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Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

How much does a trackfone cost without adding minutes?

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Yeah, I ordered a bunch of them. Two from each seller. The problem is, when you activate it, they ask for the IMEI number. When I tried to activate the third one, it said it had been used too many times. So, in order to use more than 2 of these would require a new phone, which is a problem. It is a shame, because the $5.99 monthly plans would be great for stealth and they are on the AT&T network, so the phone numbers are mostly good.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Anywhere from $5 on sale, up to $10 for most phones, or if you want, you can buy an expensive phone to use with Tracfone.

It used to be nice, because you could get 20 minutes and 90 days for free.

Now, in addition to buying the phone, you have to add a $10 plan at minimum and that gives you only 30 days.

So the $5 or $10 initial cost has become $15 or $20.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Just an FYI... I have some leftover Tracfones and I thought about getting one or two of them unlocked so I could use them with either easygo or something else. There are several unlocking websites that promise to unlock your phone for a fee.

So, I chatted with one guy and he told me that Tracfones CANNOT be unlocked. Most of them do not even have the capability, because it is hard coded into the device and they will only work with Tracfone. I thought this was strange, since Tracfone does not own a cellular network, they just buy time from AT&T and Verizon, etc.

I looked at a settlement agreement that Tracfone reached with the FCC, since it is now the law that ALL cell phones should be able to be unlocked. It appears it IS true, because they are going to be replacing the phones for everyone in their Safelink program (a program that subsidizes phone service to the poor) so they can be unlocked and that regular customers who are not a part of Safelink can receive a credit from Tracfone if certain conditions are met. The credit is being issues since the phones CANNOT be unlocked.

Unfortunately, the conditions state that you had to have continuous service with Tracfone for 12 months and have paid for x number of airtime cards, or pins, or online.

I wanted to share that with the group. This happened in June of this year. It made me wonder if Tracfone made the change of having to add airtime in response to that settlement agreement and the new law? It is certainly possible. If all of the phones they sell have to be unlockable with codes, then certainly some enterprising hackers will figure out how to generate those codes and then can unlock brand new phones and sell them for a nice price. My guess is there will be further changes to Tracfone's business model. I think we can kiss the $5 phones goodbye. Because if they can be unlocked, then a cottage industry will spring up with people buying phones for $5, unlocking them and selling them as new, unlocked GSM phones. That is all just my THEORY, of course. Bit it WOULD explain Tracfone's new airtime purchase policy.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

I think the reason they cant be unlocked is because they would be exported to developing countries and sold for 5x its US price.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

maybe i havent been keeping up and if this is old news i apologize, but today I created a few accounts with some tracfones and I fully expected to have to buy minutes. To my surprise, when I got to the adding minutes section, the old "skip" button was back. I was able to activate the phones without purchasing minutes. I had the old standard 20 minutes/ 60 days. I was thrilled. So have they reverted back to the old deal or did they grandfather the older phones (I bought these phones at least 6 months ago)?

phones are the lg305c bought off amazon for $5

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

interesting.... dont have any tracphones
im tempted to try again ;////

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Nope, tried it again, it was still asking u to buy a card

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

They are testing the waters.
What I think they are doing is phasing out older models.

The older phones I have, a lot of their serials are invalid.
But the more expensive type phones usually come with the free time/minutes.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Hey I know this is an older post but I wanted to ask if anyone has been using tracfone and still being able to get thru without adding minutes?
I had a box of them in the last few months I have been using one here and there and its basically hit or miss. Sometimes I can skip buying and sometimes I have to buy.

I just wanted to know what anyones else experience was?
Also anyone found a cheap alternative? I have found some alternatives but all equate to basically the same as tracfone, similar to $10 a month if you want to keep the phones active.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

I have not had any tracfones with free minutes since they quit giving free minutes when Jeff W posted the original thread.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Hmm interesting I wonder if certain older models get thru with the skip button and dont need to add minutes and the newer ones you have to buy.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

I have older models, I tried to register one not too long ago and they told me that 2g coverage was suspended in my area and I could contact them to trade my phone in for a new one.

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

Anyone know of any sites with discounts on the tracfone at this time?

Re: Tracfone Issue - Could be REALLY BAD!
 

did anyone try the birner ap?
last time I tried pinger I could not confirm my paypal account.