Free and low-cost cell phones
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:25 am
I've seen a couple of news stories recently where people had emergencies and could not call 911 because they didn't have a phone.
I understand that many people in this economy cannot afford standard phone service. My phone bill is over $100 a month (though that includes two land lines and internet).
Almost every cell phone in existence can call 911 without being subscribed to a carrier (in other words, costing no money). You can buy these at second-hand stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army for a dollar or two. Women crisis centers often give them away.
Also there are prepaid cell phones like Tracfone that cost about $100 a year for minimal usage. I've used Tracfone for years. There are other competing services. Starter kits for these services are sold at dollar stores for maybe $10.
If anyone knows other alternatives, please post them. There is supposed to be low-cost phone service for indigent people, which is actually a fee tacked onto our phone bills, but I can't figure out how to get it.
- Jim
I understand that many people in this economy cannot afford standard phone service. My phone bill is over $100 a month (though that includes two land lines and internet).
Almost every cell phone in existence can call 911 without being subscribed to a carrier (in other words, costing no money). You can buy these at second-hand stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army for a dollar or two. Women crisis centers often give them away.
Also there are prepaid cell phones like Tracfone that cost about $100 a year for minimal usage. I've used Tracfone for years. There are other competing services. Starter kits for these services are sold at dollar stores for maybe $10.
If anyone knows other alternatives, please post them. There is supposed to be low-cost phone service for indigent people, which is actually a fee tacked onto our phone bills, but I can't figure out how to get it.
- Jim