You want to shift to a prepaid cell phone plan. After all you have been fully convinced of the things you read and heard about prepaid cell phone service. And you want to benefit from the unique features that prepaid cell phone plans offer.

You can always buy second hand phones that will carry prepaid plans that you want to benefit from. Still, you need to be careful in choosing and buying used phones, especially when you plan to buy it online. This way you can prevent getting ripped off by unscrupulous merchants that sell defective cell phones. Below we have enumerated some tips that you can use in securing second hand cell phone units online.

Tips on Buying Used Phones Online

1.Make sure that you don’t buy stolen items. Before you buy a used phone, check the records of the phone. Review the receipt of the phone and validate whether the name of the seller matches that name of the buyer in the receipt. This way you can be assured of buying only legitimate items and not the stolen ones.

You may also investigate on the background and license of the online cell phone shop. Conduct researches on the service level and products of an online shop. Ask for customer reviews and testimonials. Contact the shop and ask for an assurance that they do not sell stolen phones.

This way you can be assured of purchasing phones that have proper documents and not the stolen ones.

2.Research on the features of the model you plan to buy. Perform a thorough research on the features and specifications of the phone model you want. This will serve as your guide in selecting and buying a used phone that will meet your expectations and needs.

3.Ask to hold the unit first before buying it. Remember that you are buying a second hand phone to take advantage of the features of a prepaid cell phone service. If you will buy a phone that will not be durable enough, for sure your money will just go to waste. So never rely on the pictures and descriptions provided online. Rather schedule a meet up with your prospective seller. This will give you the opportunity to inspect the phone being sold. What are some things that you need to check?

• Phone Casings. Check for scratches and dents. And see if the physical condition of the cell phone cover still allows you to recognize the phone model.

• Keypad. Check whether all the keys work. And see whether there are missing or faded keys. If you see some, better look out for other sellers.

• Screen. View if the screen is still in good condition or if it has defective pixels or lines.

• Battery. Inspect whether the battery is still performing well. If not, you may ask the seller to provide you newer phone batteries or negotiate a lower price.

• Other features. For more contemporary phone models, check on the following components: software, stylus, slide or hinge mechanism, touch-screen, headphone jack and speakers, and card slots. Inspect the condition of each of these components for you to get assured that the phone you will be buying will be worth the asking price of the seller.

4.Ask for at least a one-week warranty from the cell phone seller. Ask your seller for at least a short-term warranty. This way, should the used phone fail to live up to your expectations, you can still ask for a refund. And you can still buy another second-hand phone from a new online shop.

By employing these steps, you can surely find a second hand phone that you can use to benefit from prepaid cell phone services.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Prepaid phones or pay-as-you phone plans are increasingly becoming popular these days as consumers try to find ways to save their budget.  But are all prepaid cell phone services really as good as they promise to be?  How can you find a prepaid cell phone service that’s best for you?

Below are some points to remember when comparing different prepaid cell phone plans:

Know your personal needs. All of us have different needs and purposes when it comes to using cell phones.  Before shopping around for cell phone deals, you need to know your priorities.  For instance, will you use your phone mostly for texting?  Will you need to make out-of-the country calls on a regular basis?  Do you need a roaming service?  Is there a particular cell phone unit that you prefer to use?  Jot down your priorities and use this list when evaluating plans.          

Use online comparison tools. You can find websites that not only offer reviews but also a comparison tool that you can use to match up different prepaid cell phone services side-by-side.  This way, you can immediately see the pros and cons that each cell phone carrier offers.

Pay attention to the fees. True enough, using a prepaid cell phone plan can enable you to save money as long as you know how to control your usage.  Nevertheless, when managed incorrectly, using a prepaid plan can prove to be a lot more expensive.

For example, if you spend a lot of time on calls on a daily basis, you may be better off with a post paid plan.  Keep in mind that prepaid phone plans are charge by the minute so when you ran out of call time, you will need to buy a new call card to reload your account.

