Any Unpublicized Verizon Pay As You Go Plans or No Credit Check?

My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
service that can also use the AMPS network.

I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
RIDICULOUS!

My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
without the credit check?

Dan wrote:
> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>
> I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
> Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
> likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
> understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
> pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
> credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
> to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
> refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
> require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
> Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
> RIDICULOUS!
>
> My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
> there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
> without the credit check?

There are other pay as you go plans on Verizon's network, but not
directly from Verizon.

If you want CDMA/AMPS look at
"http://www.viva-wireless.com/html/products_services.html"

No daily charge, and the per-minute rate is 18¢ or 9¢ (off-peak) with a
whopping 99¢ per minute _additional_ for roaming. 25¢ per call connect fee.

"http://www.locusplatinum.com/" is 15¢ per minute, all the time, with no
connect fee. Same 99¢ per minute _additional_ for roaming.

If not for the 99¢ daily fee, Verizon's prepaid plan would be very good,
which is why Verizon had to have something to discourage its use.

For TDMA/AMPS, nothing beats BeyondWireless, though as you stated the
TDMA network is degrading, and will likely be shut down in 2008.

In short, if you are actually going to be making a lot of calls
off-network, then forget about any plan with high off-peak charges, but
if it's just a very occasional call off-network then it's not a big deal
to pay the 99¢ per minute _additional_ for roaming once in a while.

You might want to check out T-Mobile for pay as you go service. Great rates,
phones & service.


"Dan" <dmsf2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132229562.384473.235720@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>
> I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
> Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
> likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
> understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
> pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
> credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
> to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
> refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
> require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
> Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
> RIDICULOUS!
>
> My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
> there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
> without the credit check?
>

Ben Skversky wrote:
> "Dan" <dmsf2000@hotmail.com> wrote...
>> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
>> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
>> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
>> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>
> You might want to check out T-Mobile for pay as you go service. Great rates,
> phones & service.

Judging from their maps, I don't think T-Mobile is much for the boondocks
OR for analog. I get the impression they follow the interstates.

--
If John McCain gets the 2008 Republican Presidential nomination,
my vote for President will be a write-in for Jiang Zemin.

Check out Dave Markson's site for prepay: http://www.cellguru.net/
He has a great prepay comparison chart:
http://www.cellguru.net/prepaid_compare.htm

One that uses CDMA and has cheap rates is Page Plus:
http://store.yahoo.com/pagepluscellular/

Lena

Ben Skversky wrote:
> You might want to check out T-Mobile for pay as you go service. Great rates,
> phones & service.

T-Mobile has the best price on pre-paid of the major carriers, but
unfortunately the coverage leaves a lot to be desired.

The original poster was interested in coverage in the "boondocks" so
T-Mobile is the wrong carrier for him. He needs a carrier that supports
AMPS, which means Sprint or Verizon in the big four. Fortunately,
Verizon has some resellers that have better prepaid plans than Verizono
itself.

Try Here: http://www.ecallplus.com/index.htm . While I haven't used this
service myself, I did recommend it to several people when Verizon changed
their pay as you go plan. He was able to activate a non gps cdma phone after
Verizon quit doing it. And before you ask no I don't work for him or make a
dime for referrals.

MM

"Dan" <dmsf2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1132229562.384473.235720@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>
> I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
> Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
> likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
> understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
> pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
> credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
> to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
> refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
> require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
> Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
> RIDICULOUS!
>
> My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
> there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
> without the credit check?
>

clifto wrote:
> Ben Skversky wrote:
> Judging from their maps, I don't think T-Mobile is much for the boondocks
> OR for analog. I get the impression they follow the interstates.

T-Mobile is GSM only. And GSM phones do not have analog (with very rare
exceptions), so you cannot roam on analog systems with T-Mobile phones.

CharlesH wrote:

> T-Mobile is GSM only. And GSM phones do not have analog (with very rare
> exceptions)

On T-Mobile there are no exceptions at all. You simply cannot roam on
analog.

