Is pre-paid best for a phone I'll only use one month out of the year?
I have an old Motorola phone dating back to 2008. The contract with Verizon Wireless is long since expired and my recently graduated former college student son no longer needs it. I live overseas, but I still want to retain the number and have a phone to use when I'm home in the States each summer. I really can't see paying ~ $600/year (@ $50/mo for 12 months under the current plan) for a phone I will use only for a short time each year -- that one or two months in the summer when we make phone calls like mad. I don't need a data plan, because it's not a smart phone and I wouldn't access the internet using this phone even if it were possible. What is my lowest cost option for retaining the phone number so my friends can call me without changing their address books every time I'm home in America? Do I have to buy a new phone when the old one still works fine?
Prepaid is the way to go in your situation. However minutes expire on some plans monthly, so you would have to buy minutes every month to keep your number.
Just be sure to choose the best plan that allows you to keep your number for the year.
Similar Messages
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Poor customer service; send pre-paid box for return
My name is Danielle. In early April I bought a Dell Inspiron All-In-One desktop from the Best Buy in Manhattan, KS (Store #1101). At check out I was under the impression that I was also buying Geek Squad Protection. In early July the screen of the all in one was cracked so I boxed everything back up in the original packaging and took it to BB/ Geek Squad for repair. I was surprised there was a charge at that time and was told I didnt get Geek Squad Protection, but instead an extended warranty. That's fine and mistakes happened, partly my fault for not checking the receipt better. We still sent the computer for repair as we had never had problems with BB before and we are long-time customers. On the 28th of July the computer was returned un-repaired as they could not find a replacement screen and we were advised to call Dell directly for repair. Again no-ones fault so we took the computer home frustrated but not upset. Dell came to our home on 08/04/15 to repair the computer, but when we opened the box only the cracked monitor was inside with none of the accessories, power cord, or stand. Upset, I called the Manhattan BB and was told to bring the computer up to see what they could do. When I got there later that day I was told that they had to email the repair center before they could do anything. I asked why I was told to come up if all they could do was send an email. We do not live in Manhattan it is a drive for us. I was told I could wait 15 minutes for a manager (Tyler) to come back from break. An hour later, Tyler gives me a keyboard/mouse and a used charger. They have no replacement stand and say it will take 48 hours to contact the repair center to see if it’s there. I ask if the charger is the same one for the computer as I do not want to damage it further by using the wrong charger. He tells me it’s the same, not the exact same that came with the computer, but the same brand and everything else.When I get home I plug in the computer, but it does not turn on. The power light blinks and then nothing. After looking up the charger it seems I was given a charger for a laptop and not a desk top. I called BB back in the morning as soon as they opened. I spoke to a manager named Sarah, who is the only saving grace in this whole fiasco, who checked in the back and, lo and behold!, my things were in the back the entire time. She says that she’ll put my name on them and leave them at Geek Squad for me to pick up. My husband happened to be in Manhattan picking up his dress uniform after work, so I called and asked him to pick up the items. He is given only the stand and is told that they will not return the other items until we give back the keyboard/mouse and charger they gave us yesterday. In other words they threatened to hold our items hostage. I told them on the phone and in no uncertain terms that this was not acceptable and they returned all of our items to us. I, however, do not appreciate the threat, the lies, or the way that this situation was handled. I have absolutely no use for their keyboard/mouse and even less use for a Dell laptop charger. I refuse to step foot back into that store, or any other Best Buy after this, but I don’t want to “steal” these useless items. Please send a pre-paid box for me to return these items. I refuse to drive back up there or spend money out of my pocket because of this. Email or call for the address. Thank you,Danielle G
Hello DanielleIG –
All-In-One desktops are great machines. Of all the computer types, they have the largest screens, and a bigger chance of being cracked. It’s a terrible feeling when it happens and even worse when you are told you didn’t have Accidental Damage and Handling protection on your computer. It’s great that Geek Squad was still able to send your device for repair, but disappointing that we were unable to obtain the parts from Dell.
I worked for Geek Squad for a few years and was in charge of all the shipping and receiving in my store. While I know we try our absolute hardest to keep accessories labeled and together with their parent computers, I’ve seen instances where they can become separated. In these cases, supplying you with replacement accessories was the right call, but the accessories should have been verified to work with your computer. I am very sorry this did not happen before you took your computer home.
