Cell Phone Plans......is pay-as-you-go crappy???

[FormelyCA 0]

So, time to get a cell phone ..ugh.

As much as I am trying to avoid getting one, I know it is the "safe" thing to do, and my husband won't let me drive the car alone if I don't get one. GRR. I am looking into getting a Pay-As-You-Go Go phone since I am NOT one to sit and talk on my phone, and won't even be giving the number out etc. I really just want a just-in-case-phone,. Anyone do this? Is it a ripoff? I will get the $100 card so it lasts a year, and the 200 texts a month for $4,99. I am looking into ATT.

What about phones?? Suggestions?? Why are there so many choices?? My friend's husband is pretty high up on RIM so when I left he gave my husband and I free blackberry's, but they are for Sprint network, which my husband has. BUT no pay-as-you-go with Sprint! I may ask her to send me the ATT one, but, don't wanna seem greedy

Anyway, thoughts on good cell phone ideas for a user who doesn't want a monthly plan/bill??

[Otto 83]

If all you need/want is a just-in-case cell phone - it doesn't really matter what kind of phone it is (IMO). I wouldn't spend a ton of money for a phone with features like; internet, email, chat etc if you never intend to use them or don't want to take the chance that if you do use them, you'll pay through the nose for it. Pay-as-you-go is a pretty good way for the purpose you described - no sense paying a monthly fee and having a contract for such limited use.

[FormelyCA 0]

yeah I was thinking that too - if I am not going to use it, why does the quality of phone matter???? That's why I was looking into the $39 refurbished ones haha. My husband is mortified at me. But, every review I read on them is like 2 stars and that they are #######. Then again, it IS only $39 for a phone, you get what you pay for huh!!

But, re;pay-as-you-go, I read somewhere that they charge you your minutes even if someone calls you but YOU DON't EVEN answer!!! IE. the phone just rings and rings. And they charge you/take away your texts even if unsolicited. That's bogus to me. Anyone here of this?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Pay as you go sucks if you use it with any regularity. You are paying a significantly higher per minute usage fee, and they generally have secret fees buried within the fees you pay. But if it is "in case of emergencies" deal, then go for it, no sense in paying a monthly fee for something you're not going to use.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Thanks for starting this thread....I am curious to know what plans/companies people in the US go with.

I used to have pay-as-you go, I said the same thing "I'll only have it with me when I drive/when I'm out...incase of emergency"....but I started using it more often, so I changed to a plan to make it worth while.

I have no idea about the companies in the US, but maybe you should look into getting a cell with the same company as your husband, because you might get free mobile to mobile with his......just a thought.

[FormelyCA 0]

Pay as you go sucks if you use it with any regularity. You are paying a significantly higher per minute usage fee, and they generally have secret fees buried within the fees you pay. But if it is "in case of emergencies" deal, then go for it, no sense in paying a monthly fee for something you're not going to use.

EXACTLY!!! I'm trying to find out all their dirty little secrets before I commit Not that a $100 pay-as-you-go card is committing haha I am so cheap

[Udella&Wiz 325]

What's the lowest monthly family plan that you can get - get minimal minutes and a reasonable amount of texting.

We have a Verizon family plan for 5 phones - unlimited texting, 2400 mins/month (which we never use since the kids only text) . That cost us $170/month for 5 phones...surely for 2 it would be a lot less - and you wouldn't have to get all the features we have.

A caution on the refurb phones unless you can get them directly from the provider and have some kind of guarantee) - I bought one off Ebay as a replacement for my daughter when she lost hers...and frankly it hasn't been worth it - its a flakey phone, has trouble charging and now it's garbage less then 6 months later.

[FormelyCA 0]

Thanks for starting this thread....I am curious to know what plans/companies people in the US go with.

I used to have pay-as-you go, I said the same thing "I'll only have it with me when I drive/when I'm out...incase of emergency"....but I started using it more often, so I changed to a plan to make it worth while.

I have no idea about the companies in the US, but maybe you should look into getting a cell with the same company as your husband, because you might get free mobile to mobile with his......just a thought.

Hmm we looked into that. We looked at Sprint's "Family" plan, but it was kinda bogus. Right now he pays $65 for unlimited data and like 500 minutes. if I wanted to join that and share his unused minutes, it would be $70 plus $30 (for his data), so essentially, I am paying $35 a month to use half of his mins????????? makes no sense to me. Maybe I missed something?? But I think for TALK only it is $70 for 2. But he likes data so.......there bumps the price. And I DO know that I don't want data.

I am pretty certain i will get pay-as-you-go. I am a little anti-cell phone, I don't even want one. Well, part of me does But not a big enough part to throw away $40 a month.

