So I recently purchased a Tracfone for hobby purposes and I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this same problem: The phone is password protected, but if I don't use it for a few days, I've noticed the password protection somehow turns itself off. Several times I've been able to access the phone, contacts, messages, etc, without having to enter the password.

Anybody else had this problem? Any way to fix it?

Problems solved.

used the first 2 years, it was fine.  Upgraded to a more compact phone, have 2 years of it now.  Works fine.  Battery life is better than the older one.
TracFone does not own any towers but buys service from other carriers.  Reception depends on your area.  
I do not leave any data on the phone.  I clear all calls when leaving an appointment then shut it off.  This system makes it more difficult for a finder to recover data...  but means i must access internet to get the info to call.
H