JTA wrote:Mr B, I'm in the market for a prepaid cell phone. What's the best and how much do minutes cost typically? I may be better off getting a no contract 35 dollar a month plan instead. Can't decide yet.
Tracfone
I use TracFone, usually found at Dollar General, Walmart, and Kmart. DG usually has a better selection; Wally sells their own Straight Talk phones which are really TracFones, and they are monthly-fee type phones.
Look for the TracFones that offer double or triple minutes with their prepaid cards you buy.
This is how it works: You buy the phone; $9.95 and up. You buy a prepaid card from $19.95 t0 $99.95 which gives you 90 days of service and the X-amount of minutes on the card. You have to add minutes every 90 days regardless whether you've used all your minutes or not. Thereafter, minutes can be added directly to your phone without calling them or going online by using the menu in the phone.
They do have monthly contract phones as well; examine the phone package carefully.
I find it best to register my new phone online (
tracfone.com) because then you don't have to give them your name; they only assign you a phone number and they select the carrier dependent on your zip code. All anyone can trace is your number. This is neat in case you are a terrorist or you want to make anonymous bomb threats.
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