How To Buy Prepaid Cell Phone Services - 3 Simple Steps

Buying a prepaid cell phone as an alternative to the usual contract-based cell phone is receiving more attention than ever. Consumers have come to realize that this is a good way to save money. Not only is it cost-effective, there are no long term contracts or expensive overage charges. This guide will give you 3 simple steps to take so that you can buy the best prepaid cell phone package available for yourself.


1. Consider your cell phone usage needs. A good place to start is to check your last cell phone bill. Are you purchasing a cell phone mostly for occasional use, or do you need to use it all the time? How many usage minutes do you average a month? Do you want to send and receive text messages? Do you expect to make international calls? Your needs will determine the type of phone and services to get. Nowadays, you have a lot of choices with prepaid cell phones and services, so having a clear idea of what you need is the best place to start.

2. Check out the phones and plans available. Based on your answers to the questions in part (1) above, you probably have a clear idea what type of phone features you want and what your usage level is. With that description in mind, it is time to browse through the websites of a few prepaid cell phone companies and see the selection.

A good place to start may be your current cell phone company if you are happy with their service so far and if they also provide prepaid services. If you are satisfied with your current phone, you may even be able to turn your current cell phone into a prepaid cell phone. In this case, you will need to call customer support for instructions to make a plan switch and purchase prepaid service usage time. Before you make the switch, however, compare their phone and plan offerings with at least one other company that is ranked high for their prepaid services.

Here is a list of top companies recognized for their prepaid cell phone service taken from JD Power and Associates' 2009 Prepaid Wireless study. In rank order performance for overall customer satisfaction, the companies are:
1. Net10
2. TracFone
3. Boost Mobile
4. Virgin Mobile
5. T-Mobile.

3. Start small on your first purchase. Start small and test it out to make sure you like the service before you purchase additional usage minutes or get on a no-contract monthly plan. Most good prepaid cell phone companies include a 30-day money back guarantee on the phone and at least 10 to 20 starter minutes to try the phone out along with free phone activation. That allows you to check the service out first before you purchase additional usage minutes for the phone.

If these 3 simple steps make sense to you, you can use them to cut through the confusion of all kinds of enticing cell phone offers and purchase the best prepaid cell phone service for yourself.

By: Shannen Lee

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If you are looking to quickly cut through the confusion and choose the best value prepaid cell phone package for yourself, check out more reviews at my Buy Prepaid Cell Phone Services blog located at www.buy-prepaid-cell-phone.com

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