Anyone use Tracfone?

[mabrowndog]

Years ago, when I was using my phone a shitload more than I am now, I signed up for a Verizon family plan with two basic flip phones which I still have (I explored jumping into the SmartPhone age, but declined for various reasons. So I don't do any texting, streaming or web stuff.)
 
Verizon's minimum "shared minutes" for the plan is 700, which is way more than what's needed. I'm now getting billed $90 a month for the two lines (plus taxes & fees). That's voice only -- no data, no texts.
 
I was checking out TracFone but became immediately suspicious during the "see if your phone is compatible" process. After entering my zip and phone's serial number, I was expecting some sort of "hey, your phone will work!" message. Instead, I was taken to a screen with two options: 1) Transfer my number and enter a credit/debit card, or 2) If I wanted a new number I'd have to call my current carrier to cancel. I'm usually a big fan of the assumptive sales close, but this is ridiculous.
 
The web site also doesn't seem to divulge much about fees, taxes, roaming charges (if any), etc.
 
If anyone here has used TracFone, or some other comparable lower-cost service, I'd love to know your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Seven Costanza]

http://www.verizonwireless.com/wcms/consumer/shop/prepaid.html
 
Don't hold me to this, but I assume you'd be able to use your current Verizon postpaid dumb phone on Verizon's prepaid service.  Looks like there's a $35/month 500 min plan available, and Verizon is certainly the gold standard in terms of coverage area. 
 
Unfortunately can't speak for TracFone, but one thing to keep in mind when you look at phones/prepaid plans is which carrier's network they use.  A true prepaid phone (just buying blocks of minutes) like you would grab at a drugstore or whatever might use Sprint or T Mobile, which might not be best for your particular use case. 

 

[singaporesoxfan]

Haven't used Tracfone but I've used Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile prepaid for various guests coming to visit. T-Mobile is the cheapest (it's $30 month for prepaid and if you don't even use your phone somedays they have a pay as you go plan it's $2 only on days where you use it). You should definitely check on what kind of coverage you'd be getting.

 

[GreenMonster49]

TracFone uses a number of carriers, generally depending on the deal that they've struck for a particular zip code.  One web page I've found shows how to figure out which carrier is your default and how to override it (http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2011/12/how-to-get-tracfone-net10-or-straight.html). 
 
I've used TracFone only by purchasing one of their phones for my teenaged son, who wanted a cellphone but really does not use it much.  If you buy one of their more expensive phones (his cost $50) you get triple minutes; cheaper phones have double minutes or just regular minutes.  (You can get double minutes for life by buying a $20 card.)  We pay $20 every three months for a 60-minute (tripled to 180 minutes) card.  The price per minute is lousy but the price per month if you don't use a lot of minutes is great.  There are cheaper options if you need more minutes (200 minutes for 90 days is $40; 400 minutes for the year is $100; 1500 minutes for the year is $200)--but there are no taxes beyond the sales tax on the phone.  Minutes roll over as long as you buy and activate a new card before the old time runs out.  Texts are 0.3 minutes each for SMS, 0.5 minutes for MMS, and 1 minute for pictures.
 
I've never tried bringing over an existing phone, but perhaps someone else has.

 

[Marceline]

For low cost plans if you're using voice only and not texting, etc, I would recommend either Ting or Republic Wireless.
 
Ting has several models of basic flip phones available, or newer smartphones, whatever is your preference. They bill based on usage - so if you use 0 texts and 0 megabytes of data, you don't get billed for those services that month.
 
If you had 2 phones with Ting and used < 500 minutes and no texts or data, your total bill for the 2 lines would be $21/month. You would need to buy a phone from Ting but they have flip phones available for about $50-60.
 
Republic Wireless has a plan with unlimited Talk/Text for $10/month per phone.
 
Both of these providers utilize the Sprint network. I have used Ting for over a year now and the service has been great for me.

 

[SumnerH]

Make sure you don't get lazy and start buying a whole bunch from one place--I recommend you not let your soldiers bring their girlfriends/boyfriends on purchasing runs so they stay on task. Also make sure people destroy them thoroughly rather than just tossing them somewhere that prying eyes could easily look up their speed dial/text messages/etc.

 

[bohous]

I used Tracfone years ago and my father and my inlaws use them currently. Apparently they are popular with the geriatric demo.

Regarding hidden taxes/fees etc there shouldn't be any surprises. Once you pay for the phone you just buy minutes as needed (or buy more in advance for better value). You likely will not be able to bring your current phone over. The Tracfone handsets are cheap in both price and quality and their customer service is the worst. Again, it was years ago when I used them but I recall porting my number being a royal PITA.

Personally I would check other prepay plans others have mentioned and maybe shop Straight Talk or the Target equivalent.

