This is not a posting about hobby phones.  I have one, and have used it successfully a couple of months now.  It's an ATT Go Phone.

It's a question about phone PLANS.  

With ATT, I've discovered that, while they say that the minutes roll over month to month, if I don't renew before the month is up, I lose everything.  This really messed me up today, since my month ended last night apparently, and I had a session scheduled for today.  Turns out, I had the provider's address wrong, and tried to call her, but the phone was dead.  Made a quick trip to the gas station and bought a refill card, but the phone wouldn't let me renew; kept giving me error messages.  So, I missed the session entirely.  (Fortunately, she's been understanding, and we're rescheduling for another time.)  I was able to refill the phone at home, on my computer, after the fact, but it failed me in the critical moments!

So, my question is, are there better phone plans out there (TrakFone?  Something else?) that will allow me to roll over the minutes in a better fashion?  I never use more than 5 dollars' worth each month, but I have to purchase a $15 card each time.  So, I'm looking for a better plan, if such exists.

Thanks.

og

With any hobby phone just remember to:

Purchase in cash (not debit card) at store
Activate via the phone NOT online
Use your "hobby" name as the purchaser
Buy top up cards NOT refill online
Don't do anything with that phone that will leave a paper trail

Have fun & Stay safe!!

Summer
No Pm's/only emails

The phones cost as little as $20. Your minutes are carried over even if you let your activation expire, as long as you add more time within a grace period of, I think, 15 days. It may take an hour or more for the reactivation to take effect. If you wait longer than 15 days, you may lose your minutes and your phone number. All the minutes cards are described at tracfone.com.

I haven't seen them that cheap in stores, though. I avoid making any transactions online relating to my hobby phone and minutes.

I'll preface this by saying that ANYONE should make 100% sure their hobby phone is working while you are still in the 'making an appointment' phase ad definitely within 24 hours of an appointment. Sh*t happens, that's why you have a hobby phone. We use the two call system, that's why we need phones in general.

Anyway, tracfone definitely allows you to roll your minutes forward. (in fact, I have accumulated way more than I think I can use for the hobby) Additionally, I've let my phone lapse before. I know another poster has given a 15 day rule, but I know I forgot about the phone for at least 30-45 days before and was able to re-activate and keep minutes with no problem. The lowest amount of minutes cards extend your term by 90 days and will work out to about the $5/month you spend now (I just wish they had extend 90 days 0 minutes cards...)

Also, with tracfone, you can activate online or on the phone directly (each new phone comes with a few minutes already so you can use it to activate the phone. Which makes it a true 'burner' phone) as well as do it anonymously (without giving out your personal info). You also add minutes/reactivate an expired phone directly through the phone.

If you're a bit computer savvy, you can actually google tracfone coupons (the savvy comes in regarding determining what sites are 'legit' or not) and use those to sometimes get double minutes, or at least 50% extra minutes on most minutes purchases. Makes it REALLY cost effective compared to what I hear you pay with other services.

Thanks, guys, for all the info.  

I paid $20 for my Go Phone, so I can easily discard it and start again.  I discovered after I bought it that postings on the Newbie board favored the TracFone.  I will get that as soon as my month with Go Phone expires.  (Just added fresh minutes yesterday.)  I like it that the TracFone minutes can roll over with a little grace period, as well as that it's a 90-day thing, vs. a 30-day thing with the Go Phone.  Saves me having to remember to refill every month.

I only use cash for these things, so a paper or electronic trail is not a problem.  

Thanks again.

og

-- Modified on 8/24/2011 12:34:22 PM

Thanks, OneGent.  Very helpful.  I've posted a general response on the board, too.

Yes, I knew that my minutes were expiring, but wasn't sure exactly which day.  And, I had limited chances to get away from the SO to go buy the card.  So, it failed me at a critical moment.  Lesson learned.  Fortunately, the lady was understanding, and we met today for lunch, in preface to a session later this week.

Onward and upward!  

og

that seemed to indicate that you had left a paper/electronic trail. Unless I'm misunderstanding what you meant.

I guess, yeah, I did leave an electronic trail.  But, I use a separate browser for hobby-related stuff, and delete all history, cookies, etc., upon exiting.  So, as another thread discussed a few weeks ago, unless we're dealing with state-of-the-art cryptographers, the military, etc., I assume I'm ok with this approach.  But, I'll go with refilling-on-the-phone from now on, as another poster suggests.

Thanks again, all.

og

my hobby phone TracFone is linked to my hobby email.   I would not do so again.  No reason to register it at all.  Add the minutes through the handset, works just fine, throw card in trash.  Buy the refill cards at any convenience store, supermarket, WM.  
I don't know that any hobby phone is superior to another BUT keeping the same number hs some value as certain provider screening sites use provider ok's & data.  
jtp

If you do go tracfone make sure to look for the option that says skip giving out personal info. They changed their interface in the last few years to try to hide it and it may be confusing. You have to look for the fine print option if you do it online.

-- Modified on 8/24/2011 9:39:38 PM

Got it.

Thanks.

og

Good points.

Thanks.

og

I do need to get a hobby phone. But, when you buy the tracfone i store, don't they ask for your ID??