The only exceptions in the GSM universe are GAIT phones as offered by
Cingular and the former AT&T Wireless, but not even those are offered
anymore (and definitely not to new customers). Most GAIT service has
been discontinued, and users still hanging on to their handsets are
being "encouraged" to go with dedicated GSM service.


--
E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

Isaiah Beard wrote:
> CharlesH wrote:
>
>> T-Mobile is GSM only. And GSM phones do not have analog (with very
>> rare exceptions)
>
>
> On T-Mobile there are no exceptions at all. You simply cannot roam on
> analog.
>
> The only exceptions in the GSM universe are GAIT phones as offered by
> Cingular and the former AT&T Wireless, but not even those are offered
> anymore (and definitely not to new customers).

Well there was the Nokia NRM-1 module, which you can still find. It
attaches to the Nokia 6190 or 5190 and provides analog capability.

See "http://www.cell-phone-accessories.com/nrm1nokplusm.html"

But in the case of T-Mobile, the only AMPS service you'll be able to get
with that module is 911 access, or perhaps American Roaming Network
credit card service. Outgoing only.

It'd make more sense to keep a TDMA/AMPS phone on Beyond Wireless, as a
back-up to a GSM phone.

If you are around the Atlanta area, check out pcmetro

On Fri, 18 Nov 2005, Ben Skversky wrote:

> You might want to check out T-Mobile for pay as you go service. Great rates,
> phones & service.
>
>
> "Dan" <dmsf2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1132229562.384473.235720@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
>> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
>> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
>> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
>> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>>
>> I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
>> Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
>> likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
>> understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
>> pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
>> credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
>> to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
>> refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
>> require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
>> Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
>> RIDICULOUS!
>>
>> My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
>> there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
>> without the credit check?
>>
>
>
>

PagePlus Cellular is a good prepay
EasyPay requires no contract and has minute plans, I believe that has no
credit check. Ask someone else for the minute allotment info.

Had that name backwards, sorry.

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005, Dana wrote:

> If you are around the Atlanta area, check out pcmetro
>
> On Fri, 18 Nov 2005, Ben Skversky wrote:
>
>> You might want to check out T-Mobile for pay as you go service. Great
>> rates,
>> phones & service.
>>
>>
>> "Dan" <dmsf2000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1132229562.384473.235720@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
>>> My cell phone needs - Basic. Use about 3 hours/month, no data/internet
>>> needed, ability to use phone in outlying remote areas (the "boondocks")
>>> is VERY important. From what I've seen, these means getting a phone and
>>> service that can also use the AMPS network.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking of switching to Verizon from Cingular because I've seen
>>> Cingular's service in the outlying areas degrade over the years. Most
>>> likely due to the fact that I've got an older TDMA Nokia, and I
>>> understand Cingular is switching over to GSM. And I'd like to go with a
>>> pay as you go plan, if workable, and skip the annual contract and
>>> credit check nonsense. After all, this a just a phone - I'm not trying
>>> to buy a car or a house. If it's available, I'm willing to put down a
>>> refundable deposit up front, similar to the way some utility companies
>>> require for new customers. But the pay as you go plan I've seen from
>>> Verizon charges 99 cents/day, even if no calls are made or rec'd -
>>> RIDICULOUS!
>>>
>>> My question - Does Verizon have any better pay as you go plans, or is
>>> there any way for a new customer to sign up for a regular monthly plan
>>> without the credit check?
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>

Esoteric wrote:
> PagePlus Cellular is a good prepay
> EasyPay requires no contract and has minute plans, I believe that has no
> credit check. Ask someone else for the minute allotment info.

This looks like a very good deal as long as you don't do any off-Verizon
network calling. It's as cheap as T-Mobile per minute, but with
nationwide coverage including AMPS and roaming on non-Verizon CDMA
networks for a hefty extra fee ($1.95 per minute).