Check out the phone units. If you are going to purchase a prepaid phone kit that comes with a handset, see to it that you know what you’ll be given.  One thing you can do is to visit a wireless phone center or store where varying handsets are displayed.  This way, you’ll get a better idea about the type of prepaid phone unit you will get.

Check the features included. Unlike a post paid plan, certain features may not be provided by your prepaid cell phone service provider.  You may need to send a request to your carrier before you can enjoy special phone functions such as call waiting, call forwarding, voice mail, etc.  Take note that subscribing to each of these features will cost you an additional payment.

Wireless Internet Capability. Do you need to use your mobile phone to surf the internet?  If you do, be sure that the type of handset you will be provided is capable of connecting to the internet.  Also, check with your carrier how much you will pay on per minute surfing.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Many consumers today prefer to go prepaid rather than subscribe with a post paid cell phone plan. If you are planning to get a prepaid cellular phone, what are the factors that you must consider before choosing a prepaid cell phone service provider?

Cost per call. When you buy a prepaid phone kit, it is often pre-loaded with minutes of calls and text messages. Once you used up your available balance, you must reload your phone to make new calls and send more texts.                  

You need to be aware of how much you will be charged for every call or text you send as some carriers may offer lower per call rates than others. Sometimes the cost per call or text will vary depending on to which network you send it to. Compared to a post paid plan, keep in mind that prepaid phone service providers may charge a higher rate on calls, especially if calls are made to other networks.

Extra Features. Unlike post paid phone packages, certain features such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, call conferencing, voice mail, and wireless web may not be included in a prepaid plan. If you want to use these functions, you must first send a request to your service provider and pay a separate cost for each feature.

Load Expiration. Take note that when you reload your phone, your balance can expire when not used within a specific time period. Prepaid call cards are available in various denominations, depending on the amount you load.

For instance, you may be able to buy a call card that’s worth $20 but it may come with a shorter expiration period than cards with higher denominations. Once expired, your account will have a zero balance whether or not you consumed your last load.

Some carriers enable their prepaid phone users to carry over their unused balance, as long as they reload their accounts before the old load expires. Meanwhile, if you fail to reload after a month or 2, your account may be automatically deactivated and you will need to buy a new prepaid SIM card.

Coverage. Some prepaid cell phone service providers offer coverage to specific States or areas only. Thus, if you are a frequent traveler, you may want to check which service provider offers a wider range of coverage, particularly in the places you often visit.

If you have friends or relatives overseas that you must get in touch with on a regular basis, try to find a prepaid phone service company that not only offer reasonable long distance charges but reliable coverage as well.

Personal choice on handsets. With prepaid plans, phone unit will sometimes depend on the carrier that promotes it. For instance, the phones used for TracFone may not be the same as the handsets available with Net10 or Verizon. Hence, if you like a particular style or unit that is exclusively offered with that prepaid cell phone service provider, carefully review the provisions of the plan before making the purchase.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Now that times are tough, many are switching from a post-paid cell phone plan to a prepaid cell phone service.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of using prepaid cell phones?  Should you get a prepaid phone as well?

Advantages of Prepaid Cell Phones

Pay only for your call/text usage. A common complaint with post paid phone plans is that subscribers find additional charges on their bill for calls they never made.  With a prepaid phone, there’s no need to worry about incurring extra charges, missing your due date of payment, or paying late penalty fees.

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Easy to acquire. There’s no need to fill out application forms or sign up for the 1 year contract to get approved.   If you want to have your own prepaid cell phone, all you have to do is visit your chosen carrier and make a purchase.

Put a limit over your spending. It is easier to exercise control over your call expenses using a prepaid cell phone.   You can only reload a limited amount of credit that you can use for the whole week or the whole month.  With a post paid plan, you can always make a call at anytime or make your calls a little bit longer than necessary, racking up your bills for the month.

Disadvantages of Prepaid Cell Phones

Now that we have discussed the advantages of owning a prepaid cell phone, let’s tackle the disadvantages that you should consider as well.  Remember, if you need to make frequent calls from your cell phone every day, then you may be able to save more with a post paid plan.  Prepaid phones are great for those who only make phone calls occasionally.
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You always have to reload new credit. Once you’ve used up all your available credit, you will need to buy a new prepaid card or transfer funds to your cell phone to be able to use it for new calls or texts.

