Any such thing as a pre-paid phone with minutes that do not

[yy4me]

expire? I do not need a cell phone and really do not have extra funds to buy one and contract with another monthly bill. Just to keep for emergencies, I would buy a phone such as Trac-phone but I do not want to have to use X number of minutes or loose them and be required to buy more. Does any company offer one that you can but with an additional number of minutes to be used until you need to get more? My Social Security goes just so far and it is tight as it is, If I can't find one, I will have to do without. Any ideas?

[RebelOne]

1. I used to have a TracPhone, but switched to Cingular.

They give you a longer period of time to use your minutes. I bought $100 in November and I have until April to buy more.

[acmavm]

3. How's that plan work? Do you commit for a certain period of

time? What does the phone cost?

[RebelOne]

11. No time commitment.

You just buy the phone and then buy minutes. I forget the cost of the phone. I think it was around $50.

[acmavm]

2. I have the same problem. I want one but won't use it unless it's

an emergency. I could disconnect my land line but that would be a problem for a number of reasons.

[elehhhhna]

8. Why? fyi --you can keep your phone number if you switch to a cell.

[greyl]

4. Virgin Mobile.

As long as you Top-Up at least $20 every 3 months(online or using the phone), the service stays on.
I've had one for about 3 years, no complaints.

edit: www.virginmobileusa.com/

[tandot]

5. I have tracfone and my minutes do not expire

I purchased their cheapest phone (Nokia 1100) when they had the deal "buy 60 minutes and get the phone for free"

However, although my minutes do not expire, I have to purchase additional minutes every 3 month or so, or I would lose my phone number. I usually get their 60 units for $19.99 every 3 month.

I only have my phone for emergency calls or for trips.

on edit: I purchase my additional minutes online at www.tracfone.com and have never had a problem. The units are usually added as soon as the purchase goes through.

[Virginian]

6. I got one for my spouse in Sept. Good for a year.

Check the following website.

http://www.tracfone.com

They sometimes have specials. I got a phone, 1 year service and 450 minutes for $99 last September.

My husband hardly ever uses a cell phone. He used to borrow mine for the day when he wanted to make a personal call during his lunch break at work. He didn't need thousands of minutes, he just needed the service and enough minutes to make a brief call every now and then.
This service seemed the best at the time since we would have had to change my service to a different (more expensive) plan to add him and a phone to it.

On edit:
We can always add more minutes if he runs low. Minutes are sold in $20 increments as mentioned by another poster above.
At the end of the year, we can either look for another $99 special or add minutes which extends service by two months or more depending on the number of minutes added.


Edit 2:
Their words from the Trakfone website:
To keep your TracFone service active, you must purchase and add a TracFone Prepaid Wireless Airtime card every 60 or 365 days depending on the card denomination. Add airtime before your due date and your remaining minutes and service days will carryover and be added to your phone, up to 180 days.

[wakeme2008]

7. T-Mobile

I use a T-Mobile pre-paid cell phone. If you buy the $100/1000 minute option you get one year to use it. Plus a discount on lesser amounts if you buy during the year.

I like it. :)


http://www.t-mobile.com/

[zbdent]

9. Well, not one which does not expire, but

I've found that I can deal with $20 every three months (Boost) ... first get their cheapest phone ... figure annual cost after initial purchase is about $80 a year ... when you re-up with the $20 pre-paid card, your minutes carry over.

I'm sure there are similar phones and plans like that ... that appears to be the very minimum I can find to pay ...

[ironflange]

10. I'm in Canada, we have a pay-as-you-go. . .

. . .that gives you a year's worth for $100. I don't use the phone much, so it was a good deal. However, I swapped phones with ironflange-girl, so she has it now. My new one is pretty good, too, $15 for a month's worth.

[KitchenWitch]

12. Virgin Mobile

You have to add money every 90 days, even if you do not use up the existing money on the account, but you do not lose the money.

[myrna minx]

13. This is the phone/plan that I have too.

You can pick up the "Top Off" cards at Target or add minutes online. I've had my Virgin Mobile since August and so far it has worked out for me. I like that the minutes will "roll over" as well.

[KitchenWitch]

14. I have a cingular phone on a plan for myself

but the Virgin Mobile one works out well for my teenaged son! Did not want a nasty contract for him, since he may only use 10-15 minutes a week.