topic Re: Trac Phone question in Electronics

Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:00:57 GMT

I am thinking of switching my husband's flip phone to a track phone or something similar....and buying minutes as needed

I went to Walmart today to discuss and was told that EVERY SINGLE MONTH we must add minutes to his phone, does that sound right? I thought the idea was to buy as needed.

He rarely uses his phone, does not need wifi...he just sends and receives calls, if this is true is there any company that allows to purchase minutes as needed, not every month?

thanks

Re: Trac Phone question

gardenman — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:12:47 GMT

You can buy yearly plans with Tracfone. Some come with unlimited calls and texts and some come with 1500 minutes of usable phone time. QVC, HSN, eBay, and even Walmart (online anyway) offer some phones with those deals.

Re: Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:16:51 GMT

Thanks @gardenman

Do you know if he can use his current phone or has to buy a phone from the company? 1500 minutes would probably last a very long time. I would prefer to buy as needed but that might not be possible any longer.

Re: Trac Phone question

gardenman — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:19:28 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
Thanks @gardenman

Do you know if he can use his current phone or has to buy a phone from the company? 1500 minutes would probably last a very long time. I would prefer to buy as needed but that might not be possible any longer.

Tracfone has a "Bring your own phone" program where they'll send you a SIM card for an existing phone (if needed) and you can use your existing phone with them. You then have to buy a service plan. It's often cheaper to just buy one of the TV shopping channel bundles instead.

Re: Trac Phone question

stevieb — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:22:06 GMT

@Mom2Dogs Tracfone is pushing 'plans' but no you do not have to add minutes every month and you don't have to cave on a plan. You do have to ensure you have both minutes and service days, but neither must be replenished monthly, as a number of options is available for adding what you need when you need it.

Re: Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:24:04 GMT

@stevieb Hmmm, Walmart employee must have mis spoke...she insisted ALL types of these phone are going to must buy minutes monthly

Re: Trac Phone question

goldensrbest — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:30:10 GMT

I had one a few years ago,i was always running out of minutes,i went to consumer cellular, so much better.

Re: Trac Phone question

stevieb — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 16:56:03 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@stevieb Hmmm, Walmart employee must have mis spoke...she insisted ALL types of these phone are going to must buy minutes monthly

@Mom2Dogs Not true. Perhaps her training wasn't sufficient, but I have two and do not add minutes monthly. I've used TF for years and have never had to add minutes on a monthly basis. I've been checking their site lately, as it's time to replace one of my phones, and their service offerings do not appear to require monthly minute updates. One advantage to TF is they are now owned by Verizon so use the Verizon network for connectivity in most areas.

Re: Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:34:25 GMT

@stevieb Got it, thank you. We have a small VERIZON store front in town, maybe they can help me.

He will never use data, he only wants to make and send calls...he likes his flip phone but I find it cumbersome and difficult to use....adding contacts is horrible.

Re: Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:38:07 GMT

@goldensrbest We have used CC in the past and I might be switching to them, the price is good as well. I was just thinking that maybe if my husband had a tracphone and just bought minutes as needed the overall price would be better.

Currently we have SPECTRUM but are looking to drop their internet, their policy is to add $10.00 per line if you do not have their internet. I have checked several different ways to confirm this and it is true...so if we change internet providers we will have to get different cell providers.

Re: Trac Phone question

stevieb — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:38:28 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@stevieb Got it, thank you. We have a small VERIZON store front in town, maybe they can help me.

He will never use data, he only wants to make and send calls...he likes his flip phone but I find it cumbersome and difficult to use....adding contacts is horrible.

@Mom2Dogs I tend to doubt the Verizon store is the way to go. They are more likely to want ot sell you more than you want and I'm not sure whether they offer TF at Verizon stores. In fact, I'm pretty sure they don't. You might try Target. You can also buy via the TF site, on QVC, HSN or many retaill stores.

Re: Trac Phone question

geezerette — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:47:49 GMT

Our Walmart doesn't even sell TracFones, just Straight Talk, which does require buying minutes monthly. At least they used to years ago when I used them for a while.

