Need a recommendation for a dumb phone

2013-02-25 | self

[gitmo]

I'm looking for a good basic cell phone. I have an Aspergers son who needs a phone for safety purposes, but I don't want him to have texting, email or internet access with it. Believe me, that would be a major mistake.

Where can someone obtain an inexpensive, basic cell phone plan. I'd like to be able to restrict calls to selected numbers.

An added bonus would be if I could track his location.

[freedumb2003]

Check into Jitterbug.

They specialize in phones for older folks, who have a lot of the requirements you list — easy to use, operators 24X7, tracking (think Alzheimer’s), etc.

I remember seeing ads for them in various publications and have no personal experience, but the match seems good...

[98ZJ USMC]

Yeah. My router at home took a lightning hit and the cable company replaced it for me. They set everything back EXACTLY as I had it. Well, except they forgot my parental controls. My Asperger’s son downloaded $500 of porn in one weekend. He would start a flick. When my wife came in, he flipped over to Spongebob. Then when she stepped out, he rented another one. It took months of arguing to get the provider to drop the charges on that. They said they’re not responsible for their repairmen’s errors.

Day for coincidences, I guess. I had the same thing happen here. The surge bulged the case like an M-80. Yeah, I hear ya. They just don't learn until they have to pay for it themselves. Kinda like out current moocher class.

[P.O.E.]

Bought 2 cheapo “Pay2Go” phones at Best Buy for the missus & me. They cost $20, and they’re $20 a month with Virgin for basic (no text, internet, etc.). The phone is sophisticated enough to handle them (and it has a camera, which could be handy in an emergency), I just don’t buy the service.

[freeandfreezing]

For cheap, limited function phones it is hard to beat Tracfone. You can buy one of their phones for $9.99 and around $100 gets you 1 year of usage and 400 minutes of talk time. Since the phone is prepaid you don't have to worry about your child running up the bill, and if the phone is lost or damaged you aren't out much money.

I don't think Tracfone offers phone locating services. AT&T does, you can get it with family plans which are the best deal for most situations. It is handy to find where the phone, and therefore the kid, is.

[doorgunner69]

I recently got a Samsung M400 through my landline phone company, serviced by Sprint. Pretty basic, does have tracking you can turn on or off. What I like is the large buttons, and you can enlarge the screen fonts for far-sighted eyes like mine.

[2ndDivisionVet]

General:

http://fpaxson.acndirect.com/default.asp#

North Carolina:
http://fpaxson.acndirect.com/services.asp?CO_LA=US_EN&region=NC

[Pontiac]

They said they’re not responsible for their repairmen’s errors.

But you should be. Nice.

[RedMDer]

Freepers, your Contributions make every difference!
Please keep ‘em coming! Thank you all very much!

[Havisham]

I would look at virgin mobile. Buy the phone at best buy or target. If you don’t like it, the phone is easy to return. No contract, pay as you go service.

[sarasmom]

Pretty much any pay-per-month plan will resolve your issues.

You can set them up to block texting.
No association with a credit card required.
Just buy a card to pay for the service every month or so.
My Net 10 costs $30.00 for sixty days service /300 minutes.
Minutes rollover if not used.

Phone was $9.99. No capability for “internet” activity, no pics, just calls and text, and text can be easily disabled.

It is my primary phone.

[sarasmom]

BTW, My child has Virgin Mobile.
Phone,pics, texts and internet (no ability to download anything that is not included in the monthly $25.00 service/no extra charges possible)

I monitor the incoming and outgoing calls and texts.
Still no track back to my personal bank account.

[JABit]

Check out ConsumerCellular.com . Great company, no contract, change plan minutes on the fly, basic phones.

[Mark]

My wife and I got 2 top of the line(about 12 yrs ago)
Motorola phones-paid a few hundred + 100.00 up front minutes and since then we put in about 20.00/yr for minutes that we never lose—T Mobile. Works great as basic phone with camera,etc.

[waynesa98]

sorry for the assholishness of the replies but this could fit the bill

http://www.meritline.com/mobile-phone-watch-watch-phone-for-kids-with-gps-tracker-—p-90225.aspx?source=fghdac&gclid=CNDyjo2C07UCFUVN4AodWF8AoQ

What you want is something hard to loose with gps and basic phone. more specifics and non jerks can help point you in the correct direction. (Sorry I hate the stupid posts on threads looking for real help) Some of us actually care.

[bgill]

I also have an old Virgin Mobile plan with limited minutes for $5/mo. (I’m sure they’ve gone up in price). It is cheap and no frills. Got it for kids’ first phone then passed it on to the grandparents but they were clueless.

[Vendome]

ROTFLMAO!!!

[packrat35]

By law, all cellphones must be able to call 911 even without a plan. Do you know anyone who has an old phone they no longer use? If so, get that phone.

I am cutting off my old flip phone tomorrow.

[kitkat]

Bless you for your response about cell phones for the deaf.

I’m looking into it now.

I’ve scoured the web for information, but nada. YOU have given me hope.

[gitmo]

Thanks waynesa98