Pre-paid cell phones.

[Amethyst Hunter]

I would've loved to have seen the look on Valley Girl's face when you gave her that nice big steaming cup of STFU. XD

And MystyGlyttr, I use my cheapie cellphone for much the same purpose as you. I hate telephones in general and always have, so I don't feel the need to go around with one glued to my ear 24/7 (as I'm sure we've all seen some crapstomers do, heh).

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Wow, I had no idea how many people used prepaid phones here. I've never known anyone who had one. Do most of you go and buy a prepaid card to put minutes on it, or do you just place order over phone or web using your debit/credit card?

[Bliss]

I have a decent phone (I'm a gadgetmaniac and i use this phone to it's limit I think), I could use post-paid but still I go prepaid, because this way i can control myself and my ussage, otherwise I'd run hell of bills in the cell and I do not want to, no no. .

Btw for the last question, we cant order minutes over the phone in my country so I normally either buy a card in any news stand on the street, or recharge via an ATM

[Kiwi]

I had a prepaid cell phone for 7 years, not due to bad credit, but to help me learn to budget.

I brought my first phone myself at 15 and in NZ you could buy top up cards that had a scratchie with a code on the back, call an automated system, type in card, and wahlah...phone credit. Infact all of my friends got prepay phones in highschool, so we couldnt rack up massive bills for our parents.

By the time I was 18 I was ready for a plan, but never got around to it...I only got a phone plan when I came to Canada, and I would go back to prepay if I could!!

I barely ever use my phone anyway, its emergancy only pretty much....and costs me $35 a month after all of the extra phone company charges are put on....my prepay in NZ cost me $15-20 a month....and the phone I had was better...stupid telus.

Good on you for letting her have it!!!

[Lehk]

Wow, I had no idea how many people used prepaid phones here. I've never known anyone who had one. Do most of you go and buy a prepaid card to put minutes on it, or do you just place order over phone or web using your debit/credit card?

I like the pricing structure i get with Net10 better than with contract services. there is never any question of how much airtime i have or how much it will cost. also the 3 cent outgoing and free incoming SMS with no possibility of being charged extra for "PREMIUM" SMS (all the advertised programs on TV where you text in a code try to bill you $1) doesn't hurt.

[powerboy]

After reading this post, and realizing it, I am only on my cell phone maybe 30 minutes a week, if not a month. I think after I am able to upgrade, I will check into pre paid again.

[Seanette]

Where I live, all the kids have Boost Mobile (from Nextel)... it costs a $1 a day for unlimited walkie-talkie use. It also seems that the kids have to prove to everyone they actually have a Boost... they turn the phone volume up to maximum, and scream into it. That way, I can lie in bed behind closed windows and still hear both sides of the conversation without having to strain. "Wow, those kids are cool," I'm apparently supposed to think. "They obviously have Boost."

I *hate hate hate* those things!!!!! It's bad enough hearing one side of the conversation, I do NOT want to hear *both*!!!! [mumble grumble curse]

[Seanette]

Wow, I had no idea how many people used prepaid phones here. I've never known anyone who had one. Do most of you go and buy a prepaid card to put minutes on it, or do you just place order over phone or web using your debit/credit card?

With mine, you can use either option or even add time directly from the phone (also requires that you have a card on file with the service provider). I prefer the Web option, DH favors adding time via phone itself.

[Mark Healey]

I know it's not your fault but you work in a business that generates SCs. American mobile phone companies suck. They break features that the manufacturers put in the phones so thay you have to pay them an extra fee to duplicate that feature through their services. They sell time in block sizes so that you have to buy a bunch of time you don't use or pay huge overage fees.

The prepaid schemes aren't any better. You have the huge blocks of time that expires if you don't use it in a given period, and they lack features that are available on regular plans.

No one has a plan where you can get an intact fully featured phone and pay for only the time you use at a constant rate.

I'm sure if the management of the phone companies had to work in a front line position these policies would change.

[4Gifts4Lisa]

Lurker here...but I seriously just spit out my coffee. That is CLASSIC! Very worth the write up, I'm thinkin'...

[powerboy]

I know it's not your fault but you work in a business that generates SCs. American mobile phone companies suck. They break features that the manufacturers put in the phones so thay you have to pay them an extra fee to duplicate that feature through their services. They sell time in block sizes so that you have to buy a bunch of time you don't use or pay huge overage fees.

The prepaid schemes aren't any better. You have the huge blocks of time that expires if you don't use it in a given period, and they lack features that are available on regular plans.

No one has a plan where you can get an intact fully featured phone and pay for only the time you use at a constant rate.

I'm sure if the management of the phone companies had to work in a front line position these policies would change.

I would love to pay just for the minutes that I use, instead of paying for all the ones that I don't

[Phone Jockey]

I love my prepay phone with text msging & pic msging. However, it won't take pics as of today. I have to take it to the local store. I hope I don't get the run-around b/c I'm "simply a prepay customer." :-(

[TNT]

I love my prepay phone with text msging & pic msging.

Speaking of cell phones, is your cable company getting into the wireless business?

[Lehk]

I
The prepaid schemes aren't any better. You have the huge blocks of time that expires if you don't use it in a given period, and they lack features that are available on regular plans.

all the prepaid plans i ever see you get to keep any unused minutes, my current plan even will let you keep minutes if you forget and let your service lapse (like i did last week)

[digilight]

I used to love my prepaid phone (virgin mobile) only have to top off with a minimum of 20 bucks every 90 days. And I would be hard pressed to use that much. After buying the shop though I had to get a real cell. We did get my parents to get prepaids. They use theirs so infrequently that at one point they had around 180-200 bucks on their phones combined. So they got smart and decided to use them for their long distance calls, and mom actually used the hell out of hers when dad was in the hospital.

They can be great for the right people. They would cost a fortune for someone like my wife who keeps her damn phone glued to her ear though.