Cell phone service only for emergencies? (Tracfone)

[+mikedx]

Hi!

 

Mom wants me to get a cell phone in case of emergency. Since I don't have one and never intend on using it (except for emergency), I've been looking for a prepaid plan with no monthly fees. The best I've found is:

 

http://www.tracfone-orders.com/tr/phonelist.jsp?tech=CO

which is a tracfone with 100 minutes that are good for a year.

 

What I like about this plan is that there are:

1. No hidden fees

2. The minutes are good for a year (only have to renew once/year)

3. The phone comes with the package.

4. It's the cheapest method I've found at $95/year.

 

Now with the criteria that you NEVER will use it except for emergency:

 

Does anyone know of a cheaper plan?

 

Has anyone used this service and like it/dislike it?

 

The only problem I have with their claim that they have 99% nationwide coverage is wondering where that 1% isn't.

 

Thanks for your time,

GPS Grasshopper

[+Nat]

I used a Tracphone for 6 months in an area where AT&T is a major provider. The Tracphone worked in almost all the areas AT&T was available. The audio quality is not quite as good as a "real" wireless phone, but overall I would recommend it for an emergency only phone Nat

[+Nat]

I used a Tracphone for 6 months in an area where AT&T is a major provider. The Tracphone worked in almost all the areas AT&T was available. The audio quality is not quite as good as a "real" wireless phone, but overall I would recommend it for an emergency only phone Nat

[+AmericanSpirit]

you may want to check this posting out

http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3810966883&m=8600947874

It seems a disconnected cell phone can still dial 911. Around here the goodwill stores seem to have a pleantiful supply of used phones.

[+GeoSharks]

I bought a Tracfone for my kids. Both are teens.

They only use it to call home to check in

or when they need a ride.

 

I like that there is no contract, the phone

was very cheap when I bought it on sale and

got a rebate. Best of all, I don't worry

if they loose it and the finder tries to run

up a phone bill.

 

"Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes."

[+Ttepee]

I've had a tracfone since Christmas and it's really all I need. My boyfriend has a cell phone plan so we do most our long distance stuff on his phone. Mine is really just for emergencies... or the occasional call I need to make while on the road. I got it specifically for geocaching otherwise I don't think I'd have bothered. It cost 39.99 with a 20.00 rebate and came with 1 hour talk time. Since then I've spent $25 on time. It wouldn't pay for me to have a plan... I'm not a big phone talker to start with. I find coverage to be pretty good, though voice quality is not the greatest it gets the message across.

[+Renegade Knight]

This may seem off topic but it's not.

 

When I disconnected my service on one phone with Verizon to move it to a new phone, my old phone still worked. So I called Verizon to make sure my new phone was the one working. They said "try to call useing the old phone" so I did. It asked me for my credit card number in order to complete the call. So what that tells me is this. 1) If you have an old Verizon phone and a credit card you have emergency coverage. If they charge you a buck a minute for the time, it will cost you less than a pre packaged gee my time expired and I need to renew it again phone.

 

The same trick may work with other companies. For the best emergency coverage you will want a Tri-Mode phone. Buy them used on eBay or Yahoo auctions. Toss it in your glove box without activating the service and keep a car adapter handy. Then forget about it.

 

Call verizon or whoever first to see how much they will charge and verify you can actully do what I said (I wasn't about to give them my credit card number!).

[+Byron & Anne]

Any cell phone will do for emergencies. If it is a working phone the FCC requires that you can still call 911. I have one that has been disconnected, i.e. no service. I can still call AT&T or 911 with it. I can't call my friends and it won't accept calls. Now if you need to call AAA or such it won't work for that.

 

Byron

[+sbell111]

Mikedx's mom's definition might be, 'Call home in an emergency.'

 

My advise is that if this is the definition that you are going by and you can stick to the 'emergencies-only'rule, go with the plan you've found.

 

If you think that you might use the phone for non-emergency calls, go with an cheap plan like Cricket.

 

Personally, I use my cel more than my regular phone, so I have thousands of free any-time minutes and free long distance and roaming.