You can’t use a prepaid phone to build credit history. Cell phone companies do not provide credit reporting for their prepaid plan subscribers.  If you want to build up your credit history, then what you need is a post paid cell phone service.

The cost per call is higher than a post paid plan phone. Since prepaid cell phones charge calls by the second, not by the minute, you could end up paying for more if you make longer calls frequently.  If you need a longer airtime, then a post paid plan may be a better choice for you.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

If you want to cut back from your personal costs, why not consider switching from cell phone line to a prepaid cell phone plan?  Yes, using a prepaid cell phone can actually give you significant savings.  How?  Here are practical tips on how you can save money using a prepaid phone.

Choose a prepaid cell phone service that matches your needs. Different carriers offer varying packages for prepaid cell phone service.  Find one that best complements your lifestyle.  Read online reviews so you can have better idea on which carriers provide the best service.  Compare not only the rates per call or text messaging but the quality of coverage as well.

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Limit unnecessary calls. Most wireless carriers provide a few hours or minutes of calls each month that you can use for free.  However, once you’ve used it up, you will need to purchase more credit to be able to use your cell phone for new calls. Use this limit to your advantage.  Call only for important reasons and utilize your call minutes wisely.

Choose a combo package. If each one in your family needs a cellular phone, consider the prepaid family package offers.  Combo deals are great for families who need to contact each other every day.  Not only can you get a discounted rate for calls and texts, you may also be able to enjoy more airtime usage.

Be aware of your carrier’s restrictions. When acquiring a prepaid cell phone, reading the fine print is just as important.  You want to make sure that you know the exact rules of your carrier particularly when it comes to the expiration of your available credit.  Unused credit is certainly a waste of money.  When reloading credit, be conscious about the amount of your cell phone balance and the date that it will expire.  If you don’t need to make long conversations, then buy the smallest denomination of credit available.

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Avoid the penalties. Prepaid phones often need to be reloaded on a regular basis.  Not purchasing any credit for a month or two can cause your account to be automatically deactivated.  As a penalty, your prepaid carrier may require you to pay a fee in order to reactivate your prepaid account.  Such fees can be avoided by being aware of the terms in your contract.

Take advantage of the free calls. Sometimes, calls made to the same network are not charged at all.  You can make the most out of this privilege by picking a network that many of your relatives or friends are already using.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

We are all trying to cut back and stretch each dollar a little further. One easy way you can do this is to analyze your current cell phone plan. When my sister first purchased her phone she was very mobile, always out. I often told her to get rid of her home phone since she was rarely there. Then her circumstances changed, she got into a really steady relationship and just wasn’t going out on the town as much anymore. Now she is home and using her home phone, but she is still clinging to her old plan. This month when you get your bill take a look at your usage

• how many minutes did you use – did you fall well within your plan or did you nearly run out of minutes? If you fall well within your limit and you do that on a regular basis you may want to call your carrier and ask for the next level down
• Do you text a lot? Much like minutes you need to watch how many texts you make each month. If you are a texter I’m sure you are constantly surprised at how many texts you actually sent in a month. Most plans have fairly inexpensive text packages you can add to your account. Its VERY important that your monitor your usage. Texting can be very expensive if you go over your limit.
• Did you look at the coverage map before you signed your contract? Not all carriers are a like. In my own home my boyfriends Verizon cell phone doesn’t work, but my sisters AT&T phone does. Make sure your phone provides coverage in the areas you visit the most.
• Roaming – where does roaming start? If your work or home is in a roaming area – that is definitely not the right cell phone provider for you!
• If you have to sign a contract, how long will it run and are there any fees for early termination – Again the great thing about going prepaid is that you don’t have a contract and if you become unhappy with a carrier you can just walk away with no penalties or hefty fees.

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About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for www.go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards, pre paid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!