home :: cell prepaid plans

No financial planning required with cell prepaid plans

People without cell phones have been put off the idea of getting one due to hassle of contracts, credit checks and the very fact that there is a set monthly charge by the service provider such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Cingular, ALLTEL, Nextel, Sprint PCS and others.

With the option of prepaid cell phones you can avoid all of the hassle and take advantage of the mobile world. So what are the advantages and disadvantages of getting a prepaid cellular phone?

• No signing on contact


• No monthly line rental


• No service fee’s apply


• No credit checks


• No deposit needed for security


• No termination fee as you have no contract

With all of the above points mentioned there is no stopping you. The cell phone carriers have plenty of option for you.

With prepaid cell phones you are always in control of your finances. You cannot get into debt and you will never owe the service provider a single cent should you decide never to use the phone again. You only pay for what you use and if you run out of credit simply buy some more to keep you going.

If you allow you kids to have a phone you should always start them with the prepaid cell option. This will make them aware of the airtime and appreciate that phones are not cheap to run. Your will be helping them budget their own pocket money which will stand better for them in later life.

The downside to using the prepaid option is simple; the cost per minute is generally more expensive than your contract monthly phone.

How do they operate?

As discussed earlier there is no contract. When you purchase the phone it is ready to go. All you need to do to activate the phone is call the service provider (generally a free phone number) and purchase credit (by credit card or cheque). You may also purchase top-up cards in stores for cash. Pin in your code and away you go.

A couple of points to remember:

Prepaid service providers will demand that you purchase airtime within a certain period even if you have plenty of phone credit left.

Also remember that existing credit may b lost if not used within a certain time. Always check the terms and conditions of usage. Doing cell phone comparisons will help you.

In brief