How to pay $0/month for an emergency-only cell phone.

[wshtb]

Not really a hot deal but some idea:

If you
1. jumped on the free Nokia 5165 cell phone deal, and
2. using it ONLY as an emergency phone (making no regular calls on it), and
3. paying $6.67/month on average ($10 phone card per 45 days),

then this will give you $0/month (assuming you have no emergencies in most months):

Do not active your new $10 phone card until the moment you need an emergency call.

Certainly it takes a few minutes to activate.....

 

[NetworkDad]

Any cell phone provider must provide free 911 access from any cell phone. If you have a phone, or can find one cheap, you need not even activate anything.

 

[wshtb]

Originally posted by: NccOps
Any cell phone provider must provide free 911 access from any cell phone. If you have a phone, or can find one cheap, you need not even activate anything.

Yes, but just in case you need call your friends instead of 911...

 

[Spac3d]

Originally posted by: wshtbDo not active your new $10 phone card until the moment you need an emergency call.

Certainly it takes a few minutes to activate.....

That is a terrible idea. If it really is an emergency you do not have a few minutes to activate. I don't see your logic. Just pay the $6.67 a month and make a few phone calls. I mean $6 a month is nothing. Anyways how do you get a free phone these days without activiation??

Spac3d

 

[Sensor]

I presume by "emergency" he's referring to a "very important situation in which no lives are at stakes nor any dire circumstances are present". For example, you get a flat while driving from Kentucky to Idaho.

Otherwise, 911 is free. Always. Just keep the battery charged.

 

[beamrider]

Been doing this for a few years now, go to a pawn shop, buy the crappiest phone there, and stick it in the glove box. No activation needed.

 

[vfdfs2]

I guess no one uses those provided call boxes (connects to 911 directly) on major highways and freeways anymore!

 

[Shippy]

Originally posted by: Spac3d
how do you get a free phone these days without activiation??

 

[Optical]

I got a brand new Sprint PCS phone w/o activation by accident sort of. Still not sure how this will pan out, maybe someone can tell me.

I bought a total 2 new phones from Sprint last month. At the time of purchase, I told the CSR I do not wish to activate one of them until my wife's contract is over in July. Surprisingly, she said ok! I did a get a bill for $0.00 from Sprint for the unactivated phone but no one has pressured us to activate this phone since. So, essentially I paid $15 (promotion deal) and walked out w/ a phone w/o activation.

Now how long will this work, i dunno.

 

[Optical]

As for that "No one is using those phone on the highways no more" is simply is not true! I can almost guarantee you have to use one of the those phone if you ever get stuck on the 5 from SJ to LA or any rural freeways. Phone service sucks in general and w/o those phones u will be desperated out in no man's land. You wish they don't take those phone away!

 

[KrayzieKMF]

heh gotta love driving from san jose to la! weeee

 

[XFreebie]

SJ to LA beats going from SJ to SD, by an hour or two...

Independence HS anyone?
and pay the $6 a month, the telecom industry needs it [desparately]

 

[WantMoreDeals]

SJ to LA on I5 with traffic sometimes at 5 miles/hr... nothing to beat that...... I am gonna do it this long weekend.... wonder how long its gonna take this time.....

 

[psianime]

Originally posted by: beamrider
Been doing this for a few years now, go to a pawn shop, buy the crappiest phone there, and stick it in the glove box. No activation needed.

I should look into some pawn shops in my area... they might have some good crap.

 

[Troubadour]

Speaking of pawn shops, remember the CORNFLAKE code... C=1, O=2, R=3, etc. and X is 0. In most pawn shops there's a little code on the item using that code to show what they sunk into the item, so you should be able to get some bargaining room there.

 

[Bonerrrrrrr]

CORNFLAKE CODE..........interesting.......never heard of that before

Exactly how does that work??

 

[TheTechnique]

Originally posted by: WantMoreDeals
SJ to LA on I5 with traffic sometimes at 5 miles/hr... nothing to beat that...... I am gonna do it this long weekend.... wonder how long its gonna take this time.....

I'll be driving from SJ to SLO Friday, meeting some friends coming up from SD to SLO. Next weekend is SJ to LA. Bleh, miles miles miles...

 

[dxpaap]

yes, more on this cornflake code - sounds interesting. although I've never purchased anything at a pawn shop - have see something I'd like to pickup. Although, prices on the sticker never seem to be great deals.

 

[TheBigCheese]

First, Don't rely on an un-activated phone being able to get to 911. You can't test it because it's illegal to call 911 unless it is a real emergency. I read that some cell providers are dragging their feet on complying with the requirement.

Second, it takes quite a while to activate an ATT phone and they claim if you wait more than 45 days there may be an activation charge.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Bonerrrrrrr
CORNFLAKE CODE..........interesting.......never heard of that before

Exactly how does that work??

You might see a row of letters that has no meaning. You can convert those letters to numbers, ala "c=1,o=2,etc" and then guess that that value was the price they paid for the item. Wonder how many places really use that. The few I've ever been in (shopping not pawning) aren't that sophisticated. BTW, in general they have terrible deals on electronics. Not sure about cellphones though.

 

[Rhess3]

Thanks, I found the thread.

 

[AskPriz]

Originally posted by: vfdfs2
I guess no one uses those provided call boxes (connects to 911 directly) on major highways and freeways anymore!

There was actually a thing on NPR about this... I cant' remember if it was the California Report or Marketplace or such...

Overall they are getting so few use with the prevalence of cell phones that they said they're looking to remove 1/3 of them... focus on
damaged/not working ones... possibly move some to really remote locations so at least people aren't out on some lone highway in
the middle of the night totally screwed.

If I recall correctly, they said this would save them between $6-10million by doing this, and with the money saved, they said they would use it to double the number or roving roadside assistance vehicles they have now roaming the major freeways and such.

 

[im2smrt4u]

Originally posted by: Optical
As for that "No one is using those phone on the highways no more" is simply is not true! I can almost guarantee you have to use one of the those phone if you ever get stuck on the 5 from SJ to LA or any rural freeways. Phone service sucks in general and w/o those phones u will be desperated out in no man's land. You wish they don't take those phone away!

Hey! I resemble that remark!!! :|

Actually, I live in the High Desert and drive these roads through "no-mans land" often, and they have plenty of cel coverage. The boxes are great, but what if you are stuck between two of them! It might take a while to get to one!

Any cel phone will always be able to dial 911. See if you can find one at a pawn shop.