Best Cell phone plan for very ocassional use?

[Ann Dennick]

Excuse the nOOb question, but I'd like to get a cell phone and plan to only make the odd call out, and to have with me when driving in the case of an emergency. Any advice on what the best value is out there, and do many of the larger phone companies still offer a pay as you go plan? I'll probably need to pick up a new cell phone as well. I have an older model Motorola 120C that I had on a Bell pay as you go plan on a few years ago, but I stopped using it, so the number likely has been re-assigned.

Any advice on the best phone for limited use?:)

Thanks in advance

[Jucius Maximus]

Probably 7-11 Speakout is the best for very low useage. You can set it up so you only need to top up once every 365 days.

Now there's no way to get the SIM alone as you have to buy it with a phone. But nothing stops you from putting the SIM into another phone.

[Simo]

ill sell u a never used Petro Sim Card for $40 bucks.

[JAC]

ill sell u a never used Petro Sim Card for $40 bucks.

LOL. He can get a new phone with SIM for $49.

http://retail.petro-canada.ca/en/mobility/2310.aspx

[rems]

Pay as you go is your best option

[Junk Food Junkie]

Virgin Mobile or Rogers Wireless Pay Go
Top up cards for both are sold everywhere. I believe you can also top up online. I don't remember about Virgin, but with Rogers buy a $100 top up card that has an expiry of 1 year.

Virgin Mobile - no U.S. coverage
Rogers Wireless - U.S coverage (automatic roaming)

[wache]

personally i am using the rogers paygo. i rarely use a cell phone at all and when I do it's always at night/weekend. they have a 1cent/min plan for weeknights and weekends. so far, i've "spent" < $2/month

[ricky13579]

Probably 7-11 Speakout is the best for very low useage. You can set it up so you only need to top up once every 365 days.

Now there's no way to get the SIM alone as you have to buy it with a phone. But nothing stops you from putting the SIM into another phone.

+1

[ckhw]

Petro-Canada Mobility is as cheap as 7-11, and refill cards are available at every station.

[enigma54]

Virgin Mobile or Rogers Wireless Pay Go
Top up cards for both are sold everywhere. I believe you can also top up online. I don't remember about Virgin, but with Rogers buy a $100 top up card that has an expiry of 1 year.

Virgin Mobile - no U.S. coverage
Rogers Wireless - U.S coverage (automatic roaming)

I'm in the same boat with my Bell plan have just expired but I find I just don't use the phone enough to justify these monthly plans. Is this $100 top up card for Rogers an unadvertised thing because I don't see it on their website? I'm leaning towards this option. Which phone do you recommend getting for this pay as you plan? Thanks!

[Junk Food Junkie]

I'm in the same boat with my Bell plan have just expired but I find I just don't use the phone enough to justify these monthly plans. Is this $100 top up card for Rogers an unadvertised thing because I don't see it on their website? I'm leaning towards this option. Which phone do you recommend getting for this pay as you plan? Thanks!


I have the Nokia 6085 Camera Phone. I had better luck with my old Virgin Mobile phone, lol.
http://www.wirelesswave.ca/rogers_phones_details.asp?PhoneID=589

Rogers Pay As You Go Top Up Vouchers
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/paygo_topup_vouchers

[Derfel]

Grab the unlocked GSM phone at TD for $36, and then a new Rogers SIM for $8 on eBay, and then a $100 card at Superstore or elsewhere.

You have 365 days of Rogers goodness then.

[enigma54]

Grab the unlocked GSM phone at TD for $36, and then a new Rogers SIM for $8 on eBay, and then a $100 card at Superstore or elsewhere.

You have 365 days of Rogers goodness then.

That sounds like a plan - thanks! How do I go about transferring my Bell phone number to the Rogers phone? Is that something that happens during the activation process?

[migito888]

Is there a data plan for Rogers pay as you go users? I'd hate to pay 5c for each KB! Thanks

[migito888]

Grab the unlocked GSM phone at TD for $36, and then a new Rogers SIM for $8 on eBay, and then a $100 card at Superstore or elsewhere.

You have 365 days of Rogers goodness then.

+1

[champlinD]

I have the Nokia 6085 Camera Phone. I had better luck with my old Virgin Mobile phone, lol.
http://www.wirelesswave.ca/rogers_phones_details.asp?PhoneID=589

Rogers Pay As You Go Top Up Vouchers
http://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/paygo_topup_vouchers

What are the SAF, 911 charges? any info appreciated. Also checking the web site now.

