Copyright © 2010 Tara Tiemann

More and more people are choosing to move to a prepaid plan when it comes to cell phone services. However, before buying a prepaid cell phone kit, read this article first to have a better idea about the aspects you need to take in consideration prior to choosing a prepaid phone service provider.

Cost per call. As soon as you get hold of your prepaid phone kit, this is often pre-loaded along with minutes of calls and text messages. The moment you consumed the available balance, you have to reload the cell phone to make new calls and send a lot more text messages.

You need to be conscious of what amount you may be billed for each call as well as the text message you send as a few carriers might provide lesser per call charges compared to others. The charge per call or text may vary depending on the network you are sending them to. In comparison to any post paid plan, remember that prepaid phone service companies might impose a greater charge on calls, particularly when phone calls are made with other networks.

Extra Features. In contrast to post paid cell phone deals, a number of features just like call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, call conferencing, voice mail, and wireless web might not be a part of the prepaid package. If you want to use these features, you will need to initially request for it from your service company and pay an extra fee for each feature.

Load Expiration. Take notice that after you reload your cell phone, your current balance can easily expire whenever not used within a particular period of time. Prepaid phone call cards can be found in a variety of denominations, according to amount you load.

For instance, you could possibly obtain a phone call card that’s exactly valued at $20 but it may possibly have a shorter expiration period compared to cards together with greater denominations. Once expired, your current account may have a zero balance whether or not you consumed your last load.

Various carriers permit their prepaid cell phone customers to carry over their unused balance, provided that they will reload their accounts before the old load expires. At the same time, if you neglect to reload after a month or 2, your account could be automatically deactivated and you simply must buy a new prepaid SIM card.

Coverage. Some prepaid phone service companies offer coverage to specific States or areas only. Thus, if you will be a frequent traveler, you may want to evaluate what service provider provides a broader range of coverage, especially within the areas you often visit.

For those who have buddies or relatives abroad, try to look for a prepaid phone service provider that not just offer reasonable international call charges but reliable coverage too.

Personal choice on handsets. Sometimes, the type of phone you get depends on the carrier. To cite an example, the units you can use for TracFone may be different from the actual cellphones available with Net10 or Verizon. Therefore, if you want a precise style or device which is exclusively offered by one prepaid phone service provider, evaluate the particular provisions of the prepaid plan before making a final decision.

For people who want to live debt free, Tara Tiemann, a credit analyst of Go-Prepaid.com , is your resource for sites that will help you on your finances and save big money using debit card and prepaid cell phone.