Cheapest way to get a phone number?

[slackerinabox]

I need a line seperate from my parent's line to use on my resume and business card - what's the cheapest way to get a line that just accepts incoming calls? The telco wants something like $12 plus tax a month... Is there anything cheaper? I would never make outgoing calls but voicemail would be nice- is there a cellphone service out there that's cheaper? Thanks!

 

[RossMAN]

I believe packet8.net VOIP is $14.99 for unlimited local calls.

Or you could sign up for pre-paid Verizon cell, only pay for what you use.

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I believe packet8.net VOIP is $14.99 for unlimited local calls.

Or you could sign up for pre-paid Verizon cell, only pay for what you use.

Both methods have high start up costs, right ($$ for the cisco router or $$ for a new cell phone)... Hmmm.. Thanks though, I'll lookin into packet8 a bit or see if I can get a hotdeal on a prepaid phone.

 

[Jumpem]

$12 a month is too much?

 

[SpazzyChicken]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
$12 a month is too much?

Yeah, really. G/L finding something cheaper than that!

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
$12 a month is too much?

Well, it'll come out to more after taxes, fcc charges, line charges, etc. are added, even without voicemail... I'm not cheap - I'm just a little broke... $15 flat would be great and in my budget..

 

[iamwiz82]

work 3 hours a month at a McDonalds.

 

[notfred]

I was ready to come into this thread and say "Dude, jsut ask her, you don't BUY girls' numbers"... I see the thread was no so pathetic

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
work 3 hours a month at a McDonalds.

Sheesh, you guys like to judge... I'm unemployed and have other expenses (food, car, insurance, etc. etc. etc.)... I'm not at the point where I need to sell my car but I am at the point where I can't justify paying more than $15 for a phone line... Is that really so terrible?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
work 3 hours a month at a McDonalds.

Sheesh, you guys like to judge... I'm unemployed and have other expenses (food, car, insurance, etc. etc. etc.)... I'm not at the point where I need to sell my car but I am at the point where I can't justify paying more than $15 for a phone line... Is that really so terrible?

yes. What happens if your car insurance goes up $20 a month next renewal? It scares me that people live on the brink of disaster. :Q

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
work 3 hours a month at a McDonalds.

Sheesh, you guys like to judge... I'm unemployed and have other expenses (food, car, insurance, etc. etc. etc.)... I'm not at the point where I need to sell my car but I am at the point where I can't justify paying more than $15 for a phone line... Is that really so terrible?

yes. What happens if your car insurance goes up $20 a month next renewal? It scares me that people live on the brink of disaster. :Q

I didn't lay out all of my finances for you, I just asked a simple question! I can comfortably afford $15, with room for emergencies.. $20 a month won't screw me over, $200 will- that's why I need a job! And, yeah, my parents have a tendency to erase important voice mail so, yes, I think it's warranted to get another line/phone...

 

[Yossarian]

so get a job...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: freedomsbeat212

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
work 3 hours a month at a McDonalds.

Sheesh, you guys like to judge... I'm unemployed and have other expenses (food, car, insurance, etc. etc. etc.)... I'm not at the point where I need to sell my car but I am at the point where I can't justify paying more than $15 for a phone line... Is that really so terrible?

yes. What happens if your car insurance goes up $20 a month next renewal? It scares me that people live on the brink of disaster. :Q

I didn't lay out all of my finances for you, I just asked a simple question! I can comfortably afford $15, with room for emergencies.. $20 a month won't screw me over, $200 will- that's why I need a job! And, yeah, my parents have a tendency to erase important voice mail so, yes, I think it's warranted to get another line/phone...

... but $12 will

 

[Yax]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
I believe packet8.net VOIP is $14.99 for unlimited local calls.

Or you could sign up for pre-paid Verizon cell, only pay for what you use.

I like the packet8 idea, but are the calls flaky? And how's their customer service?

 

[Quixfire]

Ask her for the number when you first meet her and you won't have to call information.