 

[SumnerH]

Straight Talk is great but it's a little more high-end IME (for people who need lots of minutes, use data, etc); Ting sounds great for smaller uses if you get Sprint where you need to use it.

 

[cheesypoofs]

If your older flip phone is cdma there's a good chance that it'll work with PagePlus.  
I switched to them from StraightTalk (which was fine until I needed Customer Support, when it became a nightmare) over a year ago and have been
really pleased.  I don't talk a lot and use my tablet for texting (using Google Hangouts, it's free) so the 250 minutes/250 texts for $12 a month has worked
great.  They use Verizon towers and I've had one dropped call the whole time.  Don't know if they're nation wide (Ohio-based, I'm pretty sure) but if when 
you activate a phone they'll give you an automatic couple of dollars' worth of credit for free, no obligation so you can try out calls and texting before
buying a monthly plan.
 
This site is an authorized agent for PP and they'll give, I'm thinking, even more free time when you activate.  It looks as if they're actually giving
a free $12 month right now?? 
 
http://kittywireless.com/
 
I've used PP customer service a few times (briefly tried Verizon a month ago when I bought Galaxy S5 - not impressed, and had to contact them to port # back) and they've been
generally excellent with both phone and online chat assistance.  Oddly enough, the only problems I've had have been paying them.  Their online payment system is balky and
can be a major PIA so this past month I started purhasing my pins from callingmart.com and not only is the process much easier it's also actually cheaper since no sales
tax is charged.
 
Definitely worth checking out.
 
Here's PP link:
https://www.pagepluscellular.com/
 
*Forgot to add that you can try out the phone/free credit before porting your number so there really isn't any risk or hassle if it doesn't suit you.
Strike that.  Totally forgot that I tried service out on an old phone I had on hand before porting # to my main phone. 

 

[mabrowndog]

Thanks for all the helpful feedback so far. My trepidations have been diminished.
 

For low cost plans if you're using voice only and not texting, etc, I would recommend either Ting or Republic Wireless.
 
Ting has several models of basic flip phones available, or newer smartphones, whatever is your preference. They bill based on usage - so if you use 0 texts and 0 megabytes of data, you don't get billed for those services that month.
 
If you had 2 phones with Ting and used < 500 minutes and no texts or data, your total bill for the 2 lines would be $21/month. You would need to buy a phone from Ting but they have flip phones available for about $50-60.
 
Republic Wireless has a plan with unlimited Talk/Text for $10/month per phone.
 
Both of these providers utilize the Sprint network. I have used Ting for over a year now and the service has been great for me.

 
Joe, how has the service been on your trips to the Cape? Because this is what the coverage looks like in/around Falmouth, and online reviews seem to agree it ranges from shitty to spotty at best. "Off-network roaming" is not a comforting phrase, and the light green area a couple miles north of Woods Hole is where I'm at.
 

 

[kevlog]

Late to the discussion, but I use Tracfone (as does my wife) and have no complaints.  Guess that makes me part of the geriatric demo! We don't text a lot, get the triple minutes, and probably only add them every other month for around 40 bucks.  It's no Verizon network coverage, but it's always been absolutely fine when I travel.

 

[Cumberland Blues]

 
Republic Wireless has a plan with unlimited Talk/Text for $10/month per phone.
 
 

 
I've had a Motorola from Republic Wireless for about a year now and it's worked everywhere I've needed it to work.  You have to buy their phone - but as noted above the monthly plans are cheap (you can get unlimited voice/text/data for $25/mo and you can switch plans month-to-month based on your needs).  I'm a luddite who was dragged kicking & screaming into the 21st century (this was my first cellphone) - so I'm hardly a power user and have nothing to compare it to, but I've no complaints - it's a good deal, imo and I'm glad I took the plunge.

 

[Marceline]

Thanks for all the helpful feedback so far. My trepidations have been diminished.
 
 
Joe, how has the service been on your trips to the Cape? Because this is what the coverage looks like in/around Falmouth, and online reviews seem to agree it ranges from shitty to spotty at best. "Off-network roaming" is not a comforting phrase, and the light green area a couple miles north of Woods Hole is where I'm at.
 

 
I was in Falmouth last summer for a wedding, and I had no trouble at all with signal/coverage. However, I was in the downtown area which is dark green on the map so I'm not sure how good it would be from your house.
 
You could always try it out with one of their cheap flip phones, or even with a used one on ebay (you can bring pretty much any Sprint compatible phone to their network) - I can give you a referral code good for a $25 service credit which would cover the monthly bill for 1-2 months. You could get a new phone number assigned by Ting while you test it out, and if it looks good you can always port your existing number over later on (making sure to keep your Verizon account active until you do so).