[Derfel]

Is there a data plan for Rogers pay as you go users? I'd hate to pay 5c for each KB! Thanks


Nope - no data plan for Pay As You Go.

[wache]

What are the SAF, 911 charges? any info appreciated. Also checking the web site now.

No SAF charge. 911 charge is $0.50/month

[champlinD]

No SAF charge. 911 charge is $0.50/month

Thanks

I checked the web site. In FAQ they say SAF is $6.95.
(http://rogers.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rogers.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4761&p_created=1205043206&p_sid=Z73mm8aj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PWRmbHQ6MSZwX2dyaWRzb 3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MywzJnBfcHJvZHM9MCZwX2NhdHM9JnB fcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY 2hfZm5sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9U0FG&p_li=&p_topview=1)

I guess that does not apply for Pay as you go. I like carry forward unused time.
I didn't see that in Virgin Mobile. May be I missed that.

[wache]

Thanks

I checked the web site. In FAQ they say SAF is $6.95.
(http://rogers.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/rogers.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4761&p_created=1205043206&p_sid=Z73mm8aj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PWRmbHQ6MSZwX2dyaWRzb 3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MywzJnBfcHJvZHM9MCZwX2NhdHM9JnB fcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY 2hfZm5sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9U0FG&p_li=&p_topview=1)

I guess that does not apply for Pay as you go. I like carry forward unused time.
I didn't see that in Virgin Mobile. May be I missed that.

SAF does not apply for Rogers Pay as you go. This page describes what are included (and excluded) from the standard plans:

https://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/paygo_rates?content10=paygo_rates

[champlinD]

SAF does not apply for Rogers Pay as you go. This page describes what are included (and excluded) from the standard plans:

https://www.rogers.com/web/content/wireless-products/paygo_rates?content10=paygo_rates


Thanks

[JWL]

Here it is. Thread started on a previous deal, but it is available again.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=484786&highlight=speakout

[Fogghorn]

Grab the unlocked GSM phone at TD for $36, and then a new Rogers SIM for $8 on eBay, and then a $100 card at Superstore or elsewhere.

You have 365 days of Rogers goodness then.

So I was looking to drop my present Roger's monthly plan and just do pay as you go, which would work better for me. However when I contacted Rogers to discuss I was told it would cost $50 to migrate my information over to pay as you go but this would guarantee that I keep my present number.

Is there any way to keep my number and not pay the flagrant service fee to switch to pay as you go?

[Derfel]

Is there any way to keep my number and not pay the flagrant service fee to switch to pay as you go?

Tell them parliament passed a bill that says you can port your number. If you aren't on a contract, they shouldn't be able to charge you for switching services...!

[gman]

Tell them parliament passed a bill that says you can port your number. If you aren't on a contract, they shouldn't be able to charge you for switching services...!

That has nothing to do with not being charged. Rogers did not say you can't port your number. You can port the number but it does not mean they can't charge you for switching in a reasonable amount. I don't think the bill said you can port your number and it must be free.

I am not saying they should charge you but using the bill as the reason is not exactly right.

[gman]

So I was looking to drop my present Roger's monthly plan and just do pay as you go, which would work better for me. However when I contacted Rogers to discuss I was told it would cost $50 to migrate my information over to pay as you go but this would guarantee that I keep my present number.

Is there any way to keep my number and not pay the flagrant service fee to switch to pay as you go?

Call again or switch to another company.

[Derfel]

Call again or switch to another company.


Certainly call again and tell them you'll switch to another company (and take your phone number with you) if they are going to charge you $50 to switch. That might work just fine...

As for the portability of numbers - they *can* charge you for changing over if you want to keep your number, but I'd still say "bluff" them and claim they can't.

[vdarsigny]

I just bought a virgin cell phone (they have better price if you buy your cell phone from their site), and I bought a 100$ card (it will be good for 365 days). You can change your montly rate every months ...(you can take always 30 cents/minute or choose from some monthly rate like 20$/month with 200 minutes everytime and you can switch every month depending of what you need. Or you can stay at 30cents/minute everytime. They don't charge any fee for saf or 911... I check the different plans and rate and for me (I dont use my cell phone often) the best was virgin...