 

[JEDI]

i have my land-line service with starpower. $10 for unlimited incoming calls, 50 local outgoing calls, 7cents per call afterwards

after taxes and surcharges, it's $22/month

 

[Ness]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
so get a job...

No doubt. There's no shame in getting a temporary job in fast food or a department store.

I mean, what is so important that you don't have time to work when you are already in bad shape?

 

[DrVos]

if you are are an independant, you may be able to qualify for low income rates. SBC charges $5 a month for low income students. Though living in your parent's home may disqualify you.

 

[RossMAN]

Here's a possible solution which is within your budget.

I have a voicemail only phone number with American Voice Mail which does service the New York market.

I pay $9.95 + $0.33 CA tax = $10.28 per month for my very own unique 503 phone number. People call it, hear a recording, they can leave a voicemail message. After a voicemail message is left, AVM pages my cell phone notifying me that I have a new message.

That's dirt cheap, offers INBOUND VOICEMAIL messaging and doesn't have a sh!tload of hidden taxes, fees, surcharges like a landline or cell phone would.

Call American Voice Mail at 1-800-347-2861

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Here's a possible solution which is within your budget.

I have a voicemail only phone number with American Voice Mail which does service the New York market.

I pay $9.95 + $0.33 CA tax = $10.28 per month for my very own unique 503 phone number. People call it, hear a recording, they can leave a voicemail message. After a voicemail message is left, AVM pages my cell phone notifying me that I have a new message.

That's dirt cheap, offers INBOUND VOICEMAIL messaging and doesn't have a sh!tload of hidden taxes, fees, surcharges like a landline or cell phone would.

Call American Voice Mail at 1-800-347-2861

i wish they have someone for low usage outgoing calls w/o all those stupid fees.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: JEDI
i have my land-line service with starpower. $10 for unlimited incoming calls, 50 local outgoing calls, 7cents per call afterwards

after taxes and surcharges, it's $22/month

I get unlimited incoming and 60 local outgoing per month w/ verizon for $3 per month

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: phreakah

Originally posted by: JEDI
i have my land-line service with starpower. $10 for unlimited incoming calls, 50 local outgoing calls, 7cents per call afterwards

after taxes and surcharges, it's $22/month

I get unlimited incoming and 60 local outgoing per month w/ verizon for $3 per month

and i guess u work for them, or something along those lines where the general public cant get it, right?

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: JEDI
i have my land-line service with starpower. $10 for unlimited incoming calls, 50 local outgoing calls, 7cents per call afterwards

after taxes and surcharges, it's $22/month

Wow. I have unlimited local service through the incumbent local provider for $14.xx +++, or $22.50 total per month. Sounds like a rip-off in surcharges (and possibly local taxes) to me. (My cell phone plan doubles as my home long-distance plan, since I don't use LD very much.)

I'd just piggy-back an extra line on my parents' home phone bill and get a $15 answering machine if I was in freedomsbeat's situation. (Pay the 'rents directly for the difference on their bill.) That way, there won't be two sets of taxes (legit) and surcharges (rip-off) being paid by the same household.

The best other option I can see is to buy the cheapest pre-paid cell phone you can find, but with the high per-minute cost and minutes that tend to exipre if you don't refill the bucket'o'minutes every 30-90 days (poof! gone forever if you don't buy more on the magic expiration date), that will get pretty expensive over time.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: phreakah

Originally posted by: JEDI
i have my land-line service with starpower. $10 for unlimited incoming calls, 50 local outgoing calls, 7cents per call afterwards

after taxes and surcharges, it's $22/month

I get unlimited incoming and 60 local outgoing per month w/ verizon for $3 per month

and i guess u work for them, or something along those lines where the general public cant get it, right?

nah, i just called and told them i dont make more than 1800/mo and they said i qualify for low income service... i'm a college student

 

[PowerMac4Ever]

I suggest you get the cheapest phone plan possible because no one will call you about your movies that suck.