Anyone here use TracFone? I assume I can still get pay as you go minute cards. Dad looking into one. I may buy cheap flip phone as backup myself.
Thank You
Thank You
Any TracFone users here?
- Thread starter 53' Stude
- Start date
Wife and I have had Tracfone for about 18 years. Wife does all of her business with Tracfone with an on line account. I have a flip phone and she has a smarter Android.
She also manages my older sister's and a brother in law's account (who are technologically challenged). Mostly we purchase service one year at a time, and seldom use all the minutes provided. Looks like current year price is $99.99 for 400 minutes. We have been with them long enough that we still get double minutes with our purchase.
She also manages my older sister's and a brother in law's account (who are technologically challenged). Mostly we purchase service one year at a time, and seldom use all the minutes provided. Looks like current year price is $99.99 for 400 minutes. We have been with them long enough that we still get double minutes with our purchase.
I have had a mid-level Samsung A50 from Tracfone for 3 years now. The phone has been good so far. I make few calls and have never maxed out my data. I have never tried to get any meaningful customer service from them but others claim it is near impossible. Supposedly I am linked to VZW. I suggest to choose your plan carefully I have never used cards and don't plan to. I pay by month approx $22 incl tax. Your mileage may vary but I never wanted a cheap phone.
We have had a few glitches over the years, but have gotten them resolved with a phone call or two. Some of the CSR's are more technologically adept than others.
I bought a Tracfone in January to use as a backup phone. Tracfones run exclusively on the Verizon network, but new handsets can be unlocked 60 days after the date of initial activation provided continuous service is maintained during that period. Yes, Tracfone plans are pre-paid "as you go" like most MVNOs.
However, now that my Tracfone (Samsung) handset is unlocked, I will be switching over to US Mobile after I use up my pre-paid Tracfone plan minutes.
If you are just looking for an inexpensive cell phone alternative for talk & text with little data usage, it is impossible to beat the US Mobile "Light User" annual plan. You get unlimited minutes/unlimited texts and 2 GB of data per month for only $96/year! That translates to $8/month. You also get to choose either the Verizon or T-Mobile network based upon which provider has better service/coverage in your usage area(s).
My wife and kids have used Tracfone for a very long time.
The only time Tracfone can be problematic is when you use a new phone and want to transfer your account to it. We had major issues every single time that happened.
My son and I now use Visible which has unlimited severything for $25 a month. My wife and daughter use Tracfone for right now. But I'm probably going to have them migrate to US Mobile once their plans end.
The only time Tracfone can be problematic is when you use a new phone and want to transfer your account to it. We had major issues every single time that happened.
My son and I now use Visible which has unlimited severything for $25 a month. My wife and daughter use Tracfone for right now. But I'm probably going to have them migrate to US Mobile once their plans end.
HSN sells Tracfones with a 1 year service plan for like next to nothing. Perfect if you just want it in case of an emergency.
https://www.hsn.com/products/tcl-alcatel-my-flip-2-t408dl-tracfone-with-1200-mintext/20492423
https://www.hsn.com/products/tcl-alcatel-my-flip-2-t408dl-tracfone-with-1200-mintext/20492423
Most of my family is now on Visible. I have one Tracfone remaining that I parked my POTS landline number on, $55/year. I buy $5 worth of texts then the website offers a year extension for $50.
I know I could use google voice; I don't want to.
I know I could use google voice; I don't want to.
I use to be with TracFone when they tried to force me to go Verizon, ATT works best at my house. I switched to Pure Talk never look back.
on my 3rd year with TracFone...the only real issues I've encountered was when using their "customer service"...like with so many places; good and bad...I'm still with them and recently added a 2nd line for the GF's phone...
Bill
Bill
Been on it for years. I buy a $20 card every 90 days. Have an iPhone SE and when I converted I was getting "triple play", so my $20 card gets me 60 minutes, 60 texts and 60MB per month. I use almost none and it just rolls over. [Other than when I left some cell stuff on and it wiped out all my data, but $10 buys a gig.]
I read all sorts of horror stories about their service, so I treat it like a commodity. When I get burned, I'll toss it and walk away. I don't care about losing minutes, it's less than $10 to have a phone in my pocket--the value is in the having. Haven't been burned, so I carry it forward.
I think Verizon is trimming some of their acquisitions (wife had to convert from Page Plus to Tracfone) and I'm not sure what I'd do if Verizon killed off Tracfone. Maybe that won't happen, which would be nice.
I read all sorts of horror stories about their service, so I treat it like a commodity. When I get burned, I'll toss it and walk away. I don't care about losing minutes, it's less than $10 to have a phone in my pocket--the value is in the having. Haven't been burned, so I carry it forward.
I think Verizon is trimming some of their acquisitions (wife had to convert from Page Plus to Tracfone) and I'm not sure what I'd do if Verizon killed off Tracfone. Maybe that won't happen, which would be nice.
I used to reload my mom's Trac phone and it was nothing but a big pain. It would work for a while and then I would have to call in and have them figure out what was wrong. She finally bought a regular cell phone and her problems were over.
My dad has had Tracfone for over 20 years. It's been the only cell he's had.
He had a flip phone up until some time in 2022 when he switched to a iPhone SE.
Never heard him complain about it. I did the switchover stuff to his iPhone and it was a little annoying, but otherwise everything has been fine.
He had a flip phone up until some time in 2022 when he switched to a iPhone SE.
Never heard him complain about it. I did the switchover stuff to his iPhone and it was a little annoying, but otherwise everything has been fine.
I need a pay as you go plan with 0 minutes or as close to it as possible with mountains of data. 
I use Google Voice for all my calls and have it set to prefer data over voice. If I get a call on my carrier number, I know it is SPAM every time.
I use Google Voice for all my calls and have it set to prefer data over voice. If I get a call on my carrier number, I know it is SPAM every time.
Flips are getting hard to use and are quite limited. personally I gave up the flip when LTE took over and did the android thing through cricket for 30 a month. Typing is hard on a flip- and text to voice is a godsend feature on the andriod.
We got a flip for my Mother in law who is in her 90s. But If they don't use it often, they forget what to do to pull up the personal phonebook - or even turn the thing on or of - or answer it - or even charge it!.
At least this thing has big buttons and text:
https://www.consumercellular.com/shopping/details/iris_easy_flip/details
We got a flip for my Mother in law who is in her 90s. But If they don't use it often, they forget what to do to pull up the personal phonebook - or even turn the thing on or of - or answer it - or even charge it!.
At least this thing has big buttons and text:
https://www.consumercellular.com/shopping/details/iris_easy_flip/details
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My wife's grandmother is 95 and recently went to a smartphone for the same reasons stated, @ARCOgraphite
Fliphones are just not as reliable or cheap as they used to be, and in her case Facetime was the desired feature. Of course the kids and grandkids paid for it.
On a side note she still lives on her own in Sao Paulo and has stairs in her apartment. But not sure for how much longer. She's in the US right now and I've noted her difficulty in climbing stairs. But, like most older people she is fiercely independent, so we'll see. Mentally, she is very much still with it. And her health is really good, just, the strength is not what it used to be.
Fliphones are just not as reliable or cheap as they used to be, and in her case Facetime was the desired feature. Of course the kids and grandkids paid for it.
On a side note she still lives on her own in Sao Paulo and has stairs in her apartment. But not sure for how much longer. She's in the US right now and I've noted her difficulty in climbing stairs. But, like most older people she is fiercely independent, so we'll see. Mentally, she is very much still with it. And her health is really good, just, the strength is not what it used to be.
