What is the benefit of prepaid cell?

[alm4rr]

Prepaid advertising sux cuz I have no idea A) what they are trying to sell (besides the plainly obvious) and B) why get it instead of monthly plan?

Any info is appreciated

 

[EyeMWing]

If you only use your phone for emergencies, it's VERY nice, because you're not paying $50 every fvcking month for time you're not using.

If you use your phone frequently, it's a a great way to throw away money.

 

[Gurck]

It's a great gift idea for females, since they won't be able to surprised you with a 4 digit phone bill.

 

[Ciber]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
If you only use your phone for emergencies, it's VERY nice, because you're not paying $50 every fvcking month for time you're not using.

If you use your phone frequently, it's a a great way to throw away money.

Prepaid time usually expires in 30 days or some bs like that, so you'll still be paying every month whether you use the minutes or not.

Prepaid phones are basically for kids or people with bad credit/no credit.

 

[MWink]

I moved from a plan to pre paid because it's cheaper for me. I don't use my phone much so it was a waste to pay $35 ($30 plan + taxes) a month for a plan that I barely used. Now with pre paid I pay as little as $25 every 3 months (no hidden taxes, etc.). BTW both are/were with Cingular.

 

[alm4rr]

I am looking at Tmobile's page:
http://www.t-mobile.com/prepaid/rates.asp

and for $100 is 1000 mins and expire in a year (365 days) and the cheapest phone is $40
$140 / 12 = @$12 + taxes per month for 1060 minutes over the course of a year
$140 / 1060 = 13 cents per minute (+ taxes)
1060 mins / 52 weeks = 20 mins of phone time per week

 

[CrispyFried]

Its cheaper for me, I only use mine for emergencies, the rare quick call or if someone needs to get me urgently. So $10 a month is cheaper than any other plan Ive seen.

 

[jadinolf]

Good information but it doesn't seem to work where I live. 🙁

 

[cressida]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
If you only use your phone for emergencies, it's VERY nice, because you're not paying $50 every fvcking month for time you're not using.

If you use your phone frequently, it's a a great way to throw away money.

Rgr that.

 

[Cawchy87]

My time accumilates each month, and it is automaticly billed to my credit card. In the first year I will save over 200 dollars and that is with buying a 200 dollar phone. My savings each year after that will be ~400 dollars.

And I get caller ID, color flip phone, and voice mail.

I use my cellphone ~ once every 2 days. More often now that it's summer.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Ciber

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
If you only use your phone for emergencies, it's VERY nice, because you're not paying $50 every fvcking month for time you're not using.

If you use your phone frequently, it's a a great way to throw away money.

Prepaid time usually expires in 30 days or some bs like that, so you'll still be paying every month whether you use the minutes or not.

Prepaid phones are basically for kids or people with bad credit/no credit.

Usually expires in 30 days? Even the damn phones you buy at Walmart are on a 52wk cycle.

 

[shot]

he means the time on the phone to make calls. Usually its 60 dyas but that will vary with the plan and how much time you buy. I have a prepaid because I hate a 2 year contract. costs me about 20 a month.

 

[mugs]

I think drug dealers use them because they aren't tied to any identifying information and they're basically disposable.

 

[KK]

I use a cingular prepaid phone and pay 20 clams every 3 months. If you buy the $10 card, that expires in just 30 days. Anything over $20 is good for 90 days. If you don't use all money in 90 days then the balance carries over if you purchase more time before the 90 days is up. I got ~$9 left and my 90 days is up June 15. I'd like to convince the wife to go prepaid instead of a monthly plan.

 

[RossMAN]

There are 3 reasons that I can think of:

• 1) If you have TERRIBLE credit and cell phone providers require a $300 - $500 deposit.
• 2) Infrequent use or emergencies only. Instead of spending $45/mo for the popular plans you can spend about $5/mo.
• 3) If you're in the narcotics business. Any other "The Wire" fans here?