Prepaid plans are not cost-effective for heavy users unless they fail the credit check required for a traditional service plan. If that's the case, prepaid service is the only way for credit-challenged individuals to get a wireless phone. Shop around If prepaid is the way you want to go, then shop around for the best plan. You then load the phone by calling an access number and punching in a code from your card. Then you can start dialing.
Providers sometimes sell the kits through gas stations, convenience stores or their own outlets.
Find out if a service provider charges an activation fee for the prepaid program. Don't buy a card with more minutes than you plan to use in a certain period, even if the cost per minute is low. Prepaid users can get more minutes before the expiration date. For example, a prepaid customer might have 10 minutes of airtime left and the minutes will expire the next day. Buying another airtime card and loading those minutes onto the phone allows the customer to carry over the 10 minutes to the new expiration date.