Handhelds Some Cellphone/TracFone Questions

[Joe]

My regular cell phone has been acting strange (more details below). So I thought I should pick up a second inexpensive phone as a backup. There is a Target nearby, and the employee in electronics recommended a TracFone as a really inexpensive, prepaid phone for voice calling. So I bought it.

Has anyone on VV used a TracFone? I started looking at reviews after buying the phone, and many of the reviews were very negative of the company and their customer service.

I can return the phone to the store for a refund during the next 30 days. I have not activated it yet.

Would anyone care to recommend another brand or make of prepaid cellphone? I am looking for something really simple and inexpensive--no internet, no camera, no extras.

Details on my main cellphone: Several days ago the keypad seemed to be malfunctioning. For example, I'd press 0 but *0# would be entered. The 2 key would enter 2 and three other numerals. Also, there is a button to access the Menu, but it would either do nothing or do the wrong thing.

I had left the phone in the shirt pocket of a shirt that was in my downstairs basement, which is quite damp, so possibly some moisture got into the phone. I took it upstairs and waited a couple days and it seems to have gone back to normal for the most part. The Menu button is still problematic.

 

[ledboots]

We had a tracfone a few years ago, and it was horrible. The only thing worse than the phone was the unreachable customer service. I would return it.

We had a Virgin Mobile month by month phone, and that was a good experience. Phone and service top notch. I think they sold their cellphone company since then, though? It was several years ago we had a virgin mobile.

I have heard good things about Cricket lately as a low priced provider, but have no direct experience.

 

[Amy SF]

Joe, who is your cellphone carrier? Are you in a contract? Are you due for an upgrade? I know at Verizon they have some decent basic flip phones. Last decent one I had was LG. That one physically fell apart only because I kept dropping it and I didn't have it in a protective case, but it worked great for years. OTOH, the Samsung I replaced it with went bad quickly.

I'm wondering if maybe it's time to upgrade your main phone.

 

[Joe]

Joe, who is your cellphone carrier?

Virgin Mobil (Sprint)

Are you in a contract?

No. I think they call it a prepaid plan (payLo), although that term confuses me. Basically, $20/month for 400 minutes, no internet, no frills. Don't want frills.

Are you due for an upgrade?

No.

I know at Verizon they have some decent basic flip phones. Last decent one I had was LG. That one physically fell apart only because I kept dropping it and I didn't have it in a protective case, but it worked great for years. OTOH, the Samsung I replaced it with went bad quickly.

I'm wondering if maybe it's time to upgrade your main phone.

Well, the phone seems to have returned to "normal." I think it might have just gotten damp somehow.

 

[Joe]

We had a tracfone a few years ago, and it was horrible. The only thing worse than the phone was the unreachable customer service. I would return it.

I've read some reviews that say the phone is ok, but customer service is horrible. Thanks for your input.

We had a Virgin Mobile month by month phone, and that was a good experience. Phone and service top notch. I think they sold their cellphone company since then, though? It was several years ago we had a virgin mobile.

I have heard good things about Cricket lately as a low priced provider, but have no direct experience.

I have Virgin Mobile. Like the service, but have had a bit of trouble with the actual phone lately.

 

[shyvas]

I've read some reviews that say the phone is ok, but customer service is horrible. Thanks for your input.



I have Virgin Mobile. Like the service, but have had a bit of trouble with the actual phone lately.

I'm also with Virgin mobile and I pay 2.99 € per month for 2 hours plus illumines sms.

 

[Joe]

I'm also with Virgin mobile and I pay 2.99 € per month for 2 hours plus illumines sms.

I'm sorry, but I have no idea what that phrase means.

 

[Joe]

I think they sold their cellphone company since then, though? It was several years ago we had a virgin mobile.

AFAIK, Virgin Mobile is some sort of subsidiary of Sprint. I've heard nothing about any sale or change of ownership.

 

[shyvas]

I'm sorry, but I have no idea what that phrase means.

Illimited.

 

[Chryssie]

I have used Tracfone in the past and I would agree it was not very good. However, I am now on Straight Talk which is Walmart's cell service but it is really Tracfone. I know this because when I turn on my phone it says Tracfone. This service has been fine though I have not had to deal with customer service as it has worked just fine for over a year now. I have also used Virgin Mobile years ago and it seemed ok at the time.

 

[Joe]

Well, maybe I'm stupid, but I activated the TracFone and have decided to try it out. Activation took about two hours, that is, there was a two hour delay after I entered the info on the website and the time the phone itself was activated. The phone itself cost $9.99; "airtime card" cost $19.99 for 60 minutes (33.3 cents per minute), but TracFone added some free minutes and "service days," so I have 140 minutes(14.3 cents per minute).