I reached out to the store in Manhattan, KS and spoke with Sarah. She informed me that she has contacted you and made arrangements around the accessories. I urge you to reach out to me if you feel the resolution the store has presented is not what you were looking for. I really appreciate you contacting us with your situation so that we can use it as an opportunity for improvement with our processes. Thank you again, DanielleIG.
I hope you have a great day, -
Paid $60 - for a phone number rather than a subscription? Please chime in and help a newbie
Hi, first a quick rant: I'm an EXTREMELY frustrated new user. I have spent the last hour trying to figure out what I just purchased and what I can do to get an explaination, but whoever created this website did so without a new user in mind. Quickly: I need help trying to determine what I just purchased and what to do from here. As Quickly as I can explain what's going on: My friend in Croatia told me he spent $60 for unlimited calling. He can apparently call anywhere to phones - as we made several calls to landlines in both the states and england from his computer. We've since left his place. As I'm traveling to many countries, I figured this was a great idea, I'll pay up front instead of purchasing credits. I whipped out my credit card and paid $60 after chosing a number. After about an hour, the transaction cleared on my account with a renewal in 12 months. I went to make a call and it said I didn't have enough credit. After trying to figure out what happened all I can determine is that I might have paid for the use of a phone number for 12 months and not a subscription. Now of course after trying for several hours trying to find out how to contact Microsoft or Skype - or Whatever help center - for the past hour and finding they deflect all help to their help pages that comes nowhere NEAR helping me or explaining what has happened - and if I made a mistake how to correct it. I apparently need to spend more money for a premium account to get actual advice or any kind of resolution. Any company that takes money and expects a new user just to GET it, without providing some human interaction is a horrid company. So I paid for something I didn't want and can't use. I THINK. But I can't request a refund or help because I haven't paid for a premium account. Can anyone shed some light on this? Thanks so much; I realize you're probably just a user of the service like myself.
Skype Rip Off people on Renewal $30 Number $30 Calling Plan Why Skype and Microsoft Sucks: My Subscription Order No.[removed for privacy] paid and delivery but not working I would like to know why the subscription I bought is not available I can make phone calls please fix the problem Skype is not a solution but a big problem since microsoft took over very disappointing
Yes they told me I will have to pay $30 for my number and $30 for my 12 months subscription now they said they did not they are liarsMy subscription is not working neither after several months tried to fix the problem no one from skype neither from Microsoft tried to contact me is very painful to paid skype for a phone services and they just do nothing but laughing in your face Skype and Microsoft let me tell you something in your face you both sucks big time you are nightmare what a pityI would love to sue skype since they are not providing with the service I contract with then my business is suffering for negligence in delivery my subscription that I bought but is not working long time ago I will follow a class action against skype please keep updatedPORT A SKYPE NUMBER http://community.skype.com/t5/Skype-Number/Port-Skype-Online-Number-to-another-provider/td-p/1529827https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us/articles/[removed for privacy]-Keeping-Your-Telephone-Number-When-Changing-Service-ProvidersWhen all is said and done Skype is a phone service provider and as such they must allow your number to move. It is required under Section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. The SBREFA '96 required portability in the largest 100 Metropolitan statistical areas. Then in 2003, the requirement was expanded to ALL carriers regardless of geographical location.
In order for a number to be ported, roughly speaking you must live in the area code's geography. So, you can't port a New York number to Iowa.
If you have a problem porting your phone number from one service provider to another, first try to resolve it with the service provider. If you cannot resolve the problem directly, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for filing a complaint. You can file your complaint using an FCC online complaint form. You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) for TTY; faxing 1-866-418-0232; or writing to the Federal Communications Commission at:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554 -
Urgent: I just bought 3 anual pre paid memberships for adobe creative cloud, with the same Adobe ID.
Hi I just bought 3 anual pre paid memberships for adobe creative cloud, with the same Adobe ID, I want to install each membership in one different computer, how I do it?
One Adobe ID can be used to activate any CC subscription twice. So you need to have three different Adobe ID for each of the pre paid subscription so that they can be used.
If you keep the same ID for three CC, it will not activate the third time & ask you to de activate it from the previous one.
You can return two of the subscription & buy them under different ID.
Regards
Rajshree -
I just bought 3 anual pre paid memberships for adobe creative cloud, I need to know how to install each membership in one different computers.
VivianSchumann, I have replied to your query in Urgent: I just bought 3 anual pre paid memberships for adobe creative cloud, with the same Adobe ID.
Regards
Rajshree -
I had to reset my phone and I only have one of my ringtones I had 4.. Why'd it delete 3 and not the last one and now I can't get em back without paying for them again!!! What the **** is up with that??
