Prepaid cell phones: Personal experiences?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I'm about to come to the end of my contract with Verizon, and for two years, I've been on their cheapest plan, paying for WAY MORE minutes than I have EVER used, so I'm looking at some of the pay-as-you-go plans. Forget Verizon's--it has a 99 cent per day "access charge," whether you use the phone that day or not, which makes it nearly as expensive as the regular plan.

So I'm looking at Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile, and Tracfone, but I'm moving Tracfone way down the list, because I've seen online complaints about lousy customer service and phones that don't work.

Do any DUers have personal experience with either Virgin Mobile or T-Mobile pay-as-you-go plans, the kind where you simply have to buy a "refill" card at your friendly local convenience store every month or six weeks to keep the line active? (Truly, some months I use only 30 minutes. I'm not a major phone talker.)

Praises, complaints, and other anecdotes are welcome.

[supernova]

1. I'm looking at Virgin Mobile

because I want a pay as you go phone too. Virgin has wide access and you can top off through their website.

I don't know anything about T Mobile. I'd be interested in hearing about them too.

[KitchenWitch]

2. I have a Virgin Mobile one for my son.

I have been very pleased with the service. In fact, I am considering upgrading the phone on it, as it works well for him (he is 15).

You can either buy cards for it, or add minutes using a credit/debit card either online or via the phone itself.

[bunkerbuster1]

3. kicking because I'm shopping for such a phone myself--T-mobile?

I'm on a cheap Cingular plan, but I hardly ever use even the minutes I'm allotted, either. I think the T-mobil deal looks the best for me.

Can anyone confirm that they're an ok company to deal with?

[supernova]

4. They seem OK

those they seem to have more expensive phone options than Virgin, if that's important to you.

http://www.t-mobile.com/promos/prepaidphones.asp?WT.mc_n=PayasUgo_index&WT.mc_t=OnsiteAd

edit: Here's the Virgin site by way of comparison

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/

[bunkerbuster1]

7. thanks. I think for a basic phone and 1000 minutes

it's hard to beat T-mobile's $150 package.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. But I'm looking at prepaid--unless you're talking about

a prepaid package that starts you out with 1000 minutes (which would take me about 5 years to use up) :-)

[bunkerbuster1]

11. Oh, you don't have to buy that much

T mobile has smaller plans, I just figured I'd shell out $150 now and be done with it.

My dirt-cheap Cingular plan still runs me about $27/month after monthly fees/taxes are counted, so if I can make those 1000 minutes last more than 5½ months (and I'm sure I will) then I'll be ahead of the game.

[Floogeldy]

5. I use T-Mobile pre-paid.

I refuse to sign a contract with any phone company.

I've had no problems with them. You can buy minutes online now, too. You will want to look at their coverage map, because I don't think they work out in the sticks, if you are ever there. The minutes get cheaper the more you buy at a time, and you can get bonus minutes.

[supernova]

9. I see they have a store near me

I guess that means they cover my area, tho' I'm kinda out in the boonies.

[Floogeldy]

13. It seems . . .

Their coverage map includes major metro areas and major highways in between. If you get too far away from a big town and then exit the highway . . . could be problems.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. I'm kind of leaning toward T-Mobile, because they make it easier to

roam internationally, and Virgin Mobile seems to be geared for teenagers, with all the MTV content and other stuff that I'd never use. :shrug:

[DS1]

8. My tracphone is great, and its reception is excellent even with the

antenna snapped off

[hunter]

12. My Virgin Mobile phone is great.

I don't use it much, I mostly have it around in case I'm out and my wife or kids need to call me, so it ends up costing me less than $7.00 a month. (You have to spend at least $20 every 90 days to keep the phone active.)

The range and quality of service is not quite as good as my wife's regular cell phone, but it works most places I usually go.

[Fox Mulder]

14. I have a tracfone.

It works well. I have it programmed for St. Cloud, MN and I used it when I was in Eliot Lake in Canada last September.

No complaints...plus it's great if you don't talk on the cell phone unless you need to.

[Science Of Myth]

15. tracfone = $$$$

I don't own one but this girl I'm friends with does and she's ALWAYS hitting me up for a $20 reload on the damn thing

I think it might be bc she texts alot though

[brook]

16. 5 years w/Tracfone here.

I've traveled from here (the boonies) to NYC, Philadelphia, SF and it's always worked like a gem. It's a no frills Nokia. I pick up 'refills' @ the gas station and load it over the net.

It's primarily for me to use, so few people have the #. That keeps costs to a minimum.