Virgin Mobile cell phone (computers, buying, work, free)

[Rubi3]

That's the cell phone I've had for many years, paying $15. every 3 months. I think it has had 3 calls on it. It's always in my car in case of car trouble. No one even has the number because it's never turned on. So many minutes have accumulated, but there's no point in using it for regular calling since my landline is handy at home. I have MagicJack for long distance calls.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a better way? A prepaid phone perhaps? It seems like such a waste to keep adding minutes which won't be used.

[Bo]

About the only cheaper phone service than that VMUSA $5 plan is Freedompop, which can be absolutely free at that level of usage, if the account is set up correctly. It only works on smartphones and that requires you to be a bit technically savvy, though.

My parents have 2 phones with that VM plan that you have, OP. They like simple phones and will readily admit that they're not not savvy enough to handle Freedompop or smartphones.

If the accumulating balance is worrying you, my suggestion is to spend some of your account balance on a new phone. VM will let you do that.

[Rubi3]

Originally Posted by Bo

About the only cheaper phone service than that VMUSA $5 plan is Freedompop, which can be absolutely free at that level of usage, if the account is set up correctly. It only works on smartphones and that requires you to be a bit technically savvy, though.

My parents have 2 phones with that VM plan that you have, OP. They like simple phones and will readily admit that they're not not savvy enough to handle Freedompop or smartphones.

If the accumulating balance is worrying you, my suggestion is to spend some of your account balance on a new phone. VM will let you do that.

Thanks so much. I'll get my phone from the car today and check out buying a new phone from VM. They have a store here in town but I can't understand the man's English who runs it and have to keep asking him to repeat his words which he doesn't want to do.

I don't know if I'm savvy enough or not. I'm much more savvy about computers than many of my friends, but since I've rarely used the cell phone, I don't think I am.