Prepaid phone question--activation?

**Michelle** · 08-14-2008, 11:07 AM

Are there any other costs per month other than purchasing the minutes? Is there a cost associated with keeping it active?

I'm looking into buying a Tracphone, but I'm confused what exactly I'll be paying for each month.

What do I need to watch out for that I may have taken for granted with my Verizon phone contract; e.g. roaming charges and the like?

TIA

**nessarowdy** · 08-14-2008, 11:19 AM

Good morning!
I, too, made the jump from my Verizon Wireless account to a pre-paid phone. I purchased the inPulse pre-pay phone because it is in the Verizon Wireless network. All of my family and friends are through them as well, so those calls will be free. The only cost to me (that I can tell after researching) will be the 99 cents per day charge to have the phone on. I plan on having my phone turned off at LEAST every other day to save money, unless I have to be out running errands. This will be WAY cheaper for me vs. my $40 a month contract with Verizon!

Good luck!

-Vanessa

**heartofmine** · 08-14-2008, 11:40 AM

I have a tracfone and have had it for a while. The only cost to you with a tracfone is for the minutes. Also if you do a search online you can get free tracfone minutes with a code when you add minutes to your phone. Just google tracfone codes. Lots of times say if you add 60 minutes you can get another 60 minutes free with the code. We do it all the time.

**LeeCee** · 08-14-2008, 12:52 PM

I have had the Tmobile Nokia prepaid phone for years. I bought it in target. Look on their website for details.I have never had a problem and once you buy a certain number of minutes they last you up to a year.I heard that tracphone wasn't very good.

**justpeachy92** · 08-14-2008, 01:04 PM

With tracphone you will only have to buy your minutes. You have to minutes on I think it is like every 3 months or they close the account. I am looking to get a different prepaid phone because tracphone service isn't that great in my area. 90% of the places I go only recieve emergency service. The only reason I got one was if I had a car issue coming home from taking night classes, with what I get for service I could break down and only be able to call 911.

**Michelle** · 08-14-2008, 01:10 PM

Originally Posted by LeeCee

I heard that tracphone wasn't very good.

Can you elaborate on this please? What is it that isn't good?

**LeeCee** · 08-14-2008, 02:49 PM

I heard that it is basically a cheaply made phone. The reception was bad, always roaming and customer service was horrible. As with anything I would research it on consumer reports. All I can say is I have never had a problem with my tmobile pay as you go phone.

**shoiji** · 08-14-2008, 04:13 PM

I have had tracfone for about 4 years now. I have not had any problems. You may want to get a more expensive phone if you are concerned about the quality of phone. The reception has always been good. Just check the website to make sure you are within their availability which is pretty much the whole US. Text messaging cost about $.03 a message. The tracfone is very basic so you may want to be sure you can do everything you want to with the service. If you just want something very basic and mostly for emergencies then it is definately worth it.

**Holly** · 08-14-2008, 04:33 PM

I have had a tracphone for 4 years now. I buy 120 minutes every 2 months for $29.00 . ( aprox $15.00 a month )
You have to buy some minutes evry 3 months if you use a lot.
mine runs out somewhere in 2009 now.
I have used them wherever I go (except where my sister lives -no service ) I have called from Vermont to NY and Texas
I want no planed phones where I have to pay a bill every month that is skyhigh.
Thanks for the tip on the codes. I'll have to look into it.

Michelle,
When you get your tracphone kit you get 30 minutes and when you call in to put them on your phone they activate your number.
after that just your minutes ( Its included with your startup kit )
At least mine was that way

**BlessedMomof2** · 08-14-2008, 05:04 PM

Dh and I have Virgin Mobile pre-paid cell phones, we've been with them just over 2 years now. I love them, our coverage is great unless we get too far in the U.P. They even worked excellent for us in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinios. For Virgin Mobile there are NO fees other then buying atleast $20 worth of minutes every 3 months. So we usually have to buy minutes 3-4 times a year, depending on how often we use them. For 2 phones on average in a year we spend $160.

**Texasgirl** · 08-14-2008, 08:27 PM

I switched from Verizon to Net10 almost a year ago.
With net 10 if you buy additional minutes before the others expire you get to keep the minutes. I only use my phone when I am out so it hardly ever gets used. I am up to 1700 minutes.
Good service. I live in a rural area when I was with Verizon we could hardly ever get a signal. With Net 10 we can get a signal. Plus no roaming charges.