Anyone have a no contract cell phone?

[LaurenB]

Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#1

Posted: 4/18/09 at 2:59pm

I was thinking of getting one of those no contract cell phones. Anyone here use one and any trouble loading up new minutes? Someone said that you have to activate it every 3 months --- is that true, and does that mean you have to load up new minutes even if you didn't use up all the minutes from the last top-off (load-up, or whatever it is called)? I can go months without using the cell phone. Any info is greatly appreciated.

[Marianne2]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#2

Posted: 4/18/09 at 8:09pm

I believe Tracfone actually has a card that is good for a year. I think it's about $100 or so. I used to have one, and it was great, until I started using up the minutes too quickly. So, definitely look at the cost of that vs. a cell phone with a contract first before going with one. It all depends on how frequently you plan to use it.

"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005 "You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. Ignored Users: suestorm, N2N Nate., Owen22, master bates

[Unknown User]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#2

Posted: 4/18/09 at 8:17pm

I've had a tracfone for about a year, and I love it. Yea, you can get a card with 350 minutes for about 80 dollars, and so far that has lasted me 6 months, and I still have 150 minutes left. No monthly bills, no hassles. If you are the kind of person who does not us a cellphone a lot (like me), I think it's perfect. And one way to save minutes is to text message rather than call if you are just telling someone you'll be late or something. Each text is only a third of a minute cost, no matter how long it is.

[nealb1]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#3

Posted: 4/18/09 at 8:48pm

I don't have a cell phone.

And, have never had an interest or a desire to get one.


Updated On: 4/18/09 at 08:48 PM

[Tom's Cat]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#4

Posted: 4/18/09 at 10:55pm

I'm another with Tracphone and it's perfect for me. I've had it for about 3 years and I've never had the least bit of trouble loading the minutes and service time. I take advantage of sales that offer you double minutes if you buy a one year card.

Meow!

[SNLMedia]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#5

Posted: 4/18/09 at 10:57pm

I have a Virgin Mobile that started out as a pay-as-you-go, but now I pay $15 a month for 100 anytime minutes. Works fine for me and I've had it over 2 years.

"The world is a better place because of hairspray." - Michael Ball

[Mr Roxy]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#6

Posted: 4/18/09 at 11:08pm

I used to have Virgin but now I basically pay nothing as part of my wife's plan

The good thing about pay as you go is you have no contract with the numerous add on fees.

Poster Emeritus

[Radiana]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#7

Posted: 4/19/09 at 3:27am

I swear by Virgin Mobile. I ordered a very simple phone and basically got it for free, I paid $20.00 which went to minutes. I pay 18 cents a minute. I use it only for simple communication, I might once in a blue moon have a short conversation if I'm away from home only to burn a few minutes. Every three months my credit card is charged $15.00. I think it's gone up to $20.00 for new people. My husband has a fancier model with some games on it but I think his might have cost $30.00. He left his phone on the light rail the other day and called Virgin Mobile as soon as we got home. They are sending a new phone for a $7.00 shipping fee. It's not a bad company to deal with.

I may not know a lot about theater but I know that I love it.

[thetinymagic2]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#8

Posted: 4/19/09 at 2:31pm

Have had a TRACFONE 376g for about a yr. LOVE it, but it's NOT for people who talk a lot. If you just want a cellphone for emergencies, etc., it's a fantastic deal, what with the current "double minutes for life", addt'l promos all the time (find them on google, etc.). For me, it avgs. out to about 7-10.00/month. I buy the lowest amt (card or on the Tracfone site - EASY!), $20.00, for about 90 minutes, automatically get double minutes (180 minutes), then usually get some fantastic promo for another 90 minutes. All this for 20 bucks, and, every time you buy more minutes, your'e activated for an addt'l 3 months! I use avg. 270 minutes every 3-4 months, but I'm not your avg. cell phone user. I still it's it's cheap, though. (It IS true, though, that their customer svce stinks, (but polite). It's situated in S. America and you can hardly hear them. However, I've only had to use it once and all was corrected.
GOOD INFO:
http://pbush14.wordpress.com/2008/07/08/motorola-w376g-tracfone-review-part-1/


Updated On: 4/19/09 at 02:31 PM

[mariusmyhomeboy]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#9

Posted: 4/19/09 at 7:28pm

I second Virgin's pay-as-you-go. Now they have unlimited calling for $50. They also have roll-over options.

Your latest 7in sounds obscene unless you spin it at a 45.

[LaurenB]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#10

Posted: 4/19/09 at 9:24pm

Thanks for all the feedback. I spent hours at the store today picking out a plan. I wish I had done the pay-as-you-go no-contract thing years ago, I could have saved so much money. I rarely use a cell phone, so I've been overpaying for years! I ended up doing the one-year thing, so that I wouldn't have to worry about loading up minutes every 30 or 90 days, LOL, especially since I might have the darn thing turned off for weeks at a time.

[pushdabutton]

re: Anyone have a no contract cell phone?#11

Posted: 4/19/09 at 9:29pm

I also have Virgin Mobile. Just like Radiana, I pay $15 every 3 months and any calls you make at 18 cents a minute is deducted from that. Perfect for what I need it for which is for emergency only.