Your prepaid plan sounded like a terrific deal, but now you find yourself burning through minutes or paying more and more to keep your phone on. Here is a list explaining some of the common consumer frustrations with prepaid cell phone service.
Per-minute Charges are Usually Higher than for Contract Plans
Since you are paying up-front, you might assume prepaid plans are a good deal. The reality is that contract plans usually offer cheaper per-minute rates and unlimited minutes on nights and weekends. Just counting the number of minutes you used in a given number of calls, with a prepaid plan you may end up paying more than if you had been in a contract plan.
Using Up Minutes by "Roaming" Out of Your Service Area
Roaming charges can vary from 85 cents to nearly $2.00 per minute, so it's important that you specifically check into these charges. To avoid roaming, make sure you know the plan's "home" calling area.
Inactivity Means You Lose Your Phone Number and/or Pay to Re-activate Service
Most prepaid plans require minimum usage each month to retain your phone number. With prepaid plans, inactivity is considered a sign of discontinuation of service by the customer. If you plan to use your prepaid phone infrequently, remember to use it enough to meet the minimum requirement to keep the service active, avoid re-activation charges, and maintain your phone number.
Limits on Switching from Prepaid service to Contract Service
Prepaid mobile phones cost about the same as low-end contract phones, but prepaid phones are not always compatible with contract plans. If you decide to switch to a contract plan with the same cell phone company, you may need to purchase a new phone. The same applies if you decide to switch from contract to prepay.
