can I get a WIRELESS plan for less than$15/mo in the US?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

dpopiz

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
4,454
0
0
Right now I use tmob prepaid, but I really would like to be able to use more minutes. As it is, I only can use about 20mins a month for it to be cost effective. Are there any US providers (local only is ok - I'm in norcal) that can give me a plan for less than $15 a month with a decent amount of minutes like maybe 60 or so?

Actually, I don't know if any of them do this, but it would help me a ton if I had a provider that didn't round up minutes. Because I tend to make lots and lots of short calls, so the rounded minutes really add up.


Any suggestions?
 
L

Lord Evermore

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
9,558
0
76
The cheapest wireless plans start at like 24.95 minimum, and you get hardly anything with that. I've only seen that once I think. They know that most people are hardly going to use all their minutes anyway, and most everyone would go for such cheap plans. They can't make as much of a profit at the lower price points though, even if they give you almost no minutes, because their costs for the actual service providing don't change with different plans.

US Cellular has a plan for 25 bucks with 125 minutes. But you get no night/weekend minutes, and no voicemail. That's also for a local plan, which has really f'ed up coverage. For example the Weed, CA local area covers way over into parts of Idaho, Oregon, Washington and even Wyoming, but in California it covers only a horseshoe shaped area of the northern region, along the edges of the border. The rest of California is the "expanded local" area, covered by the regional plan. The regional plans start at 35 bucks. They do provide long distance free, but if you call outside the local area while on a local plan, you'll be roaming.

Most other providers who have local plans have similar ways to screw you over.
 
I

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
I remember in 2000 when I got my first cellular phone they had a plan that was $4.95 a month and that would just keep the phone active. Any calls you made would require a calling card or to dial a 1-800 number. Might want to see if anyone has a plan like that still.
 
EagleKeeper

EagleKeeper

Discussion Club Moderator<br>Elite Member
Staff member
Oct 30, 2000
42,589
5
0
Any wireless plan will also have between 8-15$ of fees tacked on to it.
 
N

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
virgin mobile prepaid... minimum cost is $6.66/month (a minimum payment of $20 every 3 months is required to keep the service active).
 
B

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
You can get 60 mins from tmobile for $20, but thats not including the 5-12 in fees...you cant get away from the fees.
 
D

DAWeinG

Platinum Member
Aug 2, 2001
2,839
1
0
I just signed up for a plan that would reduce the net monthly cost to $12.99 per month for T-mobile. There's this socal based store (They have about 6 stores in socal) and they're offering 1000 nationwide long distance, free mobile to mobile, free nights/weekends. You sign up for T-mobile's $39.99 plan and after 6-7 months the store (not T-mobile) gives you a check for $324. After you receive the check, your monthly costs for 12 months reduces to $12.99 per month. It sounds shady because you have to wait 6 months (but I've seen this with other small companies) but I've been with them for a year already and I'm signing another new contract with them.

They also have a family plan for this type of deal for two phones. 900 minutes with the same features as above but your monthly bill is $70 per month. After you receive the $600 rebate, your plan reduces to $20 per month with each line being $10 per month. This contract requires an existing phone compatible with T-mobile (They can unlock your GSM phone for free). You can't get a free phone unless you want to sacrifice part of your rebate money which isn't worth it and of course your monthly fees will not be as low as $12.99 or $20 per month.

The company is an asian run company based in socal. If you're interested, you should probably check out some asian cell phone businesses. They advertised this deal in the Chinese newspapers. Of course there's always a risk of them going belly up and you losing your rebate money but I've been with them a year so I'll take the risk. And anyways, my cell phone bill is usually way over $40 per month because I always go over. *shrug*
 
D

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
If you had some friends who wanted to get on a plan also, you might be able to share a decent amount of minutes and end up paying $15-$20/mo. That is about as good as you can do, if that.

edit: I believe I pay $20 - $25/mo for 300 minutes, unlimited nights/weekends/mobile calls, basic features since I am on a plan with 3 of my friends. And that is with schiesty-ass Alltel.
 
M

MisterCornell

Banned
Dec 30, 2004
1,095
0
0
Voicestream used to have $20 a month.

I pay $30 with Sprint PCS. It's a "hidden" plan that they don't advertise, but offer you if you ask them for it after signing up for the $35 plan.
 
S

sniperruff

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
11,644
2
0
get the $30 plan from tmobile and get a nice phone from chinatown (say... one of those newer nokia or samsungs). they have a $100 rebate, some sort of service credit, then you can sell the phone. that would make it below $20 a month.
 
B

brtspears2

Diamond Member
Nov 16, 2000
8,659
1
81
Asian Cell phone store in the greater LA area. Bring your own unlocked GSM phone. If they make you pay for the sim card, just say no and they will give it to you for free most of the time. (If not get up and find another store, like Cyber Cellular on Valley/Garfield next to the Shell Station). You will get some insane $300-350 rebate for signing for a $40 plan. You can also open more lines, but I think the rebate on each additional line is only $150. One year contract only too.

So with $300 of rebates at a 39.99 plan, which after taxes is about $45.
45x12 = 540
540-300 = 240 = about $12 a month
Add one time activation fee, $20 - $30 , something around there depending on who you pick. Cingular will have the cheapest activation.

Some stores might not speak good English, be careful.
 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom