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. Many service providers don't require the prepaid customer to come into a retail outlet to buy additional airtime. Instead, they can just call a service number and use their credit card to buy the time. Phones that are out of minutes can still be used to call 911.