[Marilyn. 340]

I have a net 10 plan.. it works great for me.. I originally bought a 30 dollar nokia phone which worked great but I didn't like it because it wasn't a flip phone and I always had to lock the keys so they wouldn't get pushed while in my purse...

then I bought a Motorola flip phone for 30 bucks at Big Lots...

with Net 10 you get 300 minutes right off the bat .. you do have to add minutes every month but when you first get the phone they give you 90 days before you have to add minutes... I just set it up online, costs me 15 bucks and they add 150 minutes a month... and the minutes rollover each month.... right now I have about 2000 minutes because some mistakes Net 10 made but I am not complaining

I hardly ever use the phone but I like to have it just on case....

I think it is like 10 cents a minute and text messaging is 5 cents a minute...

http://www.net10.com/

geez, I as just looking on their site and they have a good deal right now and LG phone: comes with 300 minutes, hands free head set, carrying case and car charger, all for only 40 bucks

[FormelyCA 0]

I have a net 10 plan.. it works great for me.. I originally bought a 30 dollar nokia phone which worked great but I didn't like it because it wasn't a flip phone and I always had to lock the keys so they wouldn't get pushed while in my purse...

then I bought a Motorola flip phone for 30 bucks at Big Lots...

with Net 10 you get 300 minutes right off the bat .. you do have to add minutes every month but when you first get the phone they give you 90 days before you have to add minutes... I just set it up online, costs me 15 bucks and they add 150 minutes a month... and the minutes rollover each month.... right now I have about 2000 minutes because some mistakes Net 10 made but I am not complaining

I hardly ever use the phone but I like to have it just on case....

I think it is like 10 cents a minute and text messaging is 5 cents a minute...

http://www.net10.com/

geez, I as just looking on their site and they have a good deal right now and LG phone: comes with 300 minutes, hands free head set, carrying case and car charger, all for only 40 bucks

Ohh Marilyn! This sounds great! I will have to read all the fine print.

Are there any hidden fees, secret charges you have found?? Do you get a log say, on the net explaining the calls/texts made? Do you have to manually ADD text msg'ing or does it just let you text automatically?? How is reception when you Do make a call??

Oh I think we may have a winner!! Thanks !

[Emancipation 2]

I've used Virgin pay as you go in both Canada & the US.. it works well as an emergency phone, and I pay very little for my cell phone usage as a result.

I buy the $20.00 phone and add $25.00 every 3-4 months..

My husband has the $30.00 a month plan with Virgin and he gets 300 anytime minutes and free evenings & weekends, that works perfectly for him as well.

The billing isn't very clear with a pay as you go phone.. what exactly you are paying for and what you are not.. so I can't really speak re; That, but I know that if you just want an activated phone on hand for emergencies and such this is the way to go.

I saw a discounted Tracphone with double minutes for life (meaning every time you add minutes to the phone they are doubled) last night at Target for super cheap.. I know a lot of people who've had great success with Tracphone too.

BUT you can't take a CDN Virgin phone and use it in the US.. have to get a new one.. that I learned.. they no speaky the same lingo apparently.

Are there any hidden fees, secret charges you have found?? Do you get a log say, on the net explaining the calls/texts made? Do you have to manually ADD text msg'ing or does it just let you text automatically?? How is reception when you Do make a call??

with Virgin messaging is enabled from activation.. same with all the features (call waiting, voice mail, caller ID etc).. i think Virgin uses Sprint towers, so reception is generally great.

[trailmix 77]

We use Virgin pay as you go and this is why we like it:

- No hidden fees

- No contract

- Buy as few or as many minutes as you like every month. All done online with a credit card - you can check and see how many minutes you have left and also check to see when you need to buy another minute pack to ensure your current minutes roll over to next month.

You can get a free phone - shipping to you is free as well. You pay $9.99 for it (but you get $9.99 worth of minutes to get you started)

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/phones/catalog.do (just click on free phones)

We don't text - but you can add, for instance, 200 text messages package for $5.00 a month.

Basically what you do is put money on your account, with your credit card, then buy a minutes package or a text package or whatever you want.

When you buy the minute packs they cost:

$20 200

$30 400

$50 1000

So bottom line is, for $25 a month (plus tax) you could have 200 anytime minutes and 200 text messages.

Edited May 6, 2009 by trailmix

[FormelyCA 0]

Ok so here is my thing.

ROLL OVER MINUTES and EXPIRING minutes. I want my minutes to last a year. Or, as I politely expalined to the person at Sprint, if my minutes expire every 1-3 months, and I have to put on a new $20-60 cvard every 1-3 months, is not not essentially having a plan of some sort???

