Newbie with service plan question

[dubwisedude]

Hi folks,

to start my Telus service, I purchased the Telus service plan "Parlez et text 100" (one-year contract including 400 minutes each for voice and text) and the Alcatel One Touch A392CC phone.  I was told that, in order to use Telus as mobile phone service provider, I need to subscribe to one of the Telus service plans for the duration of one year.  The plan chosen was presented to me as the best deal.  

Actually, however, I only need my phone for possible emergency calls during the winter (for four to five months per year).  When my current contract expires, I plan to subscribe to Telus' minimum service plan "Depart 10" (monthly contract including 50 minutes each for voice and text), to be renewed monthly according to my need.  But what happens to my phone and service in the remaining seven to eight months during which I will have no use for either?  Will the phone be deactivated and I loose my phone number and incur deactivation and reactivation fees each time I end and begin the season during which I need the mobile service?  Is there a way to retain my phone number - though temporarily unused - until I need to use it again?

Please, send me some feedback.  Thanks! 

[NFtoBC]

To my knowledge, you can buy a 100 dollar annual plan, and use it at pay per use rates if you want an annual plan. However the absolute best deal for an emergency phone which needs a small number of minutes is 7-eleven Speakout at $25 per year.

Your number will expire after 90 days of non-payment.

[dubwisedude]

Thank you for your swift reply!  So I take that, if I stay with Telus, annual deactivation and reactivation as well as change of phone number cannot be avoided if I insist on short-term emergency usage only.

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

Correct, but if your peace of mind is worth about $8.50 per month, then the $100 annual plan makes sense.

EDIT: It appears that prepaid plans have recently changed. A LOT! Now it appears necessary to choose a base plan of minimum $10 per month / $120 per year, rather than use pay-per-use rates, as I indicated in my earlier post.

[dubwisedude]

Thank you for your feedback and elucidating the matter for me, NFtoBC!  I'll look into mobile service options once my current subscription with Telus draws to its end.

Best wishes

DWD