Paying for prepaid

You’re a college student with little or no credit. Everyone around you has a cell phone, and they do all these cool things: play mp3s, take pictures and make noises that sound like a swinging a light saber. The temptation to have one is extraordinary. But you can’t afford a $400 deposit at Verizon! No worries, prepaid cellular service to the rescue!

I found myself finally in need of a phone when I moved to Portland, but with my credit it seemed impossible to get one. Lo and behold, an advertisement for Cricket Wireless, a prepaid service with no credit checks, no contracts. And the plans were more than comparable to companies like AT&T and Sprint. So I ordered online and looked forward to finally joining technology in the 21st century.

However, after more than a week my phone had still not arrived. I called to find out what was going on, and was told that an accessory I ordered was on back order so it could be several weeks. I called the local Cricket store and was told that they could give me a great deal if I called to cancel the online order and came in to sign up for service. I followed those instructions, and just a couple hours later had a brand new phone.

Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there. A couple of days later, I received a call from the Internet-based Cricket. I was told I couldn’t cancel my order. No other explanation, just, “Nope, we’re not canceling it.” I was aghast. Nowhere on the site did it say orders were final and I had never signed a contract. Not only that, I never received my phones or services in the mail. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, I was hung up on.

A month and a complaint to the Better Business Bureau later, I received a package from Cricket Wireless online. I immediately returned it and contacted the company, demanding my refund or I would seek further action. Now I am told it can take up to another month to receive my refund.

For a college student, $200 is a lot of money to be out. I am incredulous at the complete disregard for customer service. Everyone I spoke to over the phone was rude and unwilling to help. I might as well have talked to an automated system.

I do need to say here, though, that the salesman I spoke to in the store was very nice, not pushy, and exceptionally accommodating. I did end up keeping the service that I purchased from him.

The moral of this story: buyer beware. Purchasing a cellular phone is a lot like buying a house without ever seeing it. The glitzy ads and too-good-to-be-true promises often are indeed that.

Do you know what you are getting when you sign up for prepaid services?

AT&T offers GoPhones, with unlimited talk. Well, unlimited if it’s mobile to mobile. For regular anytime minutes, the rate is 10 cents per minute. There is also a $1 access fee for every day you use your phone.

The average college student spends one to three hours a day on their phone. That can add up to about least $210 per month, unless everyone you are talking to also has AT&T.

And this doesn’t even take into consideration texting, a service that is used perhaps even more than talking. Unlimited text messaging can be added to a prepaid plan for $19.99 per month at AT&T. Verizon has a similar deal. However, the options are broken down further into night and weekend minutes as well.

Cricket Wireless has actual plans that offer unlimited talk and in some cases, unlimited text. However, it is wise to consider the coverage and customer service, or lack thereof.

So what is a pre-payer to do?

My advice is to fully research your options. Look at reviews. Although most sites boast mainly negative reviews, you can glean a glimmer of truth from them. Search for recurring issues, such as bad coverage, poor phones and inferior customer service.

Also, I would strongly advise against purchasing over the Internet. Working with someone in person ensures that you are able to see everything you are signing, ask questions and review the merchandise.

The final important thing to think about is if you really need a cell phone. People survived for centuries without them, so don’t go out and buy the latest gadget just because all your friends have one. Make sure you are operating within your budget, and if you really do need a cellular phone, buy informed.