Need advice - Prepaid vs Contract

Hello all you cell phone users, I am soon to be relenting and jumping into the cell phone users fray again, mainly just to have something in the car in case of emergency and in case if my better half needs me to pick something up for one of the children or herself, so not looking at a huge minute package or anything with downloading apps or any texting either. I have gone away from Rogers or Bell, way too pricey, so have been looking at Virgin Mobile (which I was told was Bell's network) and Fido (Rogers network I believe). Also, was wondering if prepaid is better than a contract or vice versa?Basically I am asking if anyone has used the two and have a preference either way? I won't even ask about coverage because most of you are in Ontario and I am in NB, unless Caissie or Cronie has had both and are around to share. Thanks much ladies and gents.

If you are looking to be a minimum-use type of user, then pre-paid would certainly offer you the most flexibility and lowest cost. The biggest question would be how long are the pre-paid minutes valid for when you purchase them. Some expire after a certain time so check what the limitations are for the various offerings. You should be able to get a basic phone for very cheap if not $0 and make use of a pre-paid program.

The only prepaid I ever saw with no expiring minutes was at the 100.00 dollar level. I can't remember the provider, unfortunately.

I've been off cellphones for about 2 years now. I would go prepaid if I really wanted one again.

unfortunately Fido or Virgin Mobile don't come out and say how many the minutes are good for, I do see with Virgin Mobile you are billed as low as $10 a month, then you pay 10 cents for every minute you use, then the next package up is $20 a month with 200 anytime minutes (again with no idea if they expire at the end of the month)

Check wirelesswave.ca for various rate details....

For example, Fido has a $0.20/min anytime pre-paid plan:

http://www.wirelesswave.ca/fido_rateplans_details.asp?RatePlanID=859&CID=50

$20 card - valid for 30 days
$30 card - valid for 30 days
$50 card - valid for 60 days

Not sure if those details apply to your location...

shabbs wrote:Check wirelesswave.ca for various rate details....

For example, Fido has a $0.20/min anytime pre-paid plan:

http://www.wirelesswave.ca/fido_rateplans_details.asp?RatePlanID=859&CID=50

$20 card - valid for 30 days
$30 card - valid for 30 days
$50 card - valid for 60 days

Not sure if those details apply to your location...

hey that site is sweet, I might have to print both off to do a comparison, then consider how much for the phones if I go prepaid, I know Fido it said the lowest was like $65.

Those seem to be valid for Ontario, Quebec and BC only though... but you should be able to call them up and find out. They can tell you how long each pack is valid for.

Virgin seems to have a $100 offering that is valid for 365 days...

shabbs wrote:Those seem to be valid for Ontario, Quebec and BC only though... but you should be able to call them up and find out. They can tell you how long each pack is valid for.

Virgin seems to have a $100 offering that is valid for 365 days...

hmmm I noticed that too, well it's not a rush for me, I have a bit of time to do my homework before making the plunge, no snow ready to come for awhile yet (better not be anyway)

I can't imagine not having a cell phone as a parent. I'd always want to be reachable if something were to happen at Day Care or while away.

shabbs wrote:I can't imagine not having a cell phone as a parent. I'd always want to be reachable if something were to happen at Day Care or while away.

well that is kind of where I am standing too, we don't have day care worries, but he is going to be starting school in 8 days and to reach me at work is a pain, and if mommy at home is busy with the baby, she might not get to the phone or hear the phone.

I got by without a cell phone when I was kid. Also, when we weren't home the phone just rang and rang and the caller would realize we weren't home. Then they would call back later if it was that important.

SeawaySensFan wrote:I got by without a cell phone when I was kid. Also, when we weren't home the phone just rang and rang and the caller would realize we weren't home. Then they would call back later if it was that important.

those were the good old days eh, but now, well the schools seem to pressure parents to get a cell phone, they did us I know when I registered my son for kindergarten this year.

PetroCanada mobility and 7-Elecen both offer pre-paid, unlocked GSM phones on the Rogers network. You can buy $100 airtime and it doesn't run out for a year (or $50 for 6 months). PetroCan now allows you to purchase minutes online. Not sure about 7-Eleven, but if you live near one I guess it doesn't matter much. You can't buy the SIM card separately, though, so you have to buy one of their phones. There are regular deals, though.

Here's some more info on both:
http://www.theblog.ca/best-prepaid-cell

And the actual source:
http://mobility.petro-canada.ca/default.aspx
http://speakout7eleven.ca/

wprager wrote:PetroCanada mobility and 7-Elecen both offer pre-paid, unlocked GSM phones on the Rogers network. You can buy $100 airtime and it doesn't run out for a year (or $50 for 6 months). PetroCan now allows you to purchase minutes online. Not sure about 7-Eleven, but if you live near one I guess it doesn't matter much. You can't buy the SIM card separately, though, so you have to buy one of their phones. There are regular deals, though.

Here's some more info on both:
http://www.theblog.ca/best-prepaid-cell

And the actual source:
http://mobility.petro-canada.ca/default.aspx
[url=http://speakout7eleven.ca/

http://speakout7eleven.ca/[/quote[/url]]

am looking through Petro Can right now, as for the 7 Eleven deal, well we have none out here in my area that I know of, so that probably wouldn't help me much, but Petro Can sounds intriguing.

SensFan71 wrote:

SeawaySensFan wrote:I got by without a cell phone when I was kid. Also, when we weren't home the phone just rang and rang and the caller would realize we weren't home. Then they would call back later if it was that important.

those were the good old days eh, but now, well the schools seem to pressure parents to get a cell phone, they did us I know when I registered my son for kindergarten this year.

Life is Diddle up. Schools are always compelling parents to buy, buy, buy. When I was a kid I needed a school bag and my notebooks and pencils were given to me with the "United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry" emblazoned on each.

Don't make me sound like an old man dammit!