I need advice about really cheap cell phones.

[panader0]

Mine got left in the rain and died. I heard that there were phones for as little as ten bucks. I need only to make and receive calls, no photos, no texting, no apps, etc. Doesn't Virgin offer such a phone? I have tried looking at their site without luck, plus my dial up takes forever to access sites, so I turn to my DU mates. Thanks

[LynneSin]

1. Do you have a contract or were you using 'pay-as-you-go'?

If you have a contract - you can always find cheap cell phones on Ebay - just look for those that are compatible with your service.

As for 'pay-as-you-go' not sure what you can do there but I think there are some on Ebay too.!

[HappyMe]

2. I have a TracFone.

Take a look at what they have available.

[HopeHoops]

3. I have a Net10 phone I use for a side business. VERY inexpensive compared to "plans".

It's a pay as you go with roll-over on the minutes. I hardly ever use it so I've got a few thousand minutes. I just refresh it to get the months of service and figure the air time just comes along for the ride.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. You can get a phone for 10 bucks from TracFone...

http://www.tracfone.com/

Or, essentially free (because you get a bucket full of minutes with the phone) from Net10

http://www.net10.com/

After I dumped Verizon I've had both, and the only problem I had was at home where I often have little or no signal. Most cellphones have little or no signal here but these were a little worse. Could be the cheap LG phone, though. Most of the time the talk quality is excellent.

They're the same company and the main difference is TracFone minutes are about 30 cents but Net10 minutes are 10 cents. If you talk a LOT, you probably want the Net10, otherwise it makes little difference after all is said and done-- you still have to either buy minutes every month or two for at least 20 bucks or get the expensive annual card. The minutes roll over when you get a new card, so I've built up as many as 1200 minutes on the Net10 phone if I didn't talk too much. Both are sold in K-Mart, 7-11, Rite-Aid and who knows where else, and I find it's just as well buying them there since you see what you get and don't have to wait for shipping.

[Rambis]

5. Tracfone-

I don't chat or text much so it is perfect for me. It is primarily an emergency phone and weekly calls to my parents it ends up being less 8$ per month.

[distantearlywarning]

6. I've had Virgin Mobile for a few years.

It's a Pay-As-You-Go plan, no contracts. My phone was free with sign-up - about a $15 basic phone. They have a variety of different phones to choose from, anywhere from $10 up to several hundred. I've been pretty happy with my plan so far, although I had to replace the first phone about a year or so in, because it died. But I guess you get what you pay for. :)

[csziggy]

7. Another vote for Tracfone

I got both the phones I've had through the for free. The first was a web offer of a free phone with a year's service and 400 minutes. The second was a free upgrade when the old phone was too old to use with whatever technology changes had happened. The phone is a basic Nokia phone, no fancy stuff though it does do texting, I am told. I do like that the battery lasts a long time which is convenient since it pretty much lives in my purse or in my truck.

The biggest problem I have is that I don't use more than a hundred minutes or so a year and the renewal for a year service always includes 3-400 minutes. I'm up to over 1700 minutes which could take me years to use. So the last time I needed more time, I found their new deal which is $6 a month to keep the time period current. When I need minutes, I can buy them and keep the same deal, or renew for a year and get a few hundred.

You can buy tracfones with an introductory deal at all kinds of stores and buy additional minutes almost anywhere, though I have found the best deals on their website. One caution - when you need to replace or upgrade your phone, it can be a hassle, especially if you change brands of phone. CALL them to activate so they can change your number to the new phone.