Pay as you go phones

[Bugaboo]

Does anyone have this kind of service and if so is it really a big savings? I have a fancy shmancy Motorola GMS flip phone that costs me like $40 a month and I rarely use it since I don't work anymore. However, I don't want to lose my phone completely but I feel like I'm fluttering away money. I don't have a contract anymore so I'm free to go anytime I want. The pay-as-you go programs are confusing to me and I just want to get the best deal out there. I know I'll probably have to give up my Motorola but that's o.k. I'll keep it for when I start using a cell phone a lot again. So, any advice or info would be great. Thanks!

[Perry]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Can't help with the pay as you go question but who was your provider? I may be in the market for a phone.

[womanpraised]

Re: Pay as you go phones

I used a pay card phone, and it was great to have in the car, or if I forgot what I went to the store for... when I started using it like a cell phone, you can dump 20 bucks in it every week, because the minutes ARE very expensive. I had AT&T, and they arent about anymore, but the minutes were only good for so long, at the end of a month, if I had 20 minutes left, I needed to add more time (a ten dollar card or so), or I would "lose" those minutes... also if you bought a 10.00 card, the minutes expired quicker than a 100.00 card, and the hundred dollar card minutes were cheaper. Do you have Cricket in your area? Unlimited local for 20.00 a month is pretty good...

[Bugaboo]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Perry, my carrier is Cingular now because of the AT&T thing. The phone was given to me by the shop manager I used to work with because he bought a brand new BMW last year and the Motorola wasn't Bluetooth compatable. He and I were pretty good friends. I had an Ericcson (sp?) phone and he used to tease me about it so when he got the Beemer he gave me his fancy schmancy Motorola. It's not as fancy as the new ones but it's internet compatable, gets great reception and the battery lasts forever. I hate to give it up but I'm wasting money with the plan I'm on. Maybe I'll call Cingular and try haggling with them. Might be a waste of time but it's probably worth a shot. I'm a long time customer so who knows.

Wp, I'll look into Cricket. That might be the best I can do. Cingular has a pay as you go but I don't really want to have to buy another phone.

Is there such a thing as calling cards for cell phones that don't expire in a month? I'll have to do some searching on that.

[womanpraised]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Each phone co is different. Cingular has to GO plan, used to be AT&T, and that is what My deh is on... he uses it all the time, so the rates cant be too bad

[Perry]

Re: Pay as you go phones

I'm on Cingular too. My daughter just broke her Ericson so I'm looking for a replacement. Keep me in mind if you can't salvage it.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Will do Perry. I have an ancient Ericson if you want it! The screen is yellow and the charger is all weird. The wire has to be adjusted juuuuust right. If I end up with a worthless Motorola as well I'll let ya know!

eta~this is the Motorola I have... http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/pro.../0,,16,00.html

Picture of it:

[psigna]

Re: Pay as you go phones

We are cell phone poor at our house. Me, my husband, and two daughters. I am ashamed, one is only 10 years old!!! But really, she only texts on it, but she can call. We were not using all of our shared minutes anyway, and Cellular South does not have roll-over.

My oldest daughter needs a new phone, She dropped hers in water, so they won't replace it. It is a Nokia 6015, so if anyone has a spare Cellular South Nokia 6015.........

My bill runs around 120 per month.

[psigna]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Oh well, daughter lost her phone today!!! No great deal for the person that "found" it. It was almost dead.

[theredhead]

Re: Pay as you go phones

My mother-in-law needed a phone, but she only uses about 10 minutes a month. Monthly fees were ridiculous given her usage pattern. I just bought her a GO phone from Cingular. I paid $70 for the simple phone, but you can buy fancier ones if you want. The GO service is just 10 cents a minute, no roaming, and nationwide long distance, and only a dollar EACH DAY that you use it. In other words, there's no activation fee, no contract, no monthly fee. You literally only pay WHEN you use it. I bought a $20 phone card for it from WalMart. It expires in 2 months, I think. It's a lot cheaper than having her on our plan the way we have things set up right now. Good luck. Hope you find something acceptable.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Pay as you go phones

Good to know! Thanks! I like only paying on the days that I use it. That would be cool. I saw other plans that charge .99 a day. That's silly because that's about what I spend now! Lol! I really should call Cingular.

[Terry]

Re: Pay as you go phones

I have a trac phone and as long as I recharge it with a new card every 2 months Im all set. Any leftover minutes are run over. No contracts, plans or etc..... DH and I each got one as soon as the kids were old enough for us to leave them alone and wanted to be sure they could reach us. We have purchased one for each child also now that they are driving so we can reach them when we want em (much to their dismay sometimes!) The kids are responsible for keeping them full of minutes so they dont use em to chat either.

These phones are for neccessary calls only.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Pay as you go phones

I was interested in those trac phones because you can get one for like 20 bucks. I suppose a 20 dollar card every two months would be better than 40 bucks a month for a phone I rarely use. When you say any left over minutes are run over does that mean you don't lose them as long as you buy a new card every 2 months?