Prepaid cell plans

[rmtvbrooks]

I need some input. I'm sick to death of paying Verizon Wireless the obscene amount of money I'm paying them every month. It seems like every time I turn around, there's a new "fee" or charge. Even with a discount, I'm paying about $170 for 3 phones. Even the early termination fees would pay for themselves in about six months.

So, I've been investigating prepaid plans. Here's what I need:

A good phone for me with plenty of minutes for long distance calls (no LD on my landline) and plenty of allowance for texts

A good phone for DD with LOTS of allowance for texts (she's 12...need I say more?!)

A basic phone that allows short calls for DS--he only uses his cell to call me when he gets home from school (he is 13 but has developmental delays--I can always upgrade him later)--no need for texts

My research has narrowed me down to 3 companies:

Virgin Mobile = $25 plan for each of us allows 300 minutes of cell use and unlimited texts, email, web

Straight Talk = $30 for each of us allows 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, 100 MB data (my parents have this and have never been able to get the data working)

Page Plus Cellular = $10 card for DS (100 minutes, only have to renew every 120 days), $29.95 each for me and DD = 1200 minutes, 2000 texts, 100 MB data

Straight Talk and Page Plus have a MUCH better coverage area than Virgin Mobile, but Virgin is the only one to have any android phones (I love my Android phone, but will give it up if necessary). I'm considering a mixture of Page Plus for DS and either VM or ST for DD and me. I may get a modem from VM so I can occasionally purchase Broadband2GO for when we travel. The main reason I'm hesitant to give my Android phone is that I can find information when we travel if needed. But, if I buy the modem and just get the Broadband as needed, I could use my laptop without any trouble to get the information I need when traveling. Definitely cheaper than keeping my Verizon plan.

If any of you have experience with any of these companies, I'd love the feedback. I know I can cancel any of them at any time since they are prepaid, but I don't want to continually switch all the time because of the investment in the phones themselves. Any feedback will be appreciated!

[GirlGreen]

We have Virgin and love it. I'd definitely recommend it for those who mostly text/web.

[rmtvbrooks]

How do you find the coverage to be? That's my big concern with Virgin. Their coverage map is very small, but they say they operate off of Sprint towers. When you look at Sprint's map, it shows a much wider coverage area (though much of it is considered "roaming").

[mizbear]

Check out whether or not the company charges you a monthly service fee. A prepaid was purchased for my niece and they got rid of it because you got charged one service fee just for having the phone every month and a different one if the phone was not used, etc.
Also, check and see what it's going to cost to have everyone calling from different cell carriers. My ex-SIL went to a pre-paid phone and I had to tell her to call me during non-peak hours or txt me because she was eating up minutes. The carrier told her it was "free to all networks" - maybe on her end.
If DS just uses phone for reporting in from school and when out, I would get a very basic reloadable phone, have him use the landline for reporting in from school and only use the cell when out. I honestl wouldn't have txt if at 35 I could have a private conversation- at 12, it's a privilege.

[spruby]

We have Virgin and in the DC metro area and travel all around the US quite a bit. My in-laws have it too (they travel around too) and the only place they have said they could not get service was in a mountain area in NC. So coverage has always been fine for us.

The $25 monthly plan is really $25 plus taxes in your area (so ours is $26.25/month).

I think it would likely work perfectly for you DD who texts and even your son. The only question for you on the phone is whether 300 minutes is enough talk time - although you can always use your son's phone's minutes too. And daughter's too! Internet works fine on our phones.

We haven't had a land line in years and never had a problem with Virgin being our only phone. We love the service.

[pauletteg]

Virgin Mobile = $25 plan for each of us allows 300 minutes of cell use and unlimited texts, email, web
^^^^^^^^^^^This is our plan. I don't get as much coverage as I'm used to, and I was sad to learn that I can't make calls in Canada with it, even though there's a Virgin Mobile Canada. The unlimited texts, e-mail and web are nice though: it's a relief to me to no longer be charged for some drunk or clumsy fat fingering going on by a stranger, as my prior service provider liked to do.

[rosebud30]

I've been with Virgin for about 2.5 years. I'm happy with the $25 plan for 300 minutes and unlimited texts. I'm in the San Francisco Bay area and don't have any issues with coverage. I've traveled around California and haven't any issues either.

[rmtvbrooks]

Thanks for all the input, everyone. After really analyzing our usage, I decided DD needs an unlimited texting plan (she used 2,329 texts last month!). So I'm going with T-Mobile for DS, with a $30 phone and $100 worth of minutes (1000 minutes good for an entire year). Then DD will be on the $25 Virgin Mobile plan, which gives her 300 minutes and unlimited texts/email/data/web. I'll do the $40 Virgin Mobile plan (1200 minutes and unlimited texts/email/data/web). Virgin also has an Android phone, so I can get an Android and keep the features I have now that I really like. DD will get an $80 Samsung Restore; it's a slider with a QWERTY keyboard, which is a step up for her--she is so excited. These phones should last us awhile, and the monthly bill will be $65 (DS will be set for an entire year with the plan I'll put him on). My last two Verizon bills were $185 and $200, so I'll be saving a good chunk of change!

[TD2K]

really analyzing our usage, I decided DD needs an unlimited texting plan (she used 2,329 texts last month!).

Good for you, I was about to ask if you had looked at your useage. $170 for 3 phones sounds like a high end plan but you are looking (in one case) at a plan that allows you 300 minutes a month. I was worried you are either overpaying for your current plan or you would get another plan and then just pay for extra minutes that you use.

Have you talked to Verizon or looked at their website to see what other plans they have or is that an option while you are under contract without incurring early termination fees though it sounds like you found a good alternative. If you are going to leave them, they may be able to match or beat and you save the termination fees.

My GF and I share a plan, we have 700 minutes between us (and unlimited calls to each other) and it's under $100 a month. Unlimited texting would be an additional charge and she just added Canada to my plan as my family is all up there. I looked at upgrading to a smart phone 6 months ago but that would significantly have increased my costs so I passed. While you can put a data plan on our phones, the screens are so small and the keyboard isn't QWERTY that it's pretty much useless IMO.

Have you looked to see if there are any services on the Net that would look at your useage, cost and location and propose what other plans might be less expensive?

[rmtvbrooks]

The plans I went with are working out well. I was a little ticked with Verizon when I called to cancel. They said they don't cancel in the middle of a billing cycle, so I would have to pay for another whole month (GRRRR!). I told him to strip the plan down to as barebones as he could make it just for that month. He did, and I actually ended up saving $14. I got some credits back. I was supposed to owe $580 in termination fees, but ended up only paying $566 for my final bill due to another month lowering the termination fees by $20 and only paying $6 for the last month's plan. Worked out pretty well. Now I just have to buy $65 worth of top-up cards each month. Much easier to budget for!