T-mobile almost three years now, and happy as a clam with 'em. I highly recommend them, best pay as you go I've found.

(jeez, they should pay me for this post)

[crim son]

25. Tracfone.

I don't use it as I would a landline, but it's handy when I'm out but need to keep in contact with the kids or their schools. I use very few minutes. My one complaint is that up here in Bangor signal strength fluctuates and the phone has had me "roaming" when I'm dialing from downtown.

[meow2u3]

27. I have a Boost Mobile

20 cents a minute during the day, $1 a day for chirp, and 10 cents a minute for calls to and/or from Sprint and/or Boost phones, along with free incoming text messages.


BTW, I used to have a Boots Mobile (my cat who chirped like a Boost Mobile phone), but he is no longer with us :)

[fight4my3sons]

28. I have ATT Go phone

No problems with it at all. The minutes carry over if you refill before a certain time and it comes in great, especially in my area where a lot of phones don't usually get reception.

edited to say: I used the $.25 per minute plan and carry it for emergency. I saw another post about a dollar a day - don't use that plan as it wasn't the most economical for me. There are other plans for this phone too.

[begin_within]

29. I use t-mobile prepaid, and add minutes whenever I start to run out

I really only use my cell phone when I'm traveling. It's great to have one in the car, just in case of car trouble or some other problem, or if I really need to talk to someone while I'm away from home or a land line. I don't really use it that often. Initially, minutes expire 90 days after you buy them, but they send you a reminder several days before the expiration which is very handy - so you can buy as little as $10 worth of minutes, then all your existing minutes including the new ones you bought will have a new expiration date. But, once you have spent $100 on minutes (either all at once, or in multiple purchases) you become a "Gold Rewards" customer and from then on, minutes you buy last for one year. I have no complaints about the t-mobile service, it has always worked well for me.

[Orrex]

30. Tracfone, with one minor complaint

The display handily shows the remaining minutes available to you, to one decimal place. However, a two-second call and a 59-second call both cost one minute. I would prefer that they subdivide the minutes into smaller increments.

But otherwise I have had no problems and would recommend TracFone to anyone in need of a basic cell who doesn't want to get into a contract.

[LynneSin]

31. Got rid of mine 2 months after owning one

Of course this was back in 2001, so perhaps the technology improved some. I was not keen on a minutes system that says that if I don't use the minutes within "X" months that I would lose them. The purpose of the phone was to use on emergencies only, which means I wasn't using any minutes and they would expire on me. I felt it was a scam.

Ultimately I got a regular cell phone and now it's actually my primary home phone #. Sure I get way more minutes that I never use with my cell-phone plan, but since I use it all the time it's actually a good value to me.