Yup, your question and Diane's answer helped me also. Tho' I had had problems before getting into the iTunes store I always managed to find a way. Today they had me blocked cold with the "Update to 10" advert no matter what I did. Other questioners are being told, incorrectly as it turns out, that they have to update their OS to accomodate iTunes 10 and upgrade to iTunes 10. I did the download which did not take up much more room on my crowded old hard drive and now I'm back in business.
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I am new to the iphone, I made emails folder on my outlook I been puttting emails in there from my phone . Yesterday I opened one of my folder the emails where there for about a second then they are gone, I know i didn't delete them
Hi there,
Well, try contacting outlook if the problem persists with other emails. Also, there are links down below that are related to your article:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16000741#16000741
https://discussions.apple.com/message/9052824#9052824
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16736362#16736362 -
What compressor settings settings are best for 1080i to output to DVD using DVD Studio pro?
What compressor settings settings are best for 1080i to output to DVD using DVD Studio pro? I used FCP 6, exported using Quick Time.
DVDs are only SD. There was at one time HD-DVDs, which DVD SP and Compressor can make, but HD-DVDs will only play in Macs and, now obsolete HD-DVD players. HD-DVDs will not play back in standard DVD players or Blu-Ray players. If you want to make a "DVD will be played on DVD player for TV" disc, your only choice is SD.
If you want HD video on a disc, then you want Blu-Ray. You will need a Blu-Ray burner (Apple does not make a Blu-Ray burner so you will have to buy a third-party Blu-Ray burner), Blu-Ray discs and software that will make a Blu-Ray disc. That could be the latest version of Compressor, or FCPX, or Toast, or Encore. -
if i buy an iphone 5s sprint can i use it for CDMA? I ask that because i went out of the country one time and used it on a CDMA network but that was my iphon 5 not an i phone 5s.
Sprint is a CDMA carrier, same as Verizon so it will work on CDMA.
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I bought a 3G and a 4G in Australia while working there for 3.5 years. I have since returned permanently to the USA and would like to use one of these, understanding the GSM requires using AT&T? When in Australia, I took these iphones to the Apple Store and they unlocked the 3G for me, knowing that I would be using it in the USA - but when I took it into the AT&T store in California, the iphone would not work with AT&T's SIM card. May I unlock the 3G and/or 4G somewhere in the USA with Apple's blessing?
If your phones were unlocked by your carrier, they should work with AT&T SIM cards. You'll have to sign up for an iPhone phone and data plan with AT&T, but the SIM should definitely work. Go to an AT&T store and have them set up your account and activate your SIM there.
AT&T will NOT be able to unlock your Australia-purchased phones. -
How do I shut off receiving phone and text messages when I am out of the country. I still want to be able to email and receive email on wifi
Enable Airplane mode followed by turning on wi-fi access.
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i have two users with different music on each itunes and i can only use one library, how do i use both for one iTouch?
Chris, I believe this link may have the information you're looking for. Welcome to discussions!
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300432 -
when I see the usage on my iPod touch 4 they have categories for how much space is being used where. What does the "other" category contain? Like what could I delete on my iPod to get rid of the "other" category?
What is the Other on my iPhone and How to Remove It
An "other" larger than about 1 1/2 GB usually indicates that the "other" includes corrupted files.
First try:
"First you go settings/general/usage/music/then left swipe over music and press delete and you would think it deletes your music but it doesn't instead it deletes your other but make sure your ipod is connected to a computer while doing this"
as recommended by:
How do I get rid of "other" storage: Apple Support Communities
Next, usually restoring from backup eliminated the corrupted files. However, sometimes restoring to factory settings/new iPod is required.
To restore from backup see:
iOS: How to back up
To restore to factory settings/new iPod see:
iTunes: Restoring iOS software -
How do I switch users on wifi sync for example my Mac has two users one apples MacBook pro the other is my name I want to switch from apples MacBook pro to my name how is this done?
Try connecting the iPad to the computer that you do not want to WiFi sync with and uncheck the WiFi sync option in iTunes. Then click on Apply. Reboot the iPad and see if that does the trick.
Reboot the iPad by holding down on the sleep and home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. -
I got a IMAC 10 days ago, if the new one comes out what the chances for exchange?
I got a IMAC 10 days ago, if the new one comes out what the chances for exchange?
I'm not sure about a restocking fee, but heard of people returning items for a new or differant one. they said they held your original payment as a credir toward your new order.. I'd just call them and ask. good luck.
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