Sounds like I might could save a few dollars with prepaid. I typically use my phone for emergencies only, less that 100 minutes per month. Thanks for the info!
I have a Virgin Mobile prepaid that I use very occasionally. I started out with $40 on it and then I have to add at least $20 every 90 days. I've had it since the end of May and I think my balance is around $45 right now. The per minute chagesare't the best, but given how rarely I use it, it works for me.
Pre-paid works really well for me, and the rates I get from T-mobile are a lot better than what was quoted on the Wirefly site. I had to pay $50 to switch over from a monthly plan to prepaid and keep the same phone number, but now I get 1000 minutes which don't expire for a year for $100. (http://search.t-mobile.com/my/ui.jsp?
ui_mode=question&question_box=gold+rewards)
Since I use about 90-100 minutes per month, this is a great deal for me.
I researched this very topic last month after getting fed up with Cingular nickel and diming me on my cell phone plan (the last straw was when they added a $4.99/month to support my three-year old, but still perfectly good, phone - they wanted me to buy a new one). So my $39.99/month plan was costing me up to $60/month with taxes and this new fee, which was just crazy.
So I bought a pay-as-you-go phone from T-Mobile and have to agree with Becca. You can add $100 (plus 8% tax) for 1,000 anytime minutes that are good for one year, although you can add minutes in smaller dollar amounts. Once you've added a total of $100 you become a member of their VIP club that increases your future minutes by 15%. So next time I add minutes I'll add $100 and get 1,150 minutes.
Considering I only use my phone for a few hundred (300? 400?) minutes per month, this was the best deal for me.
My husband has used a Virgin prepaid phone for a couple of years and is also very happy. I don't think it's as good a deal as T-Mobile, but DH just adds $20 here and there for emergency calls and seems happy. Oh, and we both have excellent credit so that wasn't a factor for us.
I found a site www.mobilereup.com that is giving away 10% extra Cingular Go
Phone minutes on any refill. That is pretty good if you purchase $100.00 and instantly receive $110.00. And with Cingular Go phones the minutes will last for 12 months if you add more than $100.
The site doesn't provide a whole lot of information but it works.
The big advantage of prepaid is that there's little hassle and no commitment. By contrast, if you sign up for a traditional plan with a major cellular carrier, you'll likely sign a contract binding you for a year or more. If you break the contract, you'll have to pay a big penalty. Another plus of prepaid plans is that you are in control of everything, your calls and text messaging, its all up to you how to budget everything.
I have a Prepaid Net 10 phone. It came fully equipped with bluetooth, 1.3 megapizels camera, MP3 player, FM radio at a very affordable price of $59.99. In addition,the phone came with 300 free minutes. I'm not much of a talker so this works perfect for me. The cheapest plan I find for a typical cell phone is $30 a month. I'm very happy with my prepaid plan - no contracts, no monthly fees and no paying for minutes I don't use!!!
Commenting by HaloScan