The employee may have been speaking of all the phones they carry require monthly purchases.

Re: Trac Phone question

geezerette — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:48:59 GMT

@stevieb wrote:
@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@stevieb Got it, thank you. We have a small VERIZON store front in town, maybe they can help me.

He will never use data, he only wants to make and send calls...he likes his flip phone but I find it cumbersome and difficult to use....adding contacts is horrible.

@Mom2Dogs I tend to doubt the Verizon store is the way to go. They are more likely to want ot sell you more than you want and I'm not sure whether they offer TF at Verizon stores. In fact, I'm pretty sure they don't. You might try Target. You can also buy via the TF site, on QVC, HSN or many retaill stores.

They do not at my Verizon store. They do have their own brand of prepaid phone service though.

Re: Trac Phone question

suzykee — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 14:50:09 GMT

I have had a Tracfone for close to 25 years. I always buy a yearly plan (from Tracfone website) but the last 2 times I have bought a 2 year plan. The minutes, text & data that are not used at the end of the year(s) have always been added to a new plan as long as the new plan is purchased before the expiration date. I have had 3 phones (the last one is a smart phone) & everything has transfered to the new phone. I hate using a cell phone and basically use it for emergencies so it is rarely on. Tracfone does NOT have easy to understand customer service. I have hung up and called again to get a person I can understand. Tracfone has served my meager needs and it doesn't break the bank. Just remember to add a plan (minutes) BEFORE the expiration date.

Re: Trac Phone question

stevieb — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:12:10 GMT

I too buy the annual service days option, but find that if I add one of the least costly minute/service days options first, the annual plan goes from about a hundred bucks down to about fifty and figure it's worth it to do so.

Re: Trac Phone question

Kachina624 — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:20:20 GMT

@Mom2Dogs. Go to the TracFone website and read about all their plans. In addition to buying minutes, you do have to pay an annual fee to use their service. Most of their phones are "smart" phones and are somewhat more complicated to use than most flip phones, if this is an issue.

I've always gotten my phones from hsn as they seem to have the best deals.

Re: Trac Phone question

Mom2Dogs — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:26:53 GMT

@suzykee Thanks, I just did a live chat with TRACPHONE, whew, had to ask the same question several times...I will go to TARGET to purchase if my husband agrees.

The one good thing is he can use his current phone, we just need to buy a SIM card. Like you, he rarely uses a cell phone and only uses it to call and receive. Sounds like a year plan will be the most economical.

Re: Trac Phone question

Nightowlz — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 18:22:12 GMT

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@stevieb Hmmm, Walmart employee must have mis spoke...she insisted ALL types of these phone are going to must buy minutes monthly

@Mom2Dogs

The only way you have to add monthly is if you buy the 30 day plan.

You can add service with Tracfone on their website.

They have 30, 60, 90 or 365 day plans each come with different amounts of talk, text, data.

They also have a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month or 12 month Unlimited plans to choose from.

There's auto refill plans too.

If you hook up with plan through Verizon it will cost more money.

It is easier if you buy one from Q or HSN that already comes with service. It's like getting a free phone.

Enter your zip code to make sure it works in your area.

None of them will work in my zip code anymore for some reason. I now have to buy unlocked phones to get service here with AT&T.

I buy the 1 year plan. I add 5000 texts to my phone.

Re: Trac Phone question

SilleeMee — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:00:54 GMT

I have a Tracfone flip phone and I buy a yearly service plan for $49. But to get that plan you have to add minutes to your phone first and then go back and then add the yearly $49 plan to your cart. It won't let you do that otherwise.

Re: Trac Phone question

FranandZoe — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:29:27 GMT

If you deal with Tracfone online - I do - they have many different plans. I currently add minutes every 3 months. They have different deals/offers monthly too. Check them out - tracfonedotcom.

Consumer Cellular is supposed to be a very economical way to go. You can use your own phone if it's compatible with their network. Or something. Check them out too.