What is the cheapest deal on a cell phone?

[lennon]

I want to buy a cell phone for emergencies only.

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

Your best option, if you are just using the phone for emergencies would be the TELUS Prepaid service. You can top-up with a minimum of $10 every 30 days and as long as you top-up before the 30 day expiry date, the money you currently have will carry over for another 30 days. You can read more about the Prepaid Service here: http://mobility.telus.com/en/BC/prepaid/index.shtml

[xl · Accepted solution]

@m_ols:  I clicked that link.... all I see are $20 monthly plans.  I see nothing for $10.  Can you confirm where I should be looking?

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

The $10 isn't a plan, it would allow for pay per use usage. If the phone is just there in case of an emergency there isn't really reason for a prepaid plan.

[xl · Accepted solution]

I guess that depends on the definition of "emergency"... callling 911 vs calling your mom.

For calls to mom would cheapest plan now be $30 a month?  That is $10 for pay per use and $20 for a prepaid plan?

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

You could go that route, but for $5 more you can get a post paid voice plan which gives you 150 day time minutes with free calling on weekends and after 6PM.

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

Cheaper to buy a $100 top up every 365 days. Works out to about $8.35 per month. Then just find the least expensive phone to go with it; you could even re-purpose an older phone with a new SIM.

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

Your best option, if you are just using the phone for emergencies would be the TELUS Prepaid service. You can top-up with a minimum of $10 every 30 days and as long as you top-up before the 30 day expiry date, the money you currently have will carry over for another 30 days. You can read more about the Prepaid Service here: http://mobility.telus.com/en/BC/prepaid/index.shtml

[xl · Accepted solution]

@m_ols:  I clicked that link.... all I see are $20 monthly plans.  I see nothing for $10.  Can you confirm where I should be looking?

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

The $10 isn't a plan, it would allow for pay per use usage. If the phone is just there in case of an emergency there isn't really reason for a prepaid plan.

[xl · Accepted solution]

I guess that depends on the definition of "emergency"... callling 911 vs calling your mom.

For calls to mom would cheapest plan now be $30 a month?  That is $10 for pay per use and $20 for a prepaid plan?

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

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@xl wrote:

I guess that depends on the definition of "emergency"... callling 911 vs calling your mom.

For calls to mom would cheapest plan now be $30 a month?  That is $10 for pay per use and $20 for a prepaid plan?

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All you need is the $10 pay per use top up. If you are making very few calls, there is no advantage to getting a rate plan, because you use neither the service the plan provides nor the discount on the minutes. Simply buy the phone and add $10 or more of use to it. The minutes roll over each month as long as the balance is topped up each period (30, 60 or 365 days).

[m_ols · Accepted solution]

You could go that route, but for $5 more you can get a post paid voice plan which gives you 150 day time minutes with free calling on weekends and after 6PM.

[NFtoBC · Accepted solution]

Cheaper to buy a $100 top up every 365 days. Works out to about $8.35 per month. Then just find the least expensive phone to go with it; you could even re-purpose an older phone with a new SIM.