I am anti-expired minutes.

Marilyn, I read the fine print, and I am a bit unclear. The only minutes that last long than 3 months is the 1,000 minute one for $200. Do you concur? I know ATT has a 1 year unexpired card for $100, so I am leaning towards that (watch me use up my $100 card in the first 3 months haha)

Trailmix, also I think the same applies to virginmobile but it looks a bit better. I saw this on their site:

MINUTE PACKS EXPIRE 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. UNUSED MINUTE PACK MINUTES ROLL FORWARD (UP TO 5000) IF YOU TOP-UP AND CHOOSE A MINUTE PACK PRIOR TO THE 30TH DAY. ADDITIONAL MINUTES ARE 20¢ EACH. TOP-UP $20 EVERY 90 DAYS (EVEN IF YOU HAVE A BALANCE) TO KEEP YOUR SERVICE ACTIVE.

So, with this pay-as-you-go plan, is it correct that essentially, you could pay $20 every 3 months ($80 a year)?? That seems the best so far.

Thanks all for your input!

[trailmix 77]

Ok so here is my thing.

ROLL OVER MINUTES and EXPIRING minutes. I want my minutes to last a year. Or, as I politely expalined to the person at Sprint, if my minutes expire every 1-3 months, and I have to put on a new $20-60 cvard every 1-3 months, is not not essentially having a plan of some sort???

I am anti-expired minutes.

Marilyn, I read the fine print, and I am a bit unclear. The only minutes that last long than 3 months is the 1,000 minute one for $200. Do you concur? I know ATT has a 1 year unexpired card for $100, so I am leaning towards that (watch me use up my $100 card in the first 3 months haha)

Trailmix, also I think the same applies to virginmobile but it looks a bit better. I saw this on their site:

MINUTE PACKS EXPIRE 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. UNUSED MINUTE PACK MINUTES ROLL FORWARD (UP TO 5000) IF YOU TOP-UP AND CHOOSE A MINUTE PACK PRIOR TO THE 30TH DAY. ADDITIONAL MINUTES ARE 20¢ EACH. TOP-UP $20 EVERY 90 DAYS (EVEN IF YOU HAVE A BALANCE) TO KEEP YOUR SERVICE ACTIVE.

So, with this pay-as-you-go plan, is it correct that essentially, you could pay $20 every 3 months ($80 a year)?? That seems the best so far.

Thanks all for your input!

With Virgin - you must top up that minute pack before it expires every month.

That does technically make it a plan as such and you do have to remember to add that $20 every month before the 30 days are up (you can actually log in on their website and they tell you what date that is)

That is a tad annoying - but another way to look at it is - it's a $20 a month phone

Edited May 6, 2009 by trailmix

[FormelyCA 0]

Ok so here is my thing.

ROLL OVER MINUTES and EXPIRING minutes. I want my minutes to last a year. Or, as I politely expalined to the person at Sprint, if my minutes expire every 1-3 months, and I have to put on a new $20-60 cvard every 1-3 months, is not not essentially having a plan of some sort???

I am anti-expired minutes.

Marilyn, I read the fine print, and I am a bit unclear. The only minutes that last long than 3 months is the 1,000 minute one for $200. Do you concur? I know ATT has a 1 year unexpired card for $100, so I am leaning towards that (watch me use up my $100 card in the first 3 months haha)

Trailmix, also I think the same applies to virginmobile but it looks a bit better. I saw this on their site:

MINUTE PACKS EXPIRE 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. UNUSED MINUTE PACK MINUTES ROLL FORWARD (UP TO 5000) IF YOU TOP-UP AND CHOOSE A MINUTE PACK PRIOR TO THE 30TH DAY. ADDITIONAL MINUTES ARE 20¢ EACH. TOP-UP $20 EVERY 90 DAYS (EVEN IF YOU HAVE A BALANCE) TO KEEP YOUR SERVICE ACTIVE.

So, with this pay-as-you-go plan, is it correct that essentially, you could pay $20 every 3 months ($80 a year)?? That seems the best so far.

Thanks all for your input!

With Virgin - you must top up that minute pack before it expires every month.

That does technically make it a plan as such and you do have to remember to add that $20 every month before the 30 days are up (you can actually log in on their website and they tell you what date that is)

That is a tad annoying - but another way to look at it is - it's a $20 a month phone

Ok, I know I am sounding totally cheap , but I didn't even wanna spend $20 a month. The way I read the fine print for virgin mobile is that you have to add $20 every 90 days. Is this correct? I am cool with that as that means for the year, it would be $80, versus the other top runner (ATT) being $100 unexpired time for the year.

